Planning commission approves zoning-text change to reflect state-designated agent for site-plan approvals

The Rockbridge County Planning Commission voted unanimously March 11 to approve a zoning-text amendment that updates Section 1,300 of the county’s land-development regulations to implement a state law requiring localities to designate an administrative agent to review and act on site plans, subdivision plats and plans of development.

Staff presented the amendment as a compliance measure with 2025 General Assembly changes (Chapter 594, Senate Bill 974). "The legislation requires each locality to designate an agent to review and act on subdivision plots, site plans, and plans of development," staff said during the presentation. Staff told the commission the Board of Supervisors has already designated a primary and alternate agent and that the draft changes make the local ordinance consistent with the statute.

Commissioners and members of the public asked whether the state change removes the commission’s or the board’s role in major approvals and how the county’s Technical Committee/Overlay (TCO) functions would be affected. Staff and the county’s planning administrator explained the statute specifically replaces the planning commission’s approval role in the affected sections and does not automatically strip other bodies of authority where separate provisions apply. Staff also emphasized that the designated agent can still bring projects to the commission for advisory comment, preserving public visibility on major projects.

A remote participant who identified himself as Bill Robinson urged the commission to preserve public visibility for major site plans, saying the planning commission ‘‘plays an especially valuable role’’ in exposing project details such as grading, drainage and buffers to the public. Commissioners and staff discussed additional ways to improve notice and transparency.

Commissioner Adam Sandridge moved to approve the text amendment; Commissioner David Whitmore seconded. The motion carried on a unanimous vote.

What’s next: staff will publish the updated ordinance language and proceed under the new review process; the commission may still be asked for advisory comments on major projects and staff said it will revisit other chapters of the land-development regulations if further statutory or procedural updates are required.