BY DEBBIE PAGE
The Troutman Planning and Zoning Board recommended two amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance on Monday night. The proposed changes will be considered by the Town Council on May 9.
The board also learned that Town Planner Lynne Haire is leaving for a position with the Centralina Council of Government in Charlotte. Assistant Planning Director Andrew Ventresca will step in as interim planner.
One major change is to bring the town Unified Code of Ordinance into compliance with the state statute NCGS 136-32 regulating election campaign signs. The current UDO allows signs up to 32 square feet on U.S. 21, Wagner Street, Old Mountain Road, Murdock Road, and Talley Street.
To bring the ordinance into compliance, the planning staff recommended that that all campaign signs be limited to 6 square feet and must be located in a way that maintains sight distances and triangles at intersections.
The signs may be allowed in the right-of-way, except for right of way areas immediately adjacent to town property.
The signs may be installed up to 30 days prior to the start of early voting and must be removed within 10 days after the election.
The planning board voted 5-0 to recommend the amendment.
Another amendment endorsed by the board was a change to the fencing requirements for residential and commercial accessory structures sections 3.4.3. and 3.4.3.1 of the UDO.
A new section was added requiring any fences be constructed with the finished side facing the adjacent property or street. The need for this change was raised after complaints made by citizens about the unfinished fence facing their properties.
This requirement was in a previous version of the UDO but left out of the current one. Any existing fence constructed with the unfinished side out would be grandfathered, said Hair, but any new fence sections or fencing constructed must conform to this new standard if council approves this change in May.
Next Meeting
The board also approved a change in its May meeting date to Tuesday, May 28, at 6 p.m. because of the Memorial Day holiday.
The planning director creates havoc here in Troutman by changing UDOs, granting zoning changes without consideration to local residents quality of life, and approves thousands of new building permits, then decides to go to work for an organization that guides other planning boards. Who’s to blame for this? The Town Council, the Town Manager, and most of all…the apathetic public who, like to complain, but do nothing to change the landscape of the Town government.
Congratulations to Lynne for getting away from Ron Wyatt and the council.