Comprehensive Plan

Projects

Land Use

Projects	Owner	Period	Start Date	End Date	Milestones
Projects	Owner	Period	Start Date	End Date	Milestones
C Continue to extend sidewalks to connect missing links and incorporate lighting, amenities, and plantings.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
D Continue installing gateways, signage, and wayfinding to celebrate Carrboro and direct visitors to key locations with attention to cultural destinations that recognize the diversity of the community.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
E Create public plazas or gathering spaces outside of downtown, including Homestead and NC 54 and along Rogers Road.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
F Continue to promote the use of public art to express the history, diverse cultures, and aspirations of all Carrboro residents.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Work with homeowner associations to expand public use of open space including bikeway connections, recreational activities, and natural habitat.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Work with property owners and homeowner associations to pursue GSI to reduce flooding potential.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
C Encourage commercial properties to provide public amenities including sidewalks, landscaping, GSI, lighting, and tree canopy coverage.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Review and update Architectural Standards for Downtown Development (last amended 2006) for consistency with the comprehensive plan.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Develop design, landscaping, and tree canopy standards for neighborhood commercial and mixed-use districts to guide redevelopment. Consider green-building incentives broadly or via an overlay district.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
Develop small land use plans for strategic nodes that promote Carrboro Connects principles including affordable housing, land conservation, and improved walkability. Identify areas along key corridors for high-quality redevelopment opportunities that are walkable, transit-accessible, and near amenities.	CM Christina Moon	FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	8/21/26
Pursue rezoning for greater density along key corridors and transit nodes, reduce/remove parking requirements, and prioritize growth in accessible areas. Investigate creating a new overlay zoning district to allow greater density in areas with high levels of transit and near amenities, with as-of-right incentives for affordable housing.	CM Christina Moon	FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	8/21/26
A Expand permissibility of ADUs on residential lots, minimize restrictions, allow ADUs on smaller lots, and create a comprehensive ADU guide with pre-approved designs.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Determine whether a new zoning district should be created for smaller lots to allow for tiny home developments linked to affordable housing restrictions.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Determine whether an overlay zoning district would be an effective tool to preserve mobile home parks and reduce housing price pressures. Address regulations (e.g., Chapter 17 Minimum Housing) to ensure maintenance and common area responsibility.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Review setbacks, floor area ratio, lot size, and parking standards to support higher densities and incentivize smaller units.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Increase incentives such as the affordable housing density bonus and raise the in-lieu fee to expand on-site affordable units. Preserve existing homes and allow ADUs through smaller setbacks and density allowances.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
C Work with partners to seek authority for inclusionary zoning requiring on-site affordable units or fee-in-lieu.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
D Provide clear and predictable processes to developers to meet affordable housing goals.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
E Investigate modifying the LUO to allow up to four units on residential lots if performance standards (e.g., affordable housing, green stormwater infrastructure) are met.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Create a maximum timeline for review of affordable housing projects (or those with a set number of affordable units).		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Develop clear standards for Advisory Boards to review affordable housing projects to improve predictability and reduce approval time.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Determine if there is a financing gap and identify funding sources to support missing middle housing.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Identify updates to LUO and zoning maps based on small area plans.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Continue to examine and update standards for conservation lands, wetlands, and steep slopes to future best practices. Preserve smaller hydrology features and show how natural areas and permeable surfaces can manage urban heat island effect and water run-off. Educate the public and landowners on up-to-date conservation practices.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Evaluate and build on vegetative standards in the development review process.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
C Review and update open space requirements and coordinate with goal of reducing impervious surfaces within open space.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
D Liaise with UNC Chapel Hill’s Facilities Planning Department and private citizens to seek opportunities to formalize Carolina North Forest as a nature preserve and recreational open space.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
E Identify opportunities for cluster development, low-impact development, brownfield redevelopment, transit-oriented development, and native “greenscape” requirements in future development plans.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
F Continue preservation of urban tree cover/forests. Improve data collection on tree cover and carbon sequestration value. Educate the public and support community-driven initiatives to collect and maintain data.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
G Regularly assess standards and ordinances for current best practices or issues on a rolling schedule so each is updated on a 5-year basis.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Develop a process to update the Land Use Ordinance including: ADUs, Junior ADUs under 500 sq. ft., parking standards, short-term rentals, bulk standards, and consideration of new overlay districts.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Pursue updates to the Land Use Ordinance to facilitate the development of 15-minute neighborhoods, ensuring all daily needs outside of employment can be found within a 15-minute walk.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
C Update parking requirements to remove minimums for residential development close to transit (including affordable housing, ADUs, and residential components of mixed-use) to reduce impervious surfaces and use land more efficiently.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Update zoning to allow for greater density of development in the downtown and near key nodes. See Corridor Maps in this chapter for proposed locations.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Update and clarify the roles of each commission or advisory board. Define roles, duties, focus areas, and interrelations.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Create a timeline for each project’s review, outlining responsibilities of the Applicant and Town at each step.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
C Develop written standards for review of projects by each board and commission to help streamline review.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Utilize race and equity criteria as factors in siting new parks, features, and programming.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Focus on connectivity between parks through bike facilities, sidewalks, micro-mobility, and transit.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Coordinate siting of new schools such as land set aside in Twin Creeks Park and the Greene Tract.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Coordinate capital needs for existing schools, including additions and outdoor amenities.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
C Improve access to schools via bike facilities and sidewalks.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Update Neighborhood Preservation Design Guidelines to promote equitable design and preservation.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Continue to work with property owners interested in nominating their area as a new Neighborhood Preservation District.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Add a nominating process for designating local landmarks to the LUO that reflects Carrboro’s cultures and historic development.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Plan for walking tours, plaques, and/or online recognition of historic properties, highlighting historic truths of the community.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
C Study and seek public input on whether to establish landmark restrictions such as demolition delays.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Provide historic records and support to property owners seeking historic register status, including NC State Historic Preservation Office records.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Provide recognition through plaques and/or online recognition of National Register properties.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
C Continue the historical marker program (2002) and Historic Carrboro Plaque Program (2008).		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
D Explore becoming a Certified Local Government to receive funding and technical assistance from the Federal Historic Preservation Program.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Facilitate small area plans for areas identified for future growth and development, such as along transit corridors and nodes throughout the Town.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Update the LUO based on recommendations in the comprehensive plan and subsequent small area plans.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
A Actively recruit members from and develop public sessions with community organizations and resident leaders, prioritizing traditionally underrepresented populations.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25
B Identify a funding source to pay for resident expertise on boards to reduce the barrier of participation for lowincome residents.		FY 25-26 Q1	8/21/25	9/21/25