Unified Development Ordinance

In 2018, after completing an update to its comprehensive plan, the City of Kannapolis retained  Clarion Associates to undertake a rewrite of its 19-year-old Unified Development Ordinance. Located in Cabarrus County, in the Charlotte metropolitan area, Kannapolis has experienced development pressure and is positioned for significant growth. The city, previously home to a large mill, has taken the lead in the redevelopment of its downtown area and is making substantial capital investments. In 2018, the city adopted a comprehensive plan that set a new direction for future growth. A primary goal of the update was to retool the UDO to implement the plan’s policies, in particular supporting walkable, mixed-use development in the downtown area and in identified activity centers, supporting infill and redevelopment in commercial corridors, and ensuring that residential neighborhoods are well-connected and have a variety of housing options. Clarion completed a draft of the new UDO in mid-2021. In June 2022, the Kannapolis City Council unanimously adopted the Kannapolis Development Ordinance. It became effective July 1, 2022.  

In conjunction with this process, and prior to the adoption of the KDO, the Clarion team prepared an update to the City’s prior Unified Development Ordinance for compliance with N.C.G.S. Chapter 160D in advance of the July 1, 2021 state deadline.