Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Ordinances topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Madison County adopts new R‑4 district and moves to draft ADU ordinance under SB 531
Summary
Madison County’s planning staff reported adoption of Article 7 zoning changes that created an R‑4 residential district and outlined staff work to draft an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance to comply with SB 531; officials also flagged pending recreational cannabis legislation (SB 542) for future land‑use evaluation.
The Madison County Economic Development Committee on May 12 reviewed recent Planning and Zoning actions, including the Board of Supervisors’ May 6 adoption of amendments to Article 7 that establish a new R‑4 district for multifamily development and ongoing work to align local ordinances with state bills affecting land use.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Allen Nicholls told the committee that the Article 7 revisions create an R‑4 district intended for multifamily development of five or more units and adjust R‑3 density, ingress/egress and open‑space standards to clarify where higher‑intensity housing should be evaluated.
“SB531 requires localities to permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by‑right in residential zoning districts where single‑family dwellings are permitted,” Nicholls said in his written update, and staff are evaluating the nine allowable regulatory areas the law preserves for localities (for example, parking and size limits) while ensuring compliance with the statute’s restrictions on additional setback or frontage requirements.
Nicholls also summarized SB542, pending gubernatorial action, which would create a regulated recreational cannabis market and establish a Virginia Cannabis Control Authority; he told the committee the bill could present future opportunities and regulatory questions around permitted zoning districts, special‑use permit requirements, buffering, parking and security for cannabis businesses.
Actions assigned during the meeting require planning staff to draft a Madison County ADU ordinance that complies with SB 531 and to bring that draft forward to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for consideration. The committee also directed staff to explore a Route 29 Economic Development Overlay District concept to attract compatible commercial and light industrial uses along the county’s principal corridor.
What’s next: Allen Nicholls will continue ordinance drafting and return to the Planning Commission and Board with proposed ADU language and any overlay concepts for further review.
