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Supervisors direct staff to draft zoning changes to raise rural lot sizes, tighten access requirements
Summary
The board reviewed Planning Department (ZOTEC) recommendations and directed staff to draft zoning text amendments raising minimum lot sizes in A-1/A-2/A-3, require internal subdivision roads to VDOT standards with emergency ingress/egress, and correct an access table. Family subdivision rules will remain unchanged; staff will return with draft language and public-hearing dates.
Planning staff briefed the Board of Supervisors on proposed zoning text amendments (ZOTEC recommendations) and sought direction to begin formal drafting and public hearings.
Kelly LaDuke and planning staff summarized recommendations including increasing minimum lot sizes in agricultural/residential districts (a board discussion referenced moving A-1 to 25 acres, A-2 to 5 acres and A-3 to 3 acres), strengthening access and major-subdivision access tables, and ensuring internal subdivision roads meet VDOT standards with at least two points of ingress/egress for emergency access. Planning staff said family-subdivision provisions would remain unchanged and emphasized that any draft changes would have to go to the planning commission and then return to the board after public hearings.
Several supervisors expressed support for the direction but cautioned about timing and implementation. Board members asked about grandfathering and whether in-process plats would be affected; staff recommended a clear adoption date and noted the planning commission has statutory review timelines that determine how quickly drafts can be processed. One member urged staff to include protections so property owners can transfer small parcels to immediate family (family subdivisions) without creating a pathway to circumvent new rules; staff said existing family-subdivision rules (five-year ownership by the parent and a 15-year hold by the grantee) already provide limits.
A member of the public (Rose Payne) spoke in second public comment to express concern about potential loss of development rights and the effect on farm values. Supervisors reiterated the goal of limiting large-scale rural subdivision to manage growth and protect services; the board directed staff to prepare draft ordinance language for planning commission review and suggested an effective date once adopted.
