Moore County reviews highway corridor overlay district in special meeting

On April 20, the Moore County Board of Commissioners, joined by county planning staff, held a special work session to examine the proposed Highway Corridor Overlay District (HCOD), a set of zoning standards intended to guide development along major roadway corridors.

Planning staff provided a detailed presentation outlining the purpose and structure of the overlay district, emphasizing its role in shaping growth, regulating land use, and establishing consistent development standards. The proposal includes provisions for prohibited and conditional uses, building and site design requirements, and stormwater management regulations aligned with state environmental guidelines.

Examples presented during the session highlighted requirements such as parking setbacks 50 feet from highway rights-of-way, and 40 feet for interior lots as well as broader site standards covering access, lighting, signage and screening. Staff also walked through real-world development plans to demonstrate how the overlay would be applied in practice.

The proposed HCOD includes multiple subdistricts, including urban transition and rural highway areas, with varying levels of regulation. Certain uses, such as high-impact industrial operations and adult-oriented businesses would be restricted or prohibited in specific zones, while larger commercial developments in rural areas could require conditional rezoning approval.

In addition to technical details, commissioners discussed broader considerations, including the necessity, economic impact and long-term implications of implementing overlay districts across the county.

Michael Parker, attorney, farmer, and member of Moore Family Farms, an educational and advocacy group, expressed sentiment surrounding the proposal and questioned the need for additional regulation, stating, “If you don’t think first impressions matter, then you don’t need them.”

The meeting served as a preliminary review, with no formal vote taken. The HCOD proposal is expected to undergo further discussion and potential revisions before coming back to the board for consideration.

April 25, 2026

Jim Pedersen

Journalist

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