City kicks off Zoning Code update Sept. 28

The Jamestown Department of Development is officially kicking off the update of the city's zoning code.

During Monday's meeting of the city council's housing committee, Director of Development Crystal Surdyk shared with the committee what the first steps for that update are, including an upcoming walking tour. The first community walking tour is scheduled for September 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the place to meet for the beginning of the walk being at the Roseland Park parking lot, Fluvanna Avenue entrance.

"We will have our first steering committee meeting earlier that day as well," Surdyk said. "We're excited to dive into zoning."

While things have just kicked off so there was not much of an update to provide to the housing committee yet, Surdyk said the city's consultant has begun an analysis of the current zoning code as it is, going through it and looking at things. Most of the city's current zoning code is from 1969.

"It's been updated periodically throughout the years and as that happens things tend to get a little muddy," Surdyk said. "There are sections in the zoning code that might say one thing and then further on it might say something a little different, so they're cleaning it up, making sure it's really tight and sections that reference each other are doing that appropriately."

That analysis is being done right now and then the city will take the potential land use plan that was put together for the city's comprehensive plan, and eventually they will decide what the final land use plan will be and how that will impact the city's zoning.

Surdyk said it will look a bit different when done, adding that they also need to look at emerging businesses and industry, and make sure that the updated zoning takes those into consideration, including battery storage and data centers.

"This is actually a really good time for us to do our zoning code, since I think these things are top of mind for a lot of communities," Surdyk said. "So we have a chance right now to take our future into our own hands and lay the groundwork for what we want it to be and where we want those things to be, and take control of them."

Some specific codes were discussed by council members during the meeting, including the requirements for cars with no plates, specifically in people's front yards -- including the difference between a project car and a car that has no plate -- and the ongoing feral cat situation.