Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Update

About the Project

The Town of Rocky Mount is currently in the process of revising and updating the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances. This revision will update the current ordinance language to reflect changes in the Code of Virginia, and address new issues that have become relevant in Rocky Mount, as well as shifts that have occurred in development patterns and demands.

What are Zoning and Subdivision regulations?

Zoning is the primary tool for regulating and providing for the orderly and efficient use of land. Each property in the Town of Rocky Mount has a zoning designation with rules and standards for use, placement, spacing, and size of land and buildings. These regulations determine the direction and intensity of development while minimizing the impacts. The ordinance should be reflective of the development goals for the Town set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. Since zoning and land use regulation shapes the lives of Town residents every day, citizens are encouraged to stay informed and engaged throughout this ordinance update process. For a basic overview of zoning, check out the Zoning Guide.

Subdivision regulations control how the division of land can occur within a locality. They are designed to guarantee safety, adequate streets, utilities, drainage, and means of navigating into or out of an area. Individual parcels, or lots, proposed for subdivision are reviewed for minimum size, appropriate shape, and access to roadways – among other criteria. In Rocky Mount, subdivisions of land require review and approval of plats by Town staff and/or the Planning Commission.

About the Process

The ordinance update will engage Rocky Mount’s Town Council, Planning Commission, citizens, business owners, and other stakeholders. The current zoning regulations, subdivision ordinance, and land development standards will be evaluated, reviewed, updated, and revised as guided by officials and citizens. The Town of Rocky Mount has employed the services of Berkley Group, a Virginia-based local government planning and consulting firm, to assist with this ordinance update process.

The process includes:

- Kickoff with Town Council and Planning Commission: March 20, 2023 @ 6pm, Rocky Mount Depot

- Kickoff #2 with Town Council and Planning Commission: May 18, 2023 @ 6pm, Rocky Mount Depot

- Focus Group Meetings: April 12, 2023

- Public Input Workshop: April 12, 2023 @ 6 pm, Council Chambers, Rocky Mount Municipal Building

- Public Input Survey: April 2023 (Ended April 30, 2023)

- Work Sessions with Planning Commission: July 2023 – May 2024

- Public Open House – Summer 2024

- Formal Public Hearings and Adoption – Fall 2024

Public Input Workshop & Public Input Survey (Ended April 30, 2023)

As a first step to this ordinance revision, the Town of Rocky Mount, in collaboration with Berkley Group, is seeking your input through participation in a public workshop. This meeting will be at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Council Chambers at the Rocky Mount Municipal Building.

Public Engagement Summary and Survey Results