The Department of Community Development, headed by Community Development Director Michael Pearce, AICP, is the result of a merger of the Planning and Code Enforcement and Engineering Departments in 1994.  The broad mission of the department is to promote and assist development in Reidsville in a manner that is consistent with the goals and objectives of the City's comprehensive plan, Reidsville Reflections 2010. 

This department is responsible for most aspects of new development in our city. Of primary concern is to insure that growth occurs in a manner that enhances the quality of life for the present and future citizens of Reidsville.

Some of the areas of community involvement for this department include street construction, housing conditions, uses of land, nuisances, water and sewer line construction, protecting the city’s environment, building construction and long range planning.

Because the mission of this department is so broad, the types of tasks handled by staff are equally diverse.  The 12-member full-time staff works as a team in four basic areas, Code Enforcement, Planning and Zoning, Engineering and GIS (Geographical Information System).

Code Enforcement

The City of Reidsville employs three codes inspectors, who cover inside the city and in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) area beyond the city limits. They are responsible for the enforcement of the North Carolina State Codes for Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Minimum Housing and the Non-Residential Maintenance Code. Complaints regarding nuisances involving vacant lots, care of premises and junked motor vehicles are also enforced by this division. This division oversees the condemnation process for those buildings that fail to meet the standards of the Minimum Housing Code and Non-residential Maintenance Code.

In 2005, Inspections and Code Enforcement issued 172 building permits, which represented more than $28.9 million in construction. As part of the enforcement activities, the division inspected 1,372 housing units and responded to 219 nuisance complaints. In addition, 214 electrical, 236 mechanical and 125 plumbing permits were issued.

This division also is responsible for maintaining all of the permits and records for more than 10,000 properties located in the city limits and in the ETJ area.

Engineering

The Engineering division, a branch of the Community Development Department, also works closely with the Public Works Department to provide design and inspection services for water, sewer, street, storm water and other improvements. Staff members, led by the City Engineer, assist the other divisions in Community Development with land development and extension of services. Among the division’s duties are to continuously update the cadastral, topographic, street, water and sewer maps and files.

Planning and Zoning

The Planning and Zoning division, comprised by the Community Development Director and Assistant Director, are in charge of developing, implementing and evaluating the Comprehensive Plan, other special plans and the land use regulations of the City of Reidsville. If you’re planning to open a new business, these staff members can tell you whether the site you’ve selected is properly zoned for that kind of business. Staff also reviews and makes recommendations on zoning text amendments, rezoning requests, conditional use petitions, special use requests and preliminary and final subdivision plats.

Among the duties of the Assistant Community Development Director is implementing and maintaining the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and analysis of various types of geographic data of all properties in Reidsville.

Staff also prepares the agenda and minutes for the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment and the Historic Preservation Commission. The department also works closely with the City's Appearance Commission on its plan of action.

The Community Development Department also oversees the City’s Industrial Park and maintenance of the Governor Reid House.