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Morrisville, NC
June 23, 2017
Unified Development Ordinance
Page 1-1
Article 1: General Provisions
SECTION 1.1.
TITLE, AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE
1.1.1.
Title
This ordinance shall be known and officially cited as the “Unified Development Ordinance of the Town of
Morrisville, North Carolina.” It is referred to in this ordinance as “the Unified Development Ordinance” or
“this Ordinance” or “the UDO.”
1.1.2.
Authority
A.
General
The Unified Development Ordinance is enacted pursuant to authority granted by the Charter of the
Town of Morrisville and the laws of the State of North Carolina—including, but not limited to:
Article 14, Section 5 of the Constitution of North Carolina;
Articles 8 and 19 of Chapter 160A, Article 4 of Chapter 63, Article 4 of Chapter 113, Chapter
136, and Article 21 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes of North Carolina;
Session Laws 2009-216 and 2009-484 of the General Assembly of North Carolina;
Title 15A of the North Carolina Administrative Code; and
Any special legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly for the Town of Morrisville.
B.
References to North Carolina Laws
Whenever any provision of this Ordinance refers to or cites a section of the North Carolina General
Statutes or (N.C.G.S.) or the North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC), and that section is later
amended or superseded, this Ordinance shall be deemed to refer to the amended section or the section
that most nearly corresponds to the superseded section.
1.1.3.
Purpose and Intent
The general purpose of this Ordinance is to guide and manage the development of Morrisville in a way that
takes into account present and future needs and resources and that protects the health, safety, prosperity,
and general welfare of the Town’s citizens and landowners. This Ordinance is also intended to implement
the goals, objectives, and policies in the Land Use Plan, Transportation Plan, Town Center Plan, and other
adopted plans guiding the Town’s growth and development. More specifically, this Ordinance is intended
to:
A.
Ensure a diverse development pattern that sustains livability and the environment by encouraging future
development and public infrastructure that is complementary to existing development;
B.
Ensure the provision of adequate open space for light, air, and fire safety;
C.
Prevent the overcrowding of land and avoid undue concentration of population;
D.
Ensure that Morrisville integrates attractively and sustainably designed communities of complementary
uses;
E.
Maintain and enhance the character of various districts within the town, in light of their peculiar suitability
of particular uses;
F.
Improve transportation mobility by integrating land uses with transportation infrastructure;
G.
Lessen congestion in the streets;