Due to the recent passing of Senate Bill 25 by the NC General Assembly, an amendment to Chapter 4 of the Land Development Code is required to remove building design standards for single-family residential development, duplexes and fences. The bill is retroactive and seeks to remove local government authority to regulate the design and appearance of one and two family dwellings unless said structures are nationally-designated historic properties, or located within a locally regulated Historic District. This applies to several building design elements, including color, building material, roof structures, porches, and nonstructural ornamentation, which includes locations and design of windows and doors (including garage doors), and the number, type and layout of any interior rooms. Height, bulk, and building orientation on the lot are still able to be regulated by local zoning ordinances. These restrictions do not apply to multi-family, commercial, industrial or civic buildings, which will remain in Chapter 4. Multi-family has been added to the commercial standards, and will also include a few new architectural requirements, such as building articulation, front porch requirements, and locations of garages. Fences, Garden Walls and Retaining Walls are being moved to Chapter 3: General Requirements, and will only include height restrictions, whereas front yard fences are now limited to 4-feet in height.
Planning Board, Land Development Code Advisory Board and Staff recommend approval of the text amendment. |