Moore County commissioners adopt zoning and budget measures, OK school computer lease and fire vehicle purchase

The Moore County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 approved a package of land-use, budget and public-safety items and moved several public hearings to future meetings.

The board voted to adopt a consistency statement for the county’s land use plan and to approve amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that change “personal workshop” from an accessory use to a principal use in specified sections of Chapter 6 and Chapter 8. Commissioners also adopted a proposed schedule for the county’s fiscal 2025–26 budget process, approved the continued operation of the county’s combined Child Fatality Prevention Team and Community Child Protection Team as a single-county local team, authorized a county contribution not to exceed $54,000 toward a replacement utility vehicle for the 7 Lakes Fire Department (and approved a matching budget amendment), and approved a three-year lease-purchase for student computers for Moore County Schools that requires an appropriation to the Board of Education.

Why it matters: the UDO amendment clarifies how “personal workshop” uses are classified in the county code; the land-use consistency vote and the UDO change are steps in aligning the county’s zoning rules with its planning work. The budget schedule sets the calendar for required statutory hearings and adoption, and the purchases affect county capital and school technology planning.

Planning and zoning

The board approved an amendment to the UDO to list personal workshops as a principal use rather than only as an accessory use, following a unanimous planning board recommendation. Planning staff explained the change resolves confusion in the ordinance about whether certain standalone workshop buildings were permitted. Local resident Randolph “Randy” Craven spoke during the public hearing describing how UDO restrictions had affected his ability to build a small workshop for personal use; he urged the board to lift restrictions for property owners who want modest structures. The board voted to approve the amendments. (See “Votes at a glance.”)

Land-use consistency

Board members voted to find the county’s actions consistent with the Board of Commissioners’ adopted land use plan and authorized the chairman to execute documents required by North Carolina General Statute 160D-605. The county attorney and planning staff had recommended the motion to ensure statutory procedures are met before moving forward with UDO amendments or map changes.

Public hearings

Several advertised public hearings were continued to the Feb. 18 meeting because of scheduling and public-notice constraints, including two conditional rezoning requests: (A) a request for a wireless telecommunications facility rezoning (RA to RACZ) and (B) a request to rezone from rural agricultural to neighborhood business conditional zoning (B-1CZ) for a mini-warehouse/self-storage site. One hearing (Item D) was continued until April to allow further work on size limits and accessory-use language. The board heard and decided Item C — the UDO amendment described above — after a short public hearing and the planning board’s unanimous recommendation.

Budget schedule and school technology

The board adopted a proposed budget calendar for fiscal 2025–26. Under the approved timeline, the county will present its recommended budget in May and hold the required public hearing in June (the board set the statutory public hearing date during the meeting). The board also approved a lease-purchase arrangement presented by Moore County Schools to refresh student devices in three schools. Deputy Superintendent Mike Metcalf said the arrangement will require an appropriation of about $501,206.96 per year for three years to the board of education as part of the regular funding formula; commissioners said the lease is funded within the school funding allocation rather than as new, separate county spending.

Child fatality prevention team

David Richmond, director of Moore County Department of Social Services, recommended the board confirm continuing the county’s combined Child Fatality Prevention Team (CFPT) and Community Child Protection Team (CCPT) as a single-county local team, consistent with recent state statutory changes. Richmond said the statutory revisions consolidated the two teams at the local level and required boards of county commissioners to determine whether a local team will operate as single- or multi-county. Richmond said, “we feel that since Moore County has a well established, team and cohesive team structure in place, that we hope that you would agree that a single county team is the best option for Moore County.” The board unanimously approved the confirmation.

Public safety apparatus and budget amendment

Public Safety Director Bridal Phillips presented the 7 Lakes Fire Department’s request to replace a 2008 Ford F-250 utility vehicle. Phillips said the county’s share of the purchase will not exceed $54,000. The board approved the purchase authorization and separately approved an attached budget amendment moving $54,000 from Fund 258 to Fund 216 to fund the county portion; staff said the department will provide proof of purchase before reimbursement.

Discussion of Senate Bill 382 (downzoning)

Commissioners discussed a recently enacted state change often described as a prohibition on “downzoning.” County staff outlined the effect of the revised language in North Carolina General Statute 160D (cited in the meeting as revised statute language) and said it creates ambiguity for some local text amendments and map changes because it generally prevents removing existing uses from parcels without consent. The manager summarized that many local governments are seeking clarification or repeal. Several commissioners said they preferred to wait until the county’s land-use committee finishes its work and the staff maps, UDO and plan are aligned before drafting a resolution to the General Assembly; others said they would prefer to ask the legislature to repeal the new language and consider the change through normal legislative process. No formal resolution was adopted at the meeting.

Other business

The board moved a planned presentation on a museum project to the Feb. 18 meeting and heard multiple public comments during the public-comment period. Citizen speakers urged the board to use opioid settlement funds for school-based prevention programs, raised concerns about school consolidation and large new school footprints, and asked about placement of an “In God We Trust” sign at a county border crossing. Commissioners responded with procedural updates and follow-up commitments where appropriate.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to add a museum presentation to the Feb. 18 agenda — approved (motion passed). - Continue public hearing A (conditional rezoning for wireless telecom facility at 9739 NC 2427) to Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m. — continued (motion passed). - Continue public hearing B (rezoning for mini-warehouse/self-storage at 1280 Lehman Road) to Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m. — continued (motion passed). - Public hearing C (UDO amendments to Chapter 6 and Chapter 8 — personal workshop/storage building): open public hearing, accept public comment, and adopt amendments — approved (motion passed). - Public hearing D (accessory uses and structures amendment) — continued to April (motion passed). - Adopt land-use plan consistency statement and authorize execution of documents required by North Carolina General Statute 160D-605 — approved (motion passed). - Approve amendments to Chapter 6 (Table of Uses) and Chapter 8 (personal workshop/storage building) as recommended by planning staff and planning board — approved (motion passed). - Approve proposed FY2025–26 budget schedule (statutory public hearing set in June; calendar revised during meeting) — approved (motion passed). - Confirm Moore County CFPT/CCPT operation as a single-county local team (per 2023 statutory revisions) — approved (motion passed). - Approve purchase of replacement utility vehicle for 7 Lakes Fire Department, county portion not to exceed $54,000, and authorize county manager to sign documents — approved (motion passed). - Approve budget amendment moving $54,000 from Fund 258 to Fund 216 to fund the county share of the 7 Lakes vehicle purchase — approved (motion passed). - Approve lease-purchase resolution for computers for Moore County Schools and appropriation of approximately $501,206.96 per year for three years (to be funded within the regular school allocation) — approved (motion passed).

Meeting context and next steps

Commissioners said the county’s land-use committee will continue work aligning maps, the land use plan and the UDO; staff and commissioners agreed to revisit whether to ask the legislature to amend or repeal the downzoning language after those products are drafted and mapped. The continued public hearings will reopen on Feb. 18; Item D will return in April for further consideration of size limits and accessory-use language.