PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA REQUEST

Sponsor: 

Board of Supervisors Meeting Date:

Planning Commission 

October 9, 2008

Staff Lead:

Department: 

Kimberley Johnson, Zoning Administrator

Community Development 

Topic:

A Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to Article 4 to Eliminate the Planned Development Mixed Use District (PDMU) from the Fauquier County Zoning Ordinance

Topic Description: 

A new Mixed Use District is currently under consideration by the Board of Supervisors.  During the Planning Commission review of that proposal, it was suggested that the existing PDMU/Planned Development Mixed Use District in the Ordinance be eliminated upon the adoption of the new mixed use district which would replace the existing provisions.  The existing District is not currently being utilized in the County. This text amendment would eliminate the PDMU District from Article 4 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors:

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

Summary Staff Report:

The Planned Development Mixed Use District (PDMU) provisions were added to the Zoning Ordinance in 2000, with the stated purpose of facilitating development in the New Baltimore Service District consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.  The provisions have never been utilized.  The PDMU provisions were designed to allow commercial and civic uses integrated into a predominately single family residential development, with at least 60% of the acreage required to be in single family detached/duplex development.  Multi-family residential uses, including residential uses over commercial uses, are not allowed under the provisions.  Key non-residential uses allowed include:

§  Retail shops and Shopping centers (up to 75,000 square feet per establishment with Special Exception, maximum of 25% of total floor area in the overall PDMU).

§  Other commercial uses such as offices, banks, studios, restaurants, repair services, dry cleaners, etc.

§  Schools, recreational facilities, museums, libraries, public safety facilities, other civic /government uses, and churches.

PDMU promotes development in a “park-like” form providing typical conventional setback requirements adjacent to streets, between buildings and next to adjoining development.  Minimum development size is 25 acres.

The Planning Commission felt that the proposed new Mixed Use District provided a better mechanism for achieving a mix of uses in Service Districts throughout the County, including New Baltimore, and therefore recommended that the PDMU district be eliminated upon Board approval of the new MU district.  The amendment was initiated by the Planning Commission on May 29, 2008.  After a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on June 26, 2008, the Commission unanimously recommended approval of the amendment.

Initial discussions regarding the MU district at the Board considered whether the MU district provides for the type of development envisioned by the New Baltimore Comprehensive Plan.   Given this concern, the Board may wish to leave the PDMU district in place even if the MU District is approved.

Financial Impact Analysis:

No financial impact analysis has been conducted.

Identify any other Departments, Organizations or Individuals that would be affected by this request:

Department of Economic Development