Staff reportThe Rowan County Land Use Steering Committee will renew its work Thursday evening on planning for the future of western Rowan.
The 11-member committee will review the work thus far and determine where the process will go.
Jason Epley, a planner with Benchmark in Kannapolis, will discuss options for upcoming events to gauge public opinion.
Options include drop-in sessions similar to those used by the N.C. Department of Transportation or a more traditional presentation format.
Benchmark has provided committee members with a summary of key issues related to the land-use study. It includes information on roads, water-sewer, municipalities and other factors that will affect the area.
The committee was appointed by the Rowan County Board of Commissioners to develop a land-use plan for the areas west of Interstate 85, the area of the county that is being impacted most by growth.
In March 2007, commissioners agreed to hire Benchmark/CMR of Kannapolis at a cost of $39,500 to do the area plan.
This is the county’s second attempt at land use planning in three years that will focus on the western and southern portions of the county where the most rapid growth is expected ó the unincorporated areas west of U.S. 29.
The committee is made up of one representative from each of the 10 townships in the western area, along with a Rowan County Planning Board representative.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Meeting Room of the County Administrative Offices, 130 W. Innes St.