Albemarle panel makes tweaks to steep-slopes ordinance

Albemarle County

“Thanks to a simplified review process, it soon may be easier and cheaper for some residents in growth areas of Albemarle County to develop on steep slopes. At the same time, other, more-sensitive slopes will get additional protections.

‘There are probably individuals who are re-grading their yards, putting in sheds and terracing their lawns without appropriate building permits because it is a hassle to get,’ said Bill Fritz, the county’s chief of special projects. ‘Hopefully, by making the ordinance easier to comply with, people will comply with it.’

Earlier this week, the Planning Commission recommended approval of ordinance changes reclassifying critical slopes in the growth areas as either managed or preserved. In addition to simplifying the permit process, the ordinance will cut costs to both the county and residents.”

~Writes Effie Nicholaou of Charlottesville Tomorrow

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Senator backs zoning referendum bill

Grayson County

“Grayson supervisors’ effort to put the future of zoning before county voters now has a sponsor in the General Assembly. A three-member majority of Grayson County supervisors voted Jan. 9 to direct county staff to pursue a special referendum vote on the issue of repealing the county’s zoning ordinance, which requires General Assembly approval.

Sen. Bill Carrico is sponsoring legislation in the General Assembly that would allow Grayson to put its zoning law to a public vote. Sen. Bill Carrico is sponsoring legislation in the General Assembly that would allow Grayson to put its zoning law to a public vote. On Jan. 17, Senate Bill 668 was presented to the General Assembly by Sen. Bill Carrico of Fries. The bill, if passed, would require Grayson County Circuit Court to order the referendum vote on or before Aug. 15, 2014. The referendum vote would be held in conjunction with the 2014 general election in November, and would ask qualified voters the question, ‘Shall the county repeal the existing zoning ordinance for the County of Grayson?’ Citizens would vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no.’”

~Writes Patrick Smith of the Galax Gazette

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New Farm Brewery Legislation

General Assembly

“The Senate has overwhelmingly approved SB 430, which creates a new farm brewery license and sets out the privileges of this new license and the state and local license tax. It limits application of local zoning ordinances to farm breweries in a manner similar to farm wineries, but goes further by limiting local restrictions on parking and access. The bill utilizes language that exists in current Code provisions related to farm wineries, allowing yet-to-be defined “usual and customary” activities at such breweries unless the activity causes substantial impact on the health, safety or welfare of the public. It prevents minimum parking, road access or road upgrade requirements for these new breweries if they are on land zoned agricultural, unless there is a substantial impact. It provides no clear thresholds and safeguards to ensure farm breweries are growing a sizable quantity of local agriculture products that can be used in the manufacture of beer. This bill overrides local efforts to involve the public in adopting zoning regulations for agricultural-related operations and activities.”

~Writes David Blount TJPDC Legislative Liaison

Washington County, Va., leaders consider natural gas extraction

Washington County

“At least one more workshop will be held to iron out some concerns that Washington County Planning Commission members have about the draft ordinance governing natural gas extraction in the county.

The issue has been under discussion for several years, and members of the Land Use Steering Committee voted in November to pass the draft ordinance on to the Planning Commission. The draft was introduced last spring to the steering committee. ‘We did look at this for two-plus years, and we’ve learned a lot,’ said commission member Bill Cantor, who served on the steering committee.

Planning commission members voted unanimously to work on the ordinance at least once before passing the draft on to the Washington County Board of Supervisors, which ultimately will decide whether to enact the ordinance. The draft outlines the area where gas can be drilled, an area designated for agriculture south of the North Fork of the Holston River, and includes much of Rich Valley Road. It also outlines preliminary environmental studies to be conducted and the requirements for companies to get a special exception permit to operate a gas well in the county.

Some of concerns to be addressed by the commission are what the cost of the special exception permit application should be, whether companies should have some kind of pollution insurance and what control the county would have over policing the areas to be drilled, if applicable.”

~Writes Allie Robinson Gibson of the Bristol Herald Courier

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Adult store rules may get tougher than first proposed

Pittsylvania County

“Pittsylvania County is considering an ordinance that would impose even tougher restrictions on adult establishments than originally proposed. County residents can speak out on the possible ordinance during a public hearing to be held during the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission meeting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4 in Chatham.

The proposed rule would dictate that an adult store or similar business must operate in the light industrial district with a special-use permit and cannot locate within 2,500 feet (about a half-mile) of a school, church or day care center or within three miles of another adult establishment.

A previously-proposed ordinance would have required 1,000 feet from a school or church and two miles from another adult store. It was recommended for approval by the planning commission in December, but the board of supervisors referred it back to the commission on Dec. 17.”

~Writes John R. Crane of the Go Dan River

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Debate Over Residential Studio Units Continues

Fairfax County

“Fairfax County residents have yet to agree on the specifics of residential studio units and are continuing the debate on several aspects of the proposed amendment.

As of Jan. 6, the Planning Commission proposed amendment defines residential studios as efficiency units that make up a multiple-family residential building, or part of a building, in which 80 percent of the units must be for those who do not make more than 60 percent of the median income of the area. In the Washington, D.C. area, that is $45,000.

The Residential Studio Unit Amendment has also been amended to remove residential studio units from consideration in lower density R-E through R-8 districts, where single family detached homes are allowed.”
~Writes Janelle Germanos of The Connection

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Planners recommend allowing use of freight containers

Gloucester County

“The Gloucester County Planning Commission voted last Thursday night to recommend that freight containers used exclusively for storage be regulated as accessory structures.

In making its recommendation to the Gloucester Board of Supervisors, the commission ended its multi-month discussion of the use of cargo containers, temporary storage buildings, and temporary family health care structures. The supervisors will now schedule their own public hearing on the matter.”

~Writes the Bill Nachman of the Gazette-Journal

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