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August 25, 2016 (Joint Meeting) Page 2 863 <br />The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met for a Joint <br />Meeting with the Cabarrus County Planning and Zoning Commission in the <br />Multipurpose Room at the Cabarrus County Governmental Center in Concord, <br />North Carolina on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. <br />Present - Chairman: Stephen M. Morris <br />Vice Chairman: Diane R. Honeycutt <br />Commissioners: Elizabeth F. Poole <br />Lynn W. Shue <br />Absent - Commissioner: Grace M. Mynatt <br />Also present were Mike Downs, County Manager; Richard M. Koch, County <br />Attorney; Pam Dubois, Senior Deputy County Manager; Jonathan Marshall, Deputy <br />County Manager; and Megan Smit, Clerk to the Board. <br />Present from the Cabarrus County Planning and Zoning Commission were <br />Shannon Frye; Jeff Corley; Mary Blakeney; Adam Dagenhart; Dane Laney, James <br />Litaker; Chris Pinto; Richard Price; Andrew Graham; Steve Wise and Aaron <br />Ritchie. Attending from the Planning and Zoning Department were Kelly <br />Sifford, Planning and Development Director; Phil Collins, Senior Planner; <br />Jason Earliwine, Senior Planner; and Lynn Roberts, Clerk to the Planning and <br />Zoning Commission. <br />Call to Order <br />Chairman Morris called the meeting to order at 6:27 p.m. <br />Welcome and Introductions <br />Chairman Morris welcomed Planning and Zoning Commission members and <br />other guests to the joint meeting. He advised the format of the meeting will <br />be an informal round table discussion. <br />Attendees shared comments or concerns they received from citizens. A <br />general discussion ensued. Topics addressed included: building inspections <br />wait time; staffing increases to address the demand; possibility of an <br />express review service and associated costs; a firing range on Old Mine Road <br />and the associated interpretation of the ordinance. During discussion Kelly <br />Sifford, Planning and Development Director, and Mike Downs, County Manager <br />and Jonathan Marshall, Deputy County Manager, responded to questions. <br />Discussion Items <br />Attendees participated in discussion on commercial /industrial <br />development standards; rural development standards versus those in highly <br />developed areas; landscaping /buffer requirements; aiding small business <br />growth; and the variance process. <br />Kelly Sifford, Planning and Development Director, reported that updates <br />to the ordinance, specifically concerning rural businesses and home <br />occupations, should come before the Board of Commissioners in October. <br />Jonathan Marshall, Deputy County Manager, requested that Planning and <br />Zoning Committee members who served on the Text Amendment Committee to share <br />their background and areas of expertise. <br />A lengthy discussion continued. During discussion participants <br />addressed the following topics: home occupations; businesses in rural areas; <br />efforts to aid small businesses; tools to help inform small businesses; and <br />online permitting and inspection tools. <br />Kelly Sifford, Planning and Development Director, provided a brief <br />update of projects planned for the next 12 months, including the following: <br />• Electronic plan review go -live date <br />• Morehead Road Area Project <br />• Harrisburg Area Land Use Plan <br />• Midland Area Plan revisited <br />• Sign changes <br />• Green Growth Tool Box Project <br />In closing, Mike Downs, County Manager, thanked staff for their hard <br />work and commitment to customer service. <br />