The city’s new zoning code goes into effect on February 19 and there are still a few steps that need to be taken before the new rules take hold. The Charlottesville Planning Commission will hold a work session on Tuesday at 5 p.m. to discuss some of them. (meeting agenda) (materials)
First, Council has to adopt a Development Review Procedures Manual which has two purposes.
“It brings all development review processes and requirements together into one document, readily reviewable by applicants,” writes James Freas, the city’s Director of Neighborhood Development Services. “Second, by separating these administrative procedures into a manual outside of the ordinance, staff can more easily update the manual as processes are improved.”
The manual lays out what needs to be in a submission in order for it to be reviewed, provides requirements for what level of public notice needs to be given, and describes the level of community engagement for some land use applications.
Under the new system, any request requires a compliance check of the zoning to be known as a Development Plan.
“Required for everything from an addition onto a house to a major mixed-use development, it allows staff to confirm compliance with zoning requirements and provides an opportunity for staff to discuss with an applicant opportunities for alternative pathways to compliance that could help a project better meet the City’s adopted objectives from the Comprehensive Plan,” reads the overview.
These would come in minor and major flavors, with minor being anything less than two units and under 500 square feet. An approved Development Plan is a precursor to approval of a final site plan.
Community meetings would only be required if an applicant sought a rezoning or a special use permit. At least one member of the development community has indicated the likelihood of seeking a rezoning. Any project that meets the threshold to require a Transportation Demand Management Plan would also need to hold a community meeting. The manual does not specify what that threshold is, but the Development Code does.
“Any project with over 50,000 square feet of gross floor area must submit a Traffic Demand Management (TDM) plan, prepared by a qualified professional with demonstrated experience in transportation planning, traffic engineering, or comparable field, to be approved by the Administrator,” reads the Section 4.5.4 of the draft Development Code. A final version has not yet been published.
The new rules also allow only three submissions of a plan for review before a new application fee is charged. One item not in the manual is information about how the public can access submissions, all of which are now required to be in electronic form.
Council is expected to take up the Development Manual on February 5.
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