PROJECT BLUEPRINT REPORTNEW HANOVER COUNTY | UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Overview

• Analyze current regulations

• Identify changes necessary to update regulations and implement County plans

• Annotated outline of proposed revisions

BLUEPRINT REPORT | PlanNHC Overview

PlanNHC Goals• Promote environmentally responsible growth

• Promote fiscally responsible growth

• Increase recycling and reduction of solid waste

• Increase public safety by reducing crime through the built environment

• Conserve open space for long term agricultural and rural uses

• Conserve environmentally critical areas

• Integrate multi-modal transportation into mixed land uses that encourage safe, walkable communities

BLUEPRINT REPORT | PlanNHC Overview

PlanNHC Goals (con’t)• Promote place-based economic development in

the region that is tied to natural resources

• Actively promote high quality educational and diverse cultural opportunities for residents and visitors

• Preserve and protect water quality and supply

• Increase physical activity and promote healthy, active lifestyles

• Ensure NHC remains in attainment for air quality, in support of clean air and improved public health outcomes to support continued growth

• Increase access to affordable and convenient healthy foods

BLUEPRINT REPORT | PlanNHC Overview

PlanNHC Goals (con’t)• Provide for a range of housing types, opportunities and choices

• Revitalize commercial corridors and blighted areas through infill and redevelopment

• Link major natural habitats

• Conserve and enhance unique sense of place to attract individuals, companies, and organizations

• Use public infrastructure improvements to leverage private investments

• Support business success

• Support health promotion and disease prevention while minimizing debilitating effects of mental and physical disabilities

• Support workforce development and economic prosperity for all

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Plans & Policies Link

Link Regulatory Process to existing NHC Plans and Policies

Wilmington-New Hanover County Comprehensive Greenways Master Plan

Establish vision and strategy for creating a regional network of active transportation corridors throughout City of Wilmington, New Hanover County, and the local beach communities.

Pathways to Prosperity – The Garner Study

Road map for NHC to see realistic economic vision to strengthen area’s business climate, increase economic competitiveness, strengthen existing industries, and identify emerging industries to increase private investment, job creation and retention.

Cape Fear Transportation Plan 2040Metropolitan transportation plan (MTP) to guide regional transportation priorities and actions. Evaluates projects and strategies to promote mobility and access for people and goods within the plan boundaries.

Parks and Gardens Master PlanRecently updated plan to address parks and recreation facilities future growth and provision of services.

Hazard Mitigation PlanGuide to hazard mitigation activities. Protect life and property from future damages and economic losses that result from natural hazards.

Small Area Plans Identify near-term strategies to address safety, mobility, and access.

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Zoning Code Audit

1. Code is not well-linked to County plans and policies and may inadvertently prohibit good development

2. Code can be very challenging to navigate for regular citizens

3. Many specific standards are nested deeply within zone district regulations

4. Code includes subjective standards and ambiguous submission requirements

5. Negotiated review and approval process hinders predictable outcomes

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Zoning Code Audit

1. Update definitions to remove regulations

2. Update non-conforming lot and use regulations (expansion, discontinuation, etc.)

3. Eliminate conditional use districts

4. Update table of permitted uses

5. Address performance residential standards

6. Update and create appropriate dimensional requirements (e.g. lot size, setbacks, height, FAR, etc.)

7. Update and clarify district regulations

8. Re-examine overlay districts functionality, uses, and standards

9. Clarify development plan process and submittal requirements

10. Update landscaping standards to modernize tree standards, buffering, fencing and screening, as well as applicability

11. Update parking lot landscaping

12. Clarify street yard landscaping and foundation plantings

13. Clarify temporary use standards

14. Update accessory/building use standards

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Zoning Code Audit

15. Update and add to existing permitted use standards

16. Address waste facilities and demolition landscape landfills use standards

17. Update utilities and wireless communication facilities use standards

18. Update special use standards as well as provisions and review procedures

19. Update off-street parking and loading requirements

20. Create/update design standards for architecture and lighting

21. Update design standards for signage (permanent and temporary)

22. Update procedures for building and zoning permit review

23. Clarify zoning administrator, board of adjustments, courts, and county commissioners duties regarding zoning appeals

24. Amend application submittal procedures

25. Update vesting rights and development agreements

26. Update procedures for ordinance and text amendments

27. Update appeal procedures

28. Clarify legal provisions includes enforcement of ordinance/regulations

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Subdivision Ord. Audit

1. Combine into single UDO article

2. Update definitions

3. Create update administrative procedures/consolidate sections

4. Clarify Sketch Plan process

5. Update Preliminary Plan procedures

6. Update Final Plat procedures

7. Create flexible general provisions

8. Address landscape preservation and provisions for open area/open space, parks and recreation.

9. Address blocks and alleys and conditions when they are warranted

10. Identify/clarify easement requirements

11. Analyze and update lot standards

12. Reference Master Street Plan

13. Implement traffic calming

14. Correlate street tree requirement with zoning landscaping requirements

15. Update provisions for sidewalks, trails, and bikeways

16. Combine enforcement of ordinance into UDO, include with zoning.

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Stormwater + Erosion Audit

Stormwater

1. Reformat section and consider how it relates to other sections of code

2. Update definitions

3. Update purpose of regulations and County’s role

4. Update regulations for new development and redevelopment

Erosion

Review for conformance with NC state requirements

EXAMPLE PLACE TYPE

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Major Themes

• Focus on creating appropriate place types across the County

• Reinforce a sense of place in the county and help focus on multimodal development and walkability

• Overhaul mixed-use zoning

• Switch from emphasis on use to emphasis on structure

• Address design transitions between place types through development standards

EXAMPLE CODE PAGE WITH GRAPHICS

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Major Themes

• Create a unified development ordinance and improve the document formatting, graphics, and illustrations• Group like-with-like for uses, development

standards, dimensions

• Use matrices and tables to make information easier to find

• Balance cross-referencing and useful redundancy

• Move some administrative material to administrative manual

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Major Themes

• Modernize the zone district line-up and use allocations

District % Acres District % Acres

Airport Industrial (AI) 2.50 Planned Development (PD) 2.00

Airport Residential (AR) 1.18 Residential (R-7) 0.0

Business (B-1) .36 Residential (R-10) 3.69

Highway Business (B-2) 1.89 Residential (R-15) 37.43

Conditional Zoning District (CZD) .01 Residential (R-20) 13.75

Exceptional Design Zoning Dist. (EDZD) .01 Residential (R-20S) 4.45

Light Industry (I-1) 1.27 Residential Agriculture (RA) 8.52

Heavy Industry (I-2) 22.49 Riverfront Mixed Use (RFMU) .03

Office and Institutional (O&I) .41 Shopping Center (SC) .01

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Major Themes

• Modernize the zone district line-up and use allocations• Review all current districts for County plan

implementation, ease of use, long-term applicability; establish new line-up

• Establish County-appropriate approach for regulating structures

• Collect uses, analyze, and update• Allocation across districts

• Level of review and discretionary approval

• Use-specific regulations/NC law

• Special, temporary, and accessory uses

• Coordinate as possible with Wilmington

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Major Themes

• Create a standards-based regulatory process

• Include regulations that balance predictability and flexibility

• Articulate clear review and approval criteria

• Avoid “customized” code amendments for individual projects

• Unintended consequences

• Clarity/confusion

• Consistent treatment of all code users

EXAMPLE GRAPHIC SHOWING SITE DESIGN

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Major Themes

• Raise the bar for basic site design

• Establish or update requirements for:

• Landscaping, buffering, and screening

• Parking

• Site layout

• Natural resources and environmentally sensitive areas

• Stormwater

• Mobility/connectivity

• Incorporate basic illustrations and graphics

ALLEY-LOADED GARAGES

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Major Themes

• Clarify subdivision standards and infrastructure criteria

• Update the subdivision approval process

• Incorporate all applicable design standards

• Fill-in gaps for any missing standards, update any outdated standards

NEW HANOVER COUNTY/ WILMINGTON ZONING

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Major Themes

• Coordinate with Wilmington’s processes and standards (as possible)• Transitional zone districts at

interface

• Matching/compatible• Development standards

• Use standards

• Regulatory terminology

• Some similar review criteria

Keys to a Successful UDO

• Predictability

• Flexibility

• Community expectations

• Consistent and fair treatment

• Decision standards and criteria

• Clear, concise language

• Timely decisions

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Proposed Organization

• Consolidation of content

• Simplification of style

• Consistent organization

BLUEPRINT REPORT | General Provisions

Section 14 Relationship to County Plans

Include provisions connecting the land use regulations to the goals and policies of relevant County and regional planning documents

Section 16 Relationship to Other Regulations

State that land development regulations are intended to compliment other regulations (including state and federal law); more restrictive shall apply

Section 18 Transitional Regulations

Establish the method to resolve the status of properties with pending applications, recent approvals, and properties with outstanding violations at the time the UDO is adopted; also, note that violations prior to UDO adoption will remain violations

BLUEPRINT REPORT | General Provisions

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Zone Districts

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Proposed Revisions

Revise Zone District Line-Up

Identify districts and standards necessary to encourage preferred growth patterns

Purpose Statements

Include in each zone district to provide policy instructions about the use and interpretation of each zone district

Purpose statements provide a window for incorporating planning policy and description and provide guidance to staff and the code user to reasonably predict interpretation

Section 22 Dimensions

Consolidate dimensional standards (height, setback, etc.) for the various zone districts and supplemental regulations in one or more tables that are more compact and user-friendly

Table 94-30.1 NC Dimensional Standards

Building Types

Lot Setbacks (ft.) [1]

Development

Coverage

(max.)

Hei

ght

(fee

t, m

ax.)

Lot

Are

a

(min

, ft.

)

Max

Lo

t

Co

vera

ge

(%)

Front

(max)

Side (min)

Rear

(min)

Den

sity

(min

/max

)

FAR

Inte

rio

r

Ab

utt

in

g St

reet

Attached House 2,200 70 15 0 15 10 8/20 -- 38

Multi-Unit

Dwelling4,000 70 15 0 15 10 8/20 -- 40

Live-Work [2] 5,000 70 15 0 15 10 -- 1.0 40

Commercial (up

to 7,000 sq. ft.

total)

[3] 70 0 0 15 10 -- 1.0 35

Mixed-Use [3] 70 0 0 15 10 -- 1.0 35

Office [3] 70 0 0 15 10 -- 1.0 35

Civic [3] 70 0 0 15 10 -- 1.0 35

Notes:

[1] NC abutting residential shall match the side yard setbacks of the

residential district and provide a 20-foot rear yard setback.

[2] Standards for new construction, the city may permit conversion of

existing structures that do not meet these dimensional standards.

[3] Must meet structure size and setbacks.

BLUEPRINT REPORT |Use + Structure

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Proposed Revisions

Section 30 Permitted Use Table

Include an updated use table – organized from broad categories to narrow uses – to make information easy to find

Use organization includes:

1. Overall categories of use

2. General use types

3. Specific use types (singled out for additional regulation)

EXAMPLE

BLUEPRINT REPORT |Use + Structure

Section 31 Structures

Identify and define types of structures permitted in districts to influence long-term placemaking, such as areas where the County wants to encourage compact, walkable, mixed-use development

Section 33 Special Uses

Analyze and comment on SUP process; incorporate into UDO

Section 35 Temporary Use Standards

Update to collect all current temporary use regulations – such as temporary farmer’s market –and add a more robust list of temporary uses

Comply with Reed v. Town of Gilbert

BLUEPRINT REPORT |Development Standards

BLUEPRINT REPORT | PROPOSED REVISIONS

Section 42 Connectivity and Mobility

Address connectivity and access management between lots and streets, streets and streets, and overall neighborhood development

Section 44 Landscaping, Screening, and Buffering

Update and expand options in all three categories to address the different types of landscaping, screening, and buffering required by different development types

Section 45 Building and Streetscapes

Include standards addressing building and site design related to form, massing, and site placement – not architectural design

Section 48 Signs

Update as necessary to conform to the requirements of Reed v. Town of Gilbert

BLUEPRINT REPORT |Design and Improvement

BLUEPRINT REPORT | PROPOSED REVISIONS

Section 53 Stormwater

Clarify, modernize, and built requirements to ensure regulations are capable of addressing continued growth and future weather and storm events in the region

Section 58 Construction and Acceptance of Improvements

Section 59 Improvement Guarantees

Ensure current subdivision design and improvement standards are applicable and up-to-date for both sections

Clarify the “paperwork” aspects of the subdivision process to ensure applicants and County staff are clear about requirements in both sections

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Procedures

BLUEPRINT REPORT | PROPOSED REVISIONS

Section 61 Common Procedures

Build on the information provided in Article 9 to create complete and consistent descriptions of the many processes applicable across multiple application types

E.g., pre-application meetings, submittal requirements, fees, staff review, public notices, lapsing and extension of approvals, appeals, etc.

Section 62 Specific Procedures

Provide a detailed list of steps required for each type of application or permit request along with a process flow chart to help applicants understand process and decisions

E.g., rezoning, amendments, planned development, subdivision applications, special use permits, floodplain development application, sign permit, tree removal permit, and others.

• Recommending and Decision-making Bodies Consolidate and clarify roles of the review and decision-making bodies in

review and approval procedures; establish clear lines of authority

• Violations and Enforcement Combine enforcement and penalty provisions from both zoning and

subdivision ordinances and update as necessary

• Measurements and Definitions Clear definitions of important words, phrases, and uses for easier

interpretation and administration of regulations

• Appendices Include information that is not necessary in the main body of the document

BLUEPRINT REPORT | PROPOSED REVISIONS

BLUEPRINT REPORT | Next Steps

• Start drafting updated zone districts, use standards, and definitions

• Coordinating meeting with City of Wilmington

• County/public review draft of zone districts, use standards, and definitions