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Council adopts UDO changes to speed industrial development, raises allowed building heights to 75 feet
Summary
The council unanimously approved amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance to reclassify certain manufactured goods uses as by‑right in general industrial zoning and to raise an industrial building height cap from 50 to 75 feet to better accommodate modern industrial users.
The Gastonia City Council unanimously approved updates to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) intended to make the city more competitive for industrial recruitment.
Assistant Planning Director Joe Gates told council the amendments were developed in partnership with Gaston County economic-development staff and would reclassify selected North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) categories so that some “manufactured goods” uses in I‑2 and I‑3 districts would be allowed by right (with supplemental regulations) instead of requiring discretionary approvals. That administrative change, Gates said, would shorten review timelines for certain industrial projects.
Gates also recommended raising the ordinance’s ceiling on industrial building height from 50 feet to 75 feet. He said modern manufacturing and distribution projects increasingly require higher clear heights and that a 75‑foot allowance would accommodate typical contemporary production and storage designs without broadening other use permissions.
Donnie Hicks, director of Gaston County Economic Development, joined the presentation and described similar changes the county has adopted to “modernize” ordinances and to position the region to compete for large industrial projects. Hicks urged the council to adopt the changes because visiting site selectors and corporate teams frequently evaluate clearance heights and ordinance flexibility when short‑listing locations.
Gates noted the Planning Commission reviewed the text amendments at its June 10 meeting and unanimously recommended approval. On the council floor the public hearing was opened, no citizens objected, and the council voted to close the hearing and adopt the ordinance amendment and an associated statement of consistency and reasonableness. The motions passed unanimously.
Why this matters: The UDO update removes procedural barriers for some industrial uses and allows greater building height, changes that staff and the county say will help Gastonia be considered in larger industrial recruitment projects. The amendment does not change permitted uses across other zoning districts; it targets industrial zones and includes supplemental standards to address impacts such as buffering and site layout.
Implementation: Staff said the changes are effective on adoption and that building permit reviewers will apply the revised definitions and height limit in forthcoming project reviews.
