Every Gloucester County property owner will, or has receive(d) a letter from our Planning & Zoning Department regarding the Zoning Ordinance update and the Planning Commission’s public hearing on Thursday, July 11, 2024 @ 6:30 at the Colonial Courthouse.

Please note: No rezoning of property is proposed with the Zoning Ordinance update. Everyone received the letter because every property in the County has an associated zoning district and the permitted uses in all zoning districts have changed to allow more flexibility. As a result, it affects all property owners, but the lot sizes and types of uses in each district (residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial) are generally the same.

What zoning ordinance changes are proposed?

• The proposed update, in general, will allow property owners in all districts (agriculture, residential, and commercial) more flexibility. 

• Changes include revisions/additions to uses permitted in the county and how they are permitted as well as revisions of regulations for certain uses.  Some examples include:

  • More flexibility for home based businesses.

  • Allowance of camping for personal use and enjoyment (not commercial campgrounds) within certain restrictions. 

  • Revisions to regulations for freight containers used for storage on residential lots.

  • Open space requirements for new subdivisions greater than 50 lots and new multifamily developments greater than 35 units.

  • Expanded adjacent property notifications for developments located on private roads that require a special approval process.  All property owners along the private road will be notified of the proposed use. 

  • Allowance of agriculture uses in the rural residential (Bayside Conservation - C-2 and Suburban Countryside - SC-1) districts by a special approval process.  Currently agriculture is not permitted in these districts unless it is a grandfathered use. 

  • Allowance of up to 8 dwelling units per acre in the B-2 Village Business District without a special approval process and up to 12 dwelling units per acre with a special approval process.  Currently B-2 only allows residential units associated with a commercial business.

What is not changing?

• Zoning District Map - current zoning districts will not change under the proposed ordinance.  The current zoning map is being adopted as the official zoning map. 

• The minimum lot sizes for residential districts (C-2, SC-1, SF-1, and MF-1) are not changing.

• The minimum setbacks for residential districts (C-2, SC-1, SF-1, and MF-1) are not changing.

• The current fees are not changing. 

Do I need to attend the Planning Commission July 11th meeting?

• No, you do not need to attend the meeting – you can submit comments without attending (see “How can I provide feedback?” below).

• You can view the Planning Commission’s public hearing on Cox channel 48 or online live or a recording of the meeting at: https://pub-gloucesterva.escribemeetings.com/?Year=2024.  

How do I learn more about the changes proposed?

• Watch or attend the Planning Commission’s July 11th meeting to hear the summary presentation by staff. 

• View the Zoning Ordinance Update webpage (gloucesterva.gov/planning-zoning/zoning-ordinance-update), which includes the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors joint meeting presentations under Presentation and Draft Documents.  The topics covered at each meeting are described in the table. 

• Call planning staff at 804-693-1224.    

How can I provide feedback for the public hearing?

• Citizen comments may be submitted prior to the public hearing by three different methods detailed below. Comments submitted through these methods must be received by 4:30 PM on July 11, 2024 and will be read or played during the public hearing up to the time limit set by the Chair.

  • To submit comments online, complete the Citizen Comment Submission form (www.gloucesterva.info/citizencomment). Please follow the instructions on the form to indicate the meeting or public hearing on which you want to comment.

  • Comments may also be submitted by calling and leaving a message at 804-824-2760. Follow the prompts to leave comments for this specific public hearing, and clearly indicate your name (including spelling if needed) and your magisterial district.

  • Finally, comments may be submitted by US mail to: County Administration ATTN: Public Hearing Comment, 6489 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061. Any mailed comments must include your name, your magisterial district, and the title of this public hearing clearly printed at the top, and must be received by 4:30 PM on the day of the public hearing. Please type or print all comments legibly.

• After July 11th, Citizens can submit comments to the Board of Supervisors or the Planning Commission using the contact information provided on the county’s website: gloucesterva.gov.

When will the proposed changes go into effect?

• The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors at the July 11th public hearing or at a subsequent Planning Commission meeting if more time is needed based on public comments. The Planning Commission meets monthly on the 1st Thursday of the month. 

• The proposed changes will not go into effect until after a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors (which will not occur until after the Planning Commission provides their recommendation). 

• The public hearing before the Board of Supervisors has not been scheduled, but, when this occurs, it will be announced to the public and advertised in the local paper (no new letters will be sent for the Board’s public hearing).  Opportunities to provide comments will be available for the Board’s public hearing as well.

• After the public hearing with the Board of Supervisors, the Board will vote to approve the zoning ordinance as drafted, approve the zoning ordinance with changes, or deny the zoning ordinance. 

Why is the zoning ordinance being updated?

• The zoning ordinance has not undergone a comprehensive update since 1998 and the current format of the zoning ordinance is not user friendly.

• As part of their strategic planning, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to review ordinances and remove unnecessary regulations.

• Revisions are needed to conform with VA State Code and to implement the Gloucester County Comprehensive Plan. 

How can I learn what regulations are proposed for my zoning district?

• Determine your current zoning by visiting gloucestergis.timmons.com/#/mwl. Plug in your address, tax map number or RPC and either pull up the zoning layer on the left side of the map, or click on “more details” and scroll down to “Land” and the zoning district is listed under Zoning.

• Once you know your zoning district, go to Article 5 of the “Zoning Ordinance Final Draft” on the  Zoning Ordinance Update webpage (gloucesterva.gov/planning-zoning/zoning-ordinance-update) and review the regulations for your district and any other district(s) you are interested in. 

Where can I view the proposed zoning ordinance?

• Paper copies of the zoning ordinance are available for viewing at both Gloucester County public libraries and in the Planning and Zoning Office located at 6489 Main Street, 2nd floor. 

• To view and/or print the proposed zoning ordinance, go to the  Zoning Ordinance Update webpage (gloucesterva.gov/planning-zoning/zoning-ordinance-update).