LMO Rewrite Committee

Mission:

To rewrite the LMO to simplify the Town's land development regulations and reorganize it into a format that is more user-friendly and easier to understand and apply. Property owners and investors should be able to clearly and quickly understand what development and improvements to property the code will support. The new code should not require users to search through multiple chapters to find regulations affecting a specific property. This code should encourage reinvestment to revitalize existing development and encourage investment in new development consistent w the Town's core value.

The Committee is to be guided by direction identified by Town Council at its 2010 Workshop. The areas below are to be addressed. As part of this effort, the Committee shall review staff efforts in reworking the LMO to address the Town Council’s directives.

Development application review and permitting processes and procedures.
- Eliminate unnecessary processes and procedures.
- Eliminate unnecessary submittal requirements.
- Conform notice requirements to State Code.
- Review criteria for special exceptions/variances and rezoning. Make them flexible and easy to understand.
Zoning districts.
- Review recent rezoning requests.
- Evaluate current and future market trends.
- Evaluate and identify appropriate land uses and densities with attention to market trends and past rezoning requests.
- Develop a new zoning scheme to replace existing zoning districts outside existing PD-1s.
Design standards.
- Develop specific design standards for selected zoning districts.
- Review non-district specific design and natural resources standards.
- Eliminate outdated requirements, create flexibility where appropriate.
Administrative waivers.

Develop process to allow more waivers at staff level.

Nonconformities.

Evaluate policy on nonconformities.
Devise framework to facilitate improvement of existing nonconforming sites.

PD-1’s.
- Evaluate the use of master plans for zoning purposes.
- Consider more broad designations of allowed uses and densities.
- Develop a framework to establish consistent development regulations for all PUDs.
- Evaluate the current “use it or lose it” clause and determine appropriate applications
Identify and prioritize revitalization and investment zones.
- The Coligny area and Shelter Cove Mall are already identified by Town Council, Comprehensive Plan and Mayor's Task Force as top priority investment areas.
- Existing TIF district has prioritized other areas.
- Other suitable areas should be identified and prioritized.

Any additional work beyond the areas identified above must first be approved by the Town Council.

The work product of the Committee shall be a rewritten LMO. The Committee shall seek public input throughout the process of developing this document and shall solicit public comment on the final product before presenting it to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall conduct public hearings on the rewritten LMO and forward it to Town Council with any recommendations following the same procedures required for LMO amendments.

The Committee shall report to the Planning Commission and make periodic presentations to Town Council at critical stages.

The Committee shall complete its work within 1 year from the date of its first meeting It shall establish a meeting schedule as required to meet this deadline. The Committee shall work closely with Town staff to complete this task.

The Committee may make recommendations to Town Council for additional resources, such as consultants, to assist in the completion of its work. Town staff shall assist the Committee in the preparation of RFQ’s for any consulting services deemed necessary by Town Council. Town staff will serve as liaison between the Committee and consultants and insure compliance with all regulations.