THE ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE - HOW IT ALL STARTED
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 spread and more residents learned about the document, concerns grew.
And some of those concerns were way more than just 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 to separate fact from fiction, and the information provided here reflects what we have been able to discern.
In addition to scrutinizing the document, the FCCC requested numerous 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.
The community’s strong engagement worked:
On May 13th, at a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors, the PC requested a pause in work with the Berkley Group to give them time to rework a zoning ordinance that better reflects Franklin County and its rural character.
The Board of Supervisors agreed.
But it’s not over.
We cannot rest on our laurels; there is still much work to do. We need to keep telling the Planning Commission what we want to see, what we want addressed, and what we want left alone.
So attend their work sessions, where they welcome citizen input.
And be sure to follow along as the PC posts its progress.
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.
Analysis of the FOIA documents ultimately led to the discovery of Project Flash