Board moves to allow conditional use permits in RC‑1 to try to keep small businesses in Gloucester

The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors voted May 19 to ask planning staff to pursue an ordinance amendment that would allow designated commercial uses in RC‑1 by conditional use permit, a procedural move intended to give nearby businesses a path to remain in the county.

A supervisor described a local marine‑service operator who has functioned on property zoned RC‑1 and said the business could relocate outside the county because the current code does not permit his use in that district. Planning staff told the board that options include a code amendment or a conditional‑use pathway; they described the process and the public‑hearing steps required.

After discussion about avoiding broad spot‑zoning while offering a remedy, the board moved and approved a motion to initiate the planning process for a code amendment and to enable a conditional‑use permit pathway on a case‑by‑case basis. Planning staff said the change would require drafting and public hearings by the planning commission and the board; supervisors asked staff to allow up to a roughly 100‑day review period to complete the planning commission process and return to the board.

Vote: The motion carried on a recorded voice roll call with the named supervisors voting yes; the board chair called the motion approved.

What happens next: Planning will draft ordinance language, schedule required public hearings, and then return the planning commission’s recommendation to the board for a final decision. If approved, affected property owners would later apply for individual conditional‑use permits under the new rules.