Zoning Ordinance Rewrite

Overview

The Zoning Ordinance is the primary implementation tool for the 2019 Comprehensive Plan.
It contains an added level of specificity that is based on the community’s vision as expressed in the goals, policies and actions of the 2019 Comprehensive Plan.
The rewrite project, which kicked off in September 2019, is expected to take approximately 24 months.
The Zoning Ordinance Committee will serve as a sounding board throughout the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite process.
Input from the Board of Supervisors, advisory bodies, various departments and community and professional groups will also be factored into the final product.
A number of Zoning Ordinance Amendments have been rolled into the rewrite project.
WSP USA Inc. has been awarded a contract to provide consulting services for the Zoning Ordinance rewrite.

The main focus areas of the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite include:

Implementation of the new comprehensive plan vision, including the Urban Policy Area, which involves new place types with densities, standards, building forms, and infrastructure that have yet to be realized in Loudoun County.
Modernization: revising land uses and definitions to reflect the current marketplace, reevaluating parking ratios and calculations, update lot and building standards, and aligning how the County administers planned unit developments with modern practice.
Consistency audit: analyzing existing standards and striving for consistency within the document and across zoning districts when feasible.
Structure and flow: improving the document structure, making it user-friendly and clear.
Opportunities and challenges: evaluating input from stakeholders about the current Zoning Ordinance and making improvements where appropriate.
Legislation: incorporating changes based on new or revised provisions of the Code of Virginia, court cases, and best management practices promoted by the Virginia Association of Zoning Officials, Urban Land Institute and American Planning Association.

Project Milestones	Planned Date
Approval of Project Plan, consultant selection	September 2019
Project kickoff	October 2019
Research, analysis, Staff Technical Advisory Committee meetings	October 2019 -February 2020
Round One Input: Planning Commission, ZOAG, Advisory and Community Groups	January - March 2020
Integrate Round One Input, STAC Meetings, Ordinance Development	March - July 2020
Round Two Input: Planning Commission, ZOAG, Advisory and Community Groups; Draft Resolution of Intent to Amend (ROIA)	July - September 2020
Present Proposed ROIA to Board of Supervisors for Review & Adoption	October 2020
Refine Draft Ordinance Text per Referral Review & Round Two Input	January - March 2021
Present Draft Ordinance Text to Planning Commission for Review & Recommendations	April - June 2021
Present Draft Ordinance Text to Board of Supervisors for Review & Adoption	July - October 2021

Between January and July of 2020, staff facilitated approximately 30 in-person and remote public input sessions with community groups and advisory bodies. These sessions informed the community about the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite project and solicited their views on and experiences with the current Zoning Ordinance. Because of the pandemic, about ten of these meetings transitioned to remote focus group meetings as well as an online survey.
To see the themes that emerged from Round One, view the project update presented to the Transportation and Land Use Committee (TLUC) on July 22 (PDF) or view the Powerpoint presentation from the July 22 TLUC meeting (PDF).

Significant progress has been made in building an online interactive platform for the county’s Zoning Ordinance(s) that will be linked from the county’s website. The 1972, 1993, Revised 1993, and Route 28 Overlay Zoning Ordinances have been migrated into the cloud-based software that supports collaborative drafting, archiving, and code publishing.
This online version of the Zoning Ordinances will allow the public to search all county Zoning Ordinances via text or GIS map interface, guide users towards appropriate ordinance sections based on their interests, and provide a mechanism for internal and public comments on proposed Ordinance amendments.
Anticipated release date for the new online interactive Zoning Ordinance platform is Summer 2021.

The ZO Rewrite project timeline has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as multiple procurement processes, vacancies in key positions needed for the ZO Rewrite effort, and the inability to fill those vacancies during the COVID-related hiring freeze at the end of FY 2020.
The delay is estimated to be six to eight months, especially given that some Zoning Ordinance amendments (ZOAM) have been prioritized as standalone efforts with expedited timelines versus rolling them all into the overall ZO Rewrite effort.
The project team is working to make up time where possible and minimize further timeline impacts, and is anticipating reaching out to the community for Round Two public input in late 2020.
A general public open house on the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite is planned for future rounds of community engagement.

For questions about the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite project, email Planning and Zoning or call 703-777-0246.