High Point task force reports progress on 2045 implementation; development ordinance update to move through modular public review

Andy Piper, the city’s planning administrator, and task-force members reported to the High Point City Council on the implementation work for the High Point 2045 comprehensive plan and a separate update to the city’s development ordinance.

Piper said the comprehensive plan—adopted in May 2024—identified three priority outcomes (cultivating community and unity, strengthening downtown vitality, and integrating housing with land use and transportation) and five strategic initiatives. The city-formed implementation task force has reviewed and updated the plan’s implementation tables, including success measures, target completion years and lead partners.

Task-force members described active work across multiple initiatives. Rishanda Moses, a task-force member, highlighted progress in the Washington Street community, support from city staff during an underground utilities project, local business engagement under a “Shop on Washington” initiative, and plans for transitional-industrial standards tied to the Southwest Mill District. She said the district conversations include a potential increase of about 60 housing units in that area.

Joe Blosser, another task-force member, said residents and task-force members debated timing for downtown interventions and the municipal service district idea discussed earlier in the meeting. “Really a question of timing. When is the best to do this thing?” he said, summarizing resident concerns about whether to establish new tools before or after additional downtown housing is built. Blosser said the task force set a target of 250 new downtown residential units by 2030 in its planning discussion, while noting many residents want faster progress.

On the development ordinance update (the city’s land‑use regulations), Piper and Sam Hennet of the funding/development department described an outreach program completed this summer: three in‑person open houses (Stock and Grain lunch event, High Point Public Library evening session, and Deep River Rec Center), an online survey and 12 stakeholder-focused meetings run by the project consultant, Inspire Place Making Collective. Staff reported roughly 40 participants at the open houses, 21 online survey responses and about 100 participants across the 12 stakeholder sessions—about 160 participants in total across all engagement activities.

Stakeholder themes identified in the engagement summary included natural-resource protection and environmental standards (stormwater/surface-water buffers), zoning flexibility to encourage infill development, expanding housing options (the “missing middle” and cottage‑court styles), activity-center guidance (regional, town and neighborhood scales), parking and streetscape approaches, and a development-incentives matrix that trades additional density or height for public benefits such as open space. Staff said the full engagement summary and written comments are in the meeting packet.

Piper explained staff will divide the ordinance rewrite into manageable “modules” (sections of the ordinance) and continue technical review with city user groups (the technical review committee and staff from community development, planning and transportation) and external working groups (developers, land-use attorneys, architects, realtors). Staff anticipates two additional working/user-group rounds in 2025, two more in 2026, a further general-public outreach phase, then Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council public hearings later in 2026.

Piper provided a public contact for input and tracking: an email address noted in the meeting (info@high0.2045.org) and the project web materials; staff said updates and the task force’s implementation tables will be posted online and refreshed at least annually.

Council members and task-force participants described the task force as highly engaged and recommended continuing public outreach and regular reporting to council. No ordinance amendments were adopted at the meeting; the presentations were informational and sought council guidance on next steps and public engagement priorities.