Davidson’s Town Board on Tuesday approved a series of planning ordinance changes that include allowing larger accessory structures in rural areas. The board also agreed to designate the former Davidson IB School on South Street as a historic landmark.

PLANNING AMENDMENTS

The planning amendments revised Tuesday are Sections 1, 5, and 14. Section 5 specifies the size of accessory structures, which currently limits all such buildings to 650 square feet. The change will allow property owners to construct buildings of up to 900 square feet, or up to 1,200 square feet if wider setbacks are observed. (See the new text – PDF)

Section 14 deals with signs. The revision allows for larger signs on building canopies and adds language prohibiting mobile and vehicle signs, most banners, and permanent “monument” signs at the entrances to developments and neighborhoods. (See the revised text – PDF)

Section 1 was a minor change in wording for a planning principle.

The board also held a public hearing on proposed changes to section 9.2 of the planning ordinance, dealing with design requirements for building facades and window sizes. See the text of the proposed amendments (PDF).

HISTORIC SITE

Commissioners voted 5-0 to designate the former Davidson IB School, 251 South St., as a historic landmark. The board had held a public hearing on the proposal at its Feb. 14 meeting, where speakers from both the property owner, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, and its current tenant, Lake Norman Christian School, expressed support for the designation. See the Historic Landmarks Commission report on the property. See also the resolution that was approved. (PDF)

ALSO TUESDAY

Also Tuesday, the board:

• Heard a presentation on Davidson Design for Life program, a new federally-funded initiative that in part is using a series of public surveys to determine the effects of planning on public health.
• Heard annual reports from representatives of five nonprofit organizations that receive town funds: Ada Jenkins Center, the Arts & Science Council, Davidson Lands Conservancy, Davidson Housing Coalition and Davidson Cornelius Child Development Center.
• Held a Q&A with NC DOT consultants working on the Red Line Regional Rail Project. Among other things, the consultants told the board that they expect on Monday, March 19, to publish maps outlining exactly which commercial properties will be included in the proposed Special Assessment Districts (SADs). Part of the financing for the proposed project would come from these districts, which would ask commercial property owners to voluntarily submit to special annual assessments.
• Approved creating a solid waste/storm water enterprise fund, to separate that spending from the rest of the town budget.
• Adopted a set of 2012 lobbying priorities for the state legislature. Among other things, the town would like to see a change in state law to allow it to post required legal and meeting notices electronically, instead of qualifying local print newspapers. The town currently posts its legal notices in The Mooresville Tribune – a newspaper that has little circulation in Davidson. The board also is backing a proposal to allow local governments to require fire sprinklers in homes. And the board wants special legislation to keep some proprietary information about the MI-Connection cable system secret and to do away with restrictions on the system’s territory. See the resolution with the full list of priorities. (PDF)
• Approved a series of budget amendments for this year: adding money for fire department training, adjusting the parks & recreation budget, adjusting the budget for the town’s affordable housing coordinator. The budget changes include $ 8,270 to pay for the removal of bats from Town Hall.

Download the agenda, (PDF) with links to related documents, on the town website.