I’m not sure what to make of Rep. Maggie Jeffus’ bill that would not require Greensboro’s zoning commission and City Council “to make findings of fact as to whether their respective decisions are in compliance with the City’s comprehensive plan when either body votes on a zoning request.”

Aside from Hoggard, who says Jeffus is raising a defiant middle finger to the comprehensive plan, commentary on the subject has been nonexistent, although I expect an editorial from the N&R denouncing the bill any day now.

The assumption will be that Jeffus’ bill will effectively do away with the comprehensive plan. Right now, I don’t see it that way. My guess is the bill is designed to make sure existing zoning regulations aren’t trumped by the comp plan. That doesn’t mean the plan still can’t be used as a general guide to development when decidiing zoning cases. I think Jeffus wants to make it clear that it’s not the Bible, which it isn’t. According to Section 10.3, the comp plan

is not intended to become or replace the zoning map. Rather, the Future Land Use Map conceptually depicts relatively broad catgories of land use as well as development policies.

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