_edited.png){kind=small}
MILLS RIVER
imagine
WELCOME TO IMAGINE MILLS RIVER
MILLS RIVER
imagine
LATEST NEWS
CODE DIAGNOSIS PUBLISHED
Town Staff and the consulting team have been hard at work on the Imagine Mills River project over the last several months. The Code Diagnosis is now complete – find it here. The Code Diagnosis is a roadmap for the new Mills River UDO. It provides a series of recommendations about how the Town’s development regulations could be updated to protect rural character, promote development quality, and increase livability.
The Code Diagnosis was presented to the project Steering Committee on June 10, 2025. Watch the webinar here. The webinar overviews the project, the purpose for the Code Diagnosis, and the 60 recommendations for improvement to the Town’s current regulations. Please feel free to send any comments or ask questions about the Code Diagnosis here.
The consulting team was in Mills River in late February 2025 to conduct the first Public Forum for the project. This public forum included a summary presentation and a pair of open house events where Town residents came and provided some input about what kinds of issues the Imagine Mills River project should address. Find the results of the first Public Forum here. The consulting team also conducted a series of meetings and presentations about the project. Find the Trip Notes detailing the activities undertaken during the February trip here.
Town Staff hosted an information table about the project at Mills River Day on May 3. Nine people signed up for project updates. Don’t forget to sign up for updates to this website at the top of the page, check out the frequently asked questions here, or post your own question about the project here.
The next step in the process is preparation of the Annotated Outline, which describes the “look and feel” of the new UDO, its contents and structure, and describes the main sections in the new rules. The consulting team expects to return to Mills River at the end of summer to overview the Annotated Outline.
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:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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.
.png)
