2013 Annual

Report

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Handle Rezoning Cases

Handle Major Subdivisions

Review, Approve and Sign off on Minor and Exempt Plats as well as sign major Subdivision plats once approved

Handle variance and appeal requests including Animal Control and Convenience Site appeals through Utilities

Assign all new 911 addresses for the County, maintain database, as well as assign all new parcel numbers

Research and handle zoning, solid waste and illegal burning violation complaints throughout the County

Manage Flood Plain Administration for the County

Review and Approve all Commercial Site Plans for the County

Manage Cell Tower Program for the County

Manage Mobile Home take-down program for the County

Manage Departmental Website and Listserv

Maintain Open Space Funds for the County

Research and Produce Ordinance Amendments when necessary

Participate in Transportation related committees such as RPO, TAC, MPO, TCC, US 70 Corridor Commission

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Planning continues to handle Map Review, Customer Service, Sale of County Maps, and the

Scheduling of the Land Use Center Conference Room. There are approximately 5 different

county departments that reserve the room each month.

Produce maps related to planning as needed for the public or for meetings.

Serve as staff for the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Technical Review Committee

and County Transportation Committee

Serve as Secretary for Board of Adjustment and Planning Board and type related minutes for

each.

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2013

Total Preliminary Subdivisions heard by the Planning Board

this year: 15

Proposed SF Dwelling Units: 137

Proposed MF Dwelling Units: 210

Total: 367

Total Acreage: 201

Major Subdivision Lots Recorded/Permitted: 795

2012

Total Preliminary Subdivisions heard by the Planning Board

this year: 14

Proposed SF Dwelling Units: 159

Proposed MF Dwelling Units: 54

Total: 213

Total Acreage: 330.20

Major Subdivision Lots Recorded/Permitted: 279

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2013

Total Minor Plats Processed:

132

Total Number of Lots: 178

Total Acres: 375.395

2012

Total Minor Plats Processed:

105

Total Number of Lots: 151

Total Acres: 301.37

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Total Square Footage of all Commercial Buildings Reviewed this year was approximately 229,000 compared to 174,000 in 2012.

Some Commercial Site Plans Reviewed in 2013 were:

Harris Teeter (Flowers)

Cleveland Green Apartments Phase 2

Dollar General

The Farm - Banquet Center

Providence Presbyterian Church

Goody’s Thrift Shop

CVS (Flowers)

Highland Ridge Apartments Phase 2

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The Board of Adjustment handled 1 case this year which was consistent with

the number of cases heard in 2012.

The Board of Adjustment hears cases/violations related to other County

Departments such as Animal Control with leash laws, etc.

There were 11 Animal Control Appeals but most of the applicants were able

to work out their issue with Animal Services.

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Some of the cases that were handled

Solid Waste : 35 Setback Issues: 5

Illegal Burning : 22 Illegal Dumping: 10

Junk Vehicles: 19 Mobile Home Takedowns: 1

Multiple Violations: 21 Illegal Businesses: 42

Grass Issues: 55 Underpinning: 12

Sign Permits: 34 Landscaping/Parking: 5

Sign Violations: 8 Subdivision Violations: 4

Checking road signs and addresses: 86 Home Occupation Letters: 13

46% increase in violation cases this year.

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Zoning Enforcement

Straight Rezonings for 2013: 6

Special Use Permits for 2013: 16

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2012 fees collected from permits alone:

$ 72,351.85

2013 fees collected from permits alone:

$83,536.55

Revenue from other sources (map review, rezonings and subdivisions, etc. but not including cell towers and fee in lieu) for

2013 = $52,607.15

2012 = $49,586.13

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In the County’s Jurisdiction, there were 1181 new addresses assigned in 2013.

There were 973 new parcel numbers assigned.

We input approximately 832 of the town’s newly assigned addresses into our 911 database this year.

The County assisted towns/municipalities in assigning 54 addresses in 2013.

There were 3 addresses assigned to private paths that were named in 2013.

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$61,200 - Proposed Fee-in-Lieu in 2013

$100,272 - actually collected

Total Fee-In-Lieu collected since 2000: $1,096,396

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The Planning Department reviewed approximately 22 flood certification

forms in 2013

We continue to assist Building Inspections with flood related issues regarding

permitting.

The Planning Department continues to be the Flood Plain Regulation

Department for the County.

The Planning Department participated in an audit of its Flood Management

Program, the first in almost 20 years. No issues were noted and no changes

were recommended.

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Planning Staff has worked with the local RPO and other neighboring jurisdictions to identify scoring criteria methodology for the NC DOT 2013 SPOT 3.0 project process.

Rural Planning Organization: Johnston County is a member of the Upper Coastal Plain Rural Planning Organization (RPO), as are Edgecombe, Nash, and Wilson Counties. This organization works with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to assist rural counties in getting necessary improvements included in the NCDOT Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Until these RPO's were formed, counties were on their own as far as getting improvements approved by NCDOT. The RPO structure follows the organization for the Metropolitan Planning Organizations and consists of a Transportation Coordinating Committee (TCC), which is monitored by Planning Staff, and a Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), which includes elected officials from the jurisdictions.

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Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization: A western portion of the County is a part of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO). CAMPO includes Wake County and all the municipalities therein and adjacent areas of Franklin, Granville, Harnett, and Johnston Counties. This allows the County a voice in future transportation-related decisions that affect Johnston County and the rest of CAMPO, especially what is occurring in eastern Wake County.

Johnston County Transportation Advisory Committee: This committee is comprised of elected officials from each municipality in the county, as well as Johnston County. The chair is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. This committee reviews transportation issues and advises the RPO staff and the Johnston County Board of Commissioners on issues affecting Johnston County.

JCATS – Appointed a member of JCATS Board to provide expertise related to transit planning and serve as a liaison between JCATS and the RPO/MPO.

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The Planning Department assisted approximately 60 customers per week.

The Planning Department answered approximately 500 calls per month. If there were months with controversial rezoning cases or subdivisions, the amount of calls that week were increased. Due to there being no “formal” Customer Service Department any longer, our number of calls have increased for people needing to be transferred to other county departments.

Planning serves as a liaison between customers and all Land Use Center Departments.

373 public notices were mailed out to citizens regarding rezonings or new subdivisions in their area.

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We continuously work to improve our website by adding information that the public wishes to view such as: minutes from past board meetings, agendas for upcoming meetings, meeting announcements, updates, plans, etc.

The information on our website is updated daily, if needed, to make sure we have the most up-to-date information available to the public.

We are pleased to say that our website is completely maintained within our department.

Our listserv continues to be an asset in getting information out in a timely manner. We are consistently averaging 650+ members. Messages are sent out monthly referencing board agendas, meeting announcements and items of interest related to planning and zoning.

Our monthly hits on our website averages about 125 hits.

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There have been 442 plats reviewed and signed in 2013.

At least 1/3 of plats signed are town or other jurisdiction maps.

Since taking the program over in 2009, there have been 2,046 total plats signed by our map review officers.

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Home Occupations

Daycares

Group Homes

DMV Auto Sales

ATF (Firearms)

Turkey Shoots

Zoning Verifications

Floodplain Verification

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Ongoing work with Wake/Johnston Collaborative Watershed Plan to identify priority stream projects.

Assisting Towns and Post Offices with new 911 addressing and address corrections.

Assist in solving solid waste complaints within Town ETJs.

Assist Archer Lodge with Planning & Zoning questions.

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Assist Tourism Dept with Bike Route Mapping.

Attend at least 30 RPO and MPO TCC meetings and subcommittee meetings and various other transportation meetings.

Participate in the Eastern NC RPO Coalition

Assist in management of the RPO staff.

Made several presentations to local organizations such as Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and HBA.

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First audit by NC of the County’s Flood Damage Prevention Program with no issues or changes noted.

Participated in criteria modification for the 2013 NCDOT SPOT 3.0 project. Criteria and scoring approved unanimously by the Region which was one of two out of ten in the State.

Developed a procedure for monitoring and requiring subdivision street maintenance.

Adjusted cell tower review process with new Consultant to become more customer friendly.

Planning Director elected Chairman of the Rural Planning Organization’s TCC.

Finished identification and notification of non-existent Special Uses.

Johnston County Natural Resources Initiative finalized.

Most lots recorded since 2008, up 185% over 2012.

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Director - Berry Gray

Planner – Kevin Sigmon

Zoning Enforcement Officer – Matt Kirkland

Zoning Enforcement Officer – Michael King

Addressing/Map Review Officer – Joni Sanderford

Office Manager/County Map Review Officer – Stephanie Clifton

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