Madison County
Comprehensive Plan Update
#2
March 17, 2009
By Linda Giltz, Regional Planner
Land-of-Sky Regional Council
Purpose of a Comprehensive Plan
A comprehensive plan guides development and change
for a community. It provides the basis and direction for
a community’s land development and land use policies
and regulations.
The plan examines the interrelationships between land
use, transportation, utilities, the local economy,
recreation, community character, etc.
A comprehensive plan geographically covers the entire
community and has a long time horizon, typically 10 to
20 years. It represents the interests of the citizens as a
whole.
The Plan – recommendations &
guidance to help the County:
„ Preserve the rural character, natural resources and scenic beauty
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
of Madison County;
Preserve agriculture and the agricultural communities;
Assist and support commercial and subsistence farmers, so
agriculture continues to be a vital part of the County’s economy;
Identify where and what types of development occur in the county
and plan for growth;
Recognize emerging economic opportunities and identify the best
locations for businesses/employers;
Enable the development of more affordable housing options in the
County;
Plan for and provide services and infrastructure in more
coordinated efforts with the towns; and
Identify changes to current policies, procedures and ordinances to
accomplish the above goals and protect public health and safety.
Outline
„ Housing Data
„ Agriculture Chapter
„ What’s next
Housing Values & Affordability
„ 2000 avg home sale price $173,753
„ 2007 avg home sale price: $288,128
„ Median housing value (assessed value) for
Madison less than NC and US
„
$94,600 compared to $108,300 for NC and
$119,600 for US
„
Small number of high-priced homes cause
average to be much higher than median
Housing Characteristics
„ 10,733 housing units in 2007 (9722 in 2000)
Small amount are seasonal (7%)
„ 18% are vacant
„
„ Majority are single family homes (67%)
„ 28% are manufactured homes
„ Less than 5% are multifamily units
„ 77% of homes are owner-occupied
„ Over 40% of homes were built prior to 1970;
15% built before 1940
Housing - Questions
„ Would it be useful to try and determine
water and wastewater sources for the
households in the county?
„ What would you like to see included
related to public/subsidized housing?
(availability, location, etc.)
„ Additional information related to
affordability or about fair market rents?
Agriculture Highlights
„ Madison County Agriculture in 2007
Most farms are small (< 50 acres)
„ Most farmers (60%) report something other
than farming as their primary occupation
Madison County Farmland
„ Average age of farmers
Percent by Type of Land Use (2007)
is 58
„
Other,
7.3%
„ Approx. $15 million in annual
farm receipts (same as 10
years ago)
Cropland,
25.8%
Pasture,
30.1%
Woodland,
36.3%
Agriculture Highlights
„ Lots of change over past ten or more years
„ County losing farmland at an increasing rate –
20% lost from 1982-2002 and another 20%
lost from 2002-2007
„ Farmers aging and retiring
„ Skyrocketing land prices; pressure to sell
„ Increased costs for fuel, fertilizer, feed
Tobacco buyout program
2500 burley farms 10 yrs ago; now 50
Two-year drought
680 livestock farms 10 yrs ago; now 200
Agriculture and Economic Development
„ Transition – education, new markets and
distribution channels, wholesale/retail,
different skill sets, agri-tourism opportunities
„ Need for coordinated promotion and
marketing of ag & related products & services
„
Improved communication channels
„ DIVERSITY of products and services key to
success
„ Partnerships with school system and colleges
Agriculture Recommendations
1. Adopt a County policy to purchase local food
and agriculture products
2. Consider infrastructure needed to support
agriculture when planning for, prioritizing
and funding infrastructure projects
3. Create and adopt a countywide farmland
protection plan
4. Facilitate the coordination & collaboration of
economic development, tourism and
agricultural organizations…
Agriculture Recommendations
5. Consider property tax reductions/incentives
for active agricultural producers; enforce the
Present Use Value PUV program
6. Review current use and promotion of the NC
Homestead Exemption
7. Consider implementing land use and
development policies/regulations to support
and encourage agriculture
8. Provide education, training and technical
assistance to farmers and future farmers
Comprehensive Plan Outline
1. Introduction
2. Background Information and Trends
3. Long-term Vision for the County
4. Existing Land Use
5. Environmental Issues and Natural
Resources
6. Economic Development Strategies
7. Agriculture
Plan Outline (cont.)
8. Transportation System
9. Housing
10. Infrastructure / Utilities
11. Growth Management Strategies and
Scenarios
12. Future Land Use Plan
13. Capital Improvements
14. Intergovernmental Coordination
15. Implementation
Schedule to Complete Draft Plan
Complete Draft of Chapter 2
(Background)
Draft Existing Land Use Chapter (Ch. 4)
Draft Agriculture Chapter (Ch. 7)
Draft Economic Development Chapter
(Ch. 6)
Draft Housing Chapter (Ch. 9)
Draft Infrastructure Chapter (Ch. 10)
Draft Environmental Issues chapter (Ch. 5)
Draft Transportation Chapter (Ch. 8)
Draft Growth Management Chapter (Ch.
11)
Draft Future Land Use Chapter (Ch. 12)
Draft Capital Improvements chapter (Ch.
13)
Draft Intergovernmental Coord. Chapter
(Ch. 14)
Draft Implementation Chapter (Ch. 15)
JAN
X
FEB
MAR
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
MAY
JUNE
X
X
X
X
X
JULY
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Steering Committee meet to review draft
to date
Steering Committee meet to review draft
to date
Update to County Commissioners
APR
X
3/16
2/9
x
x
Thank you…
Questions? Comments?