Planning commission forwards zoning text amendment easing permit requirement for some failed residential sewage systems

The Fauquier County Planning Commission voted Dec. 18 to forward a zoning text amendment to the Board of Supervisors recommending approval of a change to permitting for certain individual sewage treatment systems.

Miss Wise, a community development staff member, told the commission the amendment would change the permit requirement for individual sewage treatment systems that discharge into an open ditch from a special‑exception process to an administrative permit for systems replacing failed residential sewage systems in the rural residential (R‑R1) and R‑2 zoning districts. Residential systems in other districts and all nonresidential systems would continue to require special‑exception approval, she said. The amendment requires coordinated changes to articles 3, 5 and 7 of the zoning ordinance and staff included the revisions in an attached resolution.

There were no members of the public who spoke for or against the amendment during the hearing. After the chair closed the public hearing, the commission moved, seconded and approved forwarding the amendment to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval.

If the Board of Supervisors adopts the change, affected property owners seeking to replace failed, small residential systems that discharge into open ditches in the identified zoning districts would apply under an administrative permitting pathway rather than pursuing a special‑exception process. The change does not alter permit requirements for residential systems in other zoning districts or for nonresidential systems.

The commission recorded its recommendation and will transmit the staff resolution and the proposed text changes to the Board of Supervisors for final action.