UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted May 1, 2012
The UDO Advisory Committee met April 12 and April 26 and started the review of Chapter 6 (Subdivisions & Infrastructure). The next scheduled meeting is on May 10. The committee only has three chapters remaining to review (Signs, Landscaping & Stormwater) until the document is in complete draft form.
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted April 2, 2012
The UDO Advisory Committee met three times during March (March 8, March 15, & March 29) and finished its review of Chapter 15 (Administration) and Chapter 10 (Lighting). The Lawrence Group is currently revising these chapters based on the committee’s comments. The next meeting will be Thursday, April 12, to begin the review of Chapter 6 (Infrastructure Standards). This chapter will establish a criteria for the site development and subdivision of real property to:
- Provide for the orderly growth and development of the Town of Wake Forest; and
- Coordinate proposed development with existing development and with officially adopted plans for the future development of the town; and
- Provide for suitable residential and nonresidential development with adequate streets, utilities and appropriate building sites; and
- Insure the proper legal description, monumentation, and recording of subdivided land; and
- Create conditions essential to public health, safety, and general welfare.
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UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted March 2, 2012
The UDO Advisory Committee met several times during the month of February and continued its review of Chapter 15 (Administration). Chapter 15 deals with the processes to develop land within the jurisdiction of the Town of Wake Forest consistent with standard development practices and terminology. It is the purpose of this Chapter to provide a clear and comprehensible development process that is fair and equitable to all interests including the petitioners, affected neighbors, town staff and related agencies, and the Board of Commissioners.
On March 1, 2012, the Town hosted three public workshops that provided an update on were the Town is in the process. Several residents, developers, home builders, business owners, engineers, architects, and surveyors, as well as elected and appointed board members attended the meetings.
The UDO Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet again on March 8 & 15, 2012 to complete the review of Chapter 15 and begin discussion on:
Chapter 6 (Infrastructure Standards) will establish a criteria for the site development and subdivision of real property to:
- Provide for the orderly growth and development of the Town of Wake Forest; and
- Coordinate proposed development with existing development and with officially adopted plans for the future development of the town; and
- Provide for suitable residential and nonresidential development with adequate streets, utilities and appropriate building sites; and
- Insure the proper legal description, monumentation, and recording of subdivided land; and
- Create conditions essential to public health, safety, and general welfare.
Chapter 10 (Lighting) is designed to focus on the actual physical effects of lighting, as well as the effect that lighting may have on the surrounding neighborhood. It is the intent of this
section to:
- Minimize light pollution, glare and light trespass.
- Conserve energy and resources while maintaining night-time safety and utility.
- Curtail the degradation of the night-time visual environment.
Chapter 7 (Recreation & Open Space) and Chapter 16 (Violations & Penalties) were revised based on UDO Adivisory Committee comments.
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted Jan. 19, 2012
The UDO Advisory Committee met on December 10, 2011 and completed their review of Chapter 16 (Violations & Penalties). This chapter will provide the process for violations of the ordinance and steps to abate such violations.
As a result of the many changes proposed by the committee regarding Chapter 14; Chapter 15 was revised accordingly. Chapter 15 deals with the processes to develop land within the jurisdiction of the Town of Wake Forest consistent with standard development practices and terminology. It is the purpose of this Chapter to provide a clear and comprehensible development process that is fair and equitable to all interests including the petitioners, affected neighbors, town staff and related agencies, and the Board of Commissioners.
The next scheduled meeting is on January 12, 2012 to complete the review of Chapter 14 and begin the review of Chapter 15.
In addition, the next public meeting on the UDO process is planned for March 1, 2011. Our consultant, Craig Lewis plans to have three presentations throughout the day to inform citizens, stakeholders, elected & appointed board members, etc. about where the Town is in the UDO process and receive feedback and answer questions.
While we still have several chapters to go, the goal is to have the document in a complete draft form by June or July and have the first public hearing in the Fall of 2012.
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted Dec. 8, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on November 10, 2011 and finished their review of Chapter 14 - Administrative Agencies. Chapter 14 deals with the various administrative agencies that are part of the UDO development. Provisions of the ordinance shall be administered under the general direction of the Town Manager and under the specific direction of the Town of Wake Forest Planning & Inspections Department and Public Works Department. For the purposes of this ordinance, the Planning Director, the Director of Public Works and Utilities and their subordinate staffs are collectively referred to as the Administrator. The Planning & Inspections Department will serve as the “gatekeeper” for all development applications and will advise applicants on appropriate personnel to contact.
As a result of the many changes proposed by the committee regarding Chapter 14; Chapter 15 needed to be revised, which is what our consultant is working on now. Chapter 15 deals with the processes to develop land within the jurisdiction of the Town of Wake Forest consistent with standard development practices and terminology. It is the purpose of this Chapter to provide a clear and comprehensible development process that is fair and equitable to all interests including the petitioners, affected neighbors, town staff and related agencies, and the Board of Commissioners.
The committee will meet again on December 10, 2011 to review Chapter 16 (Violations & Penalties). This chapter will provide the process for violations of the ordinance and steps to abate such violations. (Attached)
In addition, the next public meeting on the UDO process is planned for March 1, 2011. Our consultant, Craig Lewis plans to have three presentations throughout the day to inform citizens, stakeholders, elected & appointed board members, etc. about where the Town is in the UDO process and receive feedback and answer questions.
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted Oct. 24, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on October 13, 2011, and finished its review of Chapter 13 (Nonconformities). The committee's next meeting will be on Oct. 27, 2011, to begin reviewing Chapter 14 – Administrative Agencies.
Chapter 14 deals with the various administrative agencies that are part of the UDO development. Provisions of the ordinance shall be administered under the general direction of the Town Manager and under the specific direction of the Town of Wake Forest Planning & Inspections Department and the Town of Wake Forest Public Works Department. For the purposes of this ordinance, the Planning Director, the Director of Public Works & Utilities and their subordinate staffs are collectively referred to as the Administrator. The Planning & Inspections Department will serve as the “gatekeeper” for all development applications and will advise applicants on appropriate personnel to contact.
As of Oct. 24, 2011, the UDO Advisory Committee has completed their review of the following Chapters. They are in the final draft form (attached):
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted Oct. 7, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on September 1, 15, & 29 and finished their review of Chapter 5 (Building Design Standards). Their next meeting will be on October 13, 2011 to begin reviewing Chapter 13 – Nonconformities & Chapter 14 – Administrative Agencies.
The purpose of Chapter 13 is to regulate and limit the continued existence of uses and structures established prior to the effective date of the Ordinance (or any subsequent amendment) that do not conform to this Ordinance. Any nonconformity created by a change in the classification of property or the text of these regulations shall also be regulated by the provisions of this section. The provisions of this chapter are intended to limit substantial investment in nonconformities and to bring about their eventual elimination and/or lessen their impact upon surrounding conforming uses in order to preserve the integrity of the area in which a nonconformity is located.
The purpose of Chapter 14 deals with the various administrative agencies that are part of the UDO development. Provisions of the ordinance shall be administered under the general direction of the Town Manager and under the specific direction of the Town of Wake Forest Planning & Inspections Department and the Town of Wake Forest Public Works Department. For the purposes of this ordinance, the Planning Director, the Director of Public Works and Utilities and their subordinate staffs are collectively referred to as the Administrator. The Planning & Inspections Department will serve as the “gatekeeper” for all development applications and will advise applicants on appropriate personnel to contact.
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted Aug. 8, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on August 4, 2011 and finished their review of Chapter 9 (Parking & Driveways). Their next meeting will be on September 1, 2011 to begin reviewing Chapter 5 - Building Design Standards. The purpose of this chapter is to establish supplementary requirements for development is to ensure that the physical characteristics of proposed developments are compatible when considered within the context of the surrounding areas and to preserve the unique visual character and streetscapes of Wake Forest. These requirements strike a balance between creativity and innovation on one hand while avoiding obtrusive, incongruous structures on the other. The rich, architectural vocabulary of the Town of Wake Forest presents a wide variety of development opportunities using traditional forms while avoiding any perception of monotony. Wake Forest strongly encourages architectural styles that build upon and promote the existing historic character of the town and supports the view that inspiring, well-maintained, and harmonious development is in the best economic development interests of all residents and businesses.
Craig Lewis will be at our next meeting to provide some suggestions on the committee’s comments of Chapter 9 and to provide an introduction to Chapter 5.
Provided below is the draft of Chapter 5 for comments:
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted July 21, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on July 14, 2011. It finished its review of Chapter 7 (Recreation Facility Fees, Parks & Open Space Land) and began to review and discuss Chapter 9 which deals with Parking & Loading. Craig Lewis, our consultant from The Lawrence Group, will provide an update of this process to the Planning Board and Board of Commissioners at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011, in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room of Town Hall. The next UDO Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, at 8:00 AM in the ground floor meeting room of Town Hall.
Provided below is the draft of Chapter 9 for comments:
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted June 21, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on June 17, 2011, and finalized Chapters 1-4, 17, and the proposed new Zoning Map. There was also preliminary discussion on Chapter 7 (Recreation Facility Fees, Parks & Open Space Land). This Chapter deals with developments and how they contribute to the necessary range of parks and open space critical to the quality of life for each resident and visitor. The committee will meet again on Thursday, June 23, 2011, to discuss this chapter in detail.
Provided below are the revised versions of Chapters 1-4, 17, New Zoning Map and preliminary version of Chapter 7:
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted May 4, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on April 7, 21, and 28 and completed the review of chapter 3 (Supplemental Use Standards) which provides guidelines for development of uses permitted with additional standards and special use permit applications. To date, the committee has completed the review of Chapters 1-4, 17, Land Use Table and Draft Zoning Map.
Craig Lewis, our consultant, is in the process of revising these chapters based on the committee’s comments for a comprehensive review of these chapters in May. A second public meeting to discuss these chapters is planned this summer.
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE
Posted March 8, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on Feb. 3 and 17 and finalized Chapter 2 (District Provisions). Chapter 2 conveys conventional zoning district provisions as well as form-based districts classified in a Rural to Urban Transect method. The Transect is a method of classifying the natural and built environments as a continuum of six conditions ranging from rural to urban and similar to the community planning zones illustrated on the Growth Strategies Map of the Wake Forest Community Plan. Staff edited the draft zoning map based on the UDO Advisory Committee’s comments on Chapter 2.
The link below is provided as an example for illustration purposes only of how the new zoning concept based on Chapter 2 may change from the existing zoning.
Currently, the committee is reviewing Chapter 3 (Supplemental Use Standards) which provides development guidelines of uses permitted with additional standards and special use permit applications.
The UDO Advisory Committee will meet again on Thursday, March 17, 2011.
UDO ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT FROM DEC. 16 MEETING
Posted Jan. 4, 2011
The UDO Advisory Committee met on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, and discussed several chapters of the proposed Unified Development Ordinance. The committee spent most of its time discussing Chapter 1 (Purpose & Applicability) and Chapter 2 (District Provisions). Chapter 2 conveys conventional zoning district provisions as well as form-based districts classified in a Rural to Urban Transect method. The Transect is a method of classifying the natural and built environments as a continuum of six conditions ranging from rural to urban and similar to the community planning zones illustrated on the Growth Strategies Map of the Wake Forest Community Plan.
The committee will meet again on Jan. 6, 2011, to discuss Chapter 1 & Chapter 2 in detail. Provided below are the current draft materials prepared by Craig Lewis.
Proposed UDO chapters for review and comment:
REPORT FROM OCT. 21 KICK-OFF MEETING
Posted Oct. 25, 2010
On Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010, the Town of Wake Forest hosted a public workshop kick off meeting. The Lawrence Group's Craig Lewis made a presentation about the findings of the Diagnosis Report and introduced the concept of integrating elements of a form-based code into the Unified Development Ordinance. The PowerPoint presentation is provided below, along with a summary of the recommendations. Also provided is the tentative project schedule and summary of recommendations that were discussed at the meeting. The UDO Advisory committee is scheduled to meet again on Dec. 2 to discuss Districts and Development Typologies (District Provisions, Supplemental Use Standards, General District Provisions, Development Types & Design Standards).
TOWN LAUNCHES UDO "BLOG"
Posted Oct. 25, 2010
The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of creating a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to replace its current collection of development ordinances. Once adopted, the UDO will combine into a single document the Town’s existing zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, storm water management, and historic preservation regulations.
The Town of Wake Forest has launched a weblog or “blog,” to keep area residents updated about the progress of the UDO. Located at www.wakeforestnc.gov/udo_blog.aspx, Wake Forest’s new online journal is modeled after the Community Plan Blog, which the Town unveiled in 2007.
The blog will contain stories and updates about the UDO’s development, as well as important announcements, photographs and notes from community meetings. The site is designed to encourage citizens to offer their ideas and opinions concerning the UDO by providing links to an online comment form at the end of each entry.
“The UDO Blog is a great way for us to keep citizens informed, while at the same time increasing our accountability,” said Assistant Planning Director Chad Sary.
Sary added that the blog also fosters two-way communication between the Town and area residents.
“Through the blog, we can share current information about our progress and at the same time receive important feedback from our residents,” he said.
For more information about the UDO, contact Chad Sary at (919) 435-9514. To offer your input, email your comments to udocomments@wakeforestnc.gov.
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE WORKSHOP OCT. 21
Posted Oct. 1, 2010
The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of creating a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to replace its current assortment of development ordinances. Once adopted, the UDO will combine into a single document the Town’s existing zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, storm water management, and historic preservation regulations.
Wake Forest has hired the Lawrence Group, a nationally-recognized and award-winning town planning and design firm, to help guide the effort. The initiative is expected to result in higher quality development throughout the community and a more predictable development process for citizens, neighborhoods, elected and appointed officials, and developers.
The Lawrence Group recently completed the first phase of the project by identifying key weaknesses and strengths in the Town’s existing ordinances. The firm also devised a strategy for streamlining the various ordinances into a more user-friendly document. The Lawrence Group’s recommendations, known as the Diagnosis Report and Annotated Outline, are available for viewing on the Town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov/Residents/PlanningZoning.aspx.
Wake Forest residents are invited to offer their input on the Lawrence Group’s findings and make suggestions concerning the UDO process during a public workshop on Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. The Lawrence Group’s Craig Lewis will present the findings from the Diagnosis Report and introduce the concept of integrating elements of a form-based code into the UDO.
The workshop will be held in the ground floor meeting room of Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Anyone planning to attend is urged to use the facility’s rear entrance along Taylor Street.
Wake Forest has launched a weblog or “blog,” on the Town’s website to keep residents updated about the progress of the UDO and encourage public feedback. The blog can be accessed at www.wakeforestnc.gov/Residents/PlanningZoning.aspx.
For more information, contact Assistant Planning Director Chad Sary at (919) 435-9514. To offer your input, email your comments to udocomments@wakeforestnc.gov.