Development News for Front Royal, Virginia

Zoning Ordinance Review Continues with Focus on Fences, Shopping Centers, and Parking Regulations

The Commission is working through the final articles of the zoning ordinance, with Articles 9 and 10 remaining. Volunteers are needed to review specific page ranges of the zoning text (1-35, 36-70, 71-105, 106-140, 141-173) for errors and references. The review aims to identify issues before the document is finalized by town staff. The discussion also touched on the definition of 'structure' for permit requirements and the clarification of fence height regulations in residential districts, specifically the ambiguity regarding the 'front yard' definition and its relation to the front plane of the house versus the setback line. A suggestion was made to use 'forward of the plane of the house' for clarity. Discussions also occurred regarding the definition of 'shopping centers,' the removal of 'guaranteed unified management control,' and the percentage of lot coverage for shopping centers. Additionally, the Commission debated the necessity of including 'regional/slash power center' definitions and proposed changes to lot coverage percentages. Parking requirements, particularly for townhouses and apartment complexes, were also discussed, including the 'two parking spaces per unit' rule and potential adjustments. Other topics included development plan submission requirements, the definition of 'development plan' versus 'concept plan,' the role of the designated agent, and the potential inclusion of fiscal impact analysis for certain developments. Fence regulations were further discussed, focusing on whether fences constitute 'structures' requiring permits and the interpretation of height restrictions in front yards. The Commission reached an impasse on fence regulations and decided to revisit them later. They also discussed the rationale behind various setback requirements, particularly for townhouses, and considered flexibility in parking arrangements. Finally, discussions touched upon building height regulations for apartments, the definition of 'accessory buildings,' and the process for reviewing lighting plans.

Special Exception Application for Lot Under Minimum Acreage Pulled for Review of New Subdivision Ordinance

The Planning Commission reviewed a special exception application (US 2600235) for property at 10160 Winchester Road. The property is zoned R2 Residential and is 1.283 acres, falling short of the required two-acre minimum. Due to upcoming changes in the subdivision ordinance, this application was pulled for the evening. If a new subdivision ordinance is approved, the application might bypass the Commission and go directly to the Town Council. The zoning on the tax map was also noted as needing correction, potentially being C1 or C3, with a history of rezoning and a past multifamily dwelling use. The item was withdrawn.