DOBSON — The Dobson Board of Commissioners agreed to add a provision for planned residential conditional districts to the Dobson Zoning Ordinance and approved to rezone property on Snow and Draughn streets last week.

According to a report by the Surry County Planning and Development Department, the zoning text amendment for the provision is in response to a perceived need to consider development proposals within the town planning jurisdiction that are consistent with the adopted plans of the town.

Dobson, Surry County and state planners from the N.C. Department of Commerce have met over a period of several months to consider an amendment of the Town Zoning Ordinance to allow increased regulatory flexibility in accordance with the town of Dobson Land Use Plan 2008.

A conditional district would be designed during the rezoning process and be based upon a specific development proposal. It would be carried out according to the development plan under mandate of the legislation creating the district. The development plan essentially becomes part of the ordinance, as a description of a very specific zoning district.

The text amendment also includes establishing the Planned Residential Conditional District (PR-CD). The district would allow case-by-case approvals of specific development proposals with limited uses among the residences.

A draft for the amendment states that the PR-CD aims to provide an alternative to conventional subdivision design by promoting the conservation and creation of viable, connected open space more flexible lot design options while minimizing development costs.

The board also approved a request from Surry County to rezone property on Snow and Draughn streets of about 11 acres for government, office and service-oriented business purposes. The property is owned by Surry County and is one block east of Main Street, on Snow and Draughn streets.

Also, the board approved to fulfill a $500 request from the Dobson Community Library for its Summer Reading Program and approved an interlocal agreement between Dobson and Surry County to continue their contract for planning and zoning and code enforcements.

The interlocal agreement states that the county shall provide zoning administration for Dobson, and the town shall provide its own adopted zoning ordinance and land use plan. It also states that the county shall provide land use code enforcement for Dobson as needed.

The board also approved an agreement between Dobson, Surry County and the N.C. Department of Transportation for the expansion of East Kapp Street. The project consists of the expansion of Kapp Street from .15 miles east of U.S. 601 Business to Ryan Street to reduce congestion and improve safety along U.S. 601 Business and approaches to Kapp and Atkins streets with U.S. 601 Business.

Contact Erin C. Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.