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Warsaw’s Planning Board reviewed a new 60-page Unified Development Ordinance at its October meeting, along with proposed regulations for short-term rentals and mixed-use development aimed at revitalizing the town and addressing blight.
With no new zoning or permit applications to consider, town zoning and code enforcement director Richmond Dugger shared that the current ordinances were written in the 1940s and were due for updating. He used the meeting to introduce the draft ordinance and initiate a policy session led by Cedric Brown, a fellow from the UNC School of Government.
Brown’s proposals included stricter oversight of Airbnb-style rentals and new standards encouraging walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods to replace long-vacant properties in Warsaw’s business districts.
“The main issue in my mind is blight and vacant properties,” Brown told the board. “One person may see that as a negative aspect of Warsaw, but I see it as an opportunity to bring new growth and business to this area.”
The first of two ordinances he proposed changed the definition of how some rentals are handled in town.
Brown said the proposed ordinance “extends the definition of what short-term rentals look like as depicted in our code of ordinances to include Airbnbs.”
According to statistics Brown shared, Airbnb rentals created $25 billion in revenue last year and was the force behind creating a million new jobs. He said 50% of non-hotel short-term rentals are at Airbnbs. In the proposed ordinance, short-term rentals, defined as less than 30 consecutive days, would have to be registered with the town, obtain a permit, and pass an initial safety inspection, as well as provide proof of compliance with building, fire and housing codes.
The second ordinance Brown proposed dealt with mixed-use development standards that would promote combining residential, commercial and civic uses within a geographical area. Brown said the proposed standards would encourage walkable communities, revitalize Warsaw’s business districts and promote the efficient use of infrastructure and services.
Under this proposed ordinance, mixed-use developments could include residential dwellings, including single-family, duplex, townhouses and multifamily housing, as well as retail establishments, offices and restaurants. It also allows for civic and institutional facilities. It would also allow upper story residential units above ground floor commercial establishments which are common in new strip shopping centers in large towns.
A few planning board members responded to Brown’s presentation expressing concern over where funding would come from to create the changes in Warsaw. Brown responded the funds would hopefully come from private-public partnerships with some public funding coming in the form of community development grants.
After Brown’s two proposed ordinances, the board reviewed the 60-page proposed Unified Development Ordinance which could be considered by the town’s Board of Commissioners at a later date.
