Vienna council advances Chapter 18 zoning updates after public hearing and follow-up debate

The Vienna Town Council on Feb. 23 opened a public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 18 of the town code and voted to move the package forward for adoption, after residents raised concerns about rooftop structures and undefined terms and councilmembers debated changes recommended by the planning commission.

Planning staff presented a set of edits first started in September 2025. Zoning administrator Andrea West and Director of Planning and Zoning David Levy told the council the package includes two formatting options for lot-coverage language, updates to the principal- and accessory-use tables, clarified regulations for drive-through facilities, and process revisions in Articles 6 and 8 to conform to recent state law changes.

The amendments prompted public comment on distinct points: resident Ruth Hazel asked that pergolas be explicitly allowed up to nine feet above rooftop levels to increase usability of rooftop decks; Matthew DiFiore urged clearer definitions for “museum,” “warehouse/wholesale” and “continuing care facility” and recommended public notice when administrative decisions replace former review processes. Staff said some definitions already exist in Article 9, and committed to return with options to address notification and clarity.

Council members debated both substantive and procedural items. Several members said they preferred the bulletin-style formatting option (option B) for lot-coverage because it reads more clearly. Planning‑commission suggestions — including restricting some drive‑throughs to behind buildings in primary corridors, and excluding continuing‑care facilities from the corporate‑park district — were discussed but were not directly adopted as part of the motion the council approved that evening. Councilmember Anderson and others pressed staff to maintain transparency after state-code-driven shifts that reduce some review paths, suggesting a public-facing projects page or summary of cases that would previously have required planning commission or council review.

Councilmember Baldwin moved to adopt the proposed amendments as shown in the meeting attachments (option B through 7) and to direct the town clerk to advertise a notice of intent to adopt for a future regular meeting. The motion passed on a recorded vote with all members present voting in the affirmative.

After a short procedural reconsideration to give planning commissioners’ recommendations another look, the council re‑voted and again approved advancing the package as previously motioned. Staff said they will bring back additional, more detailed edits later if the council desires and will work on transparency measures to flag projects that previously would have gone before the commission.

What’s next: the council directed the clerk to advertise a notice of intent to adopt; the full adoption and final ordinance schedule will be posted in advance of the next regular meeting as required by state law.