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New state law will shift subdivision and site-plan review away from Madison County Planning Commission
Summary
A recently signed state bill removes the planning commission as the designated reviewer for many subdivisions and site plans, shifting review authority to a designated agent and prompting the county to begin ordinance changes.
A new Virginia law (listed in the meeting materials as SB9704 ER) signed by the governor will remove the Madison County Planning Commission as the designated reviewer for subdivision and site-plan approvals and instead assign those responsibilities to a board-designated agent, Planning Department staff told the commission at its April workshop.
Alan (staff member) briefed commissioners on the change and said the county expects the board’s designated agent (currently the county planner) to handle subdivision and site-plan reviews that meet ordinance requirements. "So no matter the scale of the project that comes through for subdivisions, if it meets the ordinance and it comes to my office, that's as far as it's going," Alan told the commission.
Why it matters: The change reduces the planning commission’s role in public hearings for subdivisions and site plans when proposals meet ordinance standards, moving many decisions to staff-level administrative review. Commission members were told the county will need to update local ordinances and checklists to match the new state requirements and avoid conflicts between local rules and the statute.
How the county will respond: Alan asked for volunteers from the commission to help the planning office review and redline the county ordinance language so it will comply with the new state law. He said he will prepare a formal package with redlines and a summary of the bill’s required changes before the next workshop.
Timing and practical effects: The bill was included in the meeting packet as SB9704 ER; commissioners discussed the effective date (one member recalled July 1, 2025) and asked for time to digest the revisions. Alan said he will confirm the effective date and provide a detailed list of needed ordinance edits. He warned commissioners the law contains strict procedural timelines and notice requirements that could reduce the county’s opportunity to request additional information during review: "If you miss it you don't get a chance to address it on the second go around," he said.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a redlined ordinance and a list of specific changes for the commission to review; commissioners offered to help with the review. Alan recommended that the commission also examine the subdivision and development-impact provisions in the county code to protect goals in the county’s comprehensive plan.
Ending: Commissioners agreed to begin a targeted review with staff and to consider standing-committee assistance; staff will return with proposed ordinance edits and timing for public consideration.
