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Planning staff outlines proposed amendments to Emerging Technologies zoning district
Summary
Planning staff and consultants previewed proposed changes to Surry County’s Emerging Technologies (ET) zoning district, including alignment with state law, review of permitted uses, possible conditional permitting for battery storage, and flexibility around the 500-acre minimum.
Planning staff told the Surry County Planning Commission on Nov. 17 that proposed ordinance amendments to the Emerging Technologies (ET) zoning district will be ready for a public hearing after legal review. “As soon as the draft has completed legal review, we'll get you a full draft,” said Perkins, the consultant addressing the commission.
Perkins said staff and outside counsel are reviewing several areas for change: (1) legal alignment with any state code changes since the ET district’s adoption in January 2024; (2) revising which uses are permitted by right versus accessory or conditional; (3) reconsidering the ET district’s 500-acre minimum and whether limited flexibility should be allowed; and (4) housekeeping updates to definitions and application requirements. “We're also reviewing definitions,” Perkins said, citing one example where the current flex-industrial definition would permit a dry cleaning business, a use the public previously objected to and which could be removed from flex-industrial definitions.
Staff said the objective is to bring a finalized draft to the commission for a public hearing at the December 17 meeting, followed by formal advertisement as required by law. Planning staff urged commissioners to send written questions or suggested edits in advance so they can be considered during final drafting. The commission will receive the full draft once legal review is complete.
