Land Use Planning & Growth Management

Land Use Planning & Growth Management

Focus: Balancing development and economic growth with preserving the county's cherished rural character, natural resources, and overall quality of life for current and future residents.

My Commitment as Your Commissioner:

Caldwell County is a special place, offering a desirable quality of life rooted in its natural beauty and community spirit. As we inevitably grow and evolve, managing that growth thoughtfully is crucial. As your County Commissioner, I am committed to proactive and balanced land use planning that supports economic opportunity while safeguarding the resources and character that make our county unique. Here’s how I plan to be helpful:

1. Champion an Updated and Implemented Comprehensive Plan:
   
   

   • How I'll Help: A relevant, community-informed Comprehensive Land Use Plan is the cornerstone of effective growth management. As Commissioner, I will actively support the regular updating of our county's plan, ensuring robust public engagement throughout the process. Crucially, I will work to ensure the adopted plan doesn't just sit on a shelf; I will advocate for its consistent use by the Planning Board and county staff as the primary guide for decisions on zoning, subdivision approvals, and related county investments in unincorporated areas.

2. Streamline Processes While Upholding Standards:
   
   

   • How I'll Help: Development review should be predictable and efficient, but never at the cost of community well-being. As Commissioner, I will support efforts by the Planning Department to review and streamline zoning, subdivision, and permitting processes, aiming for clarity and timeliness. Simultaneously, I will ensure that our county ordinances maintain strong, responsible development standards that protect property values, safeguard environmental resources like water quality, ensure safety, and promote compatibility between different land uses.

3. Actively Support Protection of Farmland and Natural Areas:
   
   

   • How I'll Help: Our farms, forests, waterways, and scenic landscapes are vital to our heritage and economy. As Commissioner, I will advocate for land use policies and zoning tools within the county's authority that encourage the conservation of prime agricultural soils and critical natural areas. This includes supporting voluntary preservation programs (like farmland preservation districts or conservation easements) and ensuring our development regulations effectively minimize impacts on sensitive environments, steep slopes, and water resources in unincorporated Caldwell County.

4. Proactively Manage Growth Pressures:
   
   

   • How I'll Help: Growth often concentrates near existing towns and major transportation corridors like US-321. As Commissioner, I will promote proactive planning and strong intergovernmental cooperation with our municipalities to manage development in these key transition areas. I will use the comprehensive plan and zoning as tools to guide appropriate development types and densities, and I will insist that infrastructure capacity (roads, water, sewer – working with relevant providers) is adequately considered before approving significant new development that could strain existing systems or negatively impact community character.

Thoughtful growth management requires balancing diverse interests and looking towards the long-term health of our county. As your Commissioner, I pledge to provide balanced leadership, ensuring that decisions about land use in unincorporated Caldwell County are made transparently, consistently, and with the best interests of the entire community in mind.