PLANNING COMMISSION 
ZONING WORK SESSION 
Wednesday, January 14, 2004 

Present: Mr. Brush, Ms. Proulx, Ms. Russell, Ms. Hunt, Mr. Bruguiere 
Absent: Dr. Walker, Mr. Hoffman 

LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS - CHAPTER 9 - After discussion at a previous 
Zoning Work Session and further review, the Commissioners agreed by 
consensus to have Mr. Cox rewrite the chapter, requesting that he delete 
the sections on tree canopy/tree cover.  Ms. Russell said that she would 
like to see elevations included on landscaping plans for large projects. 
 Ms. Proulx said that she like the idea of requiring a landscaping bond 
on commercial projects.  Mr. Boger said that requiring a landscaping 
bond is allowed under our ordinance and that the Commissioners might 
want to consider doing so. 

SIGN REGULATIONS - CHAPTER 10 - Ms. Russell suggested that all property 
and sign owners should sign applications for a sign.  Ms. Russell then 
noted section E-2, which as written allows one of each basic sign type 
(free standing, building-mounted, projecting and temporary) on each 
street frontage for each permitted use on the premises.  She said that 
that would be an excessive number of signs for multiple businesses in 
one location or for businesses on a corner lot.  Commissioners agreed to 
have Mr. Cox revise E-2 to allow a single or multiple business on a 
corner lot one free-standing sign plus one building-mounted sign on each 
exposure.  In addition, a wall-mounted sign would be allowed for rear 
entrances, with a sign size not to exceed 4 square feet. 

In Section E-9, Commissioners agreed to revise the paragraph on 
Illumination Standards to require down-focused lighting on signs.  Mr. 
Boger said that the Commissioners would need to set minimum and maximum 
lumens for sign lighting.  Ms. Russell noted that she would be more 
interested in the lumens at the property lines.  

Mr. Bruguiere said that the list of signs allowed in Rural & Farming did 
not list signs for agricultural businesses such as vineyards and 
orchards.  Commissioners agreed to add a category for Agricultural 
Businesses and to allow one free standing sign limited to 32 square feet 
with an additional area not to exceed 44 square feet that may be devoted 
to architectural elements to serve as support or base for the sign. 

In Section I-3 listing regulations for Nonconforming signs (those which 
are in place prior to adoption of new regulations and therefore allowed 
to stand), Mr. Boger suggested that rather than prohibiting maintenance 
of the sign, the ordinance should establish a scale to reduce the size 
and/or height of the sign as it is replaced.  He suggested requiring 
that as the nonconforming sign has to be replaced, the replacement sign 
be 80% smaller or lower in height than the previous sign until the sign 
is in compliance with the new regulations.   Commissioners agreed. 

In Section H-4, Commissioners agreed to add a prohibition on signs 
painted on a roof.  Also in Section H-2, Ms. Russell noted that 
permanent pennants and banners are prohibited and suggested that the 
same section be included to prohibit temporary pennants and banners. 
Commissioners also deleted a phrase regulating the number of decorative 
flags per household.  In Section K-2(c), Commissioners revised a 
decorative flag regulation to allow any building used for a home 
occupation or business to have one building-mounted decorative flag, not 
to exceed 15 square feet in area.  The flag shall not indicate the name 
or logo of a business or home occupation, nor a written massage 
pertaining to a business or home occupation. 

OTHER ZONING ORDINANCE ISSUE - Ms. Proulx said that she had received a 
citizen inquiry about whether the proposed Ordinance would address 
helipads.  Ms. Proulx suggested that they should be addressed rather 
than treating them as landing strips.  

NEXT ZONING WORK SESSION - Mr. Boger noted no business on the agenda for 
the regular Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, January 28. 
Commissioners agreed to meet at 7:00pm on that date to continue work on 
the Zoning Ordinance draft. 

Meeting adjourned. 
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Kim T. Cash 
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Rural Nelson, Inc. 
P. O. Box 401 
(622 Front Street) 
Lovingston, VA  22949 
434.263.5000 
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