The City of Buena Vista planning commission and City Council have undertaken to achieve the delicate balance between the individual property rights of its citizens and the health, safety, and general welfare of the public and accomplish the objectives of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2200 by reasonable restrictions on those property rights. Further, to comply with the provisions of chapter 22, the purposes of these regulations are:

201.01

To provide for adequate light, air, convenience of access, and safety from fire, flood, and other dangers.

201.02

To reduce or prevent congestion in the public streets.

201.03

To facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community.

201.04

To expedite the provision of adequate police and fire protection, disaster evacuation, civil defense, transportation, water, sewerage, flood protection, schools, parks, forests, playgrounds, recreational facilities, airports, and other public requirements.

201.05

To protect against destruction of, or encroachment upon, historic areas.

201.06

To protect against one or more of the following: overcrowding of land, undue density of population in relation to the community facilities existing or available, obstruction of light and air, danger and congestion in travel and transportation, or loss of life, health, or property from fire, flood, panic, or other dangers.

201.07

To encourage economic development activities that provides desirable employment and enlarges the tax base.

201.08

To establish certain subdivision standards and procedures to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development for the City of Buena Vista, Virginia.

201.09

The subdivision standards and procedures are part of a long-range plan to guide and facilitate the orderly and beneficial growth of the community, and to promote the, public safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity, and general welfare. More specifically, the purposes of these standards and procedures are to provide a guide for the change that occurs where land and acreage become urban in character as a result of development for residential, business, or industrial purposes, to provide assurance that the purchasers of lots are buying a commodity that is suitable for development and use; to make possible the provision of public services in a safe and efficient manner.

It is not the intent of these regulations to exclude any economic, racial, religious, or ethnic group from enjoyment of residence, land ownership, or tenancy within the City of Buena Vista; nor is it the intent of this ordinance to use public powers in any way to promote the separation within the City of Buena Vista of economic, racial, religious, or ethnic groups, except as may be an incidental result of meeting the purpose outlined in section 201, herein.