Moore County planning staff recommend updates to watershed rules; stop short of adopting high‑density option

Moore County planning staff on April 1 outlined proposed text amendments to the watershed chapter (Chapter 16) of the countyUnified Development Ordinance to bring local rules into alignment with state standards and to add clarity on stream determinations and variance procedures.

The changes, presented at a Planning Board work session, would update language to match the state model ordinance, add a note referencing a state statute cited in the staff materials, permit an on-site stream determination by a qualified individual where topographic maps do not distinguish stream type, and expand the minor/major variance language to mirror state guidance. Staff also presented an optional "high density" overlay district that would allow a greater percentage of built-upon area but would require engineered…