Tangier City Zoning Code

8-1. Statement of Intent. This Article is enacted to ensure compliance with all applicable ordinances and statutes, to promote innovative and creative design, to enhance the Town of Tangier’s traffic circulation system by providing for the convenient and safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians, to protect the economic value of the natural environment from unwise and disorderly development, to ensure the efficient use of land, and to promote high standards in the layout, design, landscaping, and construction of development.

8-2. Application. Any development or redevelopment exceeding 2,500 square feet of land disturbance shall be accomplished through a plan of development process prior to any clearing or grading of a site or the issuance of any building permit, to assure compliance with all applicable requirements of this ordinance. The plan of development process shall generally be satisfied by the approval of a site plan, or a plot plan, in accordance with the provisions in Section 8-3 of this Article, and any additional plans or studies as required by the Administrator.

8-3 Plot Plans. One copy of a plot plan drawn to scale for individual single-family dwellings or accessory structures for single-family residences or for commercial development which results in a land disturbance less than 10,000 square feet and which will result in an area of impervious surface of less than 30% of any lot or parcel, shall be submitted to the Administrator for review and approval. Any encroachment into a Resource Protection Area shall require an applicant to prepare a site plan as outlined in Section 8-4 below, including the submission of a water quality impact assessment in accordance with Section 4-10 of this ordinance.

Required Information. At a minimum, the plot plan shall be drawn to scale and contain the following information:

A. A boundary survey of the site drawn to scale or site drawing showing the north arrow and property line boundaries and distances.

B.        Area of the lot/parcel.

C. Location, dimensions, and use of proposed and existing structures including marine and temporary structures. In the case of temporary structures, the date when the structures will be removed must be indicated.

D. Location of all building restriction lines, setbacks, easements, covenant restrictions, and rights-of-way.

E. Dimensions and location of all existing impervious surfaces.

F Limits of clearing and grading.

G. Specifications for the protection of existing vegetation during clearing, grading, and all phases of construction.

H. Location of Resource Protection Areas RPAs boundaries, including identification of any water body with perennial flow, as specified in Section 4-5 of this ordinance, and including any additional required buffer area.

I. Location of all erosion and sediment control devices.

J.         Amount of impervious surface proposed for the site.

8-4. Site Plan. A site plan for any proposed development which will result in 10,000 square feet of land disturbance or greater, or any proposed development which will result in an area of impervious surface lot coverage of 30% or greater, or any industrial development proposal shall be submitted to the designated authority for review and approval. Any encroachment into an RPA shall require an applicant to submit a water quality impact assessment in accordance with Section 4-10 of this ordinance.

Required Information. The applicant shall submit six 6) prints at a scale of 100 feet to the inch of the site plan to the designated authority. At a minimum, the site plan shall contain the information required for a plot plan above and the following additional:

A. The proposed title of the project and the names and addresses of the professional(s) preparing the plan, the owner or owners of record, and the applicant, if different, and a signature panel for the designated authority’s approval. 

B. Site boundaries, north arrow, scale, the present zoning and current use of the property and all contiguous or abutting parcels.

C. Existing topography with a minimum contour interval of two (2) feet.

D. All wetlands permits required by law. 

E. Limits of existing floodplains.

F. Existing natural land features, water features and all proposed changes to these features shall be indicated on the site plan, including the location of the proposed limits of clearing and all vegetation to be preserved in accordance with the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook.

G. Public sanitary sewer system, public water mains and fire hydrants.

H. Slopes, terraces, retaining walls, fences and screening within required yards, and any shoreline stabilization structures.

I. Plans for collecting and depositing storm water and method of treatment of natural and artificial watercourses, including a delineation of proposed limits of floodplains, if any as created or enlarged by the proposed development.

J. Stormwater management plan which shows the following:

1. Location and design of all planned stormwater control devices.

2. Procedures for implementing non-structural stormwater control practices and techniques.

3. Pre- and post-development nonpoint source pollutant loadings with supporting documentation of all utilized coefficients and calculations.

4. For facilities, verification of structural soundness,  including a Professional Engineer or Class IIIB Surveyor Certification.

8-5.   Review by Administrator.   The Administrator shall review plot plans, site plans and subdivision plans for compliance with all requirements of this ordinance.   Within 60 days of submission of a plot plan, site plan, or subdivision plan, the applicant shall be advised in writing,  by formal letter or by legible markings on the plan, of any additional data that may be required or improvements that need to be made for compliance with this ordinance.

8-6. Denial of Plan, Appeal of Conditions or Modifications. In the event the plot plan or site 1 plan is disapproved and recommended conditions or modifications are unacceptable to the applicant, the applicant may appeal such administrative decision to the Town Council.    In granting an appeal, the Town Council must find such plan in accordance with all applicable ordinances and include necessary elements to mitigate any detrimental impact on water quality and upon adjacent property and the surrounding area, or such plan meets the purpose and intent of this ordinance.  If the Town Council finds that the applicant’s plan does not meet the above stated criteria, they shall deny approval of the plan.