COUNCIL CORNER:
Business District
Regulations
Revised |
The central commercial district begins at the Town Office and
includes businesses on Main and Loudoun Streets. |
By CARTER MORROW
Member, Round Hill Town Council
The Town Council recently approved new commercial district zoning
ordinances to bring businesses into compliance, making it easier to
improve buildings or expand operations.
The new rules are the result of a process initiated almost two years
ago to change the B-1 Business District regulations so they would
better reflect existing commercial uses and the development pattern
of the Central District.
Together with a Planning Commission (PC) initiative to revise the
sign and other related ordinances, these new changes should help
businesses meet the growing need for services in the greater Round
Hill area. |
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information see:
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| Planning Commission
Volunteers Define and Maintain “Vision” of Round Hill |
By CRAIG FREDERICKS
Chairman, Round Hill Planning Commission
Over the years our community has benefited from the efforts of
dedicated citizens serving in both official and unofficial
capacities.
These volunteers’ countless hours and efforts have produced a vision
for the town that is defined in documents such as the Town’s
Comprehensive Plan, the Streetscape Master Plan and the Storm-Water
Master Plan.
The Zoning Ordinance (ZO) and related Zoning Map and the Subdivision
and Land Development Ordinance (SLDO) define how that vision is to
be pursued and maintained by defining the policies and processes by
which landowners request approval for improvements to their
property.
If you’re a business with improvement plans, an avid
do-it-yourselfer or have plans to contract out home/site
improvement, be sure your project conforms to the town requirements
by contacting the town staff at Ford’s Store before you start work.
One group of volunteers tasked with maintaining and updating these
documents is the Planning Commission (PC). The PC has final approval
authority for subdivision/vacation preliminary and final plats as
well as land development preliminary and final plans (yes, there is
a difference between a plat and a plan). The PC may also grant
waivers to SLDO provisions.
In a town as small as Round Hill, there is always a need for
volunteers. While state code requires that half of all PC members
own land within the corporate limits of Town and all reside within
the corporate limits, the only requirement to join a planning
commission committee is interest in the town.
We hope to see you at one of our regularly scheduled meetings. These
are held the second Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m. in the Town
Office. Public comment is always welcome as one of the first agenda
items and the last agenda item.For more information see:
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| BZA Serves
Round Hill’s Community |
By JANICE BITTNER
Chairman,
Board of Zoning Appeals
In the past, zoning ordinances were meant to prevent disasters in a
community—such as gun powder mills being built next to homes. Today,
the spirit is the same—zoning ordinances are meant to protect the
community as a whole.
There are times, though, when ordinances may seem overly restrictive
or decisions made by the zoning administrator (ZA) may aggrieve or
concern citizens. In such cases, citizens can take requests for
variances to ordinances or appeals of official decisions to the
Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
As an impartial, quasi-judicial body, the BZA hears testimony,
deliberates among its members and, if so determined, remedies
situations by granting variances or reversing decisions. It may also
resolve to uphold official decisions. In every case, the BZA’s role
is to ensure the zoning ordinance is observed and the community as a
whole is unharmed. The BZA also hears appeals of the interpretation
of the zoning map.
BZA determinations can be appealed to the Circuit Court. Statements
made before the BZA are sworn to be true and factual.
Applications for BZA hearings are available at the Town Office and
must be filed within 30 days of the ZA’s decision.
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