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The primary goal of this revision and update project was to consolidate existing land development regulations, policies, and procedures into a single ordinance-a ‘Unified Development Ordinance’ (UDO). The UDO is a comprehensive set of land development guidelines, but is also a more usable, effective Ordinance that reflects the current land development policies of the City of Shelby.

The major features of the UDO include the following:

• Combines zoning and subdivision processes
• Eliminates inconsistencies inherent in separate sets of regulations
• Provides a comprehensive set of land development regulations
• Provides an expedited review and approval process
• Provides more staff discretion and administrative authority
• Provides more detailed administrative guidelines for the Community Development Department staff, Planning and Zoning Board, Board of Adjustment, and City Council
• Addresses new land use issues and changes brought about by new technology
• Revises, streamlines, modernizes, and improves existing land development regulations rather than developing radically different techniques.

The process by which The Wooten Company prepared the UDO is detailed below:

• Existing Ordinances Review
• Identification of Planning Issues to be Addressed in the UDO
• Preliminary Draft UDO Preparation
• Community Development Department Staff Review
• UDO Technical Review Committee Review
• Planning Board Review
• Public Informational Meetings
• Final Draft UDO Preparation
• City Council Review
• Public Hearing
• Final Revisions to UDO
• Adoption of the UDO

The Wooten Company has also assisted numerous other communities with the preparation of a unified development ordinance, including Mebane, Harnett County, Edgecombe County, Elizabeth City, Nash County, Edenton, Kinston, Laurinburg, Tarboro, and Southern Pines.