Chesterfield planning staff lays out ZOMOD timeline, four ordinance changes and public outreach for 2025

Mr. Gillies, a Planning Department representative, briefed the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors on a slate of zoning and long‑range planning projects the county plans to advance through 2025, including a full replacement of the existing zoning ordinance and a schedule of public outreach.

“Exciting times for the planning department this year,” Mr. Gillies said, summarizing the department’s work program. He told the board staff will release draft 3 of the zoning ordinance modernization (ZOMOD) in mid‑March and hold a planning commission work session on March 18 before making that draft public for comment.

The briefing matters because ZOMOD will replace Chapter 19 of the county code and change how properties convert from the current zoning map to the new zoning framework, which affects property owners, developers and county permitting processes.

Mr. Gillies said four ordinance changes will move forward in 2025: the Zoning Ordinance Modernization (ZOMOD) to replace Chapter 19; amendments to the Subdivision Ordinance (Chapter 17) to align parcel and subdivision processes with ZOMOD; limited changes to the Utilities Ordinance (Chapter 18) to fold utility connection requirements into the zoning process and avoid a two‑step approval; and a minor, earlier amendment to the current zoning ordinance to allow additional EMC or information signs on school and public facility campuses. The school sign change is expected to come back to the board in April.

On conversion and property effects, Gillies said staff has tried to limit impacts on existing parcels: in most cases setbacks and bulk standards will not change substantially as properties convert to the new zoning categories. Staff will provide conversion lookups at community meetings and library sessions so residents can see how an individual address will map from the old ordinance to ZOMOD.

Staff timeline and public engagement: draft 3 will be presented at the March 18 planning commission work session and then released to the public. In April the department will host six community meetings across the county (at least one in each magisterial district and two in Matoaca) and staff tables at six libraries during regular hours. Mr. Gillies said the public comment period on draft 3 will run through May, after which staff will compile comments and work toward draft 4. The planning commission is scheduled for an extensive work session in June; staff is aiming for a July 15 target date for a public hearing on ZOMOD, with a potential additional work session for the board in August and a possible public hearing before the board in September depending on input.

Mr. Gillies also summarized related comprehensive plan and corridor work. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on proposed updates to Chapter 9 (environmental chapter) on the 18th of the month, with the board likely to consider that item in May. Chapter 10 (land use) will be adjusted to align its language with ZOMOD; planning commission public hearing for chapter 10 is expected in August with board consideration in fall 2025. Chapter 13 (thoroughfare plan) updates will consider recommendations tied to CDOT modeling for the East‑West Freeway and will include a separate work session.

Long‑range planning projects noted by staff include a northern Route 10 corridor plan in the Dale District (Ridgetale to Route 288) with likely planning commission public hearings in April or May and board review in June; an Eastern 60 corridor study shared between Clover Hill and Midlothian (Chippenham to the Johnston‑Willis Hospital area) planned for public hearing after ZOMOD and related changes are complete; and a Western 360 quarter plan in Matoaca (Fox Club to Skin Quarter) that staff will begin after finishing the earlier items.

No formal actions or votes were taken during the briefing, and board members had no questions, according to the meeting record. Mr. Gillies closed by reiterating the department’s target to complete ZOMOD in 2025: “we promised you all, early on that we were gonna wrap this thing up in 2025, and I think we're right on track to be able to do that.”

The county will document comments and changes at each stage, and staff said conversion lookup tools will be available at meetings to help property owners understand specific impacts. The briefing did not commit the board to final dates beyond the planning commission targets and the July 15 public hearing target; timelines may shift based on public input.