Harrisburg planning board reviews rezoning and ordinance amendment process as town prepares UDO update

The Town of Harrisburg Planning and Zoning Board on Sept. 17 received a staff briefing on how rezoning and text amendments work and what board members should expect as the town updates its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

"I call this planning and zoning board meeting to order for 09/17/2024," the chair said as the meeting opened and staff began the training. Planning staff presented differences between zoning map amendments and text amendments and explained the procedural findings required under state law.

Michelle, a planning staff member, told the board a zoning map amendment is "anytime you're changing the zoning classification on a property" and said rezonings can be initiated by property owners, developers or the town. She said annexations typically carry a rezoning to town classifications when properties are brought into the town's jurisdiction.

Staff reviewed the two statutorily required findings for a rezoning: whether the request is consistent or inconsistent with the Harrisburg area land use plan and whether the change is reasonable and in the public interest. Michelle said town council approval…