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Goochland supervisors remove floor‑area‑ratio limits in commercial and industrial zones
Summary
After a contentious hearing and nearly two hours of public comment, the Board of Supervisors voted to repeal the county's floor‑area‑ratio (FAR) maximums for business and industrial zoning districts, a move supporters said will increase flexibility for large employers and opponents warned could raise development intensity and service demands.
Goochland County's Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 3 to eliminate maximum floor‑area‑ratio (FAR) requirements across its commercial and industrial zoning districts, a policy change supporters said will make the county more competitive for large modern employers and opponents said risks unintended impacts on services and neighborhood character.
Staff planner Josh Gillespie said the change follows a staff study and was prompted by recent project reviews that showed FAR can prevent sensible designs for mixed or large‑footprint developments. "FEMA maps and other tools have matured; FAR as a mathematical scheme can be inflexible and can block viable designs," Gillespie said, explaining the county already uses setbacks, buffers, parking standards and plan‑of‑development review to manage intensity.
The measure drew extended public comment. Rob Williamson, a resident and planning‑process participant, urged caution: "FAR is not just a lot‑limit; it helps protect district‑wide character and manages service impacts. Removing it in all commercial districts risks overburdening fire, roads and other services," he said. The Economic Development Authority and staff argued that competitive recruitment for data centers, battery plants and other technology uses requires regulatory flexibility; Ben Sloan of the EDA said many neighboring counties do not rely on FAR and Goochland should not handicap itself.
Supervisors debated the tradeoffs. Supporters said the county has limited commercial land and should avoid front‑loading barriers that push prospects elsewhere; critics pressed for more targeted approaches, such as overlay districts or case‑by‑case FAR modifications. Several residents and speakers asked for more time to refine alternatives.
The board approved the zoning ordinance amendment on a roll call that recorded four votes in favor and one opposing vote. The new language removes FAR maximums for Business‑Neighborhood, Business‑General, Commercial‑Interchange, Industrial‑Limited and Industrial‑General districts; other zoning tools and plan‑level reviews remain in place.
What happens next: The ordinance change takes effect according to the county's normal adoption procedures. Staff said project reviews will continue to require plan‑of‑development approvals, building‑permit reviews and plan checks by fire/rescue and other technical reviewers.
The board did not identify a specific amendment or text that would reintroduce FAR later; supervisors said they intend to monitor effects and may bring targeted changes back to the Planning Commission if warranted.
