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Map Amendments
A Map Amendment is the official process by which a property's Planning Area designation is changed. In other communities, this term is referred to as a "rezoning." Since the Town of Davidson utilizes a form-based code, which emphasizes a building's orientation on its lot and its architecture in addition to its use, the Town uses the comprehensive term "Planning Areas" in place of the strictly use-based term "zoning" to refer to a property's land use designation. These Planning Areas are illustrated in the Davidson Planning Ordinance's Planning Areas Map; therefore, changes to the map are referred to as Map Amendments. Below is information about the most recent Map Amendments proposed.
Text Amendments
A Text Amendment is the official process by which the language of the Davidson Planning Ordinance (DPO) is changed. The DPO includes the guidance, rules, and regulations governing planning and development within town limits, as well as the town's extra-territorial jurisdiction - areas outside the town limits but within Davidson's planning jurisdiction that are subject to the standards. The standards represent legally-enforceable measures to implement adopted plans and manage development projects. Proposed changes generally encompass: Clarifying existing standards; outlining new criteria and/or instituting best practices; correcting errors and/or inadvertent omissions; and, aligning the ordinance with state statutes. The DPO is a living document updated consistently; it reflects years of collective experiences and incorporates this knowledge along with best practices to ensure a high quality of life for citizens.
Map Amendments
There are currently no map amendments in process.
Text Amendments
Development Review Process Text Amendments
Description
This update includes necessary changes to the Davidson Planning Ordinance to achieve growth management goals laid out in the 2020 Davidson Comprehensive Plan (see below). Additionally, text changes are proposed to better define exempt and expedited subdivisions, include a minor subdivision option, and clearly define requirements for site plan submittals.
In the fall of 2020, the Board of Commissioners asked the Planning Board Ordinance Committee (PBOC) to continue work on exploring growth management strategies begun by commissioners earlier that year. This work comes from direction provided by the Comprehensive Plan. The plan’s first goal states that “Davidson will grow thoughtfully and intentionally within its borders and at its edges. New growth will enhance the town’s livability and occur using a tiered and incremental approach to meet the needs of a growing community” (Goal 2.1, Intentional Growth Management).
Under this goal the plan recommends the creation of a framework to guide development decision-making in Davidson. As part of the framework, Policy 2.1.2 directs the community to establish criteria for use in evaluating annexation and utility service extension decisions: “The town will evaluate the appropriateness of annexation of lands into the town and extension of public utilities to new areas using the Utility Service and Annexation Criteria. These criteria serve as the primary guide for making annexation and utility extension decisions.”
Documents
- Agenda Materials: January 24, 2023 - Board of Commissioners Meeting (See the Town Board Meeting Agendas webpage)
- FAQs: January 23, 2023 - Frequently Asked Questions
Timeline (Tentative)
2023
- March 14, 2023: The Board of Commissioners may elect to vote to adopt the proposed amendments.
- February 27, 2023: The Planning Board will formally review the proposed amendments and offer a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners.
- February 14, 2023: The Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments.
- January 30, 2023: The Planning Board reviewed the text amendments reflecting the draft USAC criteria and development process improvements.
- January 24, 2023: The Board of Commissioners reviewed the text amendments reflecting the draft USAC criteria and development process improvements.
2022
- October 11, 2022: The Board of Commissioners reviewed an updated version of the draft USAC criteria, including revised case studies utilizing on an incentive-based approach.
- August 9, 2022: The Board of Commissioners reviewed an updated version of the draft USAC criteria, including consideration of an incentive-based approach.
- February 22, 2022: The Board of Commissioners reviewed an updated version of the draft USAC criteria and considered development process implications.
2021
- August 24, 2021: The Board of Commissioners reviewed the initial draft of USAC criteria.
2020
- Fall: The Board of Commissioners asked the Planning Board Ordinance Committee (PBOC) to continue work on exploring growth management strategies begun by commissioners earlier that year.
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