UDO Rewrite
UDO & MSSD Rewrite
The Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD) are being rewritten to implement the policies and recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan, which includes, among other adopted plans, the 2021 Northeast Community Plan, the 2022 Wake Forest Community Plan, and the 2024 Wake Forest Downtown Plan. Drawing on best practices in zoning and land use regulations, the rewrite addresses the current conditions in Wake Forest, which are very different from what they were in 2013. Another objective of the rewrite is to ensure the UDO and MSSD comply with current state and federal law. The zoning map, which is a legal document that illustrates the zoning districts where different development rules apply, will also be repealed and replaced as part of this project.
The rewrite project began in 2022. Following over two years of in-depth analysis, broad public engagement, and an iterative drafting process, the draft UDO (see link below) was proposed for adoption in December 2024. That same month, state legislation was introduced and went into effect that limited the ability of local governments, state-wide, to make certain zoning map and ordinance amendments. After careful evaluation of the law, the Town is moving forward with full-scale repeal of the current UDO and adoption of a new, comprehensively rewritten UDO rather than an amendment of the existing ordinance.
Town staff is currently working to revise the draft UDO that was circulated in December 2024 to ensure it is entirely up-to-date with evolving state and federal law and to make minor revisions to address issues identified since the last draft was completed. A new Draft UDO will be made available in the coming months on this website so that all who are interested may review it before it moves forward for Planning Board review and consideration for adoption by the Board of Commissioners.
For any questions or comments on the draft UDO or the adoption process, please email Tim Richards at trichards@wakeforestnc.gov or call the Planning Department at 919-435-9510.
Following the UDO adoption, a new Zoning Map, which is the official map showing the boundaries of the UDO’s zoning districts in the Town’s jurisdiction, will be prepared and made available for public input before being brought forward for adoption.
Current UDO
The Wake Forest Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), along with the Town’s Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD), establish the requirements for all development activity in the Town’s jurisdiction. The UDO combines into a single document the regulations for zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, stormwater management, and historic preservation. The MSSD includes the technical standards and specifications for roads, parking lots, stormwater infrastructure, etc. The current UDO and MSSD were originally adopted in 2013 and have undergone numerous amendments in the intervening years.
The UDO combines into a single document the Town's zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, storm water management, and historic preservation regulations. It outlines the requirements for all development activity.
The UDO was first adopted in 2013, along with the Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD). With the update and adoption of several comprehensive plans, including the 2022 Community Plan and 2021 Northeast Community Plan, as well as several other comprehensive plans that are underway, the UDO and MSSD need to be updated to implement the policies and recommendations of the plans.
The zoning map, which is a legal document that illustrates the zoning districts where different development rules apply, will also be updated as part of this project.
In addition to reflecting the goals and actions of the comprehensive plans, the UDO needs to maintain compliance with state, federal and case law, which are constantly evolving. Finally, the update will exam best practices and trending topics.
We want to hear from you!
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Can we have road/bike/walking infrastructure catch up before adding even more residential developments? There's been no noticeable attempts to ease traffic flow. No additional stop signs or traffic lights or lane changes on my regular routes. Traffic has become a nightmare over the past few years with thousands of new cars on the same old tiny roads.
Hi all, I want to offer 2 recommendations to make the UDO more consisten when it comes to Townhomes:
Page 59 of proposed UDO - b. GR District. i. Development Sites Five Acres or More in Area.
If located adjacent to existing Single Family Detached Dwellings, the subdivision plan shall site new Single Family Detached Dwellings, so they provide a transition between the existing Single-Family Detached Dwellings and the new Dwelling Townhome buildings and provide a mix of uses
Page 60 of proposed UDO - c. MUR District.
ii. Single-Family Detached Transition. When adjacent to existing Single-Family Detached Dwellings, Townhome development shall incorporate Single-Family Detached Dwellings along the boundary with the adjacent Single-Family Detached Dwellings to serve as transition and provide a mix of residential types.
RECOMMENDATION #1: The wording for GR District should be conformed to the wording for the MUR district as to the Single Family Detached dwellings to say should be “along the boundary with the adjacent Single-Family Detached Dwellings” . This was discussed with Kari Grace on December 13, 2024.
Page 60 noted above requires that detached single family homes be sited along the perimeter in a MUR to serve as a transition and provided a mix of residential types.
RECOMMENDATION # 2: This transition should be required for all types of building in the MUR, not just in the instance of the Townhomes. Otherwise, the UDO as written appears to allow development such as residential buildings - Residential Care Facility, Retirement Housing, Single Room Occupancy, Institutional Buildings such as Child /Adult Day Care Center, Client Meeting Center, Cultural/Community Facility, Entertainment/Recreation, Commercial development such as Bars Entertainment/Recreation, General Commercial and Restaurant, to be along the boundary of the existing Single Family Detached Dwellings. Existing Single Family Detached Dwellings should not abut any of these buildings. This was also discussed with Kari Grace on December 13, 2024.
Page 59 - b. GR District. i. Development Sites Five Acres or More in Area.
If located adjacent to existing Single Family Detached Dwellings, the subdivision plan shall site new Single Family Detached Dwellings, so they provide a transition between the existing Single-Family Detached Dwellings and the new Dwelling Townhome buildings and provide a mix of uses
Page 60 - c. MUR District.
ii. Single-Family Detached Transition. When adjacent to existing Single-Family Detached Dwellings, Townhome development shall incorporate Single-Family Detached Dwellings along the boundary with the adjacent Single-Family Detached Dwellings to serve as transition and provide a mix of residential types.
The wording for GR District should be conformed to the wording for the MUR district as to the Single Family Detached dwellings to say should be “along the boundary with the adjacent Single-Family Detached Dwellings” . This was discussed with Kari Grace on December 13, 2024.
Page 60 noted above requires that detached single family homes be sited along the perimeter in a MUR to serve as a transition and provided a mix of residential types. This transition should be required for all types of building in the MUR, not just in the instance of the Townhomes. Other wise the UDO as written appears to allow development such as residential buildings - Residential Care Facility, Retirement Housing, Single Room Occupancy, Institutional Buildings such as Child /Adult Day Care Center, Client Meeting Center, Cultural/Community Facility, Entertainment/Recreation, Commercial development such as Bars Entertainment/Recreation, General Commercial and Restaurant, to be along the boundary of the existing Single Family Detached Dwellings. This was also discussed with Kari Grace on December 13, 2024.
I do not understand the need for the zoning change to transit supportive/high-density housing and neighborhood commercial on Harris Road. The traffic in this area is already congested as Harris Road is one of main roads out to Capital Avenue. This area should be rezoned to open space especially given the fact that the state of NC has not yet decided how to handle the on/off ramps when Capital becomes a littled access highway. The last thing needed in this area a complete restructuring of Harris Road to allow for hundreds of more cars to funnel out of an apartment complex. The town feels saturated with developments. Where is the need to add more here? We live in a time where every choice/decision matters. Many people have participated in the UDO meetings asking for this area to be designated as open space. Rethink this area wisely.
I have a major concern on the proposed changes to conditional zoning districts, especially when it comes to business use and exceptions for private schools. The case that would have a direct and major imapct to those of us who live on Averette Rd is the rezoning of of highway districts (HD) being rezoned for high business conditional district (HB-CD) for the puposed of Thales Academy. The proposed location of the school with an right in right out only from Averette Rd. will have a major impact on the already congested traffic flow. As it stands now the traffic in the mornings and evening is backed up all the way to the traffic circle with Highway 96 as well as down through the Bishop's Grant traffic light. Looking at the proposed plan for Thales there was no road improvemens shown to widen Hwy 98 or Averette Road so I am questioning that a TIA was done properly for this area to accurately refelct the traffic in the area. New neighborhoods on Avererette Rd. have added to the increase in traffic on the road and merging onto Hwy 98 as well. This small intersection cannot support the traffic that would ensue from two schools with both private transportation and buses.
Any deviation from our ordinances the developer should be responsible for paying the fee to record the changes.
Any deviations from our ordinances the developer should pay the fee to record the changes.
Any deviations from our ordinances the developer should pay the fee to record the changes.
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Phone 919-435-9511 Email kgrace@wakeforestnc.gov
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Phone 919-435-9517 Email jcurrin@wakeforestnc.gov -
Phone 919-435-9537 Email trichards@wakeforestnc.gov
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