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2008 SESSION
084671352Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 15.2-2283 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 15.2-2283. Purpose of zoning ordinances.
Zoning ordinances shall be for the general purpose of
promoting the health, safety or general welfare of the public and of further
accomplishing the objectives of § 15.2-2200. To these ends, such ordinances
shall be designed to give reasonable consideration to each of the following purposes,
where applicable: (i) to provide for adequate light, air, convenience of
access, and safety from fire, flood, crime and other dangers; (ii) to reduce or
prevent congestion in the public streets; (iii) to facilitate the creation of a
convenient, attractive and harmonious community; (iv) to facilitate the
provision of adequate police and fire protection, disaster evacuation, civil
defense, transportation, water, sewerage, flood protection, schools, parks,
forests, playgrounds, recreational facilities, airports and other public
requirements; (v) to protect against destruction of or encroachment upon
historic areas; (vi) to protect against one or more of the following:
overcrowding of land, undue density of population in relation to the community
facilities existing or available, obstruction of light and air, danger and
congestion in travel and transportation, or loss of life, health, or property
from fire, flood, panic or other dangers; (vii) to encourage economic
development activities that provide desirable employment and enlarge the tax
base; (viii) to provide for the preservation of agricultural and forestal lands
and other lands of significance for the protection of the natural environment;
(ix) to protect the land, water, and air from harmful
discharges, emissions, and other releases; (x) to protect approach
slopes and other safety areas of licensed airports, including United States
government and military air facilities; (x) (xi) to promote the creation and preservation of affordable
housing suitable for meeting the current and future needs of the locality as
well as a reasonable proportion of the current and future needs of the planning
district within which the locality is situated; and (xi) (xii) to provide reasonable protection against encroachment upon
military bases, military installations, and military airports and their
adjacent safety areas, excluding armories operated by the Virginia National
Guard. Such ordinance may also include reasonable provisions, not inconsistent
with applicable state water quality standards, to protect surface water and
ground water as defined in § 62.1-255.