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New Kent planners discuss housing supply, seek consultant to rewrite development ordinances
Summary
Planning commissioners reviewed housing supply and the comprehensive‑plan timeline, and staff said the county will seek a $400,000 consultant contract to rewrite zoning and subdivision ordinances and remove ordinance 'roadblocks' to housing development.
Planning commissioners on Nov. 18 discussed the county’s housing supply and next steps for the comprehensive plan and zoning code, and staff said the county will seek a consultant to help rewrite development ordinances.
The meeting included a briefing on housing committee work and grant opportunities. Commissioner Moyer summarized a recent housing‑committee presentation by Chris McNamara of Virginia Housing that outlined grant programs for project design, innovation and building grants available to the county and contractors.
Planning staff told commissioners that roughly 1,000 homes approved under earlier plans remain ready to break ground, while no new lots have received approval in the past 10 months. “We have about 1000 new homes that are ready to break ground on in, developments that were approved, before the new cluster subdivision plan,” a staff member said, characterizing a backlog of approved but unbuilt units. Commissioners debated whether to encourage multifamily or higher‑density housing as part of the county’s long‑range planning.
On funding and code change, staff said part of the county’s fiscal‑year 2026 capital improvement program request includes $400,000 for consultant and professional services to support what the staff described as a repeal‑and‑rewrite of zoning and subdivision ordinances. “Part of our CIP request for fiscal year 26, which will start 07/01/2025, is a $400,000 request for consultant and professional services to assist with the development ordinance rewrite,” a planning staff member told the commission. Staff said the work would likely be phased, include a steering committee of stakeholders and involve public engagement.
Commissioners said they want any ordinance rewrite to align with the comprehensive plan, which staff expects to submit draft materials to VDOT and the Department of Environmental Quality for review; the commission could see a draft in January and the board of supervisors may take it up in spring. Commissioners also recommended a work session to explore options for encouraging attainable housing without concentrating all new units in one location.
The meeting ended with staff noting interest in pursuing noncompetitive Virginia Housing grant programs and other funding options to offset consultant costs.
The Planning Commission adjourned at 7:18 p.m.
