For the purposes of this Land Development Ordinance, the Town of Bedford is divided into districts as follows:

(Ord. No. 24-2, 3-12-2024)

The zoning map entitled the "Official Zoning Districts Map for the Town of Bedford, Virginia," dated January 26, 1989, hereinafter referred to as the official zoning map, with all notations, references, amendments, and dates thereof, and other information shown thereon, and incorporating the official flood hazard district map, shall constitute a part of this Land Development Ordinance. Said map shall be made a public record and shall be kept permanently in the office of the zoning administrator, where it shall be accessible to the general public.

(Ord. No. 24-2, 3-12-2024)

If, in accordance with the provisions of section 1003 herein, changes are made in the district boundaries or other information portrayed in the official zoning map, such changes shall be entered on the official zoning map within ten days after the amendment has been approved by the council, together with a numerical entry referring to the application for the amendment, submitted in accordance with section 1003.01 herein, which shall be kept as a public record by the zoning administrator. Said numerical entry shall state the reference number of the application in the records of the zoning administrator and the date of the approval of the amendment by the council. Amendments to this Land Development Ordinance which involve matters portrayed on the official zoning map shall become effective immediately upon being entered onto the official zoning map. The official zoning map which shall be located in the office of the zoning administrator shall be the final authority in determining the current zoning status of land and water areas, buildings and other structures in the town. No changes of any nature shall be made in the official zoning map except in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.

(Ord. No. 24-2, 3-12-2024)

In the event that the official zoning map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the council may, by resolution, adopt a new official zoning map which shall supersede the prior official zoning map. The new official zoning map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior official zoning map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the original official zoning map or any subsequent amendment thereof. Unless the prior official zoning map has been lost, or has been totally destroyed, the prior map or any significant parts thereof remaining shall be preserved, together with all available records pertaining to its adoption or amendment.

(Ord. No. 24-2, 3-12-2024)

Unless district boundary lines are fixed by dimensions, and where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any of the aforementioned districts as shown on the official zoning map, the following rules shall apply:

405.01. Unless otherwise indicated, district boundaries indicated as approximately following property lines, land lot lines, centerlines of streets, highways, alleys or railroads, shorelines of streams, reservoirs, or other bodies of water, or civil boundaries, shall be construed to follow such lines.

405.02. District boundaries indicated as approximately parallel to the centerlines of streets, highways or railroads, or rights-of-way of the same, or the centerlines of streams, reservoirs, or other bodies of water, or said lines extended, shall be construed as being parallel thereto and at such distance therefrom as indicated on the official zoning map. If no distance is given, such dimensions shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on the official zoning map.

405.03. Where a district boundary line as appearing on the official zoning map divides a lot which is in single ownership at the time of this enactment, the use classification of the larger portion may, on application, be extended to the remainder by council in accordance with section 1003 of this Land Development Ordinance.

405.04. Where a public road, street, or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the regulations applicable to the property to which it is reverted shall apply to such vacated or abandoned road, street, or alley.

405.05. Where a district boundary is indicated to follow a river, creek, or branch or other body of water, said boundary shall be construed to follow the centerline at low water or at the limit of the jurisdiction, and in the event of change in the shoreline, such boundary shall be construed as moving with the actual shoreline with its reestablished center.

405.06. If no distance, angle, curvature description, or other means is given to determine a boundary line accurately and the foregoing provisions do not apply, the same shall be determined by the use of the scale shown on the official zoning map.

405.07. In case the exact location of a boundary cannot be determined by the foregoing methods, the board of zoning appeals shall, upon application, determine the location of the boundary, in accordance with section 1003 of this Land Development Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 24-2, 3-12-2024)

State Law reference— Va. Code § 15.2-2286(A)(4), 15.2-2309(4).