About the Department of Planning and Development Services

The Department of Planning and Development Services is comprised of two divisions–Planning and Building Codes.  This section addresses the role and responsibilities of the Planning Division. For information on the Building Codes Division, click here.

The mission of the Planning Division is to provide citizens, businesses, neighborhoods, City staff, and elected and appointed officials with accurate planning and development information in a timely, courteous, and easily understandable manner.  To this end, the Division prepares plans and reports, conducts research, analyzes information, reviews development plans, and formulates recommendations to assist the community in decision-making. The Division focuses on the long term interests of the general public. Preserving the City’s unique character and quality of life is our most important goal.

The primary responsibilities of the Planning Division are to:

  • prepare and update the City's Comprehensive Plan;

  • prepare amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO);

  • process, review, and make recommendations on applications for rezonings;

  • process requests for annexations;

  • review and approve new subdivisions;

  • process, review, and make recommendations on applications to the Historic District Review Board (HRB) for certificates of Appropriateness; provide Staff assistance to the HRB; and inspect HRB-approved projects upon completion;

  • process, review, and make recommendations on application to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBOA) for variances and special exceptions from the UDO and provide Staff assistance to the Board;

  • review and make recommendations on applications to the Design Reveiw Board (DRB), provide Staff assistance to the DRB, and inspect DRB-approved projects upon completion;

  • review and approve development plans (site plans) for all new commercial and multi-family development;

  • review sigh permit applications for compliance with design standards;

  • coordinate the Pre-Application Conference, meeting weekly with developers in an effort to provide them with early feedback on development plans;

  • conduct special planning studies, such as the Boundary Street Master Plan and the Bladen Street Area Revitalization Plan;

  • administer special projects such as the City’s street tree planting program and Battery Saxton park planning;

  • facilitate implementation of the City’s Greenway Master Plan by preparing grant applications for funding assistance and preparing conceptual master plans for individual greenway segments;

  • prepare community development grant applications and assist in administering projects funded through grants;

  • administer the Project Repair Program, a housing repair program for low- to moderate income homeowners;

  • coordinate volunteer neighborhood improvement programs such as World Changers and Operation Good Neighbor;

  • respond to inquiries from the public for information on zoning and development issues.