Grayson passes zoning revisions

Grayson County:

“The Grayson County Board of Supervisors put its zoning ordinance concerns to rest last Thursday evening when they unanimously approved the Grayson Planning Commission’s revisions to the document. The commission, tasked by the supervisors with making the 75-page document more ‘user-friendly’ in February, met eight times in the last three months to dissect the ordinance and compose a ‘complete rewrite of the document from start to finish,’ according to Zoning Administrator Elaine Holeton.

Grayson County supervisors have approved the Planning Commission’s changes to the zoning ordinance, just a couple of months after directing the commission to end zoning in the county. Holeton said the revision focused on six areas of concern: improving the readability of the document, the addition of allowable uses in all zone districts, the analysis and adjustment of street setback and yard setback requirements for structures, general requirements for all zone districts, the exemption of agricultural buildings for zoning permit and an adjustment to the administration section to clarify the zoning process.

Holeton pointed out that the board would also be reviewing Grayson County’s subdivision ordinance. ‘This was included with your review because there was one section on planned unit developments which was moved by the zoning ordinance to the subdivision ordinance,’ explained Holeton.”

~Writes Patrick Smith of the Galax Gazette

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Sign of the (digital) times: Arlington zoning ordinance to dump outdated business uses

Arlington County:

“Time to face facts: Fotomat is gone for good and just isn’t coming back. And the Arlington zoning ordinance is about to be updated to reflect the changing world. ‘Film processing kiosk’ is among the zoning classifications that are being removed from the zoning ordinance because they represent ‘archaic’ uses, a county official told members of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s government affairs and economic development committee at a recent meeting.

Other uses being phased out include ‘tourist homes’ and ‘draying.’… Update of the county’s zoning ordinance is being undertaken in phases.”

~Writes InsideNova

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Visit www.arlingtonva.us to learn more about the zoning changes

Gloucester supervisors mull repealing highway development guide

Gloucester County:

“The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously 5-0 Tuesday night — board members Phil Bazzani and Chris Hutson were not in attendance — to authorize the Planning Commission to hold a public hearing on repealing a county ordinance that guides development along the Route 17 corridor. The request by Supervisor John Meyer to repeal the Highway Corridor Overlay District stems from a consistent theme by members of the board since January to roll back local government regulation.

Meyer has targeted the Highway Corridor Overlay District because he says it is costly to developers and has slowed business growth. The district, approved by the Board of Supervisors in 1998, is designed to impose certain aesthetic conditions and has primarily been used along Route 17 from Gloucester Point to the Court House. Meyer said there are several compelling reasons to repeal the district. ‘We desire to minimize regulatory constraints on business,’ he said.”

~Writes Matt Sabo of the Daily-Press

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