Planning board finds conditional zoning application consistent with Montreat plan, recommends approval to town board

At a planning board meeting, the Montreat Planning Board voted to find a conditional zoning (CZ) application consistent with the town's comprehensive plan and recommended the town board approve the application.

The board split its actions into two votes: first a consistency finding, then a recommendation on approval. A planning board member moved that the application be found consistent with the Montreat comprehensive plan because it "manages growth in the outlining areas in a manner that protects views and the character of the natural environment while providing opportunities for variations in housing form and layout." Another member offered a friendly amendment to explicitly reference the portions of the plan staff had cited; members accepted the amendment and approved the consistency statement by voice vote.

Alexis, the zoning administrator, told the board the staff report cites passages from "Montreat Tomorrow: Town of Montreat Comprehensive Plan 2023," noting that much developable land inside town boundaries is already built and that portions of the extraterritorial jurisdiction are covered by Woodland District or Ridge protection overlays. "Most of the land in the extraterritorial jurisdiction is included in either the Woodland District or the Ridge protection overlay and is also protected from further development," Alexis said.

After the consistency finding, the board moved on to a recommendation that the town board approve the conditional zoning district application. A planning board member moved for approval; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote, with the chair announcing the motion carried.

The board also authorized the chair to work with staff and the town attorney to finalize and sign the written recommendation that will go to the town board. The meeting record identifies the mover and seconder for that authorization but does not record a roll-call vote; the item passed on a voice vote. The chair noted the town council meeting (where the recommendation will be considered) typically falls on the second Thursday of the month and that public comment at council begins at 5:30 p.m.

The board did not record detailed roll-call tallies in the transcript; votes were taken by voice and announced as passed by the chair. An alternate member (Kayla) was noted as an alternate and was queried about voting status during the meeting.