A.
This chapter and the Official Zoning Map of Colonial Heights, Virginia
shall be known and referred to as the Colonial Heights, Virginia Zoning
Ordinance.
B.
The provisions of this chapter have been adopted by the City Council
pursuant to the declaration of legislative intent contained in § 15.2-2200,
and the authority contained in §§ 15.2-2280 and 15.2-2281,
of the Code of Virginia.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all property within
the corporate limits of the City, with the exception that any property
held in fee simple ownership by the United States of America or the
Commonwealth of Virginia shall not be subject to the provisions contained
herein when such property is directly used for public purposes by
the United States of America or the Commonwealth of Virginia.
A.
This chapter and any amendments hereto, have been adopted for the
general purpose of implementing the Comprehensive Plan of Colonial
Heights, Virginia, and for the purpose of promoting the health, safety,
and general welfare of the public. To these ends, this chapter is
consistent with the applicable provisions of the Charter of the City
of Colonial Heights and the Code of Virginia and is designed to give
reasonable consideration to each of the following purposes:
(1)
Provide for adequate light, air, convenience of access, and
safety from fire, flood, crime, and other dangers;
(2)
Reduce or prevent congestion in the public streets;
(3)
Facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious
community;
(4)
Facilitate the provision of adequate police and fire protection,
disaster evacuation, civil defense, transportation, water, sewerage,
flood protection, schools, parks, forests, playgrounds, recreational
facilities, airports and other public requirements;
(5)
Protect against destruction of, or encroachment upon, historic
areas;
(6)
Protect against one or more of the following: overcrowding of
land, undue density of population in relation to the community facilities
existing or available, obstruction of light and air, danger and congestion
in travel and transportation, or loss of life, health or property
from fire, flood, panic or other dangers;
(7)
Encourage economic development activities that provide desirable
employment and enlarge the tax base;
(8)
Promote the creation and preservation of affordable housing
suitable for meeting the current and future needs of the City as well
as a reasonable proportion of the current and future needs of the
planning district within which the City is situated; and
(9)
Protect surface and groundwater resources.
A.
This chapter shall be effective on August 10, 2011.
A.
All land uses and activities not specifically provided for or addressed
in this chapter shall be considered uses and activities prohibited
within the City unless the Administrator finds that the land use or
activity is compatible and consistent with the provisions of this
chapter.
B.
If a land use or activity is deemed by the Administrator to be prohibited
within the City, that use or activity shall not be permitted within
the City.
C.
Where the standards imposed by this chapter are more or less restrictive
than the standards imposed by any other public regulation, the more
restrictive standard shall apply.
D.
This chapter shall not apply to, or interfere with, any private covenant.
However, if the regulations imposed by this chapter are more restrictive,
or impose a higher standard than the private covenant, then the provisions
of this chapter shall apply.
E.
All City agencies and officials that have the responsibility to issue
permits and licenses pertaining to the construction of buildings or
the use of land within the City shall do so only in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter. If a permit or license is issued in
conflict with the provisions of this chapter, the permit or license
shall be null and void.
A.
The following zoning districts shall be established within the City
of Colonial Heights. The location of these districts shall be shown
on the Official Zoning Map.
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Residential Districts
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RL Low-Density Residential District
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RM Medium-Density Residential District
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RH High-Density Residential District
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Transitional Districts
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RO Residential Office District
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Business Districts
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BB Boulevard Business District
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GB General Business District
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Industrial Districts
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IN Industrial District
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Special Purpose Regulations and Districts
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BOD Boulevard Design Overlay District
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PUD Planned-Unit Development District
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HRD Historic Resource District
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FOD Floodplain Overlay District
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WPD Wetlands Protection District
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ACD Architectural Character District
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COD Chesapeake Bay Overlay District
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A.
If in the opinion of the Administrator, uncertainty exists as to
the exact location of any zoning district boundary, the Administrator
shall apply the following rules to determine the location of the boundary:
(1)
Zoning district boundaries that appear to approximately follow
the center lines of streets, rights-of-way, or alleys, shall be construed
to follow such center lines;
(2)
Zoning district boundaries that appear to follow platted lot
lines shall be construed as following such platted lot lines except
that the zoning designation of any lot shall extend to the center
line of any adjacent street, rights-of-way, or alley. The legal relocation
or alteration of any platted lot line subsequent to the adoption of
this chapter and pursuant to the provisions of the City of Colonial
Heights Subdivision Ordinance,[1] shall not alter or relocate any legally established zoning
district boundary; and
(3)
Zoning district boundaries that appear to follow the center
lines of streams and rivers shall be construed as following such center
lines.
B.
If the rules contained in Subsection A above do not provide sufficient certainty to determine the location of a zoning district boundary, the Administrator shall request the Board of Zoning Appeals to interpret the location of the district boundary pursuant to the authority granted by this chapter.
