Site Plan (Major and Minor)

Site Plan review is the process used by the City to ensure new development or redevelopment complies with the standards in the UDO, the City Code of Ordinances, and any terms and conditions of development approval.   

The UDO establishes two different Site Plan review procedures: Major and Minor Site Plans (http://online.encodeplus.com/regs/fayetteville-nc/doc-viewer.aspx#secid-9362). 

Major Site Plans include the following types of development that are reviewed and decided upon by the Technical Review Committee:

• New nonresidential or multi-family development with two or more buildings
• New single-building nonresidential development or additions with 2,500 square feet or more in gross floor area
• New single-building multi-family development with eight or more dwelling units
• Development that results in a new street connection with an existing street or street stub in a single-family residential neighborhood
• Zero-lot-line developments

Major Site Plan review may take place in two stages: first, review of a voluntary Preliminary Site Plan, and second, review of a more detailed Final Site Plan.  There is no requirement to prepare a Preliminary Site Plan, and applicants may file a Site Plan application that meets the Final Site Plan requirements without undergoing the Preliminary Site Plan step.

The Preliminary Site Plan is not required to include highly-detailed, fully-engineered elements.  It is intended to show general compliance with UDO requirements and conditions of approval.  City staff will provide comments or information to be included on the Final Site Plan as part of the review of a voluntary Preliminary Site Plan. 

The Final Site Plan is required to include all details and required engineering necessary to demonstrate full compliance with the UDO, City Code of Ordinances, Master Plan (if applicable), and staff comments, as appropriate.

Neighborhood meetings. Neighborhood meetings are required only if the Major Site Plan will result in new street connections to existing streets or street stubs within a single-family residential subdivision.  When required, applicants must send neighborhood meeting notification letters (see Appendix B for a sample letter) to affected landowners and the City posts a neighborhood meeting notice sign adjacent to the new street connection(s) at least 10 days before the meeting date.  Applicants must also provide a written summary of the meeting to the Planning and Zoning Division no more than five days after the meeting.

Minor Site Plans are reviewed by the Planning and Code Enforcement Director and include the following types of development:

• Changes in use
• New single-building nonresidential development or additions of less than 2,500 square feet in gross floor area
• New single-building, multi-family development with seven or fewer dwelling units

Single-family homes on conforming lots, temporary uses, and internal construction that does not increase gross floor area or building height, the density or intensity of use, or affect parking requirements are exempted from Site Plan review, but are still subject to the standards in the UDO.

Additional Information

Site Plan & Subdivision Approval Process- Applications & Staff Contact Information