Draft Unified Development Ordinance
The Town of Wytheville is in the process of rewriting the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances for the Town. The rewrite seeks to modernize land use development standards, provide more opportunity for housing and mixed use development, and encourage overall economic development.
The end goal is a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that combines Zoning and Subdivision Policy into one document, while providing a platform that is easily referenced and searchable. Some of the goals and features of the new UDO are as follows:
Site Development Standards- Creation of site development standards which clearly indicate how development is to be implemented in Wytheville.
- Creation of conditional use standards to guide development of land uses that require additional site development considerations to mitigate potential conflict with neighboring uses.
Subdivision Standards and Procedures
- New subdivision standards are established to guide development of new neighborhoods and commercial development.
Clarity and Presentation
- All land use regulations are compiled into a single matrix to facilitate identification of permitted uses for each Zoning District.
- Site development regulations are grouped together to be easily searchable and accessible.
- Definitions are found in a single chapter providing clarity and consistency across the complete Ordinance.
Economic Development
- Modification of regulations for residential uses in Business and Industrial Zoning Districts to reduce conflicting development patterns.
- Establishment of Zoning Districts that are exclusively commercial or industrial to reduce conflicts with residential uses.
- Creation of a business-Travel Services Zoning District to guide development in prime commercial areas near our Interstate highway exits and frontage roads.
- Creation of true mixed-use zoning for targeted business districts.
- Creation of targeted business district regulations that respond to and protect the historic character of areas such as Downtown Wytheville.
Housing & Residential Development
- Modest changes to existing residential district development regulations to protect the character of existing neighborhoods with easy to understand site standards.
- Creation of a Zoning District for higher density residential.
- Development of new regulations for residential development or mixed use development in selected Commercial Zoning Districts.
- Expanded options for accessory dwelling units (ADU’s).
- Creation of Residential Artisan Zoning in targeted areas where industrial and residential uses are historically intermingled.
- Creation of Transitional Zoning Districts for residential areas that are transitioning between residential uses and business or industrial uses.
- Opportunities for innovative dwelling styles such as live-work residences and small homes.
Agriculture
- Create cluster development options to promote farm/open space preservation.
- Development to be guided towards areas where utilities are available.
- Preservation of prime agricultural land is encouraged.
Phased Implementation
- The first phase is the adoption of the UDO regulations. This will not result in any rezoning of individual parcels.
- The second phase is rezoning of certain targeted areas to take advantage of the provisions of the new UDO for innovative development. Rezoning of targeted areas will take place as a series of individual cases which will all require the appropriate notification and public hearing processes.
- The third and ongoing phase will be to modify the Ordinance to address unforeseen issues and improve the way development is regulated in Wytheville.
We encourage everyone to examine the draft Ordinance at the link below.