Winchester Planning Commission initiates zoning amendment to define humanitarian services facilities

The Winchester Planning Commission voted to initiate an ordinance to amend sections of the City of Winchester zoning ordinance to define "humanitarian services facilities," establish zoning districts where those facilities would be permitted, set performance standards for such facilities and repeal "philanthropic and charitable institutions" as a permitted land use.

City planning staff said the initiation moves the proposal into a March work session for detailed drafting, followed by a public hearing at the commission's second March meeting and then a potential referral to City Council. "If you continue move through initiation, you move through the process," staff said.

The proposed text removes the Health Services (HS) district from the list of districts where these facilities could be…