Durham planning director previews FY25 work program, highlights Unified Development Ordinance and RTP South design district

Sara Young, AICP, Planning Director, presented the City-County Planning Department’s proposed FY25 work program to the Durham County Board of County Commissioners on May 6, describing a mix of ongoing, legally mandated tasks and discretionary projects.

Why it matters: The work program sets planning priorities that affect zoning, annexation processes, infrastructure connections and small-area planning across Durham County.

Young said the FY25 program will focus on a new Unified Development Ordinance, a Research Triangle Park South Design District, city code amendments for water and sewer connections, a community goals and objectives report card, prioritized small-area plan scoping, a landscape manual update and an urban growth boundary tree canopy analysis.

Chair Nida Allam asked for additional discussion about the County’s role and input on zoning and annexations; Young recommended the subject be taken up in the Joint City-County Planning Committee and agreed to add it to an upcoming agenda. Commissioner Wendy Jacobs requested a detailed explanation of small-area plan scoping and asked that rezoning requests inconsistent with the County’s urban growth boundaries and the Comprehensive Land Use Plan be presented to the Board. Vice-Chair Nimasheena Burns asked staff to ensure information and dates for an open house on the Research Triangle Park South Design District are posted on the Durham County website.

Next steps: Staff agreed to add the zoning and annexation discussion to a future Joint City-County Planning Committee meeting agenda and to share requested materials and public engagement dates with the Board and the public.