GLOUCESTER COUNTY — After a four-year-long in-depth review, Gloucester County staff, in partnership with the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors, has completed a comprehensive rewrite of Articles 1-9 of the county’s zoning ordinance and will hold a series of open houses to present the draft to the public.
Articles 1-9 include regulations for all the zoning districts, permitted uses, supplemental regulations for those uses, and general development standards related to other items such as screening and buffering, common open space, and more, according to the county.
The purpose of the meetings is to help citizens understand the changes and allow for feedback on concerns or appreciation for the changes ahead of formal public hearings on the changes.
The meetings will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the following dates and locations:
- November 14 at Abingdon Elementary School
- November 17 at the Gloucester Main Library
- November 29 at Rappahannock Community College’s Glenns Lecture Hall
The meetings will include short presentations at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. summarizing the major changes, followed by opportunities for attendants to speak with staff about specific zoning districts, uses, and/or regulations that most interest them, the county said.
“We really encourage people to come educate themselves and learn how these changes may impact what they can and can’t do on their properties before these changes are adopted,” said Anne Ducey-Ortiz, Gloucester’s Director of Planning, Zoning & Environmental Programs.
A summary of comments from the public will be presented to the Planning Commission at its regular meeting in December or January, where commissioners will decide if further revisions are needed or if they are ready to move forward with formal public hearings in early 2023.
Comments will also be accepted and considered as part of the public hearing process, and those meetings are televised and can be viewed on channel 48 or on the county’s meeting portal.
The working draft and other information on the update can be found here. For more information, contact Carol Rizzio or Anne Ducey-Ortiz at 804-693-1224. Comments will also be accepted through the county’s website for those who are unable to visit the in-person meetings.
