(a)

For the purpose of this ordinance, the town is hereby divided into three residential districts and two business districts as follows:

(b)

There is also provision made for a Flood Plain District.

(c)

The boundaries of each of these districts are hereby established as shown on the map entitled "Building Zone Map of Chatham, Virginia". These district boundary lines are intended to follow street or lot lines as they exist at the time of the passage of this chapter, unless such district boundary lines are references to some street line by dimensions shown on the "Building Zone Map of Chatham, Virginia". In case a district boundary line is not thus referenced or there is a doubt in a particular instance as to what line is determining, the question of such determination shall be adjudicated by the Board of Zoning Appeals. The said map, and all notations, references, and designations shown thereon shall be as much a part of this chapter as if the same were all fully described herein.

(Ord. of 2-12-1979, § 2(2A))

Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the restoration of an historic building to its original dimensions and design even if such building has been damaged or altered to an extent exceeding 50 percent of its reproduction value excluding foundation as long as such restoration is in compliance with state health regulations. For the purposes of this ordinance an historic building is defined as any building built before 1939 that has been prominently identified with or represents some significant aspect of the heritage of the town. In identifying a building as an historic building the zoning administrator may seek the advice of the Pittsylvania Historical Society.

(Ord. of 2-12-1979, § 2(2B))

(a)

Unsafe structures defined. All buildings or structures which have any or all of the following defects shall be deemed "unsafe structures":

(1)

Those which, exclusive of the foundation, show 33 percent or more of damage or deterioration of the supporting member or members, or 50 percent of damage or deterioration of the non-supporting enclosing or outside walls or covering.

(2)

Those which have been damaged by fire, wind, or other causes so as to have become dangerous to life, safety, or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of the town.

(3)

Those which have become or are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, insanitary or which so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation, or are likely to cause sickness or disease, so as to work injury to the health, safety or general welfare of those living therein.

(4)

Those which have parts thereof which are so attached that they may fall and injure members of the public or property.

(5)

Those which because of their condition are unsafe, insanitary, or dangerous to the health, safety, or general welfare of the people of this Town.

(6)

Those vacant or abandoned buildings existing in violation of any provision of the Building Code of this town, or any provision of the fire prevention code, or other ordinances of this town.

All such "unsafe structures" are hereby declared illegal and shall be abated by repair and rehabilitation or by demolition in accordance with the procedures described in section 2C-3 and in compliance with the permit requirements described in section 9A3(a), and (b) and the Zoning Ordinance for the town.

(b)

Identification of unsafe structures. The town manager shall inspect or cause to be inspected:

(1)

Any building, wall, or structure that he suspects may be in violation of this ordinance.

(2)

Any building, wall, or structure about which complaints are filed by any person to the effect that a building, wall, or structure is or may be existing in violation of this ordinance.

(3)

Any building, wall, or structure reported by the Fire or Police Departments of this Town as probably existing in violation of the terms of this ordinance.

(c)

Procedure for action against unsafe structures.

(1)

Identified structures brought to the attention of the town council. Whenever the town manager, following either his own inspection or that of the building inspector, shall find any building or structure or portion thereof to be unsafe, he shall bring the situation to the attention of the town council. Upon the town council finding, by a majority vote, that, in its opinion, a particular building or structure within the Town constitutes a violation of this ordinance, the town manager shall immediately advise the record owner, at his last known post office address, by letter dispatched by certified mail return receipt requested, of the findings of the town council and give to the owner 180 days or other length of time as specified by the town council from the date of the dispatch of the notice to either remove the building, wall, or structure or place it in a safe condition both from a physical and a health standpoint.

(2)

Notice posted. If necessary as determined by the town council, such notice shall also require the building, structure, or portion thereof to be vacated forthwith and not reoccupied until the specified repairs and improvements are completed, inspected, and approved by the town manager and the building inspector. The town manager shall cause to be posted at each entrance to such building a notice; "THIS BUILDING IS UNSAFE AND ITS USE OR OCCUPANCY HAS BEEN PROHIBITED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL." Such notice shall remain posted until the required repairs are made or demolition is completed. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove such notice without written permission from the town manager or for any person to enter the building except for the purpose of making the required repairs or of demolishing same.

(3)

Owner's right for reconsideration. The owner, agent, or person in control shall have the right, except in cases of emergency, to request a reconsideration of the decision of the town council within 15 days of receipt by him of notice required herein and to appear before the town council at a specified time and place to show cause why he should not comply with such notice.

(4)

Procedure if owner fails to comply. Upon the record owner of the property refusing or failing to comply with the terms of a notice given pursuant to subsection a) above, and the town council's not having rescinded its previous action in the premises pursuant to an appearance before it of the property owner or his representative, the town manager shall select a disinterested person having experience in the erection and maintaining of buildings and other structures who, with the proper official of the state health department having jurisdiction in the Town, and after giving the record owner of the property ten days' prior written notice of the place, date, and time, shall meet upon the premises involved and make such an examination thereof as they shall deem necessary. The two persons so acting shall make a written report to the town manager with their recommendations, and the town manager shall make a written report to the town council with his recommendations with reference thereto. A copy of such written report by the town manager shall be mailed to the record owner of the building or structure involved, at his last known post office address, at the time it is dispatched to the town council.

(5)

Town council's final disposition. Upon receipt of the recommendation of the town manager accompanied by a copy of the report made to him pursuant to subsection d) above, the town council shall proceed forthwith to make final disposition of the case. If the hazard is found still to exist, written notice to the record owner at his last known post office address by certified mail return receipt requested over the signature of the town manager shall be given such property owner advising that the Town will remove the unsafe structure at the cost of the record property owner.

(6)

Cases of emergency. In cases of emergency which, in his opinion, involve imminent danger to human life or health, the town manager's decision pursuant to subsection a) above shall be final. The town manager shall promptly cause such building, structure, or portion thereof to be made safe or removed. With such assistance and at such cost as he may deem necessary for this purpose, the town manager may at once enter such structure or land on which it stands, or abutting land or structures. He may vacate adjacent structures and protect the public by appropriate fence or such other means as may be necessary, and for this purpose may close a public or private way.

(7)

Procedure for recovery of costs. All money expended by the town in and about the removal of any unsafe structure shall be a lien upon the subject property of like dignity to a lien for unpaid real estate taxes. Such costs shall be placed by the town treasurer on the list of unpaid real estate taxes filed in the clerk's office of the Circuit Court of the County in accordance with the statutes in such cases made and provided. The collection thereof shall be in the same manner as provided by statute for the collection of unpaid real estate taxes due and payable to the Town.

(Ord. of 2-12-1979, § 2(2C); Ord. of 8-13-1990, § 2(2C))

(a)

The following guidelines are intended to promote and regulate the development of small solar energy facilities in the Town of Chatham, Virginia while protecting the public health, safety and general welfare of the community.

(b)

Small solar energy facilities shall be a permitted use in all zoning districts.

(1)

Roof-mounted and wall-mounted small solar energy facilities may be mounted on a principal building or an accessory building but shall not exceed the maximum building height requirements for the zoning district in which they are located and shall not be more than three feet higher than the finished roof of the building to which it is mounted. These facilities shall meet the building setback requirements for the structures to which they are affixed and shall not extend more than three feet beyond the exterior perimeter of the building's roof.

(2)

Ground-mounted small solar energy facilities shall meet the minimum setbacks for principal or accessory structures in the zoning districts which they are located. The maximum height of these facilities shall be ten feet as measured from the grade or base of the facility to its highest point.

(3)

All small solar energy facilities shall be configured to avoid any glare being generated by the facility. Any such glare must be mitigated, masked, and directed away from adjoining property and from any road, when it creates a nuisance or safety hazard, as determined by the Town of Chatham.

(4)

All small solar energy facilities (i) shall utilize components which have a UL listing or equivalent and (ii) shall comply with all applicable building and electrical codes when installed or updated and (iii) shall not generate or create electrical interruptions or interference with existing electrical or electronic uses.

(5)

All small solar energy facilities shall be placed in a manner that permits reasonable access to the facility by emergency responders when such access is needed to ensure public safety. The placement and installation location of such facilities shall be pre-approved by the Pittsylvania County Fire Marshall or his designee as part of the building permitting process.

(6)

The owner of a small solar energy facility shall completely decommission and remove the facility within six months if the facility ceases to generate electricity for a continuous period of six months. This period may be extended by the Town Planning Commission if the owner provides satisfactory evidence that the failure to generate electricity is due to circumstances beyond their control and the facility has not been abandoned.

(c)

Large solar energy facilities shall not be a permitted use in any zoning district.

(Ord. No. 2023.03.14, 3-13-2023)