The Chapel Hill Town Council will soon consider changes to its Land Use Management Ordinance, including making it easier to zone for multi-family developments.
The Chapel Hill Planning Department introduced potential changes to conditional zoning permits at a public information meeting Wednesday, according to the Town’s website. These proposed changes would coincide with the goals of Chapel Hill 2020, a plan focused on town accessibility, affordability and sustainability, the website says.
Kari Grace, Chapel Hill senior planner, said there are sections in the ordinance concerning conditional zoning, which involves a landowner requesting to use their property for a different use than what it is already zoned for. But this text amendment will add references to it on other application types to improve clarity and consistency, she said.
Conditional zoning and special-use permits allow local governments to approve a particular use for property or land outside of its normally approved use. However, special-use permits require a quasi-judicial process, while conditional zoning involves a legislative process.
“A legislative process allows for participation by more people as information can be shared by anyone and it does not have to be strictly fact-based,” Grace said in an email. “Outside communication is allowed.”
Conditional zoning requires a public hearing but allows for more negotiation and public input than a special-use permit would. Grace said this text amendment is necessary in order to provide consistency throughout the ordinance.
“Conditional zoning could be the first stop in a development procedure if someone was rebuilding a property,” Grace said.
Jessica Anderson, a member of the Chapel Hill Town Council, said the proposed changes will include making concept plan requirements for conditional permits the same as other Town permits and allowing multi-family developments to be approved through the conditional zoning process.
Anderson said the town council has not yet discussed the potential changes to the ordinance.
