Council adopts zoning code cross-reference fixes to align with recently amended environmental code

Staunton City Council voted unanimously on March 13, 2025, to adopt an ordinance amending Title 18 (zoning) of the Staunton City Code to update references that changed when City Council recently amended Title 13 (environmental). The council described the measure as a housekeeping amendment to maintain correct cross-references in the zoning code.

Tim Hartless, the city’s planning manager, told council the change removes one reference that no longer exists and updates another to point to the correct relocated section. "This is what I would consider a housekeeping matter," Hartless said, and staff recommended the amendment to align the zoning code with the amended environmental code. The item required a public hearing; no members of the public spoke during the hearing.

Council considered a motion to adopt the ordinance as recommended by the Planning Commission. Councilwoman Hussain moved to adopt the ordinance; a second was recorded and the council then approved the measure on a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded every member voting "Aye." The formal action updates cross-references; it does not add new substantive zoning restrictions or standards.

The amendment will ensure that future permitting and zoning interpretations reference the correct sections of the environmental code. Staff said the change is procedural rather than policy-making and provided no additional ordinance text changes beyond the citation updates.

Provenance: the adoption took place during the regular meeting portion of the March 13 session, following a public hearing with no speakers and a staff presentation by the planning manager.