ORDINANCE  

AN ORDINANCE APPROVING TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE FAUQUIER COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE ADDING SECTION 3-309 (OUTDOOR RECREATION) TO ALLOW PAINTBALL RECREATIONAL FIELDS AND ADD SECTION 5-919 (ADDITIONAL STANDARDS FOR PAINTBALL RECREATION FIELDS

             WHEREAS, the Fauquier County Zoning Ordinance currently does not allow the location of paintball recreation fields; and

WHEREAS, these amendments would permit the use in the Rural Agriculture Zoning District following special exception and site plan approvals; and

WHEREAS, the amendments also would provide additional standards to protect adjacent properties; and

WHEREAS, the use also would be subject to site plan approval; and

WHEREAS, on January 23, 2003 , the Fauquier County Planning Commission held a public hearing; and

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2003, the Planning Commission held several work sessions to the Planning Commission voted to forward the refined text amendments with a recommendation for approval; and

WHEREAS, on May 19, 2003 , the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing; and

WHEREAS, the adoption of this text amendment would be in keeping with the spirit of the Zoning Ordinance and in the best interest of the citizens of Fauquier County ; now, therefore, be it

ORDAINED by the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors this 16th day of June 2003, That Section 3-309 of the Fauquier County Zoning Ordinance be, and is hereby, amended to allow paintball recreation fields as a special permit use and Section 5-919 would be added to provide additional standards for paintball recreation fields.  The Zoning Ordinance would be amended to read as follows:

3-309                                            OUTDOOR RECREATION (CATEGORY 9)

Site Plan                                   RA

19.       Paintball Recreation Fields              X                                       SE

5-919                             Minimum standards for paintball recreation fields

1.                                                                  The minimum lot size requirement shall be 24 acres.

2.                                                                  No structure shall be closer than 100 feet to any lot line.

3.                                                                  No area where paintballs are discharged shall be located within 300’ of any lot line or  500’ from any adjoining residential property, provided that a lesser setback may be permitted by the Board of Supervisors upon a determination that the lesser setback in combination with other elements of the site design provides adequate protection to adjoining properties and rights-of-ways.

4.                                                                  A 20’ high nylon mesh screen shall be installed around all play areas and shall be removed when the play area is not being utilized, at the end of each day.  The height of the screen may be lowered to no less than 10’ by the Board of Supervisors upon a determination that the lower screen in combination with other elements of the site design provides adequate protection from discharged paintballs.

5.                                                                  All parking and spectator areas, structures and play areas shall be effectively screened.

6.                                                                  Any retail sales conducted on the property shall be accessory and incidental to the permitted activity and conducted only for the participants of the site.

7.                                                                  A plan of operations specifying days and hours of operation, number of participants and employees, types of equipment to be utilized by users of the site, safety procedures, type of compressed air fuel to be utilized on the site and storage and maintenance procedures for the compressed air fuel shall be provided for review in conjunction with the special exception application.    All Safety procedures shall be reviewed and approved by Emergency Services.  All activities shall be in compliance with National Paintball League standards.

8.                                                                  The hours of operation shall be limited to 8:30 A.M. to 8:30 P.M , and further restricted as applicable to daylight hours.

9.                                                                  No lights or amplified sounds shall be permitted.

10.                                                              The facility shall have direct access to a road designated as a major collector (or higher) in the Comprehensive Plan unless the Board of Supervisors finds that the type and amount of traffic generated by the facility is such that it will not cause an undue impact on the neighbors or adversely affect safety of road usage.

11.                                                              The facility shall be secured at the close of business each day.

12.                                                              The applicant shall include the proposed number of persons to be on the site in the application information.

13.                                                              All equipment and objects utilized in the paintball activities shall be removed from the site within 90 days of the discontinuance of the paintball use.