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Union County adopts rural land use plan, amends land use map
Summary
The Board of Commissioners voted March 16 to adopt a rural land use plan and amend the Union County land use map, adopting new strategies including expanding the rural area, adding six rural centers and tightening contiguous open-space requirements for major subdivisions.
Union County’s Board of Commissioners voted March 16 to adopt a rural land use plan and amend the county land use map, adopting several strategy recommendations intended to shape rural growth and small-scale commercial opportunities.
Senior planner Bjorn Hansen told the board the study area covers about six square miles east of Rocky River, north of I‑75, and includes parts of the county identified as rural residential in the Union County 2050 comprehensive plan. Hansen said the package before the board included both strategy text and two types of map amendments: (1) an expansion of the designated rural area and (2) designation of six new rural centers for limited commercial uses.
Hansen said some strategies will require additional action — including amendments to the unified development ordinance and future public hearings — while map amendments and the land use plan itself could be adopted by resolution that night. He described a rural center as “approximately maybe 40,000 square feet of leased area” intended for small-scale uses such as a gas station, small grocery or restaurant rather than large-format retail.
Commissioners pressed staff on details. The chair and staff clarified that the new contiguous-open-space requirement would apply only to major subdivisions (the county’s current threshold for a major subdivision applies at roughly eight or more lots) and that the proposal would require roughly 60% of the existing 30% open-space requirement to be contiguous — roughly 18% of a development’s area — where the contiguous requirement is triggered. Staff also noted that public water and sewer are generally not available in the expanded rural area and that development would rely on well and septic unless and until utilities are extended.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt the plan and a resolution amending the Union County Land Use Map; the board approved the motion by voice vote. The board directed staff to proceed with any follow-up ordinance amendments and noted that some strategies will return for additional deliberation and public review.
The action adopts the county’s rural policy guidance and puts the new land use map into effect pending any implementing UDO amendments; further procedural steps will be required for specific zoning or subdivision changes under the county’s ordinances.
