Greensboro City Council Approves Zoning Ordinance Changes for Mixed-Use Projects

The Greensboro City Council voted 6-3 on July 9 to amend the Unified Development Ordinance, raising allowed residential density from 12 to 24 units per acre in designated mixed-use zones along major corridors such as West Market Street and Elm Street.

Why the vote occurred now

The amendments follow the city's 2025 comprehensive plan update, which identified a shortfall of 8,400 housing units by 2030 based on Guilford County growth projections. Council members tied the changes to the need to process pending development applications before the next fiscal year begins on July 1, 2027.

Residents living within a half-mile of the affected corridors will see new multifamily and mixed-use buildings evaluated under the updated standards. City planning staff estimate that 47 parcels currently under review could add 620 new units without requiring variances that previously added six to nine months to approval timelines.

Budget and service effects

City budget documents for fiscal year 2026 list $2.8 million in projected permit fee revenue tied to these projects. The ordinance also requires developers to contribute to a transportation impact fund calculated at $1,850 per new residential unit, with funds directed to bus stop improvements on the GTA Route 1 and Route 6 lines.

Local planning analysts point out that the density increase applies only to parcels already zoned for commercial or mixed use, leaving single-family districts unchanged. Community advocates in the Southside neighborhood note that the transportation contribution formula matches the rate used in the 2023 South Elm Street corridor study.

The ordinance takes effect on August 15. Staff will present the first quarterly report on approved projects at the October council meeting, including the exact number of units permitted and the amount deposited into the impact fund.