Lewisville adopts new unified development ordinance to replace county code

Lewisville — The Town of Lewisville on Thursday adopted a new Unified Development Ordinance intended to simplify local land-use rules and align zoning, design standards and engineering requirements with the town’s 2022 comprehensive plan.

Town planning director Lynn Cochran, who led the rewrite with consultant Kimley‑Horn, told council the project took roughly two years and will replace the patchwork of county language the town had been operating under. “I will say from a professional standpoint and a personal standpoint, I’ve been here for the last year and have worked on this UDO just about daily,” Cochran said during the council presentation. “And this is a watershed moment, I believe.”

The ordinance replaces a mix of Forsyth County provisions and piecemeal fixes with a four‑part code that the consultant, Kelly Klepper of Kimley‑Horn, described as administration (processes and roles), zoning districts and permitted uses, development standards (parking, signage, buffers, tree preservation) and engineering standards (stormwater, grading, traffic). "We said, what makes Lewisville special? We want to be able to also make sure that there is a…