15.2-2296 - Conditional zoning; declaration of legislative policy and findings; purpose. - Virginia Statutes

§ 15.2-2296. Conditional zoning; declaration of legislative policy andfindings; purpose.

It is the general policy of the Commonwealth in accordance with theprovisions of § 15.2-2283 to provide for the orderly development of land, forall purposes, through zoning and other land development legislation.Frequently, where competing and incompatible uses conflict, traditionalzoning methods and procedures are inadequate. In these cases, more flexibleand adaptable zoning methods are needed to permit differing land uses and thesame time to recognize effects of change. It is the purpose of §§ 15.2-2296through 15.2-2300 to provide a more flexible and adaptable zoning method tocope with situations found in such zones through conditional zoning, wherebya zoning reclassification may be allowed subject to certain conditionsproffered by the zoning applicant for the protection of the community thatare not generally applicable to land similarly zoned. The exercise ofauthority granted pursuant to §§ 15.2-2296 through 15.2-2302 shall not beconstrued to limit or restrict powers otherwise granted to any locality, norto affect the validity of any ordinance adopted by any such locality whichwould be valid without regard to this section. The provisions of this sectionand the following six sections shall not be used for the purpose ofdiscrimination in housing.

(1978, c. 320, § 15.1-491.1; 1997, c. 587.)