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Forsyth County staff propose UDO changes to standardize single-family lot sizes in RM districts
Summary
Planning staff briefed the Board on a text amendment that would set a uniform 5,000-square-foot minimum lot size for single-family homes across multifamily (RM) zoning districts and align related UDO tables to reduce inconsistent standards and remove the need to rezone for infill development.
Planning and Development Services Director Chris Murphy told the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners that staff has proposed a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendment to clarify and harmonize single-family dimensional requirements within multifamily (RM) zoning districts, with the aim of removing inconsistencies that have placed single-family uses under stricter standards than more intense multifamily uses.
The amendment would add a footnote to RM district tables referencing RM-5 table requirements and set a uniform minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet for single-family units in all RM districts, Murphy said. "This amendment will rectify discrepancies and improve logic and clarity throughout multiple UDO sections," he said. "The proposed changes does remove barriers, which will improve infill development opportunities by removing the need to rezone from RM to RS or to receive a variance approval from the zoning board of adjustment." Murphy added that the amendment "does not constitute a down zoning per the regulations of Senate Bill 382."
Murphy said the item arose after a rezoning request showed single-family standards varied and sometimes were more stringent than those for multifamily buildings. He told commissioners the planning board heard the amendment on Oct. 10, 2024, recorded no speakers in opposition and voted unanimously to recommend approval. "This has been adopted by city council," he said, and stood ready to answer questions.
No formal action was recorded during the briefing; the county manager stated the amendment is on the agenda for the board's April 10 consideration. If the board advances the item on April 10 it will proceed through the statutory public hearing and adoption steps defined by the county's UDO process.
Background: The change aims to reduce the number of rezonings or variances required to build single-family homes on infill parcels in higher-density RM districts by making single-family dimensional standards consistent across RM districts. Commissioners did not vote on the amendment during the briefing.
Looking ahead: The item is scheduled for the board's April 10 meeting for public hearing and formal consideration.
