Pittsylvania County moves to codify administrative review for non‑subdivision plats

Kelly Smith, senior planner in Pittsylvania County community development, told the board on March 17 that staff will update the subdivision ordinance in three phases. Phase 1 would codify the county's long-standing administrative review for non‑subdivision plats — including boundary adjustments, lot consolidations, family divisions and resurveys — so those documents can be checked for zoning compliance before they are recorded.

"Phase 1 is simply to codify the non subdivision plat review process the county already uses, ensuring the ordinance reflects current practice moving forward," Smith said, explaining the change would provide legal clarity for surveyors, property owners and the clerk's office.

Smith said Phase 2 will address mandatory elements required by the Virginia Code that are currently missing or outdated, and Phase 3 will modernize definitions, digital submission standards and evaluate optional tools allowed under state law. She asked the board to endorse the phased approach and authorize staff to advertise a public hearing for the Phase 1 ordinance amendment.

Supervisors asked several procedural questions: whether the subdivision changes conflict with a pending zoning ordinance (Smith said the subdivision ordinance is separate but both feed into the comprehensive plan), who pays for resurveys (property owners or buyers), and how the county can address nuisance or dilapidation on private lots (the county attorney advised that protections often come from private covenants or other code sections; the subdivision ordinance itself cannot create maintenance covenants).

The board indicated it was comfortable moving forward with advertising the Phase 1 public hearing; staff will prepare the advertisement and next steps for the business meeting.

Next steps: staff to prepare the Phase 1 draft amendment language, advertise the public hearing, and return to the board with the public‑hearing schedule and materials.