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Onley council warns 50‑foot VDOT setback could shrink proposed town office
Summary
Town Manager Jamye L. Salazar told council that the town office plan was reduced from 2,000 to about 1,800 square feet and that a 50‑foot VDOT setback in the zoning ordinance may force further reductions; options include a BZA variance, zoning changes, or a town exemption clause.
Jamye L. Salazar, Onley Town Manager, told the council the Town Office Construction Committee has met twice with architect Mike Winner of Becker Morgan Group and is refining a preliminary plan.
"The biggest issue that we are facing at this time is that our zoning ordinance requires a 50' setback (for the building) from the VDOT right of way," Salazar said, and added that the requirement would materially reduce usable building area. She said the committee reduced the planned square footage from 2,000 to about 1,800 to accommodate constraints already identified.
Salazar presented three options: petition the Board of Zoning Appeals for a variance; amend the town zoning ordinance to remove the 50' setback for the B‑G district; or add a clause exempting the Town of Onley from that setback requirement. She told council that two of the options require public hearings and a Planning Commission recommendation, and noted the commission currently lacks the five members required for a quorum.
Councilman Rodney Lang made several on‑plan suggestions during the presentation and the committee expects Becker Morgan to submit written survey results around July 14 and to meet with the architect again on July 15 to continue design work. Council members said they will revisit the decision at the August meeting after the committee's next meeting and the arrival of the survey.
The discussion also flagged related zoning items—parking and lighting rules—that may need amendment if the current code prevents the proposed layout. No formal vote was taken; council directed staff and the committee to continue design and to bring recommendations back for public hearings and Planning Commission review.
