Land Use Policy Committee reviews two‑year zoning work program; staff proposes adding cannabis implementation

Staff presented the recommended two‑year zoning ordinance work program and asked the committee to endorse moving it forward for Board consideration and public outreach.

Leslie Johnson, Zoning Administrator, said the program "covers a 2 year program cycle" and that staff provided a summary memo, attachments and a PowerPoint posted on the Board committee webpage. Johnson noted staff had completed 14 of 25 priority‑1 items when counted individually, and that the planning commission reviewed and was supportive of the program on June 25.

Bill Maland, Assistant Zoning Administrator, outlined several priority topics and timelines, saying staff split minor Virginia Code edits out for separate handling and published draft text for eight Code updates. He told the committee that floodplain updates are staged to align with FEMA map adoption and that staff will bring each amendment forward with an outreach plan. "We also... recommend the Board add cannabis to the work program," Maland said, noting the budget bill approved new language with a delayed effective date.

Why it matters: staff said advancing the work program helps prioritize limited staff resources and gives the Board and public an opportunity to shape zoning changes before formal authorization and hearings. The committee indicated support for moving the program to the Board for endorsement and public notification via the county website and GovDelivery.