Planning Office

An amendment to the Prince William County Zoning Ordinance to make changes to Section 32-201.18.

Background

The Prince William County Service Authority (PWCSA) has numerous pump stations that are approaching the end of their useful life and need to be reconstructed or expanded. While public facilities are exempt from many development requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, Section 32-201.18 – Lots for Public Use requires a 15’ peripheral landscape area. Many of these pump stations cannot meet this requirement because the existing lot or easement does not provide sufficient space for this landscaping.

To remedy this situation, staff recommended the initiation of a zoning text amendment to provide two (2) additional options for screening public facilities. First, provide the landscape area off-site within an easement. Second, provide an eight (8) foot-tall opaque fence or wall.

On June 27, 2023, the Board of County Supervisors in Res. No. 23-345 initiated an amendment to the Prince William County Code to Section 32-201.18 to allow greater flexibility in landscape area requirements for public lots. 

• Staff Report

Approval 

On October 24, 2023, the Board of County Supervisors in Ord. No. 23-46 approved the zoning text amendment.