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Halifax supervisors adopt tourism-zone ordinance to attract hotels and restaurants
Summary
The board amended the zoning code May 4 to create a tourism zone intended to incentivize hotel, restaurant and outfitter development; the ordinance sets minimum investment thresholds and cites Virginia Code advertising requirements.
The Halifax County Board of Supervisors on May 4 adopted an ordinance creating a new "tourism zone" to offer local incentives for destination-oriented development, including hotels and sit-down restaurants.
Planning staff and county economic-development staff told the board the tourism zone is designed to expand areas eligible for incentives beyond current enterprise zones and to reward investments of $500,000 or more for new construction and $250,000 or more for existing construction. "This allows the county to set incentives that will be used to help attract hotel development, sit-down style restaurant development, as well as outfitters for our community," county planner Brian Brown said during the meeting.
The ordinance amends chapter 53 of the Halifax County code and was read into the record with the required whereas clauses; staff cited compliance with Virginia Code §15.2-1427 and §15.2-2204 and said the measure had undergone properly advertised public hearings. Supporters argued the change expands the county's toolbox for economic development and can be updated to encompass larger areas than enterprise zones allow.
Opponents did not raise formal objections during the meeting. The board voted to adopt the ordinance by voice vote after a motion from Supervisor Oaks and a second from Supervisor Witt. The zoning amendment will be codified in county records and is intended to be used by staff and the economic-development authority to negotiate incentives and identify eligible projects.
County staff said the tourism zone's thresholds and boundaries will be applied case by case and that further details on incentives and administrative procedures will be brought back to the board as projects emerge. The board also noted the ordinance was advertised and publicly heard April 26; no further hearings were scheduled at the May 4 meeting.
