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Belmont council approves zoning change to allow neighborhood manufacturing in BCD district
Summary
Belmont City Council unanimously adopted a text amendment allowing "neighborhood manufacturing" uses in the BCD (business campus development) zoning district — increasing the allowable scale for these small manufacturing and office-front operations to better attract entrepreneurs and small industry.
Belmont City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 6 to adopt a text amendment (TA 2025-04) that adds "neighborhood manufacturing" as an allowed use in the city’s BCD (business campus development) zone, expanding options for small-scale manufacturing and office-front operations.
Planning staff told council the change updates chapter 5.11 and chapter 6.2.18 of the land development code so that neighborhood manufacturing, previously limited to neighborhood center commercial and downtown districts, may occur in BCD zones. Planning staff said the amendment adjusts scale limits to fit the BCD character — increasing what had been a 2,500-square-foot cap in certain districts to a 10,000-square-foot allowance in BCD after consultation with county economic development partners.
Michael Hales of the planning department told council the amendment had been reviewed by the planning board and recommended unanimously (6–0). "The proposed amendment is consistent with the goals of the comprehensive plan," he said, adding that the change aims to provide lower-intensity manufacturing near residential areas while creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and small technology and arts-related businesses.
Donnie Hicks of the Gaston County Economic Development Commission described local market demand, saying a 10,000-square-foot size point is a "sweet spot" for certain second-stage companies and demonstration facilities that attract follow-on investment. He said expanding allowable locations would help the region capture firms that open small U.S. operations and show products without immediately committing to large manufacturing footprints.
Council members clarified that the action is a text amendment affecting zoning rules, not approval of any specific development proposal. After questions about administrative review along primary corridors and special-use permitting elsewhere, the council moved, seconded and passed the ordinance and the required findings that the amendment was a reasonable request and consistent with the comprehensive land use plan.
The ordinance passed with all council members voting in favor; staff said the planning board record and public-notice steps had been satisfied. The change allows future applicants to seek approval for neighborhood manufacturing uses in BCD under the revised code language and applicable site- and design-review processes.
