The Southern Pines planning board unanimously agreed Wednesday night to table a developers' application for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance.

An independent consultant will continue to work on the much-scrutinized proposal.

The agreement came at the end of a three-hour public hearing on the draft PUD amendment to the zoning ordinance. The developers of Pine Needles Village have asked the town to create PUD zoning category to accommodate large master-planed, mixed-use projects that would be developed in stages over many years.

Southern Pines Town Manager Reagan Parsons issued a statement Thursday regarding the board's action. It says:

"The town recognizes the planning and zoning commission's efforts to formulate the best possible PUD ordinance for the future of Southern Pines. In fairness to board members, applicants and concerned citizens, and in recognition of the many hours and evenings they have dedicated to this process, we intend to move forward with a third-party professional review of the proposed language.

"It is our desire that the review be accomplished in a timely manner thus allowing the Planning and Zoning Board to forward a recommendation to Town Council for a public hearing and their consideration in the near future."

The existing Southern Pines ordinance governing large mixed-use developments doesn't provide as much control for the council or the flexibility developers say they need to alter plans as market conditions change, say representatives of Hines, a Houston company hired to develop Pine Needles Village, and LandDesign Associates.

LandDesign has been working on a draft of a PUD ordinance since last summer. The company is also working for the developers of Pine Needles Village.

Check Friday's Pilot and ThePilot.com for the full story.