Issue

In March 2005, the Virginia Supreme Court threw out the rural zoning that had been adopted in 2003 by our previous Board. The 2003 zoning had gone through an exhaustive public review and notification yet was thrown out on a technicality. With eliminating our rural zoning, we reverted to A-3 zoning which opened the door to 47,876 new houses (1 house per 3 acres).

The Board is now working on a revised zoning that will limit growth but the process is slow and each day that passes keeps the door open for more development and habitat loss. LWC has asked that protections for our natural resources be put back in to our zoning. Protections such as the Green Infrastructure and the River and Stream Corridor Overlay District (RSCOD) were removed from our comprehensive plan and zoning by this current Board and to date, we have seen no movement to reinstate them. As decisions are made for the new western zoning, it’s critical that our supervisors hear us and know that we want these protections put back in place.

Action
- LWC spoke before the Board of Supervisors three times over the course of the year that this issue was debated.

Outcome
- Supervisor Burton provided an update in December 2005
- For latest information from the County and access to their reports, click here