051401May 14, 2001
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special session at 6:30 p.m. in the
Commissioners Meeting Room, County Office Building, 725 McDowell Road, Asheboro, NC.
Commissioners Kemp, Frye, Holmes, Davis, and Mason were present. The purpose of the meeting
was to review the proposed Randolph County Growth Management Plan and related Randolph
County Zoning Ordinance amendments.
Hal Johnson, Planning and Zoning Director, stated that the proposed Growth Management
Plan was developed because of the accelerated pace of development in the county. The Plan then
created the need for some changes in the current zoning regulations. He highlighted the Plan and
related zoning amendments as follows:
Growth Management Areas
These include municipal growth areas (made up of the towns and cities, plus their
extraterritorial zoning jurisdictions), primary growth areas (areas adjacent to municipalities where
high growth is expected), secondary growth areas (where conventional residential subdivisions can
still be expected), rural conservation areas (where development will require careful planning with
buffers, dedicated open spaces, and preservation of scenic views), and watershed areas (which will
allow only low-density development).
Overlays within Residential Zoning Districts
About 90% of rezoning requests are for major residential subdivisions. The proposed Plan
offers three new overlay options: conventional residential (same requirements and lot sizes that are
currently in place), rural residential (four -acre minimum lot size to allow for open space and well
water recharge areas), and conservation (50% of the property must be dedicated open space, but
smaller lot sizes within the total development may be smaller).
Development Impact Analysis
Applicants must submit to the County a Development Impact Statement with information
concerning housing characteristics, water resources, traffic analysis, and public education impact.
Neighborhood Information Meeting
This meeting will involve the applicant, County staff, and adjacent property owners and will
take place at the Randolph County Office Building prior to formal presentations at public hearings to
the Planning Board and County Commissioners.
Industrial/Commercial Overlay Districts
These overlay districts will provide greater flexibility. They include industrial (accommodates
special industrial projects that increase economic activity, job creation, and the tax base), rural
business (allows neighborhood retail and service establishments to reduce travel distances and
promote better livability in the rural communities), and commercial environmental (no change from
current regulations except that County Commissioners will have final approval in rezoning).
Planned Unit Development (Special Use Permit)
The proposed revision would no longer allow this type of development in the Residential
Agricultural District.
Planned Rural Development (Special Use Permit)
This addition will accommodate families who want to let other family members build on the
same property without subdividing the land. No more than four dwelling units will be allowed, one of
which must be the property owner.
Scenic Corridor Overlay District
This amendment establishes the mechanics for designating a scenic corridor in the future.
Forest Harvested
Clear-cut properties planned for major subdivisions must maintain a 35 -foot no -cut buffer
along all boundaries of the property.
Private Roads
This amendment will allow a private road to be a maximum length of 1320 feet and service no
more than six lots with a minimum size of five acres.
Buffers
The new regulations give three levels of buffers based on the topography and characteristics
of the property.
Commissioners discussed the need for there to be some setback requirements for wells from
the property line. They directed Mr. Johnson to work with the Health Department staff to
incorporate well setbacks into the new regulations. They also suggested that copies of the Growth
Management Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments be placed in all branch libraries and on the
County's web site. They then set a public hearing, to be held jointly with the Planning Board, for
6:30 p.m. on July 23 at RCC's Learning Resources Auditorium, if it is available. The location will be
announced later.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Phil Kemp, Chairman
J. Harold Holmes
Robert O. Mason
Darrell L. Frye
Robert B. Davis
Alice D. Dawson, Clerk to the Board