Council introduces updated UDO fee schedule for first reading, including increases for plats and permits

Planning staff presented a revised fee schedule to bring Pittsboro's Unified Development Ordinance fees more in line with comparable communities. Proposed changes include raising the major subdivision primary flat fee, increasing minor subdivision and plat amendment fees, raising inspection and miscellaneous permit fees, and establishing an administrative subdivision fee (staff discussed $400 as the recommended fee).

Council questioned some fee differentials, asked about the justification and staff time involved, and asked staff to verify the final amounts and publication language. Chair introduced ordinance 20 26‑10 as a first reading; the council did not adopt the fee schedule tonight and will finalize wording and effective dates next month.

"I reviewed about 5 or 6 other communities, and took those their fees into account versus ours and a lot of our fees were right on the money," Aaron said when summarizing the benchmarking that informed the proposed fee schedule.

Council discussed effective dates and whether a 180‑day publication period or an effective‑upon‑passage approach would be appropriate; staff said they would supply a clean copy and return for final action at the next meeting.