Planning commission chair urges completion of Purcellville zoning update; council directs full draft by Jan. 28

Ronald B. Reisz, chairman of the Planning Commission, told the council the zoning ordinance update is the culmination of a multi‑year project tied to the town's 2030 comprehensive plan and urged council action to finalize and legally post a complete draft.

Reisz said the commission began critical review in June 2023, held a public hearing July 25, 2024, and adopted a resolution transmitting a finalized update on July 31, 2024. He listed several unanimous commission motions to preserve "legacy districts" and to reintroduce missing uses via special‑use permits. Reisz recommended the council "complete updates to the July 10 ordinance draft" and "establish a timeline" that includes a public hearing and post‑adoption review.

After discussion about document completeness and the planning director's role, the council voted to direct the interim town manager to deliver a complete draft by 01/28/2025 so council and the public can review it before a hearing. Council members who opposed or abstained said they wanted a planning‑staff presentation and staff reports before a vote. As one council member said, "It's not ready to be voted on" (S6). The mayor recorded the motion and its passage.

The council did not set a date for the public hearing at the meeting; members asked staff to ensure tables, figures and cross‑references in the July 10 draft match the Planning Commission's July 31 resolution.