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Berkley Group PresentationPittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Joint Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission Kickoff Agenda Page 1 of 2 Project Overview Pittsylvania County has enlisted the support of the Berkley Group to update, modernize, and restructure the Zoning Ordinance. The revised zoning ordinance will: - Provide streamlined and user-friendly regulations; - Incorporate best planning practices and current state code requirements; - Address the goals and strategies identified in the Comprehensive Plan; and - Consider citizen needs and issues identified through the public engagement process. This process will be guided by Pittsylvania County staff, the Board of Supervisors, and the Planning Commission and will also include opportunities for input from stakeholders and citizens. Today’s meeting will introduce the project and collect feedback and preliminary direction on key issues, concerns, and areas of focus. Time will also be provided for review of the draft stakeholder questions, draft public workshop questions, and draft public survey. Agenda 1. Berkley Group Presentation: a. Project Overview & Schedule b. Project Intent c. Ordinance Purpose and Content d. Preliminary Observations e. Public Engagement Plan f. Next Steps g. Discussion 2. Discussion a. Considering the noted Comprehensive Plan goals and other identified issues, what do you see as the key priorities for the zoning ordinance? b. Are there any other issues that are important to the community that were not already noted today? c. In reviewing Attachment A, do you have any modifications to the public survey questions? d. In reviewing Attachment B, do you have any modifications to the public workshop questions? e. In reviewing Attachment C, do you have any modifications to the stakeholder questions? f. Pittsylvania County staff is finalizing an invitation list for the stakeholder listening sessions; are there specific members of the community that you would like to ensure are invited? Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Joint Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission Kickoff Agenda Page 2 of 2 Schedule & Next Steps The project schedule below indicates major tasks and the target month of completion. Attachment A Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Survey Page 1 of 6 Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Survey Introduction Pittsylvania County is updating its Zoning Ordinance – the primary document that regulates land use and development within County limits. The County’s goal is to develop a user-friendly ordinance, encourage quality development, and provide ample opportunities for housing diversity and business development. This survey will assist the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors in understanding your opinions about development within Pittsylvania County. Survey Information • Survey period: Monday, August 1, 2022 – Friday, September 2, 2022 • Return surveys to: 53 Main Street, Chatham, VA, 24531 • Staff contact: Emily Ragsdale, Director of Community Development | Emily.Ragsdale@pittgov.org | 434.432.7750 Survey Questions 1) General: Which of the following best describes your association with Pittsylvania County? (Select all that apply): □ I live within County limits. □ I work within County limits. □ I own a business within County limits. □ I am a property owner within County limits. □ I am a developer/builder. □ Other. Please Specify: ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ 2) General: Which of the following best describes your experience with the Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance? (Choose one): □ The Zoning Ordinance is easy to understand and navigate. □ Average – I can find what I need after reviewing carefully. □ I find it difficult to understand and need help finding what I need. □ I have never used the Zoning Ordinance. Attachment A Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Survey Page 2 of 6 3) General: What are your top three zoning and land use priorities for Pittsylvania County? (Choose up to three): □ Improving community appearance □ Encouraging industrial growth □ Encouraging new commercial businesses (retail, restaurants, etc.) □ Encouraging new housing development □ Preserving historic areas □ Conserving sensitive environmental areas □ Protecting existing residential areas from other uses □ Preserving agriculture & rural character □ Other. Please Specify: ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ 4) General: Regarding economic development, which of the following do you think best describes Pittsylvania County's development regulations? (Choose one): □ Not business friendly □ Appropriately balanced for business development □ Too business friendly □ Not sure / no opinion 5) District Standards: The current minimum lot size in the County’s agricultural zoning district (A-1) is 20,000 square feet, or 0.46 acres. Should this minimum lot size increase, decrease, or stay the same? (Choose one): □ The minimum lot size should increase – this is too small for agricultural activity. □ The minimum lot size should decrease – this is too big. □ The minimum lot size should stay the same – this seems to be working well. □ Not sure / no opinion 6) District Standards: Which of the following options would you support to maintain the character of rural and agricultural areas within Pittsylvania County? (Select all that apply): □ Allow cluster residential development on smaller lots to increase permanent protection of open space □ Offer tax incentives to promote agriculture □ Establish conservation easements □ Voluntary farm preservation districts □ Limit the number of divisions on large agricultural lots □ No changes necessary □ Not sure / no opinion Attachment A Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Survey Page 3 of 6 7) Land Use: Would you encourage or discourage the following residential land uses in Pittsylvania County? Please explain any specific concerns in the comment section. (Check one for each): Land Use / Types of Development Encourage Allow with Restrictions Discourage No Opinion Single family houses Townhouses / duplexes Apartments / multi-family housing units Mixed use development with different housing types and uses Mixed use buildings with both apartments and office/commercial Attached accessory dwelling units (i.e., basement apartment, in- law suites) Detached accessory dwelling units (i.e., a small apartment located in a separate outbuilding or garage) Manufactured homes Tiny homes Comments:___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8) Land Use: Would you encourage or discourage the following non-residential land uses in Pittsylvania County? Please explain any specific concerns in the comment section. (Check one for each): Land Use / Types of Development Encourage Allow with Restrictions Discourage No Opinion Agritourism (i.e., farm stands, corn mazes, etc.) Commercial development – large/box store (i.e., Target) Commercial development – small (i.e., bank, local restaurant, fitness studio) Event venues in agricultural/open space areas Home occupations with onsite customers/employees (i.e., at-home hair salon or beauty parlor) Home occupations without onsite customers/employees Hotels Industrial development Mini storage / self-storage facilities Offices Outdoor recreation / tourism (i.e., park, campground, biking trails) Short-term rentals (i.e., Airbnb) Wineries, breweries, and distilleries Comments:___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Attachment A Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Survey Page 4 of 6 9) Community Character: Below are four images of different parking lots. Rank the below images from least appropriate for Pittsylvania County to most appropriate for Pittsylvania County: (Select one ranking for each image): Parking Lot 1 (least appropriate) 2 3 4 (most appropriate) Parking Lot A Parking Lot B Parking Lot C Parking Lot D 10) Community Character: Please explain why you ranked the parking lot images in the way you did. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Attachment A Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Survey Page 5 of 6 11) Community Character: Select the image from each pairing that looks the most appealing to you: (Select one image for each pairing): PAIR #1 PAIR #2 PAIR #3 12) Community Character: Please explain what appeals to you about the images you selected. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Attachment A Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Survey Page 6 of 6 13) Community Character: Would you agree or disagree with the following design statements? (Check one for each): Design Standard Agree Disagree No Opinion Landscaping should be required as a buffer between business/industrial development and agricultural or residential property. Tree cover should be required for business and industrial developments to preserve character and protect environmental resources. Tree cover should be required for residential developments to preserve character and protect environmental resources. Dumpsters, loading areas, and electrical/mechanical equipment should be screened from off- site views. Fence height should be limited in business and residential zoned districts. Lighting height should be limited in business and industrial zoned districts to prevent light pollution and preserve dark skies. 14) Are there any other topics that have not been addressed that you would like to identify, or do you have any general comments or suggestions? If yes, please identify in the comments. □ No □ Yes:____________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ 15) If you are a resident of Pittsylvania County, how long have you lived in the County? (Choose one): □ Under 5 years □ 5 to 9 years □ 10 to 19 years □ 20 to 29 years □ 30 or more years □ I do not live in Pittsylvania County 16) Please provide your name and email address to stay up to date on the Zoning Ordinance updates. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Attachment B Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Workshop Questions Page 1 of 4 Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Workshop DATE: Thursday, August 18, 2022 LOCATION: Pittsylvania County Community Center 115 S. Main Street, Chatham, VA 24531 TIME: 6:00 – 8:00 PM ________________________________________________________________ Small Group Exercise (60 minutes for group exercise & 20 minutes for sharing) Directions: Appoint a group recorder to record comments and report back to the full group at the end of the time period. 1. Priorities: Identify the primary priorities and/or issues of concern regarding zoning and land use for the community (list 3-5 items in order of importance). Conversation Starter – What issues are most important for the ordinance update to address? What aspects of the existing land use regulations limit progress or need to be improved? • • • • • Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Attachment B Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Workshop Questions Page 2 of 4 2. General: Consider the following areas of Pittsylvania County. Are you satisfied with the quality of development in these areas? Use the blank spaces in the table below to explain why or why not. Conversation Starter – What do you like about the current development that you see in your community? What could be improved? Area Satisfied (Y/N) Ideas/Priorities/Concerns Agricultural / Open space Residential neighborhoods Commercial areas Industrial areas Major streets / thoroughfares: (Route 29) Major streets / thoroughfares: (Route 58) Smith Mountain Lake / Leesville Lake area Other: Note any Additional Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Attachment B Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Workshop Questions Page 3 of 4 3. Land Use: Review the list of potential land uses (below) that have been identified as topics of focus for ordinance revisions. Please share your thoughts and considerations for these land uses in the space provided. Conversation Starter – Would you encourage or discourage this land use? Where might the use be appropriate? What, if any, restrictions would be needed/supported for this use? Land Use Focus Comments and Considerations Housing – duplexes and townhouses Housing – apartments Home businesses (with or without customers / employees) Short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO) Food trucks and mobile restaurants Breweries, distilleries, and tasting rooms Event venues Animal keeping (e.g., residential farming, farming, intensive farming) Agritourism (e.g., pick-your-own, pumpkin patches, farm tours and classes, etc.) Industrial uses (e.g., manufacturing, processing, distribution centers) Mini-storage and self-storage facilities Other: Note any Additional Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Attachment B Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Public Workshop Questions Page 4 of 4 4. Community Character & Design: Review the list of design elements that affect the character / visual appeal / impact of land use on the community. Consider how each design element would apply in Pittsylvania County and provide any comments you have related to the topic. Conversation Starter – What design elements are needed to create and maintain an inviting community? Should certain design elements be required in some areas of the community but not others (e.g., along commercial corridors only)? Character/Design Element Comments and Considerations Building height Signs (number, size, and type) Landscaping along roadways Screening and landscaping between land uses (e.g., commercial next to residential). Screening for dumpsters, loading areas, electrical, and mechanical equipment Parking lot landscaping to provide shade and reduce stormwater runoff Fence style and height Lighting height and style to prevent light trespass and preserve dark skies Other: Note any Additional Comments: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Attachment C Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Stakeholder Interview Questions Page 1 of 2 Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Stakeholder Interviews DATE: Thursday, August 18, 2022 LOCATION: Pittsylvania County Community Center 115 S. Main Street, Chatham, VA 24531 TIME: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM ________________________________________________________________ Overview Stakeholder meetings are a form of public engagement designed to gain input from agencies, organizations, and businesses that have an interest in and experience with development and land use tools. The representatives interviewed in the stakeholder meetings can also participate in the public input process as individual citizens, but the purpose of these interviews is to gain an in-depth perspective about how County policy specifically affects their organizations or businesses, and what changes they would recommend. The Berkley Group will provide questions and facilitate discussion with stakeholders. The stakeholder sessions will be one-hour meetings throughout the day (a separate time for each group) and will be grouped logically to promote productive conversation. The recommended groups are: (1) business owners and EDA representatives; (2) bankers, real estate agents, and attorneys; (3) historic representatives, agriculture and farming representatives, and other special interest groups; and (4) surveyors, contractors, architects, etc. Questions General 1. What is your experience with the Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance? 2. Do you find the County’s zoning ordinance easy to use and interpret? a. If not, what sections do you think could be clarified and made more user friendly? 3. Are you generally satisfied with the quality, form, and character of development in the County? 4. What do you like most about the zoning ordinance– are there any processes or requirements that you would absolutely want to remain as-is? Development Review Process 1. What is your experience with the development review process – what processes have you undergone? (Subdivision, special use permit, site plans, etc.) 2. Did you find elements of the development review process to be burdensome? Easy and efficient? 3. Are there any process improvements that, in your opinion, would boost commercial development? 4. Are there any processes that would benefit from administrative review, rather than review from Planning Commission and Board? Attachment C Pittsylvania County Zoning Ordinance Update Stakeholder Interview Questions Page 2 of 2 Uses and Districts 1. Are there any specific uses that are not included in the zoning ordinance, that you feel should be included? These can be uses that are: a. Growing in popularity within the County b. Allowed in neighboring localities and would be a good fit for the County 2. Specific uses may be discussed depending on the stakeholder groups, such as: a. Types and location of housing (i.e. duplexes, apartments) b. Agricultural uses c. Agritourism d. Breweries, distilleries, and tasting rooms e. Mobile restaurant / food truck f. Gun ranges / shooting ranges g. Home occupations h. Short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnb) i. Event venues j. Temporary events and uses k. Other industrial/commercial uses l. Telecommunications facilities m. Mini storage / self-storage facilities 3. Are there any uses that are not allowed in certain district(s), but should be? 4. Are there any uses that are allowed in certain districts, but shouldn’t be – or should have more regulation (e.g., conditional/special use permit or performance standards)? 5. What types of businesses would you find appropriate in Agriculture and Residential districts / areas? 6. What has been your experience with setbacks, height requirements, and lot requirements? a. Do the requirements adequately meet the community needs? b. Do you find any of the current requirements burdensome? c. Are there suggested changes? Design Standards 1. Are the community design elements such as lighting, landscaping, screening, and signage appropriate for the development and character of the County? 2. In what ways could these be improved (e.g., parking lot landscaping, height limits for lighting and other dark sky measures)? Closing 1. What are your top priorities for improvement in the County’s development ordinances? PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE Pittsylvania County is updating its Zoning Ordinance, which helps define how the County’s land is used and developed. Zoning plays a role in what your community looks like, where businesses locate, and how natural features are protected. Public input helps ensure the ordinance revisions address resident concerns and expectations. The County is at the beginning stages of updating the Zoning Ordinance and wants to hear from YOU! What are your priorities for making Pittsylvania County a great place to live? What ideas do you have for future growth and development in the County? How can current development processes be improved? Your input is essential to the revision process! See below to learn how you can participate: ATTEND A WORKSHOP TAKE THE SURVEY SHARE WITH STAFF Thursday, August 18 6:00 - 8:00 PM Pittsylvania County Community Center 115 S Main Street Chatham, VA 24531 Emily Ragsdale Director of Community Development Emily.Ragsdale@pittgov.org (P) 434.432.7750 August 1 - September 2 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ PittsylvaniaPublicSurvey Paper surveys available in the Community Development offices! Pittsylvania County is updating its Zoning Ordinance, which helps define how the County’s land is used and developed. Zoning plays a role in what your community looks like, where businesses locate, and how natural features are protected. Public input helps ensure the ordinance revisions address resident concerns and expectations. The County is at the beginning stages of updating the Zoning Ordinance and wants to hear from YOU - your input is essential to the revision process! Please join us at the Public Workshop! PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE PUBLIC WORKSHOP Pittsylvania County Community Center 115 S Main Street Chatham, VA 24531 Emily Ragsdale, Director of Community Development Emily.Ragsdale@pittgov.org (P) 434.432.7750 Thursday, August 18 6:00 - 8:00 PM QUESTIONS?