Sunset in Northumberland

2008 Zoning Review

The Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 148, has not been reviewed and updated since originally approved on September 1, 1974. There have been many changes to specific articles and sections but a thorough review and updating is required.  The Northumberland County Board of Supervisors is requesting the Northumberland County Planning Commission to review the Zoning Ordinance.

A basic problem is that most of the Articles and Sections interrelate and changes in one section impact other sections. As a result it is not practical to start at the front and make a page-by-page review and update or even an Article-by-Article or District-by District review. What is recommended is a top-down review of the Zoning District Articles followed by an Article-by-Article review of the Articles other than the Zoning Districts.

Following is a proposed review plan and schedule identifying specific areas of the Zoning Ordinance that need updating.

When made available, you may click on the link under the Section column below to view the proposed language.

The schedule provided is for planning purposes, and is subject to change.

Sections to be Reviewed

Section Description Public Hearing
Work Session Dates

Section 1

Section 1 Revised by Planning Commission

Review the “Purposes” section of each of the Articles of the Zoning Districts to make sure they are current and reflect the intent of the Article. (This provides the base for comparing the Usages to the Purposes of each Article.) Rewrite these as necessary. Public Hearing: November 20, 2008
Work Session: December 18, 2008

Section 2

Current Uses

Proposed Uses

Proposed R-4 District

Working Definitions

Review the current set of Districts to determine if more or different Districts are needed. e.g. Multifamily, Planned Unit Development, Clustering, Urban Development, Villages, Highway Overlay, Reservoirs, etc. Identify the complete set of Districts and their purposes.

Review the Usages – both permitted and conditional for all Zoning Districts to make sure appropriate usages are identified to appropriate Districts. Reallocate the usages in Article X Special Exceptions to the appropriate District.  Develop a matrix of usages and Districts. Get consistency in usage names and definitions.

 

Work Session: April 16, 2009
Public Hearing: May 21, 2009
Work Session:

Section 3

Proposed Language

District Area Regulations. Work Session: August 20, 2009

Section 4

Proposed Language

Planned Unit Development (R-5) Work Session July 15, 2010
Public Hearing: August 19, 2010
     
 

Public Comments

Public Comments will be received in several ways:
1.) At the Public Hearing.
2.) Written comments will be accepted. If you wish for the Commission to receive your comments prior to the Commission meeting, comments shall be received one week prior to the Commission meeting by the Office of Building & Zoning. Any correspondence received after this date will be given to the Commission the night of the meeting. All comments shall be sent to:

Northumberland County Planning Commission
c/o Luttrell Tadlock
P.O. Box 129
Heathsville, VA 22473

or send an e-mail.

 

 

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