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Board opts to draft ordinance authorizing local speed‑limit reductions; Gladstone cited as early use case
Summary
Staff recommended two ordinance options to use new state authority to reduce posted 25 MPH zones to 15 or 20 MPH in business or residential districts; the Board favored Option 2 (authorize County Administrator to implement changes with Board resolution after public hearing) and asked staff to draft ordinance for December and schedule a public hearing in January.
The Board on Nov. 14 reviewed Virginia Code §46.2‑1300 A(4), which permits a locality to reduce posted 25 mph speed limits to 15 or 20 mph in defined business or residence districts, and considered two implementation options: (1) enact an ordinance for each highway targeted for a reduction, or (2) adopt a delegating ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to reduce or restore limits with Board consent by resolution and public hearing.
Staff recommended Option 2 with optional language requiring Board resolution after a public hearing for each specific reduction. As an example, staff reviewed Gladstone Road (Route 656), where VDOT’s 2019 counts show roughly 84 vehicles per day and past traffic‑calming and signage work; staff also noted that some roads in the county with posted 25 mph limits may not meet the statutory definitions of business or residence districts.
After discussion — including Dr. Jessica L. Ligon’s observation that enforcement and traffic‑calming often achieve speed reductions more effectively than signage alone — the Board reached consensus for Option 2 and directed staff to draft the ordinance for December and to prepare to authorize a public hearing in January.
