Sec. 3.26. Statutory Development Agreement

3.26.1. Purpose

Statutory developmentClosed agreements are intended to provide for community benefits within developmentsClosed that are difficult to accommodate within traditional zoning processes. Additionally, they can provide regulatory certainty, a schedule for developmentClosed, coordination for the provision of public facilitiesClosed, sustainable design, and improved management of environmentally sensitive lands, as applicable. This section provides a procedure for requests for statutory developmentClosed agreements pursuant to NCGS Chapter 160D, Article 10, DevelopmentClosed Agreements; and 160D-704, Incentives.

3.26.2. Applicability

The city or county, with approval by the applicable governing body based upon jurisdiction, may enter into a statutory developmentClosed agreement pursuant to NCGS Chapter 160D, Article 10, DevelopmentClosed Agreements; 160D-704, Incentives; and the requirements of this Ordinance.

3.26.3. Pre-Application Conference

The applicant(s) applying for a developmentClosed agreement shall schedule a pre-application conference in accordance with paragraph 3.2.2, Pre-Application Conference.

3.26.4. Neighborhood Meeting

The applicant(s) applying for a developmentClosed agreement shall hold one or more neighborhood meetings in accordance with paragraph 3.2.3, Neighborhood Meeting.

3.26.5. Application Requirements

An application for a developmentClosed agreement shall be submitted in accordance with paragraphs 3.2.4, Application Requirementss.

3.26.6. Requirements and Limitations

A. Statutory Requirements

A developmentClosed agreement shall adhere to the requirements of NCGS Chapter 160D, Article 10, DevelopmentClosed Agreements.

B. Limitations

A developmentClosed agreement may modify the standards of this Ordinance except:

1. The process for adoption and execution of a developmentClosed agreement shall not be modified.

2. A developmentClosed agreement shall not allow uses and/or housing types that are not allowed in the underlying zoning district of the subject property.

3. A developmentClosed agreement shall not reduce environmental requirements within Article 4, Zoning Districts; and Article 8, Environmental Protection.

4. A developmentClosed agreement shall not reduce requirements within Article 12, Infrastructure and Other Public Improvements

3.26.7. Review of Application

After receiving the application, the City or County Attorney’s officeClosed, as applicable; the Planning Director or designee; and any other applicable department or agencyClosed shall be responsible for review and recommendation regarding the request.

3.26.8. Coordination with a Zoning Map Change

When a developmentClosed agreement request is associated with a zoning map change, the public hearings may be heard at the same time; however, decisions shall be rendered with separate motions.

3.26.9. Action by the Planning Commission

A. General Procedures

1. Before making any recommendation on a petition for a statutory developmentClosed agreement, the Planning Commission shall consider any recommendations from the Planning Director and any other department or agencyClosed, and shall conduct a public hearing where interested parties may be heard.

2. Notice and public hearing requirements shall be in accordance with paragraph 3.2.5, Notice and Public Hearings.

3. Except in the case of expedited hearings pursuant to paragraph 3.26.10B, Expedited Hearing, the Commission shall make its recommendation within three consecutive regular Commission cycles (approximately 90 days total) of its initial public hearing. In case of significant modifications, the time period for a recommendation may be altered, in which case a maximum of three additional consecutive regular cycles may be granted before the case shall go to the governing body.

4. When a recommendation is not made within the time periods established in this section, the governing body may process the request without a Commission recommendation.

3.26.10. Action by the Governing Body

A. General Procedures

1. Before taking action on a developmentClosed agreement request, the governing body shall consider any recommendations of the Planning Commission, Planning Director or designee, and of staff agenciesClosed, and shall conduct a public hearing where interested parties may be heard.

2. Notice and public hearing requirements shall be in accordance with paragraph 3.2.5, Notice and Public Hearings.

3. The governing body may continue a public hearing prior to closing the hearing and taking action on the request.

4. Following the public hearing, the governing body may approve the request, deny the request, or send the request back to the Planning Commission for additional consideration.

5. The developmentClosed agreement request approved by the governing body may include changes from the request presented.

B. Expedited Hearing

1. The governing body, in situations in which it determines certain standards have been met, may expedite the hearing process on a proposed developmentClosed agreement.

2. The governing body may consider a written request from a potential applicant, or from staff, requesting an expedited hearing process. The request shall identify and support the reasons for such expedited consideration.

3. In order to grant the request, the governing body shall find that at least one of the criteria below have been met:

a. Deadlines set by the local, State, or Federal government for receipt of applications for needed funding, designation, or other regulations concerning the property make expedited consideration necessary;

b. The prospective request results from an emergency beyond the control of the applicant, such as response to a disaster;

c. The prospective request addresses an urgent matter of public health or safety; or

d. There are special circumstances that will have a substantial negative impact on the developmentClosed which could not have reasonably been anticipated and which make expedited consideration necessary.

3.26.11. Recordation

Pursuant to NCGS 160D-1011, an approved developmentClosed agreement shall be recorded with the Register of Deeds.

A. The approved developmentClosed agreement shall be recorded within 14 days from the date the city or county, as applicable, and the applicant execute the agreement approved by the governing body.

B. No developmentClosed approvals shall be issued until the developmentClosed agreement is recorded.