Council approves zoning and procedural changes, rezoning and board appointments in unanimous votes

Poquoson City Council took multiple discrete votes at the work session and regular session, approving a set of zoning changes, a rezoning for townhomes, code-definition amendments and board appointments. Most votes were unanimous. Staff presented each item as part of the evening’s agenda; votes and key details follow.

What passed (at-a-glance): - Ordinance to eliminate Appendix A, Zoning, Article 8.4 (Planned Unit Development — Mixed Use overlay district): Council adopted the ordinance to remove the PUD-MU overlay and all references to it from the zoning code; the legacy development already under an earlier PUD-MU initiation is not affected. Vote: 7–0. - Rezoning (Tax map parcel 18-01-00-0107): Council rezoned a 1.1623-acre parcel from B-1 (Office Professional) to R-3 (Multifamily Residence) to permit six new townhomes as an addition to the adjacent Village Park townhome community. The owner-builder presented a concept plan and staff and the applicant said the design will match existing architecture; the parcel will be integrated into the HOA. Vote: 7–0. - Ordinance amending the definition of “height of building” in Appendix A, Article 1, Section 1-3: Council approved language to measure building height relative to predevelopment grade (or base flood elevation where applicable) so that fill brought in solely to increase allowable height will not change the measured height. Vote: 7–0. - Ordinance amending ARB decisions procedure (Appendix A, Article 11.3): Council revised ARB rules to allow applicants who were previously approved with conditions to request reconsideration (a process already available to denials); vote passed 7–0. - Appointments: Council approved multiple appointments by resolution to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and the Board of Adjustment and Appeals; motions carried unanimously.

Why it matters: the PUD-MU elimination reflects a city-initiated zoning-cleanup and precursor to a larger review of the comprehensive plan and zoning in the Victory Boulevard corridor. The rezoning to R-3 added six townhomes to an existing private development and was supported by the HOA. The height-definition change addresses practical measurement issues where significant fill can otherwise enable taller buildings; the ARB procedural change clarified review rights for applicants with conditioned approvals. The unanimity of votes indicated council and staff alignment for these code and land-use actions.

Votes and next steps: staff will publish the adopted ordinances and proceed with associated updates (zoning maps, code publication and, where applicable, integration of the rezoned parcel into the Village Park HOA governance and design standards).