The general purposes of this article are to promote the health, safety, convenience, order, prosperity, and general welfare of the people of the city. For the purpose of this article, the city is hereby divided into the districts designated below which are shown on the zoning map. The districts have been designated after consideration of the character of each district, its suitability for particular uses and its relation to the future land use plan for the city. It is the intent of this article to conserve the value of buildings; encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the city; reduce congestion in the streets; provide adequate light and air; prevent the overcrowding of land; and facilitate adequate provisions of transportation, water, sewer, schools, and parks, to the end that this city may become a better city in which to live.

(1)

Single-family residential—Limited (R-1A). The purpose of this district is to protect single-family uses in areas of established development with lots of at least 15,000 square feet in size.

(2)

Single-family residential—General (R-1). The purpose of this district is to provide low-density, single-family residential uses in protected surroundings. This district is intended to be located away from the center of the city where the environment is conducive to this type of use and more suburban in nature. Development in this district is encouraged to preserve natural features, allow flexibility in subdivision development planning and provide distinctive developments in conformity with existing residential patterns.

(3)

Single- and two-family residential (R-2). The purpose of this district is to provide areas for the development of moderate-density residential uses and structures in moderately spacious surroundings. This district is to be located in the intermediate portions of the city where a protected environment suitable for moderate-density residential uses can be provided and in established moderate-density residential areas to ensure their continuance.

(4)

Moderate-density residential (R-3). The purpose of this district is to provide areas for the development of moderate-density residential uses and structures in moderately spacious surroundings. This district is to be located in the intermediate portions of the city where a protected environment suitable for moderate-density residential uses can be provided, and in established moderate-density residential areas, to ensure their continuance. This district is also appropriate on a smaller scale in the suburban portions of the city as a transitional or buffer zone between low-density residential districts and commercial districts, industrial districts or major transportation arteries, and other uses that are not compatible with a low-density residential environment. This district allows for single-family attached dwellings or townhouses (through the townhouse development standards) connected horizontally with compacted front, rear, and side yards, and typically having their own entry from the street or sidewalk.

(5)

High-density multi-family residential (R-4). The purpose of this district is to provide for the development of moderate- to high-density residential uses and structures in areas with adequate community facilities, public utilities, and other public services. This district is appropriate for apartment buildings, condominiums, and townhouses. It is intended that large-scale use of this district be confined to the intermediate and central portions of the city.

(6)

Golf course residential district (GCR). The purpose of this district is to provide a protected area for golf course and residential development connected with a golf course, including both detached and attached single-family dwellings.

(7)

Manufactured home park residential (R-MH). The purpose of this district is to provide for needed and properly planned mobile home parks in which spaces are offered on a rental or lease basis for owner or tenant occupied mobile homes. These districts may be located only in such areas as will not adversely affect the established residential subdivisions and residential densities in the city. Such location shall have necessary public services, a healthful living environment and normal amenities associated with residential districts of the city.

(8)

Neighborhood business district (B-1). The purpose of this district is to provide attractive areas for the medium-density development of office buildings and restricted commercial uses. This district encourages high quality office-type development and neighborhood-type stores, services, and commercial centers compatible with residential development in a protected environment catering to the everyday needs of a limited residential area.

(9)

Central business district (B-2). The purpose of this district is to provide for the preservation of retail and commercial enterprise in the central business district that serves the entire city and the surrounding area. It is for those uses which require a central location and which provide businesses and services to be used by the entire community and its surrounding area.

(10)

General business district (B-3). The purpose of this district is to provide a place for business uses that do not require a central location. It shall provide areas for the development of retail and personal-service commercial, community and regional shopping centers of integrated design and high-density development of commercial businesses in certain areas adjacent to major transportation arteries or thoroughfares within the city.

(11)

Office and institutional (O-I). The purpose of this district is to provide relatively quiet, attractive, and spacious areas for the development of office and institutional uses that do not generate substantial volumes of vehicular traffic.

(12)

Light industrial district (M-1). The purpose of this district is to provide for the development of commercial and light manufacturing industries, which do not have large space requirements and do not generate odors, smoke, fumes, or excessive noise. This district is also for warehousing and storage. A court of record must not have declared such use a nuisance.

(13)

General industrial district (M-2). The purpose of this district is to provide areas for development of heavy industrial uses that have extensive space requirements and/or generate substantial amounts of noise, vibrations, odors, or possess other characteristics that may be detrimental, hazardous, or otherwise offensive and incompatible with other land uses.

(14)

Agricultural (A). This district is to protect rural, open type uses, including farming operations within the corporate limits. It allows for an orderly transition from the open rural uses to the more intensive urban uses as the need occurs. Domestic water and sewage facilities, police and fire protection, and other services necessary to accommodate urban type development already exist in the area or can be economically extended as urbanization takes place.

(15)

Floodplain district (F). These districts are established to meet the needs of Beaver Creek, Little Creek, and other streams and drainage ways designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to carry abnormal flows of water in time of flood; to prevent encroachments in the districts which will increase flood height and damage; and to prevent the loss and excessive damage to property in the areas of greatest flood hazard.

(16)

Historic overlay district (HO). This district is established in accordance with Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2306 to protect and enhance valuable historic resources of the city. The purpose of the district is to encourage preservation and rehabilitation of historic structures and prevent loss of irreplaceable historic resources and diminishment of the city's historic districts. Protection of historic resources enhances tourism and economic opportunities, preserves property values, contributes to more attractive neighborhoods, and implements the objectives of the city comprehensive plan.

(17)

Economic development overlay districts. These districts serve to further enhance investment and development in these designated areas, but do not change the underlying zoning district.

a.

The purpose of the arts and entertainment district is to promote mixed use and commercial development that expands the presence of and enhances the arts, culture, and entertainment within the district.

b.

The purpose of the tourism zone overlay is to promote investment in the tourism industry through economic incentives and regulatory flexibility for eligible businesses that attract visitors.

c.

The purpose of the enterprise zone is to stimulate business and industrial growth by means of incentives for real property investment and job creation, particularly in older areas of the city that have experienced loss of jobs and are in need of new capital investment.

(18)

Planned unit development district (PUD). The purpose of the planned unit development is to provide more desirable environments through the application of flexible and diversified land development standards under a master plan. The PUD is to encourage the appropriate mix of residential and commercial/office uses in a unified development with an interconnected system of roads, sidewalks, and paths. Benefits of a PUD include proximity of living units to employment, less infrastructure costs, more efficient provision of services, less environmental impact, and provision of attractive housing opportunities and amenities.

(19)

Flexible redevelopment district (FRD). The purpose of this district is to encourage the creative redevelopment of certain previously-developed properties by allowing a mix of compatible land uses in conformity with the city comprehensive plan and with an approved site plan. This may entail the re-use of existing structures or the redevelopment of former commercial or industrial sites for new construction, or a combination of both activities. The intent is to rejuvenate economic activity to relatively large tracts that have been vacant, thereby providing jobs and increased tax base.

(20)

Railroad zone (RR). The purpose of this district is to delineate all properties owned by the railroad and used for rail transportation purposes and closely related uses.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

District boundaries are hereby established as shown on the Zoning Map of Bristol, Virginia, dated October 20, 2020 and as amended by action of the city council on November 24, 2020. The zoning map and all notations, amendments, and other information thereon are hereby made a part of these regulations to the same extent as if such information set forth on the map were all fully described and incorporated herein. Any change made to the zoning map must follow the amendment procedure contained in section 50-17 and in compliance with the Code of Virginia. Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any of the aforesaid districts, the following rules shall apply:

(1)

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately following the centerlines of streets, alleys, or highways or railroad right-of-way lines or such lines extended, such centerlines or railroad right-of-way lines or such lines extended shall be construed to be such boundaries.

(2)

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately following the corporate limits line of the city, such corporate limits line shall be construed to be such boundaries.

(3)

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately following property lines or such lines extended, such property lines or such lines extended shall be construed to be such boundaries.

(4)

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately following the centerline of stream beds, such centerlines shall be construed to be such boundaries.

(5)

Where district boundary lines as appearing on the zoning map divide a lot in single ownership, the requirements for the district in which the greater portion of the lot lies may be extended to the balance of the lot by approval of the planning commission; provided that this provision shall not apply to a double frontage lot. In the case of a double frontage lot, the provisions of the district in which each part of such lot is situated shall apply.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)