ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE
a) Purpose and Intent
Whereas, by act of the General Assembly of Virginia as provided in Chapter 11, Article 8, Sections 15.2-2280 through 15.2-2316, Code of Virginia and amendments thereto, the governing body of any county may, by ordinance, divide the territory under its jurisdiction into districts of such number, shape and area as it may deem best suited to carry out the purposes of this article, and in each district it may regulate, restrict, permit, prohibit, and determine the following:
(a) The use of land, buildings, structures and other premises for agricultural, business, industrial, residential, floodplain and other specific uses;
(b) The size, height, area, bulk, location, erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, maintenance, razing, or removal of structures;
(c) The areas and dimensions of land, water, and air space to be occupied by buildings, structures and uses,and of courts, yards, and other open spaces to be left unoccupied by uses and structures, including variations in the sizes of lots based on whether a public or community water supply or sewer system is available and used; and
(d) The excavation or mining of soil or other natural resources.
Whereas, the governing body of Greensville County enacted on November 17, 1981, a zoning ordinance pursuant to the Authority of the above-cited Sections of the Code of Virginia, as amended, and from time to time has amended that ordinance.
Whereas, the governing body adopted an updated comprehensive plan on March 18, 1991, which plan was based on careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of the then existing conditions, trends of growth and probable future requirements of its territory and inhabitants.
Therefore, be it ordained by the governing body of Greensville County, Virginia, for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, or general welfare of the public and of further accomplishing the objectives of Section 15.2-2283, that the Zoning Ordinance of Greensville County, Virginia, together with the accompanying map, or maps, be amended as set out below.
This Ordinance has been designed (a) to provide for adequate light, air, convenience of access, and safety from fire, flood and other dangers; (b) to reduce or prevent congestion in the public streets; (c) to facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community; (d) to facilitate the provision of adequate police and fire protection, disaster excavation, civil defense, transportation, water, sewerage, flood protection, schools, parks, forests, playgrounds, recreational facilities, airports, and other public requirements; (e) to protect against destruction of or encroachment upon historic areas; (f) to 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; (g) to encourage economic development activities that provide desirable employment and enlarge the tax base; (h) to protect approach slopes and other safety areas of licensed airports, including United States government and military air facilities; (i) to promote affordable housing; and (j) to include reasonable provisions, not inconsistent with applicable state water quality standards, to protect surface water and groundwater.
(Amended August 17, 1998)
b) Conflicting Ordinances
All conflicting ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed. This Zoning Ordinance of Greensville County, Virginia, shall be effective at and after 12:01 a.m., November 18, 1992.
c) Severability.
Should any section or provisions of this Ordinance be decided by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole, or any part thereof other than the part so held to be unconstitutional or valid.