St. James Zoning Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendments

The St. James Town Council will conduct a public hearing on May 6, 2014, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The purpose of the public hearing is to receive comments on the proposed UDO text amendments. After reading the list below, please contact BASE immediately if you have concerns on any of the proposed changes.

The proposed amendments impact signs, building height, fire hydrant landscaping and wetlands:

ZTA 14-001
Revises Article 11 Signs: Creates a more user-friendly guide to sign regulations and permits.

ZTA 14-004
Appendix A, Definitions
Height, Building – New Expanded Definition
The vertical distance of a building as measured from the mean finished grade elevation of the lot at the staked corners of the building foundation to the highest point of the structure, unless otherwise specified in the UDO. For single family residential districts, height is measured from the foundation garage elevation. However in the event that the garage foundation elevation is above the foundation elevation of the residence, the “mean elevation” method described above must be used. See article 2.9 for limitations on lot grading and fill. For properties administered by an HOA, POA, or similar institutions additional restrictions may apply. Equipment rooms, steeples, belfries, cupolas, widow walks, observation decks, etc., are all considered a part of the building and shall be included in the calculation of building height unless otherwise specified in the UDO.

Article 9.10 Emergency Management Standards
Add to 9.10.1 item F. Fire hydrants must be maintained for easy accessibility and visibility for fire protection in accordance with the National Fire Protection Agency requirements. No construction or landscaping is permitted that may impede the fire protection requirements.

Article 12 Subdivision Standards
Add the following text to 12.7.7 Wetlands
Some lots may contain jurisdictional wetlands or other waters. Draining, filling,grading, excavating and other land disturbing activities in jurisdictional wetlands are regulated and may be prohibited by federal and state law. No such activities shall be undertaken on any lot without prior consent in writing from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the State of North Carolina, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Resources, have been notified and all required permits have been obtained.