The Kill Devil Hills Planning Board on Tuesday, August 20 reviewed two proposed zoning amendment changes and voted to recommend both be adopted as presented.

The proposed changes came from the August 12 Board of Commissioners meeting, where town staff was directed to develop new large single family and duplex dwelling guidelines for parking setback requirements, limit stacked parking, access aisles and landscaping buffers.

Changes to section 153.076 included a requirement that dwellings with more than ten bedrooms have a seven foot side yard parking setback, a limit of six stacked parking spaces in any single row and a required access aisle to the structure.

The open and unobstructed access aisle is required to be a minimum of 10 feet wide and be open within 40 feet of the dwelling as a step toward improved safety for the dwelling and allow for better circulation and movement of vehicles.

Taken as a separate action, landscaping requirements in 153.073 were amended to require single family and duplex dwellings with lot coverage in excess of 6,000 square feet provide a vegetative buffer.

According to assistant planning director Cameron Ray, the larger structures have increased density, larger parking areas and produce more noise, air and light glare pollution that is not compatible with smaller adjacent single family and duplex dwellings with less than 6,000 sq. ft. lot coverage.

The goal of the buffer is to improve development appearances and provide spatial separation of land uses. The 6,000 sq. ft. limit is also in line with recent stormwater requirements.

With minimal discussion, both sets of changes received unanimous approval by Planning Board members. The proposed zoning amendments now go to Kill Devil Hills commissioners for review. Commissioners can approve them as presented, make minor changes, ask for additional modifications or take no action.

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