A contemporary zoning ordinance can be a complicated proposition. A small town or rural county’s ordinance often runs over 100 pages. Some of the zoning ordinances in our larger cities approach (and if a few instances pass) 1,000 pages. All … Read more
In areas experiencing urban growth and development, two questions often arise for local governments. Do we have the capacity to provide necessary public facilities to serve this development? If not, how are we going to pay for the needed additional … Read more
A rezoning petition is pending before the city council. The parcel involved is zoned for single-family residential use. The landowner wants to build a retail store on the site, so she is seeking a change in the zoning to a … Read more
The heart of zoning ordinances are rules on land uses – rules on what uses can go where, standards on building setbacks, the size of structures, required parking, size of signs, and so forth. Sometimes, however, a question is raised … Read more
The county board of commissioners is holding a public hearing on a controversial rezoning. The hearing has been going on for an hour and there are many interested citizens waiting to speak. The board chair knows the agenda for the … Read more
The county board of commissioners is holding a public hearing on a controversial rezoning. A sizable contingent of neighbors who oppose the project are present. Many have signed up to tell the commissioners just how terrible it would be if … Read more
Most zoning ordinances have residential zoning districts. One of these is usually a district where the primary permitted land use is single family detached housing. Multifamily housing and group living arrangements (as well as commercial and industrial land uses) are … Read more
Regulating video gaming and gambling of one sort or another has vexed state and local governments in North Carolina for the better part of two decades. A recent court opinion held the current version of the state’s ban on internet … Read more
Ralph Kramden is working his way through the morning paper, waiting for his second cup of coffee to kick in. He suddenly jumps up, knocking his coffee to the floor in the process. “Alice, did you see what those yahoos … Read more
The town council makes decisions on special use permit applications under the Macomb zoning ordinance. The council is in the midst of a hearing on an application from Malcolm Tucker for a special use permit to build a new shopping … Read more