ORDINANCE UPDATES | Harvest

PROPOSED
UPDATES
TO THE
TND ORDINANCE

ORDINANCE UPDATES: OVERVIEW

Updating the TND ordinance to the best standards.

In order to execute on our master plan vision, we have requested a series of text changes and additions to the Botetourt County TND Ordinance. We believe each change is necessary for the success of Harvest at Blue Ridge, but will also help guide the ordinance toward the vision for Traditional Neighborhoods outlined in the County’s comprehensive plan. The changes also bring the ordinance up to date and in line with other localities containing successful TNDs. Having a Traditional Neighborhood Development ordinance in our county allows for the county to experiment with unconventional and emerging neighborhood standards, while limiting the impact from affecting ordinary residential areas county-wide.

COTTAGE DWELLINGS

Housing options increase the potential of home ownership and strengthen neighborhoods.

We hope for Harvest at Blue Ridge to feel like an organically grown neighborhood with wide variety of housing options. Unfortunately, the current zoning ordinance restricts variety within TNDs by limiting all single-family detached dwellings to one categorization. The achievable single-family detached housing, as a result, tends to materialize as something closer to suburban tract housing, rather than a natural feeling neighborhood. Our new classification will allow us to expand our type of housing options within the core area of the neighborhood - including new cottage, pocket court cottage, and cottage loft configurations (seen below). Concerns about smaller lots county-wide about smaller lots will be mitigated, as this designation would only be limited to use in a TND, concerns from neighbors about small lots next door are mitigated by limiting the use only to a core area, and concerns that TND core areas will only be small lots are mitigated by the percentage limitation and by current TND density regulations.