Board adopts zoning and comprehensive‑plan changes after state solar law updates

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted Aug. 18 to approve updates to Chapter 35 of the county zoning ordinance and parallel amendments to the county comprehensive plan that move utility‑scale solar siting guidance into the plan following state legislative changes.

County planning staff (Miss Smith) told the board the redline zoning amendments reflect earlier discussions and one substantive change: requiring architectural design standards and restrictive covenants as part of any rezoning to a residential planned development (RPD) district. There were no public speakers during the Chapter 35 public hearing and the board approved the amendments unanimously.

Staff explained that recent changes in state code prevent localities from excluding special‑use permit applications for utility‑scale solar from certain zoning districts and remove prior local limits such as a five‑mile separation rule or a 2% cap on zoning district acreage. "The appropriate place to have that guiding principle language is in the comprehensive plan," staff said, describing the rationale for relocating siting policy language from zoning to the comprehensive plan so boards and commissions can rely on it when making decisions.

The board adopted the comprehensive plan amendment by motion with no public opposition at the hearing. County staff said the change preserves local policy objectives in a form that is consistent with state law and provides the planning commission and board of zoning appeals language to guide decision‑making going forward.