HARRISONBURG, Va. — The Harrisonburg Planning Commission on Oct. 8 recommended City Council approve a package of zoning ordinance amendments that create a definition for inpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities and limit where they may locate without special review.

Deputy Director Tom Dang presented a staff‑initiated amendment to add a new definition for ‘‘inpatient substance use disorder treatment facility’’ and to change the zoning table so that such facilities would be allowed only by special‑use permit in the R‑3 (medium‑density residential) and B‑2 (general business) districts. Dang said the change does not apply to other zoning districts.

Dang told the commission that staff learned on Sept. 15 that an application had been submitted for an inpatient substance use disorder facility on a property zoned R‑3; because the current ordinance allowed such uses by right in that district staff proposed the amendment so future proposals would be subject to case‑by‑case review. Dang clarified that a building permit had not been issued and that a submitted application could gain a vested nonconforming status if processed under the current rules.

The amendment package also proposed new or revised definitions for related medical and institutional uses (including hospital, medical clinic, assisted living and institutional care facility) and would remove hospitals as a by‑right use in the R‑3 district, limiting hospitals to B‑2 under the proposed language. Staff noted a second, legacy R‑3 district in the ordinance that would not be changed and only applies to older approvals.

Public callers and commissioners emphasized the need to protect the dignity of people receiving treatment while also considering potential impacts on housing availability and community services. One caller urged commissioners to consider the broader magnitude and housing implications of converting sites to institutional uses.

Commissioners supported the staff approach, saying special‑use review would allow evaluation of facility size, discharge protocols and neighborhood impacts on a case‑by‑case basis. The commission voted unanimously to recommend the amendments; the package was scheduled to go before City Council on Nov. 13.

Dang noted his office will return to clarify wording changes (for example, replacing "medical office" with "medical clinic") and to supply the full redline amendment to council as part of the package.