Planning board adopts recommendation to amend zoning ordinance to comply with state law removing one‑year resubmittal wait

The Pitt County Planning Board voted to recommend a text amendment to the county zoning ordinance to remove a local one‑year waiting period for re‑submittal of rezoning requests that had been denied.

Planning staff told the board the change is required to comply with recent state legislation (House Bill 926) that amended North Carolina General Statute 160D‑601 and eliminated the one‑year wait period for re‑filing a rezoning request after denial. Staff said the amendment would revise section 14‑j of the Pitt County Zoning Ordinance to remove the clause requiring a year‑long waiting period.

"With the amendment, by the legislation, they have taken that calls out," planning staff said, explaining the statute change. Staff recommended adopting the amendment to bring the county ordinance into compliance with state law. A public hearing was opened and closed with one resident speaker seeking clarification about the practical effect of the change; staff and board members responded that the state law removes the local waiting period and allows applicants to resubmit sooner, potentially after addressing concerns raised at the denial.

A board member moved to adopt the recommendation that the amendment is consistent with the Envision Pitt County 2045 comprehensive land‑use plan and reasonable because it aligns local code with state law. The motion passed on a voice vote.

The board's recommendation will be forwarded to the Pitt County Board of Commissioners for final action at their November 17 meeting.