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MILLS RIVER
imagine
WELCOME TO IMAGINE MILLS RIVER
MILLS RIVER
imagine
LATEST NEWS
NEXT TRIP: JANUARY 21-22, 2026
Town staff, the Steering Committee, and the consulting team have been hard at work on the new Mills River Unified Development Ordinance ("UDO"). The consulting team will be back in Mills River on January 21 and 22 to overview the second half of the draft UDO text and the revised draft zoning map. The Town will be hosting the fifth public forum for the Imagine Mills River project from 6:15PM until 8:30PM on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 in the Common Room at Town Hall (124 Town Center Drive). Everyone is invited to drop in and learn more about the draft UDO language and see the progress on the draft Zoning Map. Members of the consulting team will be on-hand to talk about the draft text, review the draft map, and answer your questions. There are also two opportunities to schedule your own one-on-one office hours visit with the consulting team on Wednesday, January 21 from 10AM to noon, or on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 10AM until 3PM. Office hours visits are 30 minutes each. Please contact Town staff at 828-890-2901 to schedule your office hours appointment. All office hours visits take place in the Common Room at Town Hall. There will also be a project update presentation to Town Council during their regular meeting on January 22 at 6:30PM.
The website has been updated with a link to the video from the last project open house at Mills River Elementary on December 10, 2025. We have also posted the answers to the questions posed during the open house and the trip summary from the consulting team's last visit. Find them in the Task 03 and portions of the Documents Tab here. Please plan on dropping by the Open House or tune into the Town Council meeting on January 22, 2026. Anyone interested in learning more about the project may schedule an office hours visit, or may post a question on the project website under the participate tab here.
PROJECT GOALS
Imagine Mills River is a project to create the Town’s first unified development ordinance (or “UDO”). A UDO controls the type and location of development as well as the rules for new development to follow. It controls features like landscaping, exterior lighting, open space, parking, housing density, and many others. The main goal of the UDO is to promote the public’s health, safety, and general welfare. It is also an important tool for protecting community character and the Town’s agricultural heritage. The UDO includes the Town’s zoning map, or the geographic distribution of uses like homes, businesses, roads, and parks.
While the Town already has a set of development regulations, and has been considering changes to those rules through projects like the recent Rural Residential Zoning District initiative, the main reason for the Imagine Mills River project is to implement Making Mills River, the Town’s comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2021.
The following are the key project goals for Imagine Mills River:
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Protecting rural character.
Implementing the Town's adopted land use policy guidance (like Making Mills River).
Preserving farms and agricultural activity.
Identifying the optimal location for new homes, businesses, and open space.
Protecting sensitive natural environments (like waterways, steep slopes, and habitat).
Providing an adequate range of housing choices for people of all ages and incomes.
Promoting sustainable development and property values.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
This graphic shows the draft project schedule. It includes 7 tasks to be completed by June of 2026.
HOW TO USE THIS SITE
This webpage is a source for details about the Imagine Mills River project, the new UDO, and how to get involved with the project.
LEARN
ASK
FIND
PARTICIPATE
This VIDEO provides details on the project goals, scope, schedule, and other aspects.
The FAQ tab is a place to find answers to your questions about the project and pose new ones for the project team to consider.
The DOCUMENTS tab is a place for current Town documents and draft work products prepared as a part of the Imagine Mills River project.
The PARTICIPATE tab describes the times and places where you can ask questions, provide input, and get more detailed information.
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