Watershed Extended

By JAMIE KENNEDY

High Point City Council voted June 7 to make some land- development changes recommended by staff.

The city’s Planning and Development Department had requested several amendments to the development ordinance to meet state requirements and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

About 80 percent of the land in the city is in the water supply watershed area. It falls under requirements for 50- and 100-foot land buffers for property along perennial and intermittent waters. The amendment will extend these standards to the entire jurisdiction. The changes mostly will affect the west and southwest areas of city.

The buffer changes are required by the city’s agreement with the state on the Kool Pool outfall line repair, council member Chris Whitley said. The city agreed to certain watershed standards in order to develop land in that area.

Planners and home builders said the change will decrease buildable land and raise home prices.

However, the council decided not to change the development ordinance to increase financial guaranties or to increase to three years the time developers were under the operation and maintenance agreement for storm water management facilities. Planning and development staff had originally recommended these changes.

Contact Jamie Kennedy at jkennedy@ guilfordrecord.com or 883- 4422, Ext. 229.

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