Colonial Heights City Zoning Code
ARTICLE I
General Provisions
§ 286-100 Title and authority.
A.
This chapter and the Official Zoning Map of Colonial Heights, Virginia shall be known and referred to as the Colonial Heights, Virginia Zoning Ordinance.
B.
The provisions of this chapter have been adopted by the City Council pursuant to the declaration of legislative intent contained in § 15.2-2200, and the authority contained in §§ 15.2-2280 and 15.2-2281, of the Code of Virginia.
§ 286-102 Jurisdiction.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all property within the corporate limits of the City, with the exception that any property held in fee simple ownership by the United States of America or the Commonwealth of Virginia shall not be subject to the provisions contained herein when such property is directly used for public purposes by the United States of America or the Commonwealth of Virginia.
§ 286-104 Purpose.
A.
This chapter and any amendments hereto, have been adopted for the general purpose of implementing the Comprehensive Plan of Colonial Heights, Virginia, and for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of the public. To these ends, this chapter is consistent with the applicable provisions of the Charter of the City of Colonial Heights and the Code of Virginia and is designed to give reasonable consideration to each of the following purposes:
(1)
Provide for adequate light, air, convenience of access, and safety from fire, flood, crime, and other dangers;
(2)
Reduce or prevent congestion in the public streets;
(3)
Facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community;
(4)
Facilitate 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;
(5)
Protect against destruction of, or encroachment upon, historic areas;
(6)
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;
(7)
Encourage economic development activities that provide desirable employment and enlarge the tax base;
(8)
Promote the creation and preservation of affordable housing suitable for meeting the current and future needs of the City as well as a reasonable proportion of the current and future needs of the planning district within which the City is situated; and
(9)
Protect surface and groundwater resources.
§ 286-106 Effective date.
A.
This chapter shall be effective on August 10, 2011.
§ 286-108 Application of regulations.
A.
All land uses and activities not specifically provided for or addressed in this chapter shall be considered uses and activities prohibited within the City unless the Administrator finds that the land use or activity is compatible and consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
B.
If a land use or activity is deemed by the Administrator to be prohibited within the City, that use or activity shall not be permitted within the City.
C.
Where the standards imposed by this chapter are more or less restrictive than the standards imposed by any other public regulation, the more restrictive standard shall apply.
D.
This chapter shall not apply to, or interfere with, any private covenant. However, if the regulations imposed by this chapter are more restrictive, or impose a higher standard than the private covenant, then the provisions of this chapter shall apply.
E.
All City agencies and officials that have the responsibility to issue permits and licenses pertaining to the construction of buildings or the use of land within the City shall do so only in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. If a permit or license is issued in conflict with the provisions of this chapter, the permit or license shall be null and void.
§ 286-110 Establishment of zoning districts.
A.
The following zoning districts shall be established within the City of Colonial Heights. The location of these districts shall be shown on the Official Zoning Map.
Residential Districts | |
RL Low-Density Residential District | |
RM Medium-Density Residential District | |
RH High-Density Residential District | |
Transitional Districts | |
RO Residential Office District | |
Business Districts | |
BB Boulevard Business District | |
GB General Business District | |
Industrial Districts | |
IN Industrial District | |
Special Purpose Regulations and Districts | |
BOD Boulevard Design Overlay District | |
PUD Planned-Unit Development District | |
HRD Historic Resource District | |
FOD Floodplain Overlay District | |
WPD Wetlands Protection District | |
ACD Architectural Character District | |
COD Chesapeake Bay Overlay District | |
§ 286-112 Interpretation of district boundaries.
A.
If in the opinion of the Administrator, uncertainty exists as to the exact location of any zoning district boundary, the Administrator shall apply the following rules to determine the location of the boundary:
(1)
Zoning district boundaries that appear to approximately follow the center lines of streets, rights-of-way, or alleys, shall be construed to follow such center lines;
(2)
Zoning district boundaries that appear to follow platted lot lines shall be construed as following such platted lot lines except that the zoning designation of any lot shall extend to the center line of any adjacent street, rights-of-way, or alley. The legal relocation or alteration of any platted lot line subsequent to the adoption of this chapter and pursuant to the provisions of the City of Colonial Heights Subdivision Ordinance,[1] shall not alter or relocate any legally established zoning district boundary; and
(3)
Zoning district boundaries that appear to follow the center lines of streams and rivers shall be construed as following such center lines.
B.
If the rules contained in Subsection A above do not provide sufficient certainty to determine the location of a zoning district boundary, the Administrator shall request the Board of Zoning Appeals to interpret the location of the district boundary pursuant to the authority granted by this chapter.