Floyd County holds public hearing on proposed land division ordinance; no vote, board to await water study

Carla, the county planner, presented a proposed overhaul of Floyd County’s subdivision rules — renamed in the draft as the Land Division Ordinance — at a public hearing that drew more than a dozen residents on concerns ranging from water supply to emergency services and tree canopy.

The proposed ordinance, Carla said, is intended to simplify small-scale divisions while limiting large, high‑density developments. "The new proposed land division ordinance is meant to make divisions with few new parcels easier and limit divisions with large numbers of parcels," she told the board during her presentation.

The revised code would, among other changes described by Carla, eliminate a requirement that a lot be "pre‑perked" for plat approval (Health Department approval would still be required before issuing a building permit), remove the routine requirement for a survey of the residual parcel in many cases, allow easements for shared septic systems, and permit the subdivision agent to approve plats up to six parcels (including residual), up from three. The draft also would allow private division roads built to ordinance standards but would limit those roads to serving no more than 10 new lots per intersection with a VDOT road and would cap most divisions served by private wells or private centralized water systems at 10 new lots (including the residual lot).

Public commenters voiced broad concerns. Several speakers urged the board to delay action until the county’s water‑supply study is released and thoroughly analyzed, saying additional divisions could lower…