Orange County, NC — rezoning & P&Z cases
51 past cases tracked in Orange County (Orange County). 11 upcoming hearings in Orange County (next on 2026-11-05) are visible to subscribers now. Start a free trial to see them.
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RES-2026-067 — 32-unit affordable rental apartment building for households at less than 30% AMI
This is a ratification of a Development Agreement for the CASA Homestead Gardens project, an affordable housing development funded through Orange County's Capital Investment Plan. The project involves a 32-unit apartment building for households earning less than 30% of area median income, with $733,500 in county funding and completion targeted for January 31, 2028.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church - RZ — Place of Worship and up to 10 dwelling units
Rezoning of 15.5 acres in Chapel Hill's Transition Area to permit a place of worship and up to 10 dwelling units. The property straddles the Town's ETJ and Transition Area, requiring approval from both Chapel Hill Town Council and Orange County Board of Commissioners under the Joint Planning Agreement.
ORD-2026-024 — rezoning
Rezoning of approximately 12.4 acres in the Chapel Hill Joint Planning Transition Area from Residential-Low Density-1 (R-LD1) to Residential-4–Conditional Zoning District (R-4-CZD). The rezoning has been found consistent with the adopted Orange County–Chapel Hill–Carrboro Joint Planning Land Use Plan and requires subsequent adoption by Chapel Hill Town Council to become effective.
Wave Road Church — Church with up to ten tiny homes and two single-family home lots
Site plan for a church development with up to ten tiny homes (some as duplexes) and two single-family home lots. The proposal involves careful site design to preserve existing tree coverage and comply with stream-side resource conservation district buffers of 50, 100, and 150 feet from stream top of bank.
FY2026-2027 — rezoning
Rezoning of approximately 15.5 acres at Holy Trinity Church from Residential-Low Density-1 (R-LD1) to Residential-4–Conditional Zoning District (R-4-CZD) in the Chapel Hill Transition Area. The Orange County Planning Board unanimously recommended approval with a condition requiring traffic control measures to prevent automotive cut-through traffic.
8466 — rezoning
Rezoning of 1651 Old Lystra Road from Residential-Low Density-1 to Residential-4–Conditional Zoning District. This property is located in the Chapel Hill Joint Planning Transition Area and requires approval by both Chapel Hill Town Council and Orange County Board of Commissioners.
15-501 — Place of worship (church with 300-seat sanctuary) as primary use with up to ten residential homes and potential tiny homes for affordable housing
Conditional rezoning of a 12-acre parcel from Residential Low Density 1 to Residential 4 Conditional Zoning District to allow a place of worship (300-seat sanctuary) and up to ten residential homes, with phased development including potential tiny homes for unhoused community members. This is a joint planning area requiring approval from both Orange County and the Town of Chapel Hill, with the application to be reviewed against the district-specific plan and conditional zoning stipulations.
25-3276 — Schools: Preparatory (K-12 private school with family life center and recreation components)
New Horizon Church seeks a conditional rezoning from R-1 (Rural Residential) to NR-CD to correct a zoning inconsistency and add a preparatory school with recreational facilities to the existing church campus, which was originally contemplated in the 2002 master plan. The expansion requires compliance with traffic impact studies, fire and life safety codes, stormwater management, and environmental reviews; emergency services have flagged concerns about single-point access during peak school traffic.
26-0095 — Preparatory school and associated outside recreation components
Proposed rezoning to correct an inconsistency in the current zoning designation for property at 100 Horizon Place. New Horizon Church seeks to add a preparatory school and associated outside recreation components to support the school's use on the property that was contemplated in the original 2002 master plan.
26-0049 — preparatory school, multi-purpose field, and additional parking adjacent to the existing Church
New Horizon Ministries seeks a Zoning Atlas Amendment to rezone 50.68 acres at 100 Horizon Place in Durham to permit construction of a preparatory school, multi-purpose field, and parking adjacent to their existing church. The property contains wetlands and portions in a Special Flood Hazard Area, though the proposed project is not expected to impact these resources; the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission recommends minimizing tree clearing and implementing wildlife-friendly design practices to protect habitat and aquatic resources.
25-640 — Day school with classroom building (76,000 sf, 2-story) and family life center
New Horizon Church is seeking a Conditional District rezoning to allow construction of a new day school alongside its existing church facility. Phase 1 will accommodate approximately 120 K-5 students, with full buildout housing 360 students in a future phase; the project requires expansion of the existing septic system's drain field and will be subject to traffic impact mitigation measures reviewed by NCDOT.
36-4609 — Educational facility (preparatory school, grades K-12) with associated family life center, multipurpose field, sports field, and place of worship
Site plan for New Horizon Church to construct educational and religious facilities including an 80,000 SF classroom building, 16,000 SF family life center, and associated improvements on approximately 8.30 acres currently zoned R1 (residential). The development includes multiple structures, parking for 327 spaces, stormwater management, and traffic improvements on US Highway 70.
MA25-0005 — Preparatory Schools (with place of worship)
Rezoning request from Rural Residential (R1) to Non-Residential Conditional District (NR-CD) for New Horizon Church to develop a 50.68-acre campus including a preparatory school with two new buildings (80,000 SF classroom building and 16,000 SF family life center/gymnasium) and expanded athletic facilities. The development includes conditions for 50-foot undisturbed buffers, landscape requirements, field lighting cutoffs at 10:00 pm, traffic improvements, and a maximum building height of 40 feet with maximum gross building area of 96,000 square feet.
New Horizon Church - Rezoning — School (K-12th grade educational facility, initial enrollment 120 students K-6th grade, maximum 360 students at full build-out)
New Horizon Church requests rezoning of its 50.68-acre property from Rural Residential to Non-Residential Conditional District to permit development of a K-12 school. The rezoning corrects an inconsistency created when the county removed school as a permitted use in R-1 zoning in 2021, despite the church's original 2001 site plan approval contemplating educational facilities as part of its long-term campus development.
Data Center Text Amendment — text_amendment
Orange County staff is preparing a proposed text amendment to the UDO to regulate AI data centers, with a presentation scheduled for November. A one-year moratorium on data center applications has been in effect since April 21, 2026, and staff has no obligation to review new applications during this period.
Impervious Surface Transfer Regulations — text_amendment
The City is amending its zoning ordinance to establish governing language for impervious surface transfers within watersheds, capping individual transfers at 6 percent additional impervious cover while maintaining watershed-level maximums. This change clarifies previously unregulated transfer-of-development-rights mechanisms that allow property owners to trade impervious surface capacity with neighbors in the same watershed.
100 Horizon Place - RZ — rezoning
Application to rezone approximately 50.56 acres from R-1 (Rural Residential) to NR-CD (Non-Residential - Conditional District) at 100 Horizon Place in Eno Township. The Orange County Planning & Zoning Commission is reviewing and will make a recommendation to the BOCC on this applicant-initiated rezoning.
RES-2026-064 — other
This is an administrative resolution establishing the salary ($135,000 annually) for the newly appointed Orange County Register of Deeds, Amy McLamb, effective September 1, 2026. This case does not involve property zoning or land use matters relevant to commercial real estate development.
RES-2026-063 — other
This is a resolution authorizing the Orange County Board of Commissioners to award federal HOME-ARP funds totaling $1,275,403 to Housing for New Hope for a Permanent Supportive Housing program serving individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, with funds allocated to tenant-based rental assistance and supportive services. This administrative/fiscal action does not involve a zoning matter or specific property development approval.
NC-2026-024 — other
This is a federal transit grant agreement between the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Orange County for operating costs related to enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities, totaling $430,000 ($215,000 federal, $215,000 local) for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The agreement establishes terms for project implementation, fund disbursement, accounting, and reporting requirements.
NC-2026-044 — other
This is a Federal Transportation Administration grant agreement between the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Orange County for nonurbanized and small urban public transportation services (NCDOT Metropolitan Planning, Enhanced Mobility, Community Transportation, and Bus Facility grants) with total federal award of $175,361, state funds of $10,960, and local funds of $32,881 for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
RES-2026-060 — other
This is an administrative resolution approving property tax refunds and releases for multiple Orange County properties based on clerical errors, illegal tax assessments, and calculation mistakes. The case involves corrections to burial exemptions, government exemptions, and other statutory tax relief provisions with a total county tax impact of $134,953.67.
UDO Text Amendment - Flexible Subdivisions — text_amendment
Orange County is proposing amendments to the UDO text governing flexible subdivisions, including streamlining the approval process by eliminating duplicate Planning Board and Board of County Commissioners reviews, allowing administrative staff plat approval for subdivisions over 20 lots already approved through conditional zoning, and removing non-regulatory guidance language and flowcharts from the UDO itself. The amendments maintain the existing 33% open space requirement and do not mandate true conservation subdivisions.
UDO Amendment Package — text_amendment
A 94-page UDO amendment package that modifies Table 2.1 and multiple ordinance sections to streamline the subdivision approval process by removing the Planning Board and Board of County Commissioners review/decision-making role for certain subdivisions under 21 lots, reducing approval timelines by approximately four months while maintaining county staff analysis requirements.
UDO Amendment - Subdivision and Plat Process — text_amendment
This text amendment modifies the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to streamline the subdivision approval process by removing the Planning Board and Board of County Commissioners review for by-right subdivisions of 21 or fewer lots, reducing approval timelines by approximately four months. The 94-page amendment package affects multiple UDO articles and sections, including changes to Table 2.1, open space requirements for flexible subdivisions, and allowances for accessory dwelling units within major subdivisions.
UDO Text Amendment - Subdivision Process — text_amendment
This is a proposed 94-page amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance that would modify the subdivision review process, primarily by removing the Planning Board and Board of County Commissioners review and decision-making roles for by-right subdivisions of fewer than 21 lots, streamlining approval timelines by approximately four months.
RES-2026-058 — other
RES-2026-058 is a program resolution authorizing the Orange County Board of County Commissioners Chairperson to submit grant applications for federal and state funding related to public transportation services, including provisions for rural, small urban, and urban transportation. This is an administrative resolution concerning transportation funding, not a zoning or land development matter.
ORD-2026-025 — other
This is a fiscal year 2026-27 budget amendment (Amendment #3) for Orange County, NC addressing emergency facility repairs and capital projects across multiple departments and entities, including HVAC replacement at Durham Tech, maintenance at a cold weather shelter, school facility repairs, and fire district equipment purchases.
1651 Old Lystra Road — rezoning
A rezoning application seeks to change approximately 15.5 acres at 1651 Old Lystra Road in Chapel Hill from Residential-Low Density-1 to Residential-4–Conditional Zoning District, following the Town's Land Use Management Ordinance. The property is located in the Town of Chapel Hill's "Transition Area" as designated in the Orange County–Chapel Hill–Carrboro Joint Planning Land Use Plan.
RES-2026-056 — rezoning
Rezoning of approximately 15.5 acres at Holy Trinity Church from Residential-Low Density-1 (R-LD1) to Residential-4–Conditional Zoning District (R-4-CZD) in Chapel Hill's Transition Area. The Orange County Planning Board unanimously recommended approval with a condition requiring traffic control measures to prevent automotive cut-through traffic while preserving church functions.
ZC-1000 — Place of worship and residential units (0-10 dwelling units)
Rezoning of 12.41 acres from R-LD5 to R-4-CZD to permit Holy Trinity Anglican Church to develop a place of worship with 0-10 residential dwelling units. The project includes multiple regulatory modifications affecting building height, landscaping, lot configuration, and parking requirements, with maximum floor area of 36,000 square feet.
Intergovernmental Planning Agreements Review — other
Orange County is undertaking a coordinated ten-year review of intergovernmental planning agreements with partner municipalities, including the Central Orange Coordinated Area Land Use Plan, Joint Planning Land Use Plan, and Water and Sewer Management agreements. Six topics may be considered during this review process.
SUB26-0059 — 12-unit single-family home subdivision
This major conventional subdivision proposes to develop 17.10 acres in a Rural Residential zone into 12 single-family homes with 2 public roads on Lebanon Road in Mebane. The project is located in the Back Creek Protected Watershed and will require stormwater management planning and erosion control permits to meet environmental standards. Developers should be aware of compliance requirements related to impervious surface limits, fire code road standards (20-26' widths), and mandatory recreational facilities fees.
08-4386 — text_amendment
This Planning Director-initiated text amendment addresses required updates to the Unified Development Ordinance due to changes in State laws. The amendments affect multiple sections of the UDO and will be presented to the Planning Board for recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
RES-2026-055 — other
County resolution directing expenditure of $1,039,353 in opioid settlement funds across ten authorized strategies, including recovery support services, post-overdose response teams, reentry programs, and addiction treatment services, with funding period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028.
ORD-2026-Zoning-Amendments — text_amendment
Orange County is amending its zoning ordinance to streamline subdivision review processes, expand expedited subdivision procedures for smaller parcels, and clarify requirements for conditional zoning and phased development. Key changes include removing planning board and commission review of major subdivisions (delegating to planning director), eliminating redundant conditional district requirements, and allowing subdivision phasing without requiring pre-approved phasing plans (with full project bonding requirements).
UDO Text Amendment - Plat Review — text_amendment
Proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance would eliminate Planning Board review of concept plans and preliminary plats, streamlining the process so planning staff can approve preliminary and final plats directly if they meet UDO standards. The changes also clarify bonding and surety requirements for stormwater, road surfacing, and landscaping completion, with bonds held by the county until project certification.
Rigsbee Estates — plat
Major Subdivision application for Rigsbee Estates, a 43-lot residential subdivision on approximately 61.11 acres with 57.66% dedicated open space, consistent with a previously approved R-CD rezoning concept plan from October 7, 2025. The plat will proceed to the county commissioners' consent agenda without discretionary review.
FY2025-2029 — other
This is a comprehensive trails planning initiative for Orange County that aims to develop a connected county-wide trail network linking rural farmland, forests, and the towns of Hillsborough, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Mebane. The plan addresses multi-modal transportation, environmental stewardship, and public recreation access, with potential implications for land use, development coordination, and right-of-way issues across the county. Developers should monitor this plan as it may affect property access, trail corridors crossing private land, and future recreational infrastructure placement.
BP-341 — other
This is a bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure project recommending a 10-foot-wide sidepath on the east side of Old NC 86 to provide safe walking and biking accommodations along a key corridor connecting Carrboro/Chapel Hill to Hillsborough. The project has strong public support and an estimated cost of $5.39 million (combined with BP-340). Developers should be aware that this corridor may trigger coordination requirements for multimodal connectivity as outlined in Orange County's updated development policies.
BP-322 — other
This bicycle and pedestrian improvement project involves a 3.42-mile corridor along NC 86 between Hillsborough's northern town limit and New Hope Church Road. The project is in concept-level design development as part of Orange County's Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan and will be subject to future engineering analysis, environmental review, and coordination with NCDOT.
00-8466 — rezoning
This rezoning case involves a transition from low-density residential zoning to a conditional residential zoning district in Chapel Hill's Transition Area. The proposal follows the Town's Land Use Management Ordinance and the defined zoning districts. This case may be relevant if you are considering residential development in Chapel Hill's designated Transition Area.
42-2010 — other
This is a Planning Director-initiated text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance addressing subdivision review processes and classifications. The amendment does not involve a specific property but establishes county-wide regulatory changes that may affect how future subdivision projects are reviewed and classified. Developers should monitor the outcome as it may streamline or modify subdivision approval procedures.
D071-068 — comprehensive_plan_amendment
Orange County is amending the Zoning Atlas to adjust the boundary line between the Jordan Lake Unprotected and University Lake Protected Watershed Protection Overlay Districts on a specific parcel. The amendment corrects the county's mapped watershed boundaries to align with state-delineated boundaries based on a March 2024 professional survey. The change affects only the overlay district boundary; no base zoning changes are proposed.
MA25-0006 — rezoning
This rezoning application for an unaddressed parcel in Orange County involves an overlay district rezoning that received DAC review on December 18, 2025, with no objections conditional on addressing items in the DAC memo. Developers should review the attached DAC memo and staff report to understand specific conditions and requirements for this zoning atlas amendment.
43-7477 — N/A
Orange County is seeking to amend the watershed overlay district boundaries (Jordan Lake Unprotected and University Lake Protected) on a 19.4-acre parcel to align with state-recognized delineation based on a 2024 survey. No changes to the base zoning (RB, Rural Buffer) or Future Land Use Map are proposed with this amendment.
SUB25-0090 — Residential subdivision (8 residentially zoned lots for Arden Estate Court)
This case involves a Zoning Atlas Amendment to correct watershed overlay district boundaries on a 19.4-acre parcel based on updated professional survey data. If approved along with the companion subdivision application, the property would be divided into 8 residential lots in the Rural Buffer zoning district. The primary impact is the technical correction of University Lake Protected and Jordan Lake Unprotected Watershed overlay boundaries to align with state-recognized watershed delineation, with no changes to base zoning or future land use designation.
SUB25-0089 — 4-lot regulated minor subdivision
A 4-lot regulated minor subdivision is being reviewed with a private road (Arden Estate Court) along the northern portion of the parcel. An adjacent subdivision application is also pending for the parcel immediately north of the subject property.
43-3215 — Watershed boundary alignment - no change to base zoning or land use
This county-initiated Zoning Atlas Amendment modifies the boundary lines of the Jordan Lake Unprotected and University Lake Protected Watershed Overlay Districts to align with state-recognized watershed boundaries, with no changes to the underlying RB (Rural Buffer) base zoning or Future Land Use designation. The amendment affects an undeveloped 19.4-acre parcel and will not require conditions or impose new land use restrictions beyond current watershed overlay regulations.
HOME-25-03 — other
This item is a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Orange County HOME Consortium covering Program Year 2025, detailing the administration and allocation of federal HOME entitlement funds for affordable housing activities. The report documents $231,321.13 in HOME funds expended during the period, with activities concentrated in repair/rehabilitation, tenant-based rental assistance, and development, serving 15 extremely low-income households primarily through rental assistance programs.
ORD-2026-022 — other
This is a Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Amendment #2 for Orange County covering multiple departments and grant programs. The document addresses budget, grant, and capital project ordinance amendments spanning criminal justice, housing, health, social services, civil rights, and finance departments with no specific property-based zoning or land development implications.
Also covered in Orange County
Carrboro · Chapel Hill · Hillsborough · Mebane
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