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New Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Project Update
PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the Town Council with a brief update on the New Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) project. The draft Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is complete and is scheduled for release on October 26, 2026. Staff are also proactively engaging with consulting firms to generate interest in the project and will notify them of the opportunity once the RFQ is posted. A contract award is scheduled for January 2027.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning Department/Economic Development
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL AND STAFF IMPACT: The project has an approved budget of $375,000 allocated through the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The project is co-led by Duncan Dodson of the Planning Department and Jon Hartman-Brown of the Economic Development Department.
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Community Impact
COMMUNITY IMPACT: The new UDO is a key tool for implementing the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan. This project will comprehensively rewrite the land development regulations to make them clearer, more accessible, and easier for community members and applicants to navigate. The updated ordinance will support smart growth and explore opportunities to incentivize community benefits, including affordable housing, improved stormwater management, and flood mitigation. The Town’s policy pillars will provide direction for the project.
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Climate Impact
CLIMATE IMPACT: The new UDO will modernize the Town’s environmental regulations to improve clarity, ensure consistency with state statues, and preserve Carrboro’s special legislative authority to regulate stream buffers. The New UDO will also explore other regulatory and development tools that allow for incentives that promote climate action and green infrastructure beyond the statutory requirements of the ordinance, where appropriate.
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