Upcoming: - Wednesday, December 1st RURAL NELSON MEETING 7:30pm at the office at 622 Front Street, Lovingston. Program: "Protecting Gateway Communities". - Wednesday, December 1st PLANNING COMMISSION ZONING WORK SESSION 6:30pm Courthouse - Thursday, December 2nd ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 4:00pm Courthouse ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION Tuesday, November 30, 2004 Present: Ms. Proulx, Dr. Walker, Ms. Russell, Mr. Bruguiere, Mr. Harman Absent: Ms. Hunt Ms. Russell questioned whether the motions made during the November 29th work session establishing the maximum number of division rights for various residential developments would include the residual parcel. Example: if you chose to develop a Minor Subdivision on a 100-acre parcel in Rural & Farming that allowed one unit per 5 acres with a maximum of 5 lots, would you have 5 five-acre lots plus the 75-acre residual acres or would you have 4 five-acre lots with the residual 80 acres counting as one of those five maximum divisions. Commissioners agreed to add the phrase "not including the residue" to each district noting a maximum number of lots, i.e. in the above example, you would have 5 five-acre lots plus a 75-acre residual parcel. Mr. Boger reported that the county attorney had advised that a separate business district should be developed in the ordinance, noting the possibility of legal challenges if those parcels currently zoned B-1 were grandfathered with that B-1 zoning. Commissioners asked staff to develop a business district based on the current Service Enterprise (SE-1) district and incorporating the B-1 uses to be applied to only those parcels currently zoned business. Ms. Proulx suggested that for clarity, the new district should be called Business District. Mr. Boger agreed to develop a draft for review at a work session. Mr. Boger then presented a simpler version of the "Landscape and Screening Standards", noting that the document is not yet complete. Ms. Russell said that while she liked concepts, she preferred the "Purpose and Intent" section of Mr. Cox's ordinance. She said that that description clearly explains the reasons for the standards. She noted that the stated purpose often helps the Commission to interpret the ordinance when the standards are vague. Mr. Bruguiere said that simpler is better and said that the more detail, the more the ordinance is subject to interpretation. Dr. Walker noted that several districts, under the new version, would be exempt from landscaping standards (such as Rural & Farming and Rural Residential) and asked whether those districts should also be included. Commissioners agreed to table further discussion until the document is complete. Commissioners then considered the Home Occupations section, changing the requirement that no home occupation be permitted which comprises more than 25% of the gross floor area of the dwelling to 45% of the gross floor area of the dwelling. In addition, Commissioners deleted the requirement that applicants permit inspections of the premises by the Planning Director or other County official to ensure compliance with the ordinance. During discussion of the Village Mixed Use District (V-MU), Commissioners added modification of the 10-acre maximum district size as a special permit use. Commissioners then reviewed and made minor corrections to the Town Center, Planned Shopping Business, Light and Heavy Industrial Districts. Commissioners then scheduled another work session for Wednesday, December 1st at 6:30pm at the Courthouse. They tentatively scheduled another session for Thursday, December 2nd if needed. Meeting continued to December 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OF INTEREST: - Sunday, December 5th NELSON COUNTY CHRISTMAS PARADE - 3:00pm Front Street, Lovingston ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This report, sent to over 580 Nelson County citizens, was made possible by the generous donations of Rural Nelson members and supporters. We need your help to continue this service. Please consider donating. Kim T. Cash Field Officer Rural Nelson, Inc. P. O. Box 401 (622 Front Street) Lovingston, VA 22949 434.263.5000 Email: info@ruralnelson.org www.ruralnelson.org