Moore County outlines next steps for 2025 LUP and UDO updates amid public push for transparency

Moore County Commissioners met Oct. 30 to review next steps for the Land Use Plan (LUP) and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The nearly two-year development of the 2025 LUP was finalized on Oct. 21, and definitions were removed from the document.

The LUP acts as a guide for the UDO, has stabilized language and is good for 10 years.

The UDO’s language and definitions are not stable because they may be changed. Commissioner Vice-Chairman Nick Picerno moved to omit the definitions the night of the finalization of the 2025 LUP on Oct. 21, citing he followed his staff’s recommendations.

The review with the planning department followed the special-called meeting’s discussion on replacing Carthage Elementary School and hiring SROs and the school board’s task of supplying both while keeping stakeholders informed.

Planning Director Ruth Pedersen presented proposed updates to the UDO. The following are from her PowerPoint presentation.

1. Develop a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan with a policy.
2. Develop a Master Utilities Plan that looks into the future and is consistent with the new LUP.
3. Create an inventory of Historical Sites and Structures.
4. Incorporate the Small-Town Model Overlay District into the UDO, which will contain standards, illustrations, setbacks, streetscape design, vegetation, and open space.
5. Add any new definitions to the UDO that were included in the draft LUP, but were ultimately removed.
6. Update the Rural Agicultural definition in Chapter 3. (LUP Ch. 9 Land Use Categories)
7. Update all references to the LUP from 2013 to 2025.
8. In the future, investigate a high-density watershed development option that allows higher density development. It will be needed for the small-town model due to the high density areas allowed.
9. In the future, create a Comprehensive Stormwater Section to ensure stormwater measures are followed to reduce the runoff and establish a third-party stormwater and erosion control engineering firm to ensure compliance with state and local requirements. (Utilize Public Utilities Engineers to review development proposals for compliance and monitor after project completion in perpetuity.)
10. Work with Moore County Public Works Department to develop regulations on the stormwater project.
11. Develop clear [stormwater run-off]
12. specifications for developers to follow and staff to use to review new development proposals.
13. Research the Highway Corridor Overlay District to ensure the districts include support for all aspects of the LUP.
14. The planning board will hold a work session after their regular meeting Nov. 6 to review and potential changes will be brought in the form of text amendments.
15. Research Minor Subdivision Options to increase the number of lots from four, to allow a five-acre estate lot option, and change the waiting period from three years.
16. Research “by right” approval for major subdivisions versus holding a quasi-judicial hearing.

Review the Aug. 2025 LUP update during its development by Land Use Plan and Unified Development Ordinance Director. Review Commissioner Tom Adam’s scrutiny and Commissioner Vice-Chairman Nick Picerno’s support on “by-right” subdivisions in videos here.

During the Oct. 31 Pedersen LUP and UDO review, Picerno supported “by-right” subdivisions.

“Let planning discuss it. The quasi-judicial is deciphering between what is fact and what is opinion,” Picerno said.

“The public likes our looking at quasi hearings and seeing that it’s [development proposal] consistent with the LUP,” Adams said about the commissioners having additional input to protect residents.

Commissioner Jim Von Canon said he was worried some things could be taken away from the LUP.

When Pedersen introduced the stormwater run-off problem, Von Canon said, “That needs to be in RED. States have taken away the hammer to sue neighbors. There has to be a price to pay.”

Picerno asked if funds for permits could be used to fund an engineering firm and Ensminger said “Yes. In perpetuity, we don’t stop there. We make sure standards are being kept.”

“What about out-of-state developers when they create problems that cause run-off?” Adams asked.

“Be careful. Economically, development is a good thing, but it has to be responsible,” Picerno said.

“We need quality development that will stand the test of time,” Adams said.

On Oct. 23, Sandhills News sent a questionnaire with a request for participants to answer at least 10 of 40 carefully drafted questions based largely on the public’s questions about the 2025 LUP to the two leaders of the steering committee and is waiting for their responses.

Moore School Superintendent Tim Locklair was sent the questionnaire Oct. 23 with a request for submission within two weeks.

If you were a member of the steering committee, consider participating in the survey. Contact editor@sandhills.news.

Here is the list of steering committee members.

The LUP development questionnaire invites its developers to explain how the county’s new 10-year growth guide was developed and what it means for residents. The 40-question survey, by Sandhills News, is designed to increase transparency and public understanding of issues such as “by-right” zoning, rural preservation and the relationship between the LUP and the UDO. By addressing topics ranging from environmental protection to the impact of new state laws, the survey gives the public insight into how land-use decisions are made and how they can participate in shaping future policy. For government leaders, it provides a forum to clarify goals, document the reasoning behind key decisions, and strengthen public trust in county planning.

Answers to the questionnaire will be published to provide transparency in the 2025 LUP development because the meetings were not recorded.

Three public hearings and a work session will be held before the Moore County Planning Board at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6, in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse in Carthage to consider UDO amendments.

Oct. 31, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers

Submit news tips, events and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.