At their regular meeting on March 16, the Union County Board of Commissioners approved the Rural Land Use Plan that align with goals expressed in the County's 2050 Comprehensive Plan regarding rural land preservation. The Board approved the following five strategies, with the current status of implementation as shown: 

• Add flexibility for commercial uses in rural areas. 
  • Planning staff have started the process for updating the Union County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to include these options. 
• Require contiguous areas for open space in major subdivisions. 
  • Planning staff have initiated the process for updating the Union County Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to include these options.
• Expand rural area in the Land Use Map. 
  • Planning staff have updated the Land Use Map to reflect this change. 
• Add six Rural Centers to Land Use Map.
  • Planning staff have updated the Land Use Map to reflect this change. 
• Express concern over impacts from bypasses. 
  • The Board approved a policy to inform future engagement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, and affected municipalities.  

The Rural Land Use Plan is the result of public input and collaboration among County planners and a steering committee of residents from rural areas of the County who were appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The committee has met with staff for the past 18 months to hear expert advice, share their insight and concerns, and to draft language that was incorporated into the plan. Union County is grateful to these residents for volunteering their time to serve on this committee: Allan Baucom (Chairman), James Austin (Vice-Chairman), Mick Noel, Danyelle Crum, Nick Long, Jared Steele, and Laura Varela.