Forsyth County Commissioners Consider Additional Development Changes

At its Feb. 10 work session, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to advance two significant changes to the Unified Development Code.  The first amendment would cap monthly residential rezoning applications, and the second looks to scale back certain commercial beautification requirements. Both proposed amendments have been forwarded to the Forsyth County Planning Commission for a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2026. 

Proposed Cap on Residential Rezoning Applications

During the February 10 meeting, Planning and Community Development Director Tom Brown presented a proposal to limit the number of new residential rezoning applications that staff begin processing each month. The change would not prevent applications from being submitted but would cap staff review at eight new residential cases per month, creating a first-in, first-out queue if submissions exceed that number.

Changes to Commercial Beautification Standards

The second proposed amendment would revise “beautification” requirements in commercial zoning districts. Current UDC standards require certain outdoor amenities, such as benches, trash receptacles, bike racks, and public art installations in many commercial developments. The amendment would also eliminate the public art requirement. 

Next Steps

As mentioned previously, both of these changes will be discussed at a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main Street.

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