Forsyth County › Unified Development Code

Chapter 8 — Zoning and Application Procedures, Article 4 — AMENDING THE TEXT OF THIS CODE

current as of 2026-04-02currency checked manuallyOfficialofficial source ↗5 sections · full chapter

§ 8-4.1

Purpose and Intent.

The intent of this article is to specify provisions for amending the text of this Code.

§ 8-4.2

Authority to Amend.

The text of this Code may be amended from time to time only by the Board of Commissioners.

§ 8-4.3

Statement of Policy.

Amendments to this text will be made only if they bear a substantial relation to the public health, safety, morality or general welfare.

§ 8-4.4

Procedures.

Amending the text of this Code shall be made in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter or as specified by the director.

(A)Public Hearing. All applications to amend the text of this Code shall receive two public hearings in accordance with the provisions as set forth in Article III of this Chapter.

(1)Planning Commission Recommendation. The Planning Commission shall make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners regarding amending the text of this Code. The Planning Commission’s recommendation shall be in the form of a motion for approval, approval with modifications, or denial. The Planning Commission shall strive to make a recommendation following the closure of the public hearing; however, the Planning Commission shall have thirty-one (31) days from the date of the public hearing to provide its recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. If the Planning Commission does not provide a recommendation within the thirty-one (31) days from the date of the public hearing, the department shall automatically schedule it for consideration by the Board of Commissioners without the benefit of a recommendation from the Planning Commission.

(2)Board of Commissioners Action. Upon completion of the public hearing and recommendation by the Planning Commission, or upon expiration of the thirty-one (31) day time period allowed for the Planning Commission to provide a recommendation, all amendments to the text of this Code shall be scheduled for a second public hearing by the Board of Commissioners in accordance with Article III of this Chapter. The Board of Commissioners may return it to the Planning Commission or the department, or both, for further study, or it may approve it. In addition, the Board may approve it with modifications, or it may deny it. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the Board of Commissioners shall have the authority to remove, add to, or edit proposed amendments to the text of this Code that have already been the subject of a recommendation by the Planning Commission without returning such modifications to the Planning Commission. In such an event, the Board of Commissioners shall determine whether an additional public hearing is warranted and, if so, may conduct such public hearing.

(a)General Considerations for Decision. The following items shall be considered when amending the text of this Code.

(i)Amendments to this text will be made only if they bear a rational relation to the public health, safety, morality or general welfare.

(3)Board of Commissioner Decision. Board of Commissioner approval to amend the text of this Code shall be in the form of a resolution or motion.

§ 8-4.5

Director’s Responsibilities.

The director shall conduct a continued study of the needs of the county and shall, from time to time, prepare such modifications, revisions, or amendments to this Code, including the official zoning map and any adopted overlay district maps, as may be necessary to conform to the Comprehensive Plan, land use studies, major transportation plans, and other documents. The modifications, revisions, or amendments shall include such text providing definitions, specifications, and conditions as may be appropriate to the matter considered, as well as maps delineating any geographical changes. Submissions shall be made to Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners.

ARTICLE V, REZONINGS, CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, AND SKETCH PLATS: