City-County Planning Department
Director
Steven L. Medlin, AICPMailing Address
101 City Hall PlazaDurham, NC 27701
Phone
(919)560-4137Fax
(919)560-4641
Our Mission
Guide the orderly growth and enhancement of the Durham community while preserving its cultural heritage and natural resources.
About the Department
The Durham City-County Planning Department is the planning agency for both the City and County of Durham. Planners engage the community to develop long-range and special areas plans that contain policies to direct growth. Our development ordinance is one way these plans are implemented. The goals of these plans are expressed in staff reports. The combination of developing policies to address issues and implementing those policies through ordinances and staff action will lead to the Durham we all envision.
Planners develop various plans addressing land use, open space, historic resources, the environment, housing, transportation, economic development, government services and facilities and our diverse population. The Comprehensive Plan is Durham's statement of how we want to grow and develop. The plan guides where and how private development should occur. It also guides how the City and County should provide public facilities and services to support future growth. The plan is long-range in scope, focusing on the ultimate needs of the community rather than the pressing concerns of today. Other plans look at specific segments of Durham, such as open space and historic and natural resources.
Durham City Council and the Durham County Board of Commissioners adopted the Unified Development Ordinance in 2006. This ordinance lays out the rules for the physical development of property. It identifies development that can be done by right and what requires additional approvals. Ordinance text is crafted to result in a built environment that achieves the goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.
Staff relies on adopted plans to make recommendations on issues before them. Each recommendation is weighed against the guidance given by the Board of Commissioners and City Council through relevant policies in adopted plans. Issues work their way through this process of research, community involvement, adoption and implementation. Planning staff is dedicated to identifying the path to a better future for Durham.
Durham City-County Planning Department is located at 101 City Hall Plaza. For information, call the Durham City-County Planning Department at (919)560-4137, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.