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Planning board recommends raising RCD minimums to 18,000 sq ft minimum, 20,000 sq ft average
Summary
After public comment and staff briefing, the Weddington Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend a UDO amendment for Rural Conservation Districts that sets an 18,000-square-foot minimum lot, 20,000-square-foot average, wider setbacks and an option-averaging approach to preserve open space while giving developers layout flexibility.
Weddington — The Planning Board voted to recommend a text amendment to the town's Unified Development Ordinance that would change minimum lot standards in the Rural Conservation District (RCD), adopting an averaging approach with an 18,000-square-foot minimum and a 20,000-square-foot average.
The change, described by town planner Greg as "a compromise" among several options, would also raise minimum lot width to 100 feet, set a 20-foot front setback, a 12-foot side setback and a 40-foot rear setback. The board moved the recommendation after discussing three staff options — one that mirrored existing RE zoning, a modest increase to about one-third of an acre, and the compromise now recommended to Town Council.
Why it matters: Planning staff said the revisions respond to resident concerns about small lots, shrinking backyards and frequent placement of accessory structures (pools, play equipment) that reduce usable private open space. Staff also cited enforcement benefits from adopting consistent setbacks rather than asymmetrical side-loading rules that are difficult to measure at permitting.
Board members repeatedly framed the proposal as a balance between preserving conservation-area incentives and keeping RCD development feasible. One resident who spoke during public comment, Chad Amar, urged raising the minimum to 20,000 square feet and increasing setbacks, arguing that recent developments left little rear-yard space for families.
Greg summarized the tradeoffs: yield on an RCD remains guided by the project's yield plan and the requirement to set aside roughly 50% of land as conservation, so raising lot sizes does not automatically reduce the conservation acreage but can change how homes are distributed on the developable portion. "If we set a higher minimum but keep the 50% conservation, homes will spread across the remaining land," Greg said during the staff presentation.
Board members discussed enforcement and practical design concerns — the need for larger backyards for septic systems in a town that relies primarily on septic, garage-turning radii for side-loading garages, and how averaging can give developers flexibility on parcels with varied topography. After questions and back-and-forth with staff, a member moved the proposal (Option C with averaging) and the board approved the recommendation by voice vote.
The board will forward its recommendation, including the numerical specifications and suggested conditions, to the Town Council for final consideration and any required ordinance drafting.
What's next: The Planning Board's recommendation will be transmitted to the Town Council as an ordinance proposal; Council review and a public hearing will follow under the town's legislative process.
Quote: "I think 18,000 minimum with a 20,000 average gives flexibility while preserving the intent of conservation," one Planning Board member said during debate.
The meeting record shows no formal recorded roll-call tally for the voice vote; minutes state the motion carried with "all in favor."
