Planning board reviews draft standards for rural event venues; parking, noise and setbacks cited as concerns

Moore County planning staff presented a proposed text amendment to add a "rural event venue" use to the RA zoning district at the April 1 Planning Board work session. The draft would create a permitted-by-right use for public or private events such as weddings, receptions and corporate functions on rural properties that meet detailed standards.

Under the draft standards discussed, a rural event venue would require a minimum lot size of 10 acres, lighting consistent with Highway Corridor Overlay District dark‑sky standards, a parking provision of at least one off‑street parking space for every four persons at full occupancy, a Type 3 landscape screen along side and rear lot lines, building and parking setbacks of at least 100 feet from residentially zoned property and 50 feet from nonresidentially zoned…