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Albemarle staff present Phase 1 zoning modernization draft; board calls for clarifications
Summary
Planning staff showed revised administrative articles to simplify the county zoning ordinance, remove quoted state code, streamline applications, codify withdrawal of inactive applications and move detailed application checklists into the new enterprise permitting system; supervisors asked for clearer completeness rules, consistency in calendar vs. business days, and clarity on manufactured‑home language.
Albemarle County planners presented Phase 1 of a multi‑phase zoning modernization on Aug. 21 that focuses on foundational and procedural articles, aiming to make the ordinance briefer and more usable. Senior Planner Leah Brumfield said the rewrites remove quoted Virginia code, consolidate application types, and move lengthy, frequently changed submission checklists out of the ordinance and into the enterprise permitting and licensing (EP&L) system.
"We're creating a much more user friendly, descriptive picture of applications and process that are processed by staff," Brumfield said, summarizing the approach to Article 3 procedural changes. The draft would rename and clarify zoning clearances and permits, codify automatic withdrawal of inactive applications after six months of no activity, and remove a default approval rule for certificates of appropriateness that staff said had not been used.
Supervisors raised detailed questions about timelines for application completeness (staff proposed a 14‑day initial completeness check and up to a 90‑day cure window), the timing of community meetings relative to staff review, and whether the crosswalk of old to new article numbers was clear. Board members also asked staff to ensure consistent use of "calendar days" versus "business days," to clarify treatment of manufactured homes and mobile‑home subdivisions, and to return with adjustments that reflect the EP&L rollout and applicant experience.
Brumfield said future phases will address district and use chapters, and staff will schedule work sessions with the board and planning commission before the final adoption phase, currently scheduled around spring 2025.
