These regulations are adopted pursuant to the authority vested in the Town of Dobson by its Charter, the Session Laws, and the General Statutes of North Carolina, particularly Chapter 160D Article 1—14 and any special local legislation enacted by the General Assembly for the Town of Dobson.

The purposes of these regulations are to: promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the community; to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to avoid undue concentration of population; to facilitate the adequate and economic provision of public facilities and infrastructure; to conserve the value of buildings; and to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the corporate area and extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction, in accordance with adopted plans and policies.

These regulations shall be known as the Unified Development Ordinance of Dobson, North Carolina, and may be cited as the "Unified Development Ordinance". The maps referred to herein titled Official Zoning Map, Dobson, North Carolina may be cited as the "Zoning Map".

An official zoning map depicting the actual location of the Zoning Districts is made a part of this Ordinance and adopted by reference. The official zoning map, which is identified by the title "Zoning Map of Town of Dobson, North Carolina", shall be known as the "zoning map". The official zoning map shall be maintained in the office of Town Clerk, shall bear the adoption date of this Ordinance and the date of any subsequent map amendments, and may consist of a series of maps.

(A)

Versions of Zoning Map and References

(1)

The Town will maintain digital or print copies for public inspection of previously adopted zoning maps at the Town office if amendments to the zoning map are made by the Town Council.

(2)

If the zoning map includes any State or Federal agency maps by reference in the zoning map, the Town must maintain digital or print copies of the agency maps (e.g. flood hazard maps).

These regulations govern the development of land and structures within the corporate limits and the extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction of the Town of Dobson.

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this Ordinance, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public safety, health, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare. It is not intended by this Ordinance to interfere with, abrogate, or annul any easements, covenants, or other agreements between parties. However, where this Ordinance imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon the height of buildings, or requires larger open space than is imposed or required by other ordinance, rules, regulations, or by easements, covenants, or agreements, the provisions of this Ordinance shall govern.

If any section, specific provision, or standard of these regulations, including any zoning district boundary that now exists or may exist in the future, is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, the decision of the court shall not affect the validity of any other section, provision, standard, or district boundary of these regulations except the provision in question. The other portions of these regulations not affected by the decision of the court shall remain in full force and effect.

If the provisions of this Ordinance conflict with the provisions of any other validly enforceable ordinance(s), the most stringent provisions shall control.

These regulations shall become effective upon the date of their adoption by the Town Board of Commissioners of the Town of Dobson.