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4 <br /> Kart Track Facilities. <br /> F] Other: <br /> B. RATIONALE <br /> 1. Purpose/Mission <br /> In accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 Zoning Atlas and Unified <br /> Development Ordinance Amendments of the UDO, the Planning Director has <br /> initiated an amendment to the UDO to establish a new conditional zoning district — <br /> NC Highway 57 Speedway Area Rural Economic Development Area (REDA-CZ-1). <br /> The REDA concept was first advocated in the NC Highway 57 Speedway Area Small <br /> Area Plan as an alternative to traditional zoning. The BOCC adopted the Small Area <br /> Plan Report on August 21, 2007. The Plan stated that: <br /> certain unique circumstances that arise when a general zoning district <br /> designation would not be appropriate for a certain property, but a specific use <br /> permitted under the district would be consistent with the policies of this ordinance. <br /> The conditional use process can accommodate these unique situations... Using the <br /> conditional district approach, the BOCC could allow some commercial ventures to <br /> occur in the rural parts of the county, based on the suitability of the use to the <br /> particular community.' <br /> The proposed text amendments would develop the necessary assurances for <br /> compatibility with the Comprehensive Plan and the requisite small area plan. While <br /> the initiative comes from the NC Highway 57 Small Area Plan, additional REDA <br /> conditional zoning districts could be adopted in the future for specific geographic <br /> areas within the rural portions of the county where a small area plan, enacted and <br /> adopted by the BOCC, are in effect. <br /> 2. Analysis <br /> Planning staff has been charged with bringing UDO amendments forward, which will <br /> implement adopted small area plans. These proposed UDO text amendments are <br /> derived from the recommendations of the NC Highway 57 Speedway Area Small <br /> Area Plan. Planning staff suggests that the amendment is appropriate to allow <br /> additional non-residential development and necessary to address existing zoning <br /> non-residential, non-conformiting uses within Rural Economic Development Area <br /> identified in the aforementioned plan. <br /> This is all being done within the context of the stated Planning Principles of the NC <br /> Highway 57 Speedway Area Small Area Plan to: <br /> 1. Preserve and protect the rural character and nature of the area, <br /> 2. Minimize negative impacts to natural systems/environmentally sensitive areas, <br /> 3. Restrict growth and development so that it complements the rural character and <br /> 2 <br />