TITLE
Title
LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON WHETHER TO CONDITIONALLY REZONE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 5143 RANDLEMAN ROAD FROM AG, AGRICULTURAL & HI, HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TO AG, AGRICULTURAL & CZ-HI, CONDITIONAL ZONING - HEAVY INDUSTRIAL: CASE #25-11-PLBD-00140
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
J. Leslie Bell
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BACKGROUND
Background
Per Guilford County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Article 3 - Section 3.5.C.2.b.3. Procedures for Specific Applications and S.L. 1985-485 HB651, the Board of Commissioners has the authority to hold a legislative (public) hearing to consider an appeal of a decision by the Guilford County Planning Board regarding whether to rezone property.
On May 27, 2026, an appeal was properly filed with the Clerk to the Board to appeal the Planning Board’s decision made on May 13, 2026 (minutes attached) to deny the requested rezoning from Agricultural (AG) and Heavy Industrial (HI) to Agricultural (AG) and Conditional Zoning - Heavy Industrial (CZ-HI). Based on the provided sketch plan (attached), approximately 0.92 acres of the approximately 4.64 acres are to remain AG, and approximately 3.72 acres to be rezoned to Conditional Zoning - Heavy Industrial (CZ-HI). The subject property is located at 5143 Randleman Road (Guilford County Tax Parcel #144107 in Sumner Township), approximately 2,760 feet north of the intersection of NC Highway 62 E and Randleman Road. It is currently split-zoned with the total acreage of the subject parcel comprising approximately 4.64 acres (staff report attached).
This is a request (Case #25-11-PLBD-00140) to rezone the subject property from AG, Agricultural & Hi, Heavy Industrial to AG, Agricultural & CZ-HI, Conditional Zoning - Heavy Industrial with the following conditions:
Use Conditions:
1) Automobile Repair Services/Truck/Semi Repairs
2) Equipment Repair, light
Development Conditions:
1) Trailers containing hazardous materials shall be barred from the property
2) Hours of operation for repair activities limited to between 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The original rezoning application was amended at the May 13, 2026 Planning Board Meeting, as follows:
• Removed a previously proposed use condition that would have allowed Truck Washing as a permitted use on the subject property.
• Development Conditions #1 & #2 above were added.
The Planning Board voted unanimously, 6-0, to accept the application, as amended. (Ayes: Donnelly, Bui, Drumwright, Craft, Alston and Gullick. Nays: None.)
The Planning Board’s initial motion, to deny the requested rezoning, resulted in a 3-3 tie, therefore failing to pass. (Ayes: Donnelly, Craft and Gullick. Nays: Alston, Bui and Drumwright.)
The Planning Board’s second motion, to approve the requested rezoning, also resulted in a 3-3 tie, therefore failing to pass. (Ayes: Bui, Drumwright, Alston. Nays: Craft, Gullick, Donnelly.)
As no majority vote could be obtained, the decision resulted in a tie vote that constitutes a denial of the request.
District Descriptions
The AG, Agricultural District is intended to provide locations for agricultural operations, farm residences, and farm tenant housing on large tracts of land. This district is further intended to reduce conflicts between residential and agricultural uses and preserve the viability of agricultural operations. Commercial agricultural product sales - “agritourism” - may be permitted. The minimum lot size of this district is 40,000 square feet.
The HI, Heavy Industrial District is intended to accommodate a broad range of heavy industrial uses including manufacturing, wholesaling, fabrication, resource extraction and specialized industrial operations that may create adverse impacts on incompatible uses including residential or sensitive habitats. Development should have access to arterial streets and highways.
The CZ, Conditional Zoning District is established as a companion district for every district established in the Unified Development Ordinance. These districts are CZ-AG, CZ-RS-40, CZ-RS-30, CZ-RS-20, CZ-RS-3, CZ-RS-5, CZ-RS-7, CZ-RM-8, CZ-RM-18, CZ-RM-26, CZ-LO, CZ-NB, CZ-LB, CZ-MXU, CZ-GB, CZ-HB, CZ-CP, CZ-LI, CZ-HI, CZ-PI, CZ-RPD, CZ-PD-R, and CZ-PD-M. All regulations which apply to a general use zoning district also apply to the companion conditional zoning. All other regulations, which may be offered by the property owner and approved by the Jurisdiction as part of the rezoning process, also shall apply.
Consistency with Adopted Plans: The Planning Board’s initial motion, to deny the conditional rezoning request (resulted in a tie vote) from Agricultural (AG) and Heavy Industrial (HI) to Agricultural (AG), cited that the map amendment is not consistent with the Guilford County Comprehensive Plan and conflicts with the Future Land Use Map (FLUM). The motion failed due to a 3-3 tie vote.
The Planning Board’s second motion, to approve the conditional rezoning request (resulted in a tie vote) from Agricultural (AG) and Heavy Industrial (HI) to Agricultural (AG), cited that, while the request is inconsistent with the Future Land Use Maps (FLUM), the request is consistent with the following elements of the Comprehensive Plan:
Planning Theme Resilient Economy’s Goal Statement to “promote a healthy, sustainable economy that fosters partnerships, supports small business, incentivizes retention of farmland, and creates an economic climate that will attract and retain both job-generating businesses and their employees.”
It was also noted that the request aligns with Resilient Economy’s Policy 2: “Support existing businesses and industries, while seeking to increase high-wage jobs and employment opportunities throughout the County.”
Finally, Planning Theme Community Character’s Goal Statement: “Celebrate Guilford County’s unique sense of place by balancing agricultural preservation with desired development patterns, context-sensitive site design and placemaking.”
This Motion also failed on a 3-3 tie vote.
If the rezoning request is denied, an amendment from Residential and Rural Living to Industrial/Innovation Center for the CZ-HI zoned portion of the property would not be required. If the request is approved, an amendment to the Industrial/Innovation Center land use classification of the CZ-HI zoned portion of the property would be required.
Reasonableness: In the Planning Board’s initial motion, to deny the rezoning request (resulted in a tie vote), the Planning Board cited that the request is not reasonable, could possibly change the character of the area and have a negative impact on public health and safety, is not in the best interest of the public, and that the current zoning district orientation on the subject property better serves the public and expanding the HI zoning district could create incompatibility with surrounding uses.
In the Planning Board’s second motion, to approve the rezoning request (resulted in a tie vote), the Planning Board cited that the request is in the public interest because a portion of the property is already zoned HI, Heavy Industrial, and the proposed uses are compatible with the surrounding character of the corridor and represents a logical transition and expansion of the existing industrial activity along Randleman Road. It was also noted that the map amendment is reasonable with the property owner’s amended application that places additional development conditions to restrict business operation hours and storage of hazardous materials which favor the existing residents.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Conduct required legislative hearing to approve/deny the conditional rezoning of the said property located at 5143 Randleman Road from AG, Agricultural & HI, Heavy Industrial to AG, Agricultural & CZ-HI, Conditional Zoning - Heavy Industrial and associated land use classification change in the Guilford County Comprehensive Plan’s Future Land Use Map (FLUM) to the Industrial/Innovation Center land use classification of the CZ-HI zoned portion of the property.
Use Conditions:
1) Automobile Repair Services/Truck/Semi Repairs
2) Equipment Repair, light
Development Conditions:
1) Trailers containing hazardous materials shall be barred from the property
2) Hours of operation for repair activities limited to between 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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