Major Zoning Code Update Approved By Vienna Town Council, Some Issues Unresolved

VIENNA, VA — After a years-long effort, Vienna town government has made a major zoning code update for the first time since 1969. Town Council approved the zoning code update Monday night, but work on unresolved issues in the code will continue in 2024 with a new Town Council.

The Code Create Vienna initiative, led by the town’s Planning and Zoning Department, included more than 40 meetings with Town Council and the Planning Commission as well as a public input process. According to the town government, the Code Create Vienna initiative sought to "clarify, simplify, reorganize, and update key chapters of the Town code." Different parts of the updated code set guidelines for residential outdoor spaces, green space requirements for commercial spaces, business flexibilities and more.

The new zoning code will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024 in the Town of Vienna. An updated zoning map was also approved for the town.

Councilmember Steve Potter praised town staff for providing all the needed details for the process and being open for discussion.

"This was a Herculean effort. And you handled it very, very well," said Potter. "You have really set the bar and I hope we don't lose this level of process moving forward."

Councilmember Chuck Anderson noted issues like parking are unresolved in the town code update and will have to be addressed by the new Town Council, which has all six seats and mayor up for election in November.

"it's truly historic night and there's a lot of people to think," said Anderson at Monday's meeting. "But I don't want to lose this opportunity to remind everyone that our work is not done yet. We put a pin in a lot of issues."

Anderson called for a list of priorities from the current Town Council for the new Town Council to work on. For example, the parking issue is still under a discussion as a parking study is underway. The new Town Council could discuss parking study results at a conference session in February.

Another item not yet approved in the zoning code is the tree ordinance changes. Zoning changes were proposed to preserve the tree canopy amid concerns about development impacts on the town's tree canopy. The proposed code changes would incentivize developers to preserve existing trees, requiring land development plans to factor in preserving trees to achieve a minimum tree canopy after 20 years. For example, 25 percent tree canopy on a site after 20 years is proposed for RS-12.5 and RS-12.5 single-family detached housing.

The tree canopy proposal has two possible options: a new chapter in the town code or updates to existing chapters of the town code. On Monday, Town Council opted to continue accepting public comments through Nov. 6.

The full draft code and summary of changes from the current code are available on the town's website.