Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Septic Certificate topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alamance commissioners adopt UDO change to allow optional septic‑evaluation certificate on plats
Summary
After a public hearing and comments supporting preservation of rural character, the board unanimously approved an amendment making environmental‑health septic evaluations optional on subdivision plats to align county process with state law.
The Alamance County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance that would add an optional certificate on subdivision plats indicating whether environmental‑health staff have evaluated proposed lots for new septic systems.
Matthew Hoagland, Alamance County planning director, told the board the change aligns county practice with North Carolina General Statute 160D‑803(b), which requires that agencies such as the county health director be given an opportunity to make recommendations on individual subdivision plats but does not mandate pre‑final plat evaluation in all cases. Hoagland said the planning board reviewed and unanimously recommended the amendment at its November 14 meeting and adopted a consistency statement under General Statute 160D‑604.
Several members of the public and planning‑board representatives urged the commissioners to adopt the amendment tonight, while commissioners asked staff to continue considering land‑use tools to preserve agriculture and rural character as the county grows. Commissioners discussed options previously examined, including lot‑size changes, and staff said additional drafts would return in January for further consideration.
The board closed the public hearing and voted to add the stated paragraph to Article 8 of the Unified Development Ordinance; the motion carried unanimously.
