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Workshops Scheduled for Boone’s New UDO/Table of Permissible Uses; Lunch and Learn Held Feb. 1

By Paul T. Choate

town-of-boone-logo2Jan. 16, 2013. Progress continues to move forward in the restructuring and revamping of the Town of Boone’s Unified Development Ordinance and Table of Permissible Uses. During the Tuesday Town Council meeting, workshops were set in place for February and March.

According to Planning and Inspections Director Bill Bailey, he and his staff, along with Town Attorney Sam Furgiuele, have been working diligently on the restructured UDO. Bailey said he has been able to break the material to be covered in the upcoming workshops into “easy-to-digest chunks.”

“It looks like we can do this in three workshops,” Bailey said. 

The workshops were scheduled for Feb. 28, March 6 and March 25, all from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Council Chambers on Blowing Rock Road. Bailey said he felt that three hours was the appropriate length for each workshop. 

“It’s real difficult to sit there for more than three hours looking at code for anybody,” Bailey said. 

A special public hearing will be set following the completion of the three workshops. Bailey and council members stressed their desire to be able to get developers and local community members to get involved and provide their input. 

The next opportunity for the public to get involved with the new UDO/Table of Permissible Uses will be at the Feb. 1 Lunch and Learn, hosted by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, where Bailey will give a presentation to attendees. 

“Proposed changes include radical restructuring to make it easier to find things, change of language to plain english to make it easier to understand, elimination of contradictions and inconsistencies, and consolidating all definitions into one place and reorganizing sections by grouping them by topics.  This has the effect of reducing the overall size of the document, making it more user friendly for both customers and staff and promoting consistent enforcement,” said the Chamber of Commerce in a statement. 

The Lunch and Learn will be held at noon in the Council Chambers, located at 1500 Blowing Rock Road, Boone. 

A free box lunch will be provided, but you must RSVP by Monday, Jan. 28 to info@boonechamber.com or call 828-264-2225. Seating is limited.