Development News for Apex, North Carolina

Apex Council Amends UDO, Establishes New Zoning Districts Amidst Debate on Environmental Board's Role

The Town Council considered amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) related to the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) and the creation of new zoning districts. The primary amendment proposed to formalize the EAB's authority to review and recommend on the environmental compliance of projects. Despite a staff recommendation for approval, the Planning Board recommended denial twice, citing concerns about process length and complexity. Council members debated the empowerment of advisory boards versus the potential for added process time and the Planning Board's role. Ultimately, Council Member Zigman favored empowering advisory boards, while Council Member Reese and others expressed concerns about process complexity and the Planning Board's differing recommendations. The amendment related to formalizing EAB recommendations was approved by a 3-1 vote. Additionally, amendments to establish new Transitional Business (B3) and Heavy Industrial (HI) zoning districts were approved. The HI district was added to accommodate high-intensity industrial uses with strict separation requirements from sensitive areas. An amendment to permit food truck courts was withdrawn after concerns were raised about its impact on existing food trucks and the need for further discussion on grandfathering provisions and truck numbers.