Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Utilities Zta topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission recommends adding "Public Utility Service, Major" as special-exception use in R-1 and R-2
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a zoning change to list "Public Utility Service, major" as a use by special exception in General Residential (R-1) and Residential Mixed (R-2) districts, with explicit exclusions including generating plants, substations, battery storage, data centers, water/wastewater plants and larger ground-mounted solar projects.
The Rockbridge County Planning Commission on June 10 voted unanimously to recommend a zoning text amendment that would allow "Public Utility Service, major" to be considered as a use by special exception in the county's R-1 and R-2 residential zoning districts.
Staff explained the draft language would add part of the definition of "Public Utility Service, major" to the list of uses eligible for a special exception in R-1 and R-2. The draft explicitly excludes certain facilities from the definition, including generating plants, electric stations and substations, power generation battery storage facilities, data centers, water and wastewater treatment plants, and ground-mounted solar energy projects with a panel zone area of one-quarter (0.25) acre or greater, as well as associated laydown yards or office buildings.
Chair Tom Beebe opened the public hearing; no public comments were offered. Commissioner Adam Sandridge moved to recommend the amendment to the Board of Supervisors; Commissioner Jay Melvin seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: Adding the use by special exception provides a procedural path for review and conditions in residential areas while carving out larger utility infrastructure from that definition, so larger or higher-impact facilities would remain subject to separate review or siting requirements.
What’s next: The Commission forwarded its recommendation and the draft language to the Board of Supervisors for public hearing and final action.
