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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06 05 1946 PC MinutesREPORT ON NOTES TAKEN FROM CONVERSATION OF MRS. PICKENS. dune 5th, 1946 Mr..Hunter Cockrell, Mrs. Gordon Smith and writer motored to the home of Mrs. Robert S. Pickens, six miles beyond Lessbur#, for luncheon with her and a conference on the experience she had had in working on zoning for Loudoun County. Her first suggestion was that we see that everyone in the county knows about zoning - and that means that everyone in the county should be contacted in someway or other. She sai& a speaker well informed on the zoning subject could be sent to speak to all the various organizations in the county, such as, the G'rozet'Lions Club, Scottsville Club, Farm Bureau, Albemarle County Hereford Assn., and all the women's clubs in the county. She said that in spite of the fact that she had notices pat in the newspapers everytime anything was done by the commission, that she found out many people did not read these notices - and therefore, were ignorant. And the people she had the most trouble with were the ignorant - not the uneducated - but the ones who did not know about zoning, add what it stood for in the Tray of protection to a community. If a speaker could not be sent to these club meetings, the presidents of these clubs could be invited to a meeting with the Planning Commission - and educated by a Well informed speaker - as to zoning and its effect on the county. Mrs. Pickens said for us to get out of our minds that only a few people who live in big houses want zoning. She felt that some of the greatest champions hfdzoning had been the simple people. Set Back requirements are very necessary Such as "No building should be built closer than 125 feet from center line of main highway and 75 feet from secondary highway:" The reason for this is that the State Highway Department plans to make all roads wider as soon as they can. It would be a good idea to get Mr. Ambler to meet with commission as a representative of the State Highway Department. Also,in regard to prohibiting old machine parts being stored on lots making them unsightly, a general regulation stating that machine parts and cars, etc. must be screened from view by walls or fences. A general prohibition of undue noise or odor detrimental to residential areas should be made. Try to get away from a pigeonholed setup. A positive policy of development and improvement is better. When giving a pwmit for any building, demand a scale drawing of same. - 2 - A board of zoning appeals should definitely be established There are three on board in Loudoun - one a lawyer - one a real estate man or<?engineer - and one a layman. The real estate man or engineer can tell about set backs, etc. Do not bother Board of Supervisors as they have enough trouble as it is. Set back regulations should have exceptions where a certain numbei of buildings have already imxestablished the lire Zone area the way you want it to be - and then make a list of already established uses as non -conforming. Have a regulation that any non- fonforming use be unlawful after it has been abandoned for two yegrs. Then, when it starts up again, it would be subject to the regulations. Do not get into controversy if possible with people who want zoning to be a police measure. It really should not be responsible for peoples' morals, etc. Try to avoid trouble when a filling station=ants to sell beer - by outlawing it from the beginning if possible. Have a clause providing for temporary commercial enterprim for benefit of civic purposes for a specified length of time. Enlist aid of Garden Club crowd. Make a definite campaign and set a date when it will be brought before the supevi.sors. Mr. Donald Locke, Zoning Administrator, County office Buil# Arlington, Va. would be an excellent man to invite to speak to a representative group. The aim of zoning is to protect the beauty of the country d side and promote the economical development of the county along the groper lines. Isabel Nunnally p. S. Be acre to get information on recent State Law about subdividing property.