Staff reportCONCORD ó Cabarrus County and the city of Concord have entered into a 15-year agreement that will control growth in the central area of the county.
Believed to be the first in North Carolina, the agreement includes a provision that utility line extensions will not occur in a specified area of central Cabarrus.
In a press release, county officials pointed out that property owners in central Cabarrus County now have a degree of certainty that, even if annexed by the city of Concord in future years, the lower residential densities called for in the plan will remain in place.
By entering into an interlocal agreement, Cabarrus County and Concord agree that this plan cannot be modified unless both parties agree.
This agreement comes after a land-use planning process that included participation by more than 200 property owners.
The document states that Concord will not extend utilities or allow developers to tap onto existing utility lines within a defined portion of central Cabarrus without the consent of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. Generally, the boundary for this area follows Pine Grove Church Road to Flowes Store Road, then follows Rocky River to Cold Water Creek, then north along N.C. 49 to the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center.
Through the land-use planning process, zoning in some parts of the central area will be modified to require fewer homes per acre, a direct response to requests from residents to keep the area rural.
A public open house to review the Central Area Plan and provide comments will be held the week of July 14. The city and county planning boards will hold public hearings in July. In August, the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners and Concord City Council will consider adoption of the Central Area Plan.
For more information about the Central Area Land Use Plan, along with maps of the affected areas, log on to www.cabarruscounty.us/commerce/longrangeplanning/centralareaplan.html.