Agenda - 12-13-2016 - 5-b - Zoning Atlas Amendment – Hillsborough Economic Development District

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5 n Other: B. RATIONALE 1. Purpose/Mission In order to better promote economic development opportunities in the Hillsborough Economic Development District (EDD), the Planning Director is suggesting consideration of rezoning parcels in the EDD south of Interstate 40 in the vicinity of Old Highway 86. Related text amendments to the UDO are also being proposed as a separate action. 2. Analysis The Hillsborough Economic Development District (EDD) has been designated as an EDD since the mid-1990s and was designated Transition Area in the 1981 Comprehensive Plan. The County is currently working on plans to invest in extending water and sewer infrastructure to the south side of Interstate 40. Planning and Economic Development staff are suggesting that these areas could be better promoted to economic development prospects if some areas were rezoned to districts that allow for a broader range of uses and higher intensities and if some text amendments were made to the UDO (the text amendments are a separate but related item). The related text amendment, as proposed at the September 12, 2016 quarterly public hearing, included modifications to the Table of Permitted Uses that would allow for a broader range of uses and higher intensities. However, due to concerns with some proposed uses and overlap with an on-going reorganization effort to bring the UDO into conformity with a recent judicial decision (Byrd v. Franklin County), the modifications to the permitted (and prohibited) uses will be wrapped into the reorganization project. Portions or all of four parcels, totaling 166.2 acres, south of Interstate 40 and west of Old Highway 86 are proposed to be rezoned from EDH-3 to EDH-5. Additionally, 17.05 acres of interstate right-of-way is proposed to be rezoned from and to the same districts. One 34.58 acre parcel east of Old Highway 86 is proposed to be rezoned from EDH- 2 to EDH-4. Additionally, 8.92 acres of interstate right-of-way is proposed to be rezoned from and to the same districts. The maps included in Attachment 3 show the extent of the proposed rezonings. Three overlay districts are applicable in this geographic area of the county: • Watershed Protection Overlay District (parcels of interest are located in the Lower Eno Unprotected Watershed Overlay District and shall remain in this overlay district; Section 4.2 of the UDO contains requirements for this overlay district) • Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) Overlay District (no modifications to the boundaries of this overlay district are being suggested; Sections 2.6, 4.3, and 2