Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Amendment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Culpeper council asks planning commission to review change letting townhouses be served by public streets
Summary
Council agreed to send a staff-initiated zoning amendment proposal to the planning commission to explore allowing townhouse developments to be served by public streets (rather than private streets only), citing two large proposed projects and VDOT maintenance and emergency-access considerations.
Town staff introduced a proposal to initiate an amendment to the zoning ordinance that currently requires townhouses in residential districts to be served only by private streets. The proposal would give developers and the town flexibility to allow townhouses to be served by public streets built to VDOT standards, which could make the streets eligible for VDOT maintenance funds and provide publicly maintained secondary access for developments exceeding 80 units.
Andrew (town staff) said the town is reviewing two proposals: Summer Station (approximately 220 single-family homes) and Jamieson Crossing (about 212 townhouse units). Under current code, developments over 80 units must have two publicly maintained access points for safety reasons; private streets do not meet that requirement. Staff noted that private-street developments have sometimes later requested the town maintain those streets; allowing public streets in specific townhouse contexts could reduce future maintenance burdens.
Councilors asked for clarification about the ordinance's origin, public-safety access, and alignment constraints for converting proposed private alignments to public-street standards. Staff said the initiation is the first step; final language must still be drafted and would return to the planning commission and then back to council for public hearing and formal action.
Council moved to send the proposed zoning amendment initiation to the planning commission for drafting and review; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call. Several council members expressed concern about process and the appearance of addressing a private developer’s problem before a full review, but agreed to send the item to planning for evaluation and public hearings.
