Sanford UDO changes may ease emergency facility approvals

Sanford planners supported several land-use changes, including allowing fire, sheriff and emergency-service facilities “by right” at the Aug. 18 meeting. The council will consider the “by right” request and several rezoning requests on Sept. 1.

The Sanford planning board recommended a staff-initiated Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO) amendment to change Article 4’s Permitted Use to allow the land use of fire, sheriff, and emergency services in all zoning districts “by right.”

Currently, a special use permit is required for emergency service development in RA, RR,

RN-20, R-20, SN-12, SN-9, UN-6, MF-12 and NC.

Planning staff said the “by right” change would ease the financial burden on volunteer fire departments needing to expand and build new facilities, would expedite the process by eliminating meetings, that Lee County Government supported the change, that rapid growth caused the need for increased services so homeowner’s could meet insurance requirements, and Sanford planners acknowledged residential concerns about siren noises, lights and large trucks rushing to aid citizens, and during a conversation after the meeting, said residents who did not like them next to their property would eventually move.

Planners said surrounding counties implemented the same “by right” land use.

The public hearing for the UDO “by right” change for emergency services facilities is Sept. 1.

The council set a public hearing date of Sept. 1 to discuss annexing 27 acres at 1601 Carthage Street in the ETJ for Rollingdale Investments, LLC to attain sewer service. Rollingdale Investment, LLC is a real estate development company tied to Josh Swindell of Raleigh-based Envision Homes, known for residential projects in Sanford and Durham. The company purchased the land in 2023.

The council held public hearings at the Aug. 18 meeting, and the planning board recommended each of the following, and the council will vote on Sept. 1:

Mark Lyczkowski of ML Consulting, Inc’s, request to amend the existing conditional zoning from 2024 to revise the design for removing a connection to Nixon Drive and add a single-family detached lot on Nixon Drive.

The original plans had two entrances for compliance with the UDO, which has changed. On March 3, 2026, the Sanford City Council unanimously approved a change to the subdivision rules that increased the threshold for requiring two entrances from 30 lots to 100 lots. The county also adopted this change.

The change was intended to make the local rules consistent with North Carolina Fire Code standards.

During the discussion, Lyczkowski said he had “not figured out” how to create a buffer for Willard Meadows subdivision on the U.S. Highway 421 border because of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s fence. See the yellow indication.

Senior Planner Amy McNeil suggested planting a buffer of Leland evergreens between the townhomes and single-family homes, as indicated in green.

Lyczkowski said existing trees were ten to twelve inches in diameter, and McNeil said maybe he could leave the trees and fill gaps with evergreens.

Ali Java with Pine Cell Repair, LLC’s request to rezone from general commercial to general commercial conditional zoning District for a 500-square-foot apartment on the first floor of his commercial building constructed in the 1900s at 706 W. Pearl Street. Java attained dedicated parking across the street on Horner Boulevard with Glorious Community Childcare Center, LLC. The upstairs is storage only.

Sanford’s land use plan designates this parcel as Neighborhood Center, which encourages “upper story” residences in mixed-use buildings, but not first-story residences.

The second-story “door to nowhere” is used for moving boxes, and the only access to the second floor is a pull-down ladder, no stairs, and the door has been secured and meets code.

Jones & Cnossen Engineering, PLLC, and property owner Golong Holdings, LLC’s representative, William Norton’s proposed plans for 10.19 acres of vacant land on Rose Street, the planning board recommended rezoning from urban neighborhood to multifamily to allow the development of a multi-family apartment community. The property is between 706 W. Rose Street and 808 W. Rose Street.

The board approved the purchase of a new diesel powered 25 cubic yard leaf vacuum at $363,600.

The city will transfer $100,000 from retained earnings to pay for renovations to the Siler City building. The transfer decreases the retained earnings budget by $100,000 and increases the contract services budget by the same amount to cover the renovation costs.

The council approved funding a $150k walking bridge at Sanford Golf Course near Hole #11.

The board authorized moving $1,290,630 from capital outlay for the capital project purchase of land at the Big Buffalo Wastewater Treatment Plant for future potential expansion, with a total funding plan of $3.37 million.

The following projects used bond interest proceeds from 2021, when the city issued $74 million in bonds, and 2024 and 2025 bond issuances and some projects will also use grant funds and reserves:

$642,960 for a utility building design.

Purchase and install automated metering infrastructure with $308,523.

Design and construct 69,000 linear feet of 18-inch diameter sewer force main from Pittsboro Lift Station to the City’s Little Buffalo Lift Station. This project is to be financed through grant funds and debt issuance.

$110,366 to install, upgrade, and repair miscellaneous water and sewer infrastructure. This project is to be financed through bond proceeds and reserves.

$139,523 to pay for the Town of Siler City utility improvements for their wastewater system and the development, operation and management of the project. This project is to be financed through contributions from other local governments and grant proceeds.

$5,372,005 for expansion of the existing Water Treatment Plant. This project is to be financed through retained earnings, bond proceeds, and contributions from other local governments.

The next meeting is Aug. 25 at 1 p.m.

Aug. 19, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

Follow on Facebook.

Subscribe to Sandhills News and support this conservative journalism with advertising.

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

Sandhills News is plain-English local government reporting that explains how decisions affect your land, taxes, schools and rights.