Zoning Ordinance Rewrite - Franklin County Community Coalition

ZONING
ORDINANCE
REWRITE

A small win at the May 13th Work Session between the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission!

A pause on work with the Berkley Group has been recommended, and the Planning Commission is requesting time to rework a zoning ordinance that is more in line with Franklin County.

We cannot rest on our laurels; there is still much work to do. Continue to let the Planning Commission know what you would like to see, what you would like addressed, and what you want left alone. Let your voice be heard!

And be sure to follow along as the PC posts their progress.

Targeted Modernization of Franklin County Chapter 25
Why Updating the Current Ordinance May Be More Effective Than Rewriting the Entire Zoning Framework

An analysis of a Zoning Update versus a Zoning Rewrite

There have been recent follow-ups regarding what will happen next with the proposed zoning ordinance. The Planning Commission indicated that they would get back to the BOS with their recommendations. It appears the two possible path are: 1) Scrap the proposed ordinance and start over by updating the current ordinance chapter by chapter; 2) go over the proposed ordinance chapter by chapter and edit it until the provisions that are challenging are removed.

The attached analysis (somewhat technical) looks at how Article 7 (Use standards) of the new proposed zoning ordinance affects the structure and intent of zoning regulations.

“The analysis suggests that modernization and replacement are not the same undertaking. Updating Chapter 25 would address specific regulatory gaps while preserving the County’s existing framework. The proposed ordinance combines modernization with a transition to a different regulatory system, making it more difficult to separate necessary updates from broader policy choices.”

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

In March 2026, the Board of Supervisors rolled out a proposed 400-page new zoning ordinance, justifying the necessity of the update to:

Comply with the most recent Code of Virginia requirements
Modernize the language
Fix errors
Create a thoughtfully organized and easy-to-understand document

Although the document was released in early 2026, it had been in development for over the last 2 years by a company named The Berkley Group.

As word began to travel and more residents learned of the document, more concerns arose. And some of those concerns were way more than just with chickens and bees.

On March 26, the County held an Open House, and the public came out in droves to protest.

And the FCCC went to work

A team of FCCC member volunteers began analyzing the 400-page draft ordinance with the intent to separate fact from fiction, and the information provided here is what we have been able to discern.

In addition to scrutinizing the document, the FCCC requested a plethora of documents through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Some of the information uncovered was not only stunning but also opened up several rabbit holes that merited further investigation.

Why does this matter?

Whether you own land, live in a subdivision, operate a business, attend a church, or care about growth, this proposed new ordinance will impact you.

What is changing?

– Commercial and large-scale growth (including Data Centers) will be made easier.
– Country living will be more regulated and restricted.

What can you do?

– Attend public meetings
– Contact your elected officials
– Volunteer & Spread the word
– Sign the petition
– Contribute monetarily

Through the Freedom of Information Act, (FOIA) a series of documents, emails, and other correspondence relating to the contract with The Berkley Group was requested.