VA County Seeks To Change Zoning Ordinance

Virginia’s Amherst County is actively pursuing a change to its zoning ordinance that would require storage and warehouse facilities to be located at least 500 feet from highways. The change would also make the use a special exception instead of by-right. County Administrator Jeremy Bryant said the intent of the proposed ordinance is to move self-storage off the U.S. 29 corridor’s road frontage.

“Route 29 is an area we are trying to protect,” he said. “It’s our main corridor. It’s something the Route 29 Business Beautification Committee spent a lot of time trying to improve. Generally, storage units aren’t seen as a use that we believe should be at the front of Route 29.”

The zoning ordinance change would also make the use a special exception instead of by-right, thus subjecting projects to more scrutiny and input from neighboring property owners during the public hearing review process.