Commission approves recommendation amid controversy

By MELINA DOWNS
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: April 23, 2008

STAFFORD — After hearing numerous citizens’ comments April 16, the Stafford County Planning Commission voted to approve a controversial recommendation to amend a zoning ordinance.

The zoning ordinance amendment would require Stafford homes built near Critical Resource Protection Areas to have 35 feet between the back of the home and the buffer line defining the CRPA.

The purpose of this proposal is to ensure a usable yard for citizens. According to commission staff, the 35-foot space allotment would allow homeowners the space to build sundecks, patios, swimming pools or any other backyard amentities that they may choose.

“We urge you to reject the ordinance and find a more workable approach,” said Harvey Gold, who was representing the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association. “All lots are not created equal…this proposal reduces the number of lots that are usable.”

Gold cited other recently proposed zoning ordinance amendments to discuss what he described as the “increasing constraints of fitting a home on a lot.”

“This is just plain good legislation,” said Stafford resident Patricia Kurpiel, who urged the commission to approve the recommendation. “Our citizens really dont understand what can happen…by not approving this setback you’re almost guaranteed to have violations.”

The Stafford County Planning Commission, which is made up of seven citizens appointed by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, reviews and makes recommendations on transportation, long-range planning and zoning changes and major new subdivisions.

The board of supervisors will make the ultimate decision on the ordinance after taking the commission’s recommendations into consideration.
Bob Burr, a Stafford resident in attendance at the meeting, also asked the commission to reject the recommendation.

“This [amendment] applies to all buildings, all zoning,” Burr said. “These ordinances that are coming through are slowly robbing property owners of their rights.”
Before voting to approve the recommendation several commissioners explained their decision to citizens.

“We’re always trading off in the planning commission,” said Falmouth District Commissioner Archer Di Peppe. “Is our primary goal to maximize lot yield for developers or protect citizens? The only reason this came about originally was to stop land abuses.”

In addition to the approved recommendation of the ordinance, the commission also voted to include several suggested comments about the ordinance, including that this amendment be written to only apply to single-family homes and not commercial properties.

The commission meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. The next meeting is April 30.

Melina Downs is a contributing writer at the Stafford County Sun. Reach her at .