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Commission approves two industrial sidewalk waivers, fails to advance ordinance removing sidewalk rules for I-1/I-2
Summary
The Planning Commission approved two sidewalk-waiver requests for industrial site plans on U.S. 15 and another site but did not advance a zoning text amendment that would remove sidewalk requirements from I‑1 and I‑2 districts after a motion drew no second.
The Fluvanna County Planning Commission on May 13 approved two separate sidewalk-waiver requests for industrial site plans but declined to move forward with a zoning text amendment that would remove sidewalk requirements from I‑1 and I‑2 industrial districts.
The commission approved a waiver for SDP 25-03, a proposed warehouse/distribution facility on U.S. 15 (parcel tax map 11-9-2), and a waiver for SCV 24-05, a minor site plan on the same corridor. Planning staff told commissioners the area is predominantly rural, has minimal pedestrian activity today and that sidewalks in the required right-of-way could reduce vegetative buffering that the county prefers on entrance corridors.
Commissioner comments split on long-term connectivity. Miss Kilpatrick asked whether sidewalks would help future development connect to nearby commercial centers; Miss Morgan said, “If we’re serious about economic development, we have got to be friendly towards these businesses and not ask them to put up sidewalks where people are not walking,” noting concerns about liability and the practical value of sidewalks for industrial parcels.
Staff said VDOT had been consulted on some design and entrance issues and that prior sidewalk waivers have been common in similar locations. The Planning Commission voted to approve the waiver for SDP 25-03 (motion by Miss Kilpatrick, second by Mister Dorsey) and approved the SCV 24-05 waiver (motion by Miss Kilpatrick, second by Mister Lagosino) by a 4-1 vote.
Separately, staff proposed ZTA 25-06 to remove sidewalk requirements from I‑1 and I‑2 zoning districts so that future applicants would not need repeated waivers. Miss Kilpatrick moved to approve a resolution to advertise that ZTA for public hearing, but the motion received no second and therefore did not pass. Commissioners noted that site-specific development agreements could still require sidewalks and that the draft ZTA would not prevent proffers for pedestrian connections where appropriate.
The commission’s actions are procedural approvals and do not rezone property. Staff said future work sessions will consider the broader ZTA language and connectivity policies for entrance corridors and industrial areas.
