Metro Council moves to manage growth
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher • Editor
In an effort to better manage community growth and protect strained infrastructure, the Metro Council approved the first reading Monday, April 21, to rezone apartment developments from Residential-1 (R-1) to Commercial-1 (C-1).
Board members also approved two additional first readings: one that would double minimum lot sizes for new R-1 homes from a quarter-acre to a half-acre, and another that would significantly increase square footage requirements for apartment construction. All three changes will require a second reading and a public hearing next month before they can be approved.
Rezoning Apartments to Commercial
District 3 council member Dexter Golden, who also chairs the Planning and Zoning Commission, introduced the proposal. He stated that the shift from R-1 to C-1 better reflects how apartments function within the community and aligns with practices in neighboring counties.
“Most of the time, apartments are owned by large developers and operated as businesses, not by individual homeowners,” he said. “It makes more sense to treat them as commercial entities.”
The proposal aims to shift all apartment-related zoning standards, including setbacks and square footage requirements, to the commercial section of the ordinance. Golden emphasized that any existing apartments would be grandfathered in under current rules and would not be required to rezone unless significant changes were made to the property.
Bed and breakfasts, along with other boarding-style housing, would also fall under the updated commercial classification.
Doubling Minimum Lot Sizes
The board also approved increasing minimum residential lot sizes in R-1 from 0.25 acres to 0.5 acres. Golden said the change mirrors a similar update made two years ago for rural and agricultural areas, which helped manage rapid development without halting growth.
“There’s not a ton of available land for new housing inside town limits,” he said. “But we want to get ahead of things and make sure growth happens in a way we can support.”
Increased Lot Requirements for Apartments
The third change presented would double the square footage required per apartment unit – from 7,500 square feet to 15,000 for a single unit. Under current rules, a four-unit complex requires 25,000 square feet. The proposal would increase that to 50,000.
Board members noted that the adjustment would reduce housing density, limiting the number of units that can be built on a given property. This, in turn, would help alleviate pressure on Moore County’s water infrastructure, which is currently operating at approximately 80% of capacity.
“We’ve already committed to providing water to about 80 new tiny homes,” Golden noted. “That’s fine for now, but it’s clear we need a long-term plan. Managing growth more carefully gives us breathing room to get there.”
Other Considerations and Concerns
Questions were raised about how duplexes, condos, and Airbnb-style short-term rentals fit into the new zoning framework. While duplexes may still be considered residential due to potential individual ownership, board members acknowledged that future requests could require case-by-case review. The role of Airbnbs remains undetermined.
District 4 Council member Peggy Sue Blackburn inquired whether potential hotel development had been considered in infrastructure planning. Golden said no official applications or plans for hotels had been submitted, but the Planning and Zoning Commission is striving to anticipate expected interest.
