Planning Commission Public Hearing

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Chapter 11, 15.2-2204 of the Code of Virginia as amended, that the Northumberland County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the new Courthouse at 220 Judicial Place, Heathsville, VA, and telephonically in order to consider the following:

1) A revision to the Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance to allow administrative zoning approval of chickens and/or livestock within the Residential, General (R-1) Zoning District, provided they meet certain conditions. Applications that do not meet the conditions will go to the Board of Supervisors for consideration of a conditional use permit.

Revision to the Northumberland Zoning Ordinance for the Residential, General (R-1) Zoning District:

Allow zoning administrator approval of up to 12 chickens per 2 acres of land in Residential, General, R-1 provided the applicant meets these minimum requirements:

- Chickens must be fenced inside an enclosure outside of the Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area to keep them under control and protected from predators

- No Roosters allowed

- Waste must be cleaned up weekly and disposed of in an environmentally sound fashion (prohibition of disposing of waste in waterways and within the Chesapeake Bay RPA)

- Deceased chicken disposal must be addressed

- Chicken Coops must be setback from the neighboring property line at least 25 feet

- Fencing must be setback from the property lines at least 10 feet

Allow zoning administrator approval of 1 livestock animal per 5 acres of land in Residential, General R-1 provided the applicant meets these minimum requirements:

- Animals must be fenced inside an enclosure outside of the Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area to keep them under control and protected from predators

- Waste must be cleaned up weekly and disposed of (prohibited from disposing in waterways and within the Chesapeake Bay RPA)

- Applicant must outline disposal method in case of deceased livestock

- Animal housing structures must be setback from the neighboring property line at least 25 feet

- Fencing must be setback from the property lines at least 10 feet

Requests to allow animals in Residential, General Zoning (R-1) that do not conform to the above parameters will go before the Board of Supervisors for a conditional use permit.