Special Joint Board of Supervisors & Planning Commission Meeting

ZTA-15-25-1- Proposed Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance: The Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee reviewed the Zoning Ordinance Definition of “Utility Power Generation and Storage Facilities" in fall of 2025. The Board of Supervisors at its January, 2026 meeting referred the proposal to the Planning Commission for a potential revision to Appendix A (Zoning Ordinance), ARTICLE 2 (Definitions and Measurements) and ARTICLE 3 (Agricultural District A1) of the County Code; and at its June 2, 2026 meeting further authorized Article 4 (Rural Area RA), Article 6 (All Commercial Districts), Article 7 (All Industrial Districts), and Article 9 (Special Provisions) for a Planning Commission review based on new State Code taking effect July 1, 2026. The potential code amendment is intended to separate "Energy Storage Systems" as a distinct and unique land use called "Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)" to be only located within the Industrial Zoning Districts as a primary use and as an accessory use in Agricultural, Commercial, and Industrial districts with approved solar projects per new State Code. The Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission will hold a special joint public hearing on the proposed ordinance amendments to gather public input before determining if it necessary to further the general purpose of promoting the health, safety or general welfare of the public and other purposes as found in Code of Virginia Section 15.2-2283 and 2285.