Driveway Agenda Request

PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA REQUEST

Sponsor:

Board of Supervisors Meeting Date:

Planning Commission

April 14, 2005

Staff Lead:

Department:

W. Todd Benson, Assistant Zoning Administrator

Community Development

Topic:

A Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to Section 12-606 of the Zoning Ordinance to Allow the Zoning Administrator to Reduce the Width of Internal Driveways and Service Roads from Twenty to Eighteen Feet for Agricultural Uses and Parks in RA and RC Districts

Topic Description:

The amendment would allow the Zoning Administrator to reduce the width of internal driveways and service roads, during site plan review, from twenty to eighteen feet for agricultural uses and parks in RA and RC Districts.

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors:

Conduct a public hearing and consider adoption of the attached Ordinance.

Financial Impact Analysis:

No financial impact analysis has been conducted.

Summary Staff Report:

This simple amendment to Section 12-606 of the Zoning Ordinance allows the Zoning Administrator to reduce the width of internal driveways and service roads from twenty to eighteen feet for agricultural uses and parks in R-1, RA, and RC when, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator, a lesser width is appropriate because of design, maintenance, or engineering factors. On January 29, 2005, the Planning Commission initiated the text amendment and scheduled the public hearing on February 17, 2005.

This request is driven by two factors. Fauquier County was awarded a Recreational Access Grant whereby the Commonwealth of Virginia will pay for construction of the driveways in the new northern sports park if the drives are no more than 18 feet in width. VDOT also has a program to maintain such roads if they are between 18 and twenty-two feet in width and the smallest width necessary for anticipated traffic. VDOT determined that 18 feet is the appropriate width for the sports park and is intended to slow traffic.