An Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan can be either cosmetic (i.e correcting errors) or substantive (map amendments).  Substantive amendments are required when a property owner or applicant desires to amend the Land Use Map from one category (i.e. Low Density Residential) to another (i.e. Commercial).  This is done to bring a proposed use in compliance with the land use designation.  Substantive Comprehensive Plan Amendments are not required if the property is within a Mixed-Use Overlay district that was not a part of a Town approved Area Plan (i.e. Southeast Area Plan, Northwest Area Plan, etc.).

Comprehensive Plan Amendment Cases
2012 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
2011 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
2010 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
2009 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
2008 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
2007 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
2006 Comprehensive Plan Amendments

For information on Comprehensive Plan Amendments prior to 2006, please contact the Planning Department at (919) 469-4082

Schedules
2012 Rezoning/Comprehensive Plan Amendment Public Hearing Schedule-No CPA (4 month)
2012 Rezoning/Comprehensive Plan Amendment Public Hearing Schedule-With CPA (6 month)

2011 Rezoning/Comprehensive Plan Amendment Public Hearing Schedule-No CPA (4 month)
2011 Rezoning/Comprehensive Plan Amendment Public Hearing Schedule-With CPA (6 month)


Procedures

• Pre-Application Conference
A pre-application conference is not required, but highly recommended before an application is filed. Call (919) 469-4082 to schedule a meeting.

• Public Hearings
At least two public hearings are required. The Town Council and the Planning and Zoning Board hold these hearings. If further changes occur to the application, additional public hearings may be required.

• Town Council Decision
After reviewing Planning staff and Planning Board reports and recommendations, the Town Council makes a decision. A simple majority of the council decides the Comprehensive Plan Amendment.

For more information on the process, please refer to the Town's Virtual Interactive Planner.


Who May File Comprehensive Plan Amendment Requests

Comprehensive Plan Amendment requests may be initiated by the Town Council, Planning and Zoning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, any owner of a legal or equitable interest in land within Cary or its extra-territorial jurisdiction, or any resident of the town or extra-territorial jurisdiction.

Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application [ PDF] [HTML]