The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved several amendments to the County Code concerning Residential Planned Unit Developments (RPD) after a public hearing at the September 19 business meeting. The vote was 6-1 with Dan River District Supervisor Nancy Eanes casting the only dissenting vote.

The amendments were proposed by the Board in August when public hearings were held for the Southside Investing LLC rezoning and County Code amendments with regards to the 579.72-acre mixed use development in Axton. County staff were directed by the Board to return in September with the proposed amendments.

The amendments approved at the September 19 meeting were focused on overall size, setback and open space requirements, as well as utilities. The changes include the following:

• To be considered an RPD, a project’s area was increased from five to 25 acres or more contiguous acres of land, none of which can be under water or within a flowage easement.

• The minimum front setback was amended from 35 feet to 100 feet from the edge of right-of-way for exterior property lines located in the RPD unless reduced by the Board as part of the rezoning process.

• The minimum side setback, the distance from the side property line of a lot to the nearest point on a dwelling or principal structure (including porches, stoops, or accessory building), was amended from a minimum of 10 feet to 100 feet for exterior property lines of the residential planned unit of development unless reduced by the Board as part of the rezoning process.

• The minimum rear setback, the distance from the rear property line of an exterior property line of the residential planned unit development to the nearest point on a dwelling or principal structure (including porches, stoops, or accessory building) was amended from a minimum of 30 to 100 feet unless reduced by the Board as part of the rezoning process.

• For corner lots, the minimum side yard depth on the side facing the side street was changed from 35 feet to 100 feet or more from the side building line to the right-of-way line for both main and accessory buildings adjacent to an exterior property line of the residential planned unit of development unless reduced by the Board.
• The required open space was changed to no more than 5% wetlands.

• The code was also amended to require that all planned unit developments be served by publicly owned water and sewer unless this requirement is waived by the Board during the rezoning process.

Through its proffers approved in August, Southside Investing LLC meets the requirements of these approved code changes to the RPD zoning district. The 579.72-acre mixed use development calls for 1,838 residential units and a variety of commercial uses.