Although the ordinance was written to prevent the county from approving rezoning requests, there are some exclusions that will allow developers to have their requests heard. Rezonings that correct an inconsistency between the current zoning of a parcel and its designation in the comprehensive plan's Future Land Use Map would be allowed to proceed. For example, if the future land use map has designated a piece of property for commercial use, but it is currently zoned open rural, the rezoning application could be heard. An inconsistency exists when the zoning doesn't allow applicants to achieve what the comprehensive plan specifies for that piece of property, Clem said. If this is the case, the applicants could go through the rezoning process, but it is not guaranteed that the county would approve their requests.
Developers can also ask for a variance to the moratorium.
A variance would be considered if the change would only affect a small portion of land or if it obviously would not be affected by the results of the sector study, Clem said. For example, if a five-acre parcel of open rural land was surrounded by properties that are zoned residential or commercial, the county may grant a variance. The sector plan would probably not call for a road corridor on the open rural parcel if it had to go through the commercial property to get there, but situations such as that will be left to the discretion of the commissioners. Commissioner Jim Bryant said. The commissioners heard little opposition in the ordinance's final public hearing Tuesday.