This appendix shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Vinton, Virginia."

This appendix is adopted by the Vinton Town Council pursuant to the provisions of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2280 et seq., as amended.

The purpose of this appendix is to classify the territory of the town into zoning districts for the general purpose of promoting the health, safety, convenience, and general welfare of the public and of further accomplishing the objectives of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2200. To these ends, and pursuant to the provisions of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2283, this appendix is designed to give reasonable consideration to each of the following purposes, where applicable:

(a)

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

(b)

To reduce or prevent congestion in the public streets;

(c)

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

(d)

To 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;

(e)

To protect against destruction of or encroachment upon historic areas;

(f)

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;

(g)

To encourage economic development activities that provide desirable employment and enlarge the tax base;

(h)

To provide for the preservation of agricultural and forestal lands and other lands of significance for the protection of the natural environment;

(i)

To protect approach slopes and other safety areas of licensed airports, including United States government and military air facilities;

(j)

To promote the creation and preservation of affordable housing suitable for meeting the current and future needs of the town as well as a reasonable proportion of the current and future needs of the planning district; and

(k)

To provide reasonable modifications in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.), or state and federal housing laws, as applicable; and

(l)

To protect surface water and ground water as defined in Code of Virginia, § 62.1-255.

Pursuant to the requirements of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2284, the regulations contained in this appendix and the districts established by this appendix have been drawn and applied with consideration for:

(a)

The existing use and character of property;

(b)

The comprehensive plan of the town;

(c)

The suitability of property for various uses;

(d)

Trends of growth or change in the town;

(e)

Current and future requirements of the town as to land for various purposes as determined by population and economic studies and other studies carried out through the comprehensive plan;

(f)

Transportation requirements of the town, and requirements for airports, housing, schools, parks, playgrounds, recreation areas and other public services;

(g)

Conservation of natural resources, preservation of floodplains and preservation of agricultural and forestal land;

(h)

Conservation of properties and their values; and

(i)

Encouragement of the most appropriate use of land throughout the town.

This appendix shall become effective on April 1, 2022, pursuant to its adoption by the Vinton Town Council on March 15, 2022.