FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2022
Draft Inclusionary Zoning Analysis Available; Comment Period for Zoning Approach Extended Through September 6
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The City of Charlottesville is seeking input on its approach to the Zoning Rewrite.
Background & Overview
The City of Charlottesville Department of Neighborhood Development Services has been working in partnership with a consultant team on a three-part process called Cville Plans Together. Earlier efforts focused on creation of an Affordable Housing Plan (endorsed by the Council in March 2021) and updating Charlottesville’s Comprehensive Plan (adopted November 2021). The third and final part of this project is a zoning ordinance rewrite. You can find out more about the Cville Plans Together process and view materials from previous phases at cvilleplanstogether.com.
The Zoning Ordinance comprises a set of municipal laws that regulate the development of buildings and the use of land. It is an important factor in how the community manages and prepares for the growth and evolution of its physical space. You can learn more about zoning in the Zoning 101 overview posted on the Cville Plans together website.
The purpose of the zoning ordinance rewrite is two-fold:
- To ensure that the zoning ordinance effectively implements the Affordable Housing Plan and the newly updated Comprehensive Plan, including the Future Land Use Map, and
- To make other needed updates to streamline and clarify the ordinance.
We have posted a list of responses to frequently-asked questions about the Zoning Rewrite. You can view the FAQ here. This document will be updated as the Zoning Rewrite progresses.
Review the Draft Zoning Diagnostic + Approach Report
The first steps in the zoning ordinance rewrite are to identify the changes that are needed to the zoning ordinance and an approach for addressing them.
View the draft Zoning Diagnostic and Approach Report at cvilleplanstogether.com/zoning-plan/draft-approach. This document identifies issues with the current ordinance and establishes a proposed approach to updating the ordinance.
Please note that we have not yet developed a draft zoning map or draft zoning text. The Report outlines a proposed set of changes and the purpose of this event and the summer community comment period is to gather input on this approach before we share a draft zoning map and text.
If you would like to view a printed copy of the draft Zoning Diagnostic + Approach Report, copies are available to borrow from the Information Desk at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (201 E. Market Street).
Draft Inclusionary Zoning Analysis and Recommendations Now Available for Review
As mentioned in the draft Zoning Diagnostic + Approach Report, the Cville Plans Together team has been working on analyses related to (1) how the local housing market will likely respond to the zoning changes proposed in the Comprehensive Plan, and (2) potential ways to increase the supply of more affordable housing in the city through Inclusionary Zoning (IZ).
On the website, you can now view a draft report that walks through the analyses related to inclusionary zoning as well as the draft recommendations. We have also posted a video with an overview of this document.
We welcome your ideas and feedback related to this analysis and recommendations. Once they are finalized, the recommendations will be added to the Zoning Diagnostic + Approach Report and the final Inclusionary Zoning Analysis will be added as an appendix to that document.
Share Your Feedback through September 6
The community review and comment period for the draft Zoning Diagnostic + Approach Report and draft Inclusionary Zoning Analysis extends through September 6. There are several ways to share your comments and questions:
- Online Feedback Form
- Email
- Postal Mail
- Neighborhood Development Services, City Hall, P.O. Box 911, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Upcoming Events
Steering Committee meeting: August 29, 2022
- Monday, August 29, 2022
- 5:30pm (virtual, on Zoom)
- Register here to attend the meeting. The focus of this meeting is to gather feedback from the Steering Committee but all are welcome to attend to observe the meeting. The meeting will be recorded and available on the website the day after the event.
Work Session with Planning Commission and Council: September 27, 2022
- Tuesday, September 27, 2022
- 5:00pm (hybrid meeting)
- More information will be shared on the Cville Plans Together website in September
To stay up to date on upcoming opportunities to review materials and provide your input, please sign up for the project email list.
Questions related to this news release may be directed to James Freas, Director of Neighborhood Development Services (freasj@charlottesville.gov). For media requests, please contact David Dillehunt, Deputy Director of Communications & Public Engagement (dillehunt@charlottesville.gov).
Media Contact
David Dillehunt
Deputy Director of Communications & Public Engagement
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3114
dillehunt@charlottesville.gov