Planning commission recommends adoption of Mecklenburg County�s proposed 2026 zoning ordinance; board hearing set for May 11

The Maconbrack Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors adopt a comprehensive rewrite of the countys zoning and subdivision ordinances, referred to in the hearing as the proposed "2026 zoning ordinance." The commission closed its public hearing and approved a motion to forward the draft with a recommendation that the board consider it at a public hearing scheduled for May 11.

Rachel Falkenstein of planning firm 3TP Ventures, hired by Mecklenburg County to draft the update, told the commission the county's zoning ordinance dates to 1990 and the update is intended mainly to "modernize, to reorganize, and to update" the code and to align local standards with state code. Falkenstein outlined major changes including consolidated residential districts (R1, R2, R3), a mixed-use (MU) district, a planned-unit development option, revised definitions and tables, updated dimensional standards for setbacks and heights, and new administrative application requirements such as site plans and pre-application meetings for certain large developments.

Members of the public offered mostly procedural and technical feedback. Laura Reed, land development manager for Microsoft, said she supported the ordinance overall but asked the county to clarify grandfathering and nonconformance language, to allow more flexibility for SEP expiration and minor plan modifications, and to lengthen the 15-day window for required noise studies. Reed said, "I'm actually here to speak in support of the zoning ordinances" and asked the commission to consider the companys requests so existing projects in various stages of design and permitting are not disadvantaged.

Several residents raised concerns about public notice and process, short-term rental activity on a local property (with claims about advertised overnight rates and up to 30 people per night), and large utility projects such as Dominion/Virginia Power corridor rezonings from agricultural to industrial near Route 49. Zoning administrator Josh Tanner clarified that many existing plotted lots would still be buildable under the proposed code and that some changes to setbacks and minimum lot sizes are expected; on the record he said, "Nothing is changing to where you can't build. It's actually making it more feasible for you to put your house there now."

Falkenstein and staff described outreach measures including social media, a newspaper article, an ad on radio, the county website and mailed postcards to property owners; they acknowledged public participation in meetings and surveys had been limited. Commissioners discussed whether to direct staff to make edits and then voted to recommend the draft ordinance to the board of supervisors; the chair announced the motion carried on a voice vote. The board public hearing is set for May 11 and staff said edits must be completed and advertised in time for that meeting if the commission requests changes.