The Town of Pittsboro Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend a zoning text amendment (ZTA 2025-02) that would add formal language to the Unified Development Ordinance establishing a Technical Review Committee for pre-application and technical reviews.

Staff explained the committee was formed on July 1, 2024, to assemble internal town divisions and outside agencies — county, state and select federal and utility representatives — to provide technical feedback to developers before plans advance to the planning board or staff approval stages. “On, 07/01/2024, we, formed a technical review committee,” the staff presenter said, describing the change as a formalization of an existing ad hoc practice. Staff noted the committee’s size is driven by project components; not every invitee attends every meeting.

The staff presenter emphasized these technical review sessions are intended as internal professional reviews rather than community input sessions and said participation by outside agencies is required where relevant. “There’s no way out of it. You either withdraw your project or you subject it to this,” the presenter said, explaining that agencies such as the postmaster, NCDOT, the fire marshal and environmental health will be asked to comment as applicable. Staff also said that written comments are solicited and that agencies are expected to respond within a 30-day window once a plan is posted in the town’s application portal (OpenGov).

Alan Wilson moved to recommend approval of ZTA 2025-02 as submitted; Charity Dalton seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The planning board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Town Board for final consideration.