Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Ordinance Amendment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board adopts resolution of intent to fix technical issues in county zoning ordinance
Summary
Supervisors approved a resolution of intent to amend the new zoning ordinance to correct ambiguities, scrivener errors and operational inconsistencies; staff said this is the first of several planned rounds of technical fixes.
The Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 3 to adopt a resolution of intent to amend the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance to address discovered ambiguities, formatting errors and points of unclear administration. The adoption starts a multi-step process that will include review by the zoning ordinance committee and the planning commission.
Ryan Reed, deputy zoning administrator, told the board the county adopted a comprehensive rewrite of the zoning ordinance on Dec. 13, 2023, and that follow-on technical corrections are expected when gaps or confusing language arise during implementation. "We have collated a list of discovered issues where clarifying, revising, or otherwise addressing those issues such as formatting, text, and references facilitates the administration and enforcement of the zoning ordinance," Reed said.
The scope of this first ZOAM is limited to clarifying language, definitions (including items such as penthouse/parapet and plaza square-foot thresholds), and internal references; staff emphasized it does not propose policy changes to land-use intent. The list staff provided contains roughly 90 discrete issues, and staff said additional iterations will follow as further issues emerge.
Supervisor Tacrone moved adoption of the resolution of intent and Supervisor Crony seconded. The board approved the motion; the vote was recorded 8–0–1 with one supervisor absent for the vote. Staff said a full redline draft and public review opportunities will follow as the ordinance committee and planning commission vet proposed changes.
Why it matters: The adoption starts a transparent, multi-step process to fix technical and clarity problems that affect administration of the new ordinance while preserving policy intent established in 2023. Staff said the first draft will return in 2026 for further review and a public hearing process.
What’s next: Staff will prepare a public-facing list of issues, draft redlines and work with the zoning ordinance committee and planning commission, with a target to bring the draft text back to the board in March or April 2026.
