Large-Scale Development Moratorium Process

The Large-Scale Development Moratorium Process is applicable to requests for rezoning, including proposals for new or amended Planned Development (PD) applications and Development Agreements, that are intended to support “Large-Scale Development” and meet/exceed the criteria listed below:

• The subject parcel/assemblage is ≥75 acres in size; and/or
• The intended development seeks to create >75 lots/units; and
• The request for rezoning is not a down-zoning.

Before an applicant can apply for/discuss an intended rezoning, Planned Development (PD), or Development Agreement with County staff and, subsequently, pursue the formal rezoning process, County Council must first lift the Moratorium.  This process is intended to address public concerns around large-scale developments’ impacts on infrastructure and critical County services, including but not limited to: Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, schools, water and sewer, and especially roads and traffic. 

Council’s determination to lift the moratorium will be based upon the development’s private resources to address the following:

1. Roads, intersections, and traffic;
2. Public Safety including police, fire, and EMS;
3. Schools;
4. Water and sewer infrastructure;
5. Impacts to surrounding communities including but not limited to buffers and setbacks;
6. Input from surrounding communities including but not limited to a minimum of two (2) publicly noticed community meetings with record of attendance and provision of information intended to ensure a general awareness of proposed development (Please log attendance using the Community Meeting Attendance Log Template available here); 
7. Consideration of future easements for road and utility expansion and right of way;
8. Connectivity to surrounding communities;
9. Preservation of green space;
10. Traffic calming devices for roads in proposed development;
11. Impact on local business; and
12. Other government provided services.

Requests to Lift the Large-Scale Development Moratorium are considered by the Land Use Committee, which is comprised of County Council and typically convenes on the second Monday of every month unless noticed otherwise.  To meet the 15-day public notice requirement, applications, supporting documentation, and $150 fee for Requests to Lift the Large-Scale Development Moratorium should be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the Land Use Committee meeting in which the request is intended to be considered, typically the previous month’s Land Use Committee meeting date.  Upon receipt of a complete application, staff will post the affected property with blue public meeting signs.

County Council, when authorizing a “Request to Lift the Large-Scale Development Moratorium”, may recommend a suitable zoning designation for the applicant to pursue through the typical rezoning process.  

If an applicant’s Request to Lift the Large-Scale Development Moratorium is denied, he/she may modify the proposal and re-apply in accordance with the same process described above.   If the Request is approved, the applicant may formally apply for their rezoning and begin developing the details of the PD and/or DA with County Staff and, subsequently, pursue the typical formal adoption process.  Should a Request to Lift the Large-Scale Development Moratorium be granted, there is no guarantee that the request for rezoning or Development Agreement will be approved as it, too, is subject to County Council’s final decision-making authority.