AREA PLANS
Area plans are smaller plans that focus on a specific area of our community and allow for parcel-specific land use recommendations to be developed through public input and review of neighborhood-scale development characteristics. The plans serve as a tool to implement the broader goals of Forward 2045. The parcel-specific recommendations established through the area plan process are formally adopted by the Winston-Salem City Council and Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and used in the review of development proposals and rezoning requests.
RURAL HALL AREA PLAN
The Rural Hall Area Plan process is underway. The new area plan will focus on parcel-specific land use recommendations in an area bounded by Shore Road on the west; Stokes- Forsyth County line on the north; Red Bank Road, Memorial Industrial School Road, and Stanleyville Road on the east; and Shore Road and Ziglar Road on the south. This boundary has been adjusted from the previously adopted Rural Hall Area Plan Update.
Four public meetings will be held over the next several months to gather public input on desired future development in the area.
Thursday, November 5
5:30 to 7:30
Rural Hall Town Hall,
423 Bethania Rural Hall Rd
Wednesday, December 16
5:30 to 7:30
Rural Hall Town Hall,
423 Bethania Rural Hall Rd
Wednesday, January 13
5:30 to 7:30
Rural Hall Town Hall,
423 Bethania Rural Hall Rd
NORTHEAST SUBURBAN AREA PLAN
The new area plan will focus on parcel-specific land use recommendations in an area bounded by US Highway 52, Ziglar Road, University Parkway, and Stanleyville Drive on the west; Memorial Industrial School Road, Red Bank Road, and Stokes County on the north; Dennis Road, US Highway 311, and the Town of Walkertown on the east; and Old Walkertown Road, Glenn Avenue, and Akron Drive on the south. This boundary has been adjusted from the previously adopted Northeast Suburban Area Plan Update.
Four public input meetings have been held over the past couple months to gather input on the land use recommendations. The draft plan is available for review. A public hearing at the Winston-Salem City Council is tentatively scheduled for October 2026.
AREA PLAN BOUNDARIES
Unlike the previous series of area plans, the new area plans will cover every parcel under Winston-Salem and Forsyth County zoning jurisdiction. As such, boundaries from previous plans have been adjusted and new plan areas have been created to ensure that all parcels will have a land use recommendation going forward. The first plan that will be undertaken is the Northeast Suburban Area Plan.
AREA PLAN PLANNING PROCESS
The process for developing an area plan starts with a kickoff meeting to introduce the project to the public and gather input. Additional meetings are scheduled, roughly a month apart, to continue gathering input on preliminary recommendations and specific areas within the plan boundary. A final meeting is scheduled to allow the public an opportunity to review and comment on the land use recommendations. Depending on the nature of the area, meetings may be combined or an additional meeting scheduled if further discussion is warranted.
Public hearings on adoption of the draft plan are held during at the City-County Planning Board and the appropriate elected body (Winston-Salem City Council and/or Forsyth County Board of Commissioners) meeting. During each public hearing, the public has an opportunity to comment on the draft plan. The City-County Planning Board makes a recommendation on adoption of the draft plan with the elected body having the final say on whether the plan is adopted.
SUPPLIMENTAL INFORMATION
While the new series of area plans will focus solely on land use recommendations, information on proposed transportation improvements, public amenities, and similar issues were reviewed when preparing recommendations. Links to these materials are available below.
2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)
2050 Winston-Salem Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP)
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Parks and Open Space Plan Update