Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments

The proposed amendment will change the department name from “Department of Planning and Zoning” or the “Office of Comprehensive Planning” to “Department of Planning and Development” in several chapters of The Code of the County of Fairfax (the Code). No other changes are proposed as part of this amendment.

July 25, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.

The proposed amendment: (1) Adds safety and protection from impounding structure failure as a purpose of the Zoning Ordinance; (2) Requires that developments in dam break inundation zones of state-regulated impounding structures that are mapped and on file with the county be identified on site plans and plans for various types of zoning applications; (3) Requires that the county send copies of site plans to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation for review and a determination of whether the proposed development will change the hazard classification of the impounding structure; (4) Requires that, if the hazard classification increases, the developer must either redesign the development to avoid the increase in classification, or prepare an engineering study and a cost estimate for any necessary upgrades to the impounding structure and pay ½ the cost of the upgrades into a state administered fund; and (5) Following completion of the development, the developer must provide the dam owner and the County with the information necessary for the dam owner to update the dam break inundation zone map to reflect any new development within the dam break inundation zone.

The purpose of the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment is to implement the updated Reston Master Plan. This amendment proposes changes to the density provisions set forth in Sect. 6-308 of the Zoning Ordinance, specifically for the Reston PRC District. The amendment proposes an increase in the maximum overall density permitted in the Reston PRC District to a number between the current 13 persons/acre up to 15 persons/acre. The amendment would also allow the Board to approve residential development up to 70 dwelling units per acre for certain high density residentially designated properties in the Reston PRC District that are located within the transit station areas (TSAs) and planned for “Mixed Use,” if the proposal is in accordance with the adopted Comprehensive Plan. In addition, other editorial revisions would be made to Sect. 6-308 for clarification and plain language.