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Council advances Unified Development Ordinance updates, first reading approved
Summary
Council approved first reading of UDO amendments and zoning-map corrections to align with recent state law (HB 655, HB 888), fix unintended consequences, and formally map open-space parcels and church property uses.
The Town Council held a public hearing July 14 and approved first reading on proposed updates to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and several zoning-map corrections.
Planning staff summarized four categories of changes: minor typographical corrections; alignment with recent Virginia General Assembly bills (HB 655 addressing manufactured housing and HB 888 allowing reduced off-street parking when public parking is within 600 feet); fixes for unintended consequences discovered after last year's update; and zoning-map corrections to formally identify certain open-space parcels and to correct an erroneous planned-unit-development designation from the 1980s.
Staff said the planning commission conducted a public hearing and recommended approval. The changes include clarifications on satellite parking allowances, exemptions for town signs, relaxed signature requirements for landscape plans (allowing civil engineers to prepare them), narrower tree-survey requirements (limited to specimen trees), and a small-facade exemption for accessory structures up to 100 square feet.
Council held first reading and a motion to approve the UDO and zoning-map updates passed on roll call; the planning commission's recommendation and staff presentation were cited in support. The measure will return for any required subsequent readings per town ordinance procedures.
Staff also walked council through map-specific proposals, including reclassifying church-owned parcels to ensure consistency with neighborhood commercial/mixed-use designations and rezoning scattered subdivision open-space parcels to parks and open space to protect them from future development if homeowners' associations dissolve.
No further public speakers appeared on the item during the UDO hearing; council asked clarifying questions about facade standards, permit expirations and use classifications. Staff indicated changes were aimed at reducing regulatory burden where appropriate and aligning local code with state statute.
The planning department will finalize ordinance language and schedule any remaining readings required to complete adoption.
