Title
Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to Development-Related Ordinances
Action
Action:
Conduct a public hearing on proposed amendments to the following City Code of Ordinances to bring them into compliance with new North Carolina General Statute legislation (Chapter 160D) related to development by the July 1, 2021, deadline:
§ Chapter 9 - Floodplain Regulations,
§ Chapter 11 - Housing,
§ Chapter 17 - Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control,
§ Chapter 18, Article IV - Post-Construction Stormwater, and
§ Chapter 19 - Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Patrick Baker, City Attorney’s Office
Karen Weatherly, City Attorney’s Office
Explanation
§ As required by North Carolina General Statute 160D, local development regulations must be updated to comply with the new legislation adopted in 2019 and 2020 and take effect no later than July 1, 2021.
§ New regulations include requirements for common processes across all development regulations, updates to evidentiary hearing provisions and quasi-judicial procedures, new conflict of interest standards for boards and administrative staff, updates to all statute references to align with new Chapter 160D references, requirements as to when and under what terms inspections may take place, and clarifications to vested rights and development standards to conform with Chapter 160D.
§ This public hearing allows for community feedback to be provided on proposed amendments to the development-related ordinances.
§ In compliance with North Carolina General Statute 166A-19.24 Remote meetings during certain declarations of emergency, written comments on the public hearing topic will be accepted by the City Clerk’s Office through June 15, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Any additional comments received will be provided to Council.
Proposed Changes
§ The proposed amendments are for the following changes:
- Update processes for filing applications and the public notice requirements for legislative and evidentiary public hearings;
- Update the evidentiary hearing provisions and quasi-judicial procedures;
- Update the processes for all development approvals, including written notices of decisions to both the applicant and the property owner;
- Add new conflict of interest standards for boards and administrative staff;
- Update the vested rights and permit choice provisions to include multi-phase developments; and
- While not required by Chapter 160D or subject to the public hearing requirements, changes to Article XV of Chapter 19 regarding Shared Use Mobility Systems are also being proposed to specifically exclude devices used by individuals with mobility disabilities as recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act and to expand the purpose statement to clarify that the ordinance applies to all modes of dockless, shared transportation vehicles operated as part of a commercial enterprise.
§ City Council will be asked to vote on the proposed changes at its June 28, 2021 Business Meeting.
§ The proposed effective date of these changes is July 1, 2021.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Chapter 9 - Floodplain Regulations - Redlined
Chapter 11 - Housing - Redlined
Chapter 17 - Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control - Redlined
Chapter 18, Article IV - Post-Construction Stormwater - Redlined
Chapter 19 - Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places - Redlined