Snow Camp and Alamance County can consider a more open zoning ordinance by modeling after a predominately rural community such as Camden County, NC where they utilize the following zoning districts:

The Rural Residential (RR) district is established to accommodate low density residential neighborhoods and supporting uses on lots near bona fide farms and agricultural areas in the rural portion of the County. The district is intended to accommodate residential development in ways that will not interfere with agricultural activity or negatively impact the rural character of the County. One of the primary tools for character protection is the requirement to configure residential subdivisions of more than five lots as conservation subdivisions. The conservation subdivision approach seeks to minimize the visibility of new residential development from adjacent roadways through proper placement and screening. The district accommodates several differing agricultural uses and single-family detached homes. It also allows supporting uses like educational facilities, parks, public safety facilities, and utilities. District regulations discourage uses that interfere with the development of residential dwellings or that are detrimental to the rural nature of the district.

The Working Lands (WL) district is established to accommodate agriculture, agriculturally-related uses, and limited forms residential development at very low densities in rural portions of the County. The district is primarily intended to preserve and protect bona fide farms and resource lands for current or future agricultural use as well as to protect the rural character of the area. One of the primary tools for character protection is the requirement to configure residential subdivisions of more than five lots as conservation subdivisions. The conservation subdivision approach seeks to minimize the visibility of new residential development from adjacent roadways through proper placement and screening and allows farmers to capture a portion of the land’s development potential while continuing to farm. Conservation s the balance of the site is left as conservation or agricultural land. The district also accommodates a wide range of agricultural and agricultural-related uses like “agri-tourism” as well as service and support uses to the rural community, including day care, educational uses, public safety facilities, parks, and utility features.

The Suburban Residential (SR) district is the County’s primary district for suburban residential neighborhoods located along primary roadways, shoreline areas, and in locations bordering rural areas. The district has a one-acre minimum lot area requirement, which is the basic threshold size for lots with onsite wastewater systems. Use of the conservation subdivision configuration is optional for residential subdivisions. While the district allows single-family detached homes, mobile homes on individual lots are prohibited. Nonconforming mobile homes may remain but may not be expanded or replaced with another mobile home. The district accommodates equestrian uses, utilities, as well as various neighborhood-supporting institutional uses such as parks, schools, and public safety facilities. District regulations discourage uses that interfere with the development of residential neighborhoods or that are detrimental to the suburban nature of the district.

The Neighborhood Residential (NR) district serves as a transition district from the rural and suburban portions of the County to areas proximate to village centers and major commercial corridors. The district is intended to accommodate single-family detached homes in a neighborhood setting at moderate densities. Mobile and manufactured homes on individual lots, conservation subdivisions, and agricultural uses are limited to preserve the district’s neighborhood character. Manufactured homes are not allowed on lots within 5,280 linear feet of a village center boundary. The district’s 40,000- square-foot minimum lot area may be reduced when lots are within one mile of a designated village center boundary and served by public sewer. District regulations discourage uses that interfere with the development of residential neighborhoods or that are detrimental to the district’s single-family detached neighborhood character.

The Village Residential (VR) district is established to accommodate a wide range of residential and institutional use types at modest densities on lots within and adjacent to designated village centers. The district allows duplexes, live/work units, single-family attached, and single-family detached dwellings, but does not allow mobile homes, manufactured homes, or conservation subdivisions. As a means of creating compact, functional neighborhoods, the district also allows a wide variety of institutional uses, including community centers, day care, schools, assisted living, religious institutions, parks, and utilities. Lots served by public sewer may have reduced minimum lot sizes and building height is measured from the base flood elevation. District regulations are intended to support the County’s investment in infrastructure by encouraging the development of compact, vibrant neighborhoods with a variety of house sizes and types that are located in close proximity to complementary institutional uses. Low density development comprised of uniform building types or styles is discouraged.

Camden is a coastal rural county is roughly the same size as Alamance County with 6% of our population.