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Union County Rural Land Use Plan Adoption and Land Use Map Amendments
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bjorn E. Hansen, Planning Department, Senior Planner - Long Range Planning, 704-283-3690
ACTION REQUESTED:
Consider adopting Rural Land Use Plan and amendments to Land Use Map. The Board may consider the following language.
TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PLAN AND AMENDMENTS
Motion
(i) Adopt the Resolution Adopting the Rural Land Use Plan and Amending the Union County Land Use Map.
TO DENY THE PROPOSED PLAN AND AMENDMENTS
Motion
(i) Deny Rural Land Use Plan as presented; and (ii) deny amendment to the Union County Land Use Map.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
1) May 6, 2024, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item # 24-289 - Authorize staff to apply for Green Growth Toolkit grant.
2) March 17, 2025, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item # 25-071 - Receive update on vision statement.
3) August 11, 2025, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item #25-483 - Receive update on draft strategies
4) November 17, 2025, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item 25-692 - Conduct public hearing on rural land use plan and land use map amendments
BACKGROUND:
The steering committee has completed its work in developing a land use plan for the rural parts of Union County. The draft report summarizes the work of the committee, including its strategy recommendations, which are below:
• Require contiguous areas for open space in major subdivisions
• Express concern over impacts from bypasses
• Expand rural area in Land Use Map
• Add six rural centers to the Land Use Map
• Flexibility for commercial uses in rural areas
The project also included a conservation development brochure, which will be developed based on what strategies are approved in the Plan.
The Soil and Water Conservation District and Land Use Board both reviewed and recommend the plan as submitted.
A total of two comments have been received from the public, as well as 19 attached comments from students at a Piedmont High School honors science course. Both public comments noted concern over impacts of growth and transportation projects on rural character and agriculture.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.