3.5.1 Description

The purpose of a zoning map is to amend the zoning district boundaries of the Official Zoning Map.

A zoning map change may be initiated by the governing body, the Planning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, the Planning Director or designee, a citizen or the property owner or their agent, except as follows:

1. A petition for a zoning map change with a development plan may only be initiated by the property owner or their agent.

2. A petition for a zoning map change that is considered a “down-zoning,” as defined per NCGS § 160D-601(d), as applicable, shall only be initiated by the applicable governing body, unless written consent is provided by all owners of property subject to the zoning request.

The development plan shall become a part of the zoning map change petition and shall be reviewed concurrently with the zoning map change petition. Subsequent site plans or plats shall not deviate from the plan, unless otherwise allowed, or required under this Article. Deviation may require a zoning map change, as established in paragraph 3.5.12, Deviations from Approved Development Plans. Unless a development plan also functions as a site plan, it is not a site-specific vesting plan pursuant to Sec. 3.20, Vested Rights. The right to develop pursuant to a development plan, whether approved under this Article or any previous chapter, accrues only for any portion of the plan for which a site plan or preliminary plat is approved, and then only for the period of validity specified in this Article, or where a vested right is established pursuant to Sec. 3.20, Vested Rights.

The development plan may be used by the petitioner in any zoning district; however, the development plan shall be required as follows:

1. Rezoning to the PDR, CC, MU, and IP districts;

2. Additions to the UC District after the initial zoning map change establishing the district on each campus; and

3. As otherwise required in this Article.

A traffic impact analysis may be required if the proposed zoning map change meets the threshold requirements established in Sec. 3.3, Traffic Impact Analysis.