LINK TO NEW FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE
| Do I have to review ALL the documents listed? | It is not required to review all the documents. However, the April 2022 90-day public review document will contain all the sections for comment. Reviewing at some level will be helpful prior to the 90-day review. |
| Do I need to review the documents in order? | The ZOR documents can be reviewed in any order, based on your interest area and/or expertise. The ZOAM documents and input should be review as scheduled to provide input before Feb. 2022 Zoning Ordinance Committee meetings. |
| Do I need to read the entire draft text? | It is recommended to begin by reviewing the STAFF COMMENTS to ZOC member input (Task 2). This may assist and expedite identifying areas that Staff is requesting additional input (Task 3) and preparing to review priority issues for the 90-day Draft Task input (Task 4). If you need additional information, a quick review of the DRAFT TEXT (black font links) may help helpful to understand the input questions. |
| Why start with the questions and comments instead of reading the draft text? | From 2019 to 2021 literally hundreds of hours have been spent by organizations and individuals throughout the county to provide input to Staff, which you can review here. The intent is that by reviewing the questions and issues raised during text review by the Zoning Ordinance Committee, and the resulting comment received from Staff, you will be able to identify your areas of concern to monitor before the 90-day text review period begins. County Staff has asked to “Please keep in mind that the ZO Rewrite team is at the beginning stages of socializing draft concepts and text in a public forum,” and are still requesting clarifications input. Therefore the text is still under development. |
| Where did all these documents come from? | All documents posted are public information, either distributed by or provided to County Staff. They are also all posted on the County ZOR webpage on LOLA (Loudoun Online Land Application) and the Zoning Ordinance Committee webpage. This resource page is being hosted by LCPCC for facilitated public access, and consolidates the information in a general public-friendly format. |
| Do the Staff Comments documents include questions from all ZOC members and public input received to date? | No. They reflect the questions entered by ZOC members in the new ZO software, enCodePlus. You can review other ZOC input/questions and public input on the ZOR page on ZOR page on LOLA here. |
| How to I find specific zoning ordinance sections I’m concerned about or want to monitor more closely? | The DRAFT ZOR Table of Contents under “ZOR Resources” provides a list of all the sections. This may help select document sections to review to document your priority issues to watch. You can access the Table of Contents document here. |
| How will we provide input during the April 90-day review period? | Staff will be conducting information sessions before April to address how input will be require. Staff has indicated previously that input will be via the new enCodePlus software. You can view / sample that software with the CURRENT Zoning Ordinance here. |
| Will Staff stop taking input at a specific time? | ZOR Staff has indicated that input can and will be accepted through the end of the 90-day draft text review period beginning in April 2022. When that is completed, then the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite project will be sent to the Planning Commission for their work sessions and review. |
| Will citizens have the opportunity to send comments after the 90-day review period? | Yes. Input/comments can be sent to the Planning Commission during their review (mid-2022), and then to the Board of Supervisors when they begin their review (est. for late 2022). |
| What is the overall timeline for the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite? | You can keep track of the overall timeline by checking the ZOR “Project Milestones” tab on the County website here. |
| This looks like a lot of work! What if I do not have time? | Yes, it’s a lot of work that can either be done in smaller chunks, or wait for the 90-day comment period.
Two options to get a jump on your review: 1) pick out and focus on the sections/topics you are concerned about most, 2) see if a colleague or neighbor may have more time to provide input. |
WEEK 2 FAQs |
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| Actual Week 1 response/question:
“OMG !? |
Well. Yes. Review and providing input for a Zoning Ordinance Rewrite that has not been done in full since 1993 is “mind blowing.” A primary reason for not waiting until April to “cram.” |
| What is the biggest change from the current zoning ordinance to the new rewrite? | The current (1993) zoning ordinance is a 1004 page .pdf document, which was converted to a new online version in 2020. It is the new “enCodePlus” online version that has been edited to become the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite version currently in draft text review. |
| What are the biggest changes for USES in the new zoning ordinance? | The current zoning ordinance had tables for USES for EACH separate district, requiring a user to search multiple tables across 1004 pages. The ZOR version consolidates all USE tables into one Chapter, separated by district area in the county and by use type. |
| The new USE tables have different names for districts and acronyms. Where do I find how they relate to the current districts in the County? | Staff has developed a zoning district “crosswalk” (a.k.a. “cheat sheet”/legend) to show how the new district names and acronyms map to the old districts. |
| How should Organization Points of Contact (Org POCs) use this information? | In addition to the resources being used by residents as “Basic Training. Org POCs can use it as “Train the Trainer” material to assist their membership, HOA, neighbors, etc. |
| Why is there a “due date” for input recommended in the schedule? | The additional information due date is primarily for Org POCs to answer Staff specific requests or questions in the STAFF COMMENTS documents. The sooner information is sent back to Staff, the more feasible it may be to have input included in the Draft Text to be make available for the 90-day review. In addition, there are still active meetings scheduled (remaining sections and for ZOAMs) that have a due date for input from County Staff. |
WEEK 3 FAQS |
SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL RENTALS & COMMERCIAL WHOLE HOUSE RENTALS (ZOAM-2018-0001) |
WEEK 4 FAQS |
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| Honestly, this is a lot to digest. Do you have any tips for how I can focus on what matters to my family, HOA/neighborhood or organization? | Great question. To focus your review first determine what you care about most, perhaps starting with
Residential concerns Business concerns Environmental/Historic concerns Then use the “Cheat Sheet” below to locate the Chapter you may want to review on the RESOURCE PAGE. |
Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Table of Contents “Cheat Sheet”
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RESIDENTIAL |
BUSINESS |
ENVIRONMENTAL/HISTORIC |
| Urban, Suburban, Transition, Rural areas Ch. 2: Zoning Districts |
Urban, Suburban, Transition, Rural areas & Planned Development Ch. 2: Zoning Districts |
Open space, bike & trails in each zoning district Ch. 2: Zoning Districts |
| Residential uses & Lodging Ch. 3: Uses & Use Standards |
Commercial uses, Lodging, Industrial, Infrastructure Ch. 3: Uses & Use Standards |
Lodging for tourism/farm workers, Agricultural, Public/Civic Ch. 3: Uses & Use Standards |
| Mountainside, Village Conservation, Floodplain protection, Open Space Ch. 4: Overlay Districts |
Airport, Floodplain, Mountainside, Limestone building restrictions Ch. 4: Overlay Districts |
Floodplain, Mountainside, Limestone, Village Conservation, Open Space Ch. 4: Overlay Districts |
| Residential Parking, Landscaping & buffering, Building Site requirements, Ch. 5: Development Standards |
Business Parking, Landscaping & buffering, Building Site requirements, Ch. 5: Development Standards |
Natural & environmental, trees, Adaptive Reuse Ch. 5: Development Standards |
| Signs throughout county, HOA compatibility Ch. 6: Signs |
Signs for business uses Ch. 6: Signs |
Signs for agricultural & historic uses Ch. 6: Signs |
| Permit processes, enforcement & violations Ch. 7: Procedures & Enforcement |
Permit processes, enforcement & violations Ch. 7: Procedures & Enforcement |
Permit processes, enforcement & violations Ch. 7: Procedures & Enforcement |
| Affordable housing development locations Ch. 8: Attainable Housing |
Developer requirements for Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs) Ch. 8: Attainable Housing |
Affordable housing development locations Ch. 8: Attainable Housing |
WEEK 5 FAQs |
The questions received this week were a good reminder that it’s sometimes good to go back to the basics. Understanding the purpose and intent of zoning is important to understand compliance and enforcement — topics for a future week. |
| What’s the difference between the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance? | While the Comprehensive Plan details policies, strategies and actions, the Zoning Ordinance codes are the laws that apply in the County to developers, businesses, residents – basically everyone! |
| My neighbors / HOA / org members think zoning ordinances are mainly for developers and businesses.
How do I explain the relevance of the zoning ordinance rewrite to my neighbors, HOA or organization? |
The Loudoun Zoning Ordinance outlines the goals, purpose and intent in Section 1-102: The Zoning Ordinance is enacted to promote the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Loudoun County and to implement the Comprehensive Plan.
The zoning ordinance lists 14 points describing what the Ordinance is designed to do countywide, which can be shared with your neighbors/HOA or organization to explain the relevance to your interests: A. Guide orderly growth deemed beneficial to the welfare of people |
| I’m retired / no longer on the Board of my org, so I don’t have to do any of this, right? | Preparation before the 90-day Zoning Ordinance Rewrite draft text review is totally up to you. Feel free to share the Resource page link with others in your neighborhood or organization who you think might have the time and interest. (Sign up here) |
| Last week you provided direct links to the online Citizen Comments page for the Short Term Rentals ZOAM.
Are there also direct links to the online Citizen Comments boxes for the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite? |
Yes. At any time you can provide your direct input as an individual or organization point of contact instead of waiting until 2nd quarter. Staff does request a reference to the Section number (or at a minimum the Chapter) to best address the comment or question. DIRECT LINK TO online Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Citizen’s Comments |
WEEK 6 FAQs |
ZOAM-2020-0002 Prime Soils / Cluster Subdivision Amendment |
WEEK 7 FAQs |
This is a timely topic after all the recent redistricting discussions — at the county, state, and federal level — to comply with the 2020 Census results. There is another “redistricting” that will be impacted by the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite. |
| “What’s my District?” | Let’s first clarify “What district.” The “districts” related to where you live include:
1. Magisterial District (a.k.a. your elected Loudoun Supervisor & School Board representatives) You can determine districts and elected representatives by entering your address in the “Search by Address” tab on the Loudoun Mapping app “My Elected Representatives Map.” [TIP: Save this link to check your district updates later in the year.] The district you need to know for the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite is: |
| Why do I need to know my Zoning District? | As you review the ZOR Resources page and documents to prepare for the 90-day public review period (April), you will need to know your district to review the permitted uses and regulations that apply to your location. |
| Will my current Zoning District change when the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite is finalized (est. 4Q2022)? | Most likely, yes, either with a change of name and/or change of boundary. [For those who are really curious how the proposed changes were determined, you can read the ZOR consultant report.] |
| How do I determine my CURRENT Zoning District? | There’s a different Loudoun Mapping app where you can enter your address to determine your CURRENT ZONING DISTRICT. [Note: This link will likely be updated with the new Zoning Districts when finalized.] |
| In the meantime, how do I determine my proposed NEW Zoning District? | For those who would like the “cheat sheet” version to determine your new zoning district, you can check the ZOR Staff Zoning District Current to Proposed “Crosswalk” (a.k.a. legend) document. |
| That explains a lot, but while you’re at it, can you tell me what “Policy Areas,” “Planning Sub-Areas,” and “Place Types” are and how they fit with Zoning Districts? | Good thing I like puzzles. Here’s how they “fit” together:
– Policy Areas were defined in the 2019 Comp Plan and consist of the Urban, Suburban, Transition, Rural and Joint Land Management Areas (JLMAs). Map found here. – Planning Subareas are the next level, comprised of ten (10) areas that have been used since 1995 primarily for fiscal and capital planning. The Planning Subarea map app is here. – Place Types were also defined in the 2019 Comp Plan and are groupings of one or more Zoning Districts that “define the expected land uses for areas in the County with visually distinctive and functional design features.” The Place Types map app is here. |
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