Urban Development Areas

All localities with a growth rate of 15% or a growth rate of 5% and a population of at least 20,000 are required designate at least one Urban Development Area in the comprehensive plan by 2011.  The Urban Development Area or areas are required to accommodate at least 10 years but no more than 20 years worth of growth based on official estimates and projections of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia or other official government sources. The size necessary to accommodate such growth will vary based on the residential and commercial densities provide for in the locality’s comprehensive plan. 

When designating an area as an Urban Development Area, a locality is to consider the following criteria:

• Proximity to a city, town or other developed area
• Proximity to transportation facilities
• Availability of a public or community water and sewer system
  

Within the Urban Development Area the locality’s comprehensive plan shall:

• Incorporate principles of new urbanism and traditional neighborhood design, which may include the following:
• Connectivity of road networks, including connectivity of new local streets with existing local streets
• Connectivity of pedestrian networks
• Pedestrian-friendly road design
• Reduction of front and side yard building setback requirements
• Mixed-use neighborhoods, including mixed housing types
• Reduction of subdivision street widths and turning radii
• Satisfaction of requirements for stormwater management
• Provide for commercial and residential densities of at least:
• Four residential units per gross acre
• A floor area ratio of 0.4 for commercial development
  Note: The floor area ratio is a comparison of the total floor area of a building to the size of the land of that location.  A floor area ratio of 1.0 would indicate that the total floor area of a building is the same size as the gross area of the plot on which it is constructed.
• Describe any financial and other incentives for development in the urban development areas

Localities that establish Urban Development Areas may not limit or prohibit development in compliance with existing zoning nor refuse to consider a rezoning application for property outside of the Urban Development Area.

Any locality that determines its current comprehensive plan accommodates growth consistent with the densities and other zoning requirements for Urban Development Areas which adopts a resolution certifying such compliance will not be required to amend its comprehensive plan to include Urban Development Areas.

To see a list of localities that are required to establish Urban Development Areas, click here (pdf).