By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — In what’s scheduled to be a short meeting, county commissioners on Friday will consider making multiple changes to the county’s zoning laws.

One of the changes would create a term called “cabin” in the county’s zoning ordinance. A second would group cabins into the same zoning process as campgrounds. Another would add certain types of contractors to uses allowed in one of the county’s I-85 classifications.

All of the zoning changes received approval from the Rowan County Planning Board. Commissioners will consider the changes during their 6 p.m. meeting in the county’s administration building on West Innes St.

County staff originally proposed adding the term “cabin” in order to describe a structure used for overnight or temporary lodging. The term is intended to describe buildings rented for a recreational purpose or rental purpose regardless of whether the cabin is subject to the state’s building code.

County staff developed the term after finding instances where structures, including a large treehouse, were being rented without an appropriate zoning designation.

In addition to the new term, county staff is proposing that any “cabins” would need a minimum lot size of two acres, specific setbacks from the edge of a property line and at least one parking space.

A final part of the zoning changes would add general building contractors and special trade contractors as allowable uses in two of the county’s Interstate 85 classifications. Generally I-85 classifications are used for economic development projects, such as a manufacturing facility. With an approval on Monday, types of contractors within two of the county’s I-85 designations could include residential, commercial, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, brick mason and electrical contractors.

In other business on Monday’s agenda:

• Commissioners will receive a financial report that shows total revenue during the current fiscal year as roughly in line with the prior year. Expenditures in the report as slightly above prior years.

The financial report also shows sales tax during the 2016 fiscal year, which ended in June, as better than the prior year in nine of 12 months.

• Commissioners are set to approve Thanksgiving office hours for county employees.

The hours, included on commissioners’ consent agenda, would close county offices at 1 p.m. on the day before Thanksgiving because of road closings for the Holiday Caravan Parade.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.