After a year of workshops, revisions and discussion, the Town Council approved the 1993 Mount Airy Master Plan last night.

The plan, developed by town planner Teresa Bamberger and the Planning Commission, is a blueprint to guide growth and development over the next 10 years.

Revision of the 1982 plan began three years ago.

Council President Delaine Hobbs commended Ms. Bamberger and Planning Commission Chairman Frederick Goundry for the work.

"I think you've come up with a master plan that's do-able and acceptable," he said.

The intent of the master plan, as described by Ms. Bamberger, is to preserve the small-town character of Mount Airy and bring moderate-income housing to the community.

The plan includes environmental preservation regulations, creates zoning categories for the development of more affordable housing and addresses downtown revitalization.

In other business last night, the council adopted changes to zoning and subdivision regulations.

Under a new site-lighting ordinance, lighting to illuminate pedestrian or parking areas may be required by the Planning Commission before approval of a site plan.

The lighting must be installed so it isn't obtrusive to nearby residential properties.

An amendment to the subdivision regulations requires that the topographic studies of proposed developments must be conducted no more than six months before the date of the first plan submission.

Its purpose is to prevent the inclusion of inaccurate information from old topography maps.

An amendment to the town's subdivision regulations governing homeowners associations gives the town the authority to audit an association's financial records annually.