The York County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of zoning text amendments that update landscaping regulations, transitional buffer standards and green-belt requirements across the zoning ordinance.

County staff presented a comprehensive package of textual changes to Article 2, Division 4 of the zoning ordinance aimed at improving clarity, maintenance requirements and ecological outcomes. Key proposals included requiring maintenance obligations for green belts and buffers in the administration/enforcement section; clearer landscape-plan submission standards; adjustments to landscape-credit values to encourage planting smaller, faster‑establishing trees; minimum native-plant percentage guidance (proposed 35%); tightened shrub-to-tree ratios in transitional buffers to encourage more tree plantings; and clearer standards for distribution of plantings within green belts.

Staff said the amendments incorporate input from multiple departments and agencies, including public works, fire and life safety, the Virginia Department of Forestry and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Among practical changes, the draft: removes an exception that exempted certain industrial sites from professional preparation of landscape plans; asks design professionals to consider sun exposure and soil when preserving stands of trees; adds a rule to prevent plantings from obstructing emergency vehicle access; raises credits for 1.5-inch-caliper deciduous and 6-foot evergreen plantings to encourage their use; and allows a limited (up to 25%) administrative reduction of certain buffer widths where physical constraints exist, subject to supplemental screening methods.

Commissioners asked questions about native species selection (noting loblolly pine is native but not always suitable for buffering) and suggested minor editorial cleanups to the draft diagrams and text. No members of the public spoke on the proposal. After discussion, a motion to adopt Resolution PC 25-2R to forward the amendments to the Board of Supervisors for approval passed on roll call.

If the Board of Supervisors adopts the amendments, the changes would alter planting and buffer requirements used during site-plan review, redevelopment and new development in York County.