Fletcher staff outline proposed family‑subdivision changes to Land Development Code

Town planning staff described proposed amendments to the Land Development Code intended to ease subdivision barriers for families seeking to divide property for relatives.

Staff (speaker 5) said the package restores a separate family‑subdivision definition in Article 18, adds language to exempt certain family subdivisions from the strict street‑frontage requirement and creates an exception to the rule that a single driveway may not serve more than two lots in a subdivision when the lots are part of an approved family subdivision.

The change aims to allow property owners to carve off small lots for relatives without triggering the full cost of a new residential road or fronting requirements. Staff said the amendment would not change density limits; any lot created must still comply with zoning density standards.

Staff explained the application will require an affidavit signed at time of application to document the family‑transfer intent and to protect future access in the event the property leaves the family, with deeded rights reserved until the next transfer. Council members raised technical questions about minimum right‑of‑way widths and whether the town should adopt a fixed standard (for example, 40 feet) for certain acreage thresholds; staff said Article 12 already specifies rights‑of‑way by street type and offered to return with tailored recommendations for minimum widths.

A public hearing on the amendments was announced for next week; the council did not adopt changes at the meeting.