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Resident criticizes UDO change that would alter planning‑board public‑hearing role; town schedules formal review
Summary
A resident criticized proposed changes to the UDO that would alter planning‑board public‑hearing procedures and remove some explicit public‑comment timing; staff noted the amendment will be presented for public hearing Aug. 11 as Motion 25‑2025‑3.
A Matthews resident told the Board of Commissioners the town should not reduce opportunities for public comment after staff circulated an update to the town’s Unified Development Ordinance that would change how the planning board participates in public hearings.
At the start of the public‑comment period, Alex Freeman urged commissioners to oppose Motion 25‑2025‑3, a UDO amendment scheduled for public hearing on Aug. 11 that revises the planning board’s role in zoning‑map and text‑amendment public hearings. Freeman said the proposed language would remove the requirement that the planning board hold a joint public hearing with the board of commissioners and that it would curtail submission and review timing for public comment and the planning board’s formal recommendation.
Freeman called the revisions “an attempt to give the planning board even more control over zoning changes” and argued that planning board members are appointed rather than elected; he urged commissioners to preserve resident access to hearings and to resist changes that would reduce transparency.
What staff said: Planning director Jay Camp introduced the legislative update and identified the item as Motion 25‑2025‑3 with a public hearing date of Aug. 11. Staff also told the board it had been asked to refine several procedural sections of the UDO; the text under consideration would change wording about the planning board’s review timing and whether that review occurs “before” or “at” the public hearing.
Why it matters: Public‑hearing procedure defines when and how the planning board and the public may comment on rezoning and UDO amendments. Freeman and other public commenters framed the change as a matter of public access and transparency; staff framed it as a technical clarification of review timing and process. The amendments will be heard at a public hearing on Aug. 11 where commissioners will have the opportunity to consider public input and staff recommendation.
Decision: The board opened the public‑comment period and noted Motion 25‑2025‑3 will be presented at the public hearing on Aug. 11 for formal consideration. No amendment was adopted at the July 14 meeting.
