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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1998
Our View
What’s fair?
Should zoning regulations
on family apartments be changed?
The Rappahannock County Planning Commission
will discuss changes to the zoning chapter of the
county code specifically applying to family apartments at its meeting tonight. The issue came up for discussion at last month’s meeting of the commission.
The commissioners came up with a proposal which would change the distance the family apartment must be from the main dwelling. Instead of up to 200 feet away they propose it be up to 50 feet away except by special permission of the Board of Zoning Appeals in an unusual condition. They also propose that the apartment be limited to three people and that there not be more than one family apartment per separate parcel of land,
The target of the proposed changes centers on the use of mobile homes as family apartments. There has been much discussion about that issue and opinions aired for and against mobile homes.
But, consider the proposed changes. The change in distance would not affect a mobile home any more than another type of family apartment structure. The issue of how many apartments should be allowed per parcel of land leaves room for discussion.
The limit on occupancy seems grossly unfair. Consider a case where the family or parents of a young couple, who can’t afford to build their own home as yet, apply for a family apartment and its approved. The young couple moves in, the woman becomes pregnant and has twins. Oops! What should they do? They would clearly be in violation of the ordinance. Who is going to enforce it? Why should it be enforced?
If you are concerned about these proposals attend the meetings of the commission and board of supervisors. The public hearing on these proposed amendments will be Sept. 16 for the commission and Oct. 5 for the board of supervisors.
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