A. The Counties of Hanover, Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince William, and Roanoke, and the Town of Leesburg, may establish, by ordinance, a separate processing procedure for the review of preliminary and final subdivision and site plans and other development plans certified by licensed professional engineers, licensed architects, licensed land surveyors, and landscape architects who are also licensed pursuant to § 54.1-408 and recommended for submission by persons who have received special training in the locality's land development ordinances and regulations. The purpose of the separate review procedure is to provide a procedure to expedite the locality's review of certain qualified land development plans. If a separate procedure is established, the locality shall establish within the adopted ordinance the criteria for qualification of persons and whose work is eligible to use the separate procedure as well as a procedure for determining if the qualifications are met by persons applying to use the separate procedure. Persons who satisfy the criteria of subsection B below shall qualify as plans examiners. Plans reviewed and recommended for submission by plans examiners and certified by the appropriately licensed professional engineer, licensed architect, licensed land surveyor, or landscape architect shall qualify for the separate processing procedure.
B. The qualifications of those persons who may participate in this program shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. A bachelor of science degree in engineering, architecture, landscape architecture or related science or equivalent experience or a licensed land surveyor pursuant to § 54.1-408.
2. Successful completion of an educational program specified by the locality.
3. A minimum of two years of land development engineering design experience acceptable to the locality.
4. Attendance at continuing educational courses specified by the locality.
5. Consistent preparation and submission of plans which meet all applicable ordinances and regulations.
C. If an expedited review procedure is adopted by the board of supervisors or town council pursuant to the authority granted by this section, the board of supervisors or town council shall establish an advisory plans examiner board, which shall make recommendations to the board of supervisors or town council on the general operation of the program, on the general qualifications of those who may participate in the expedited processing procedure, on initial and continuing educational programs needed to qualify and maintain qualification for such a program and on the general administration and operation of the program. In addition, the plans examiner board shall submit recommendations to the board of supervisors or town council as to those persons who meet the established qualifications for participation in the program, and the plans examiner board shall submit recommendations as to whether those persons who have previously qualified to participate in the program should be disqualified, suspended or otherwise disciplined. The plans examiner board shall consist of six members who shall be appointed by the board of supervisors or town council for staggered four-year terms. Initial terms may be less than four years so as to provide for staggered terms. The plans examiner board shall consist of three persons in private practice as licensed professional engineers or licensed land surveyors pursuant to § 54.1-408, at least one of whom shall be a licensed land surveyor; one person employed by the government of the locality; one person employed by the Virginia Department of Transportation who shall serve as a nonvoting advisory member; and one citizen member. All members of the board who serve as licensed engineers or as licensed surveyors must maintain their professional license as a condition of holding office and shall have at least two years of experience in land development procedures of the locality. The citizen member of the board shall meet the qualifications provided in § 54.1-107 and, notwithstanding the proscription of clause (i) of § 54.1-107, shall have training as an engineer or surveyor and may be currently licensed or practicing his profession.
D. The expedited land development program shall include an educational program conducted under the auspices of a public institution of higher education. The instructors in the educational program shall consist of persons in the private and public sectors who are qualified to prepare land development plans. The educational program shall include the comprehensive and detailed study of local ordinances and regulations relating to plans and how they are applied.
E. The separate processing system may include a review of selected or random aspects of plans rather than a detailed review of all aspects; however, it shall also include a periodic detailed review of plans prepared by persons who qualify for the system.
F. In no event shall this section relieve persons who prepare and submit plans of the responsibilities and obligations that they would otherwise have with regard to the preparation of plans, nor shall it relieve the locality of its obligation to review other plans in the time periods and manner prescribed by law.
1991, c. 444, § 15.1-501.1; 1997, c. 587; 2007, c. 813; 2009, cc. 214, 309, 518.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 15.2 - Counties, Cities and Towns
Chapter 22 - Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning
§ 15.2-2200. Declaration of legislative intent
§ 15.2-2202. Duties of state agencies; electric utilities
§ 15.2-2205. Additional notice of planning or zoning matters
§ 15.2-2206. When locality may require applicant to give notice; how given
§ 15.2-2207. Public notice of juvenile residential care facilities in certain localities
§ 15.2-2208. Restraining violations of chapter
§ 15.2-2209. Civil penalties for violations of zoning ordinance
§ 15.2-2209.1. Extension of approvals to address housing crisis
§ 15.2-2209.1:1. Extension of approvals to address the COVID-19 pandemic
§ 15.2-2209.2. Public infrastructure maintenance bonds
§ 15.2-2211. Cooperation of local planning commissions and other agencies
§ 15.2-2215. Quorum majority vote
§ 15.2-2217. Officers, employees and consultants; expenditures; rules and records; special surveys
§ 15.2-2218. County planning commission serving as commission of town
§ 15.2-2219. Joint local planning commissions
§ 15.2-2220. Duplicate planning commission authorized for certain local governments
§ 15.2-2221. Duties of commissions
§ 15.2-2222. Expenditures; gifts and donations
§ 15.2-2222.1. Coordination of state and local transportation planning
§ 15.2-2223. Comprehensive plan to be prepared and adopted; scope and purpose
§ 15.2-2223.1. Comprehensive plan to include urban development areas
§ 15.2-2223.2. Comprehensive plan to include coastal resource management guidance
§ 15.2-2223.4. Comprehensive plan shall provide for transit-oriented development
§ 15.2-2223.5. Comprehensive plan shall address manufactured housing
§ 15.2-2224. Surveys and studies to be made in preparation of plan; implementation of plan
§ 15.2-2226. Adoption or disapproval of plan by governing body
§ 15.2-2227. Return of plan to local planning commission; resubmission
§ 15.2-2228. Adoption of parts of plan
§ 15.2-2230. Plan to be reviewed at least once every five years
§ 15.2-2230.1. Public facilities study
§ 15.2-2232. Legal status of plan
§ 15.2-2233. Maps to be prepared in localities; what map shall show
§ 15.2-2234. Adoption; filing in office of clerk of court
§ 15.2-2235. Additions and modifications
§ 15.2-2236. Periodic review and readoption
§ 15.2-2238. Authority of counties under Article 2 (§ 33.2-705 et seq.) of Chapter 7 not affected
§ 15.2-2240. Localities to adopt ordinances regulating subdivision and development of land
§ 15.2-2241. Mandatory provisions of a subdivision ordinance
§ 15.2-2242. Optional provisions of a subdivision ordinance
§ 15.2-2243. Payment by subdivider of the pro rata share of the cost of certain facilities
§ 15.2-2243.1. Payment by developer or subdivider
§ 15.2-2244. Provisions for subdivision of a lot for conveyance to a family member
§ 15.2-2244.1. Additional method for subdivision of a lot for conveyance to a family member
§ 15.2-2244.2. Subdivision of a lot of property held in trust for a family member
§ 15.2-2245. Provisions for periodic partial and final release of certain performance guarantees
§ 15.2-2245.1. Stormwater management ponds; removal of trees
§ 15.2-2246. Site plans submitted in accordance with zoning ordinance
§ 15.2-2247. Applicability of subdivision ordinance to manufactured homes
§ 15.2-2249. Application of county subdivision regulations in area subject to municipal jurisdiction
§ 15.2-2250. Disagreement between county and municipality as to regulations
§ 15.2-2252. Filing and recording of ordinance and amendments thereto
§ 15.2-2253. Preparation and adoption of amendments to ordinance
§ 15.2-2254. Statutory provisions effective after ordinance adopted
§ 15.2-2255. Administration and enforcement of regulations
§ 15.2-2256. Procedure to account for fees for common improvements
§ 15.2-2257. Procedure to modify certain covenants in Shenandoah County
§ 15.2-2258. Plat of proposed subdivision and site plans to be submitted for approval
§ 15.2-2259. Local planning commission to act on proposed plat
§ 15.2-2260. Localities may provide for submission of preliminary subdivision plats; how long valid
§ 15.2-2261. Recorded plats or final site plans to be valid for not less than five years
§ 15.2-2261.1. Recorded plat or final site plans; conflicting zoning conditions
§ 15.2-2262. Requisites of plat
§ 15.2-2263. Expedited land development review procedure
§ 15.2-2266. Validation of certain plats recorded before January 1, 1975
§ 15.2-2267. Petition to restrict access to certain public streets
§ 15.2-2268. Localities not obligated to pay for grading, paving, etc.
§ 15.2-2269. Plans and specifications for utility fixtures and systems to be submitted for approval
§ 15.2-2270. Vacation of interests granted to a locality as a condition of site plan approval
§ 15.2-2271. Vacation of plat before sale of lot therein; ordinance of vacation
§ 15.2-2272. Vacation of plat after sale of lot
§ 15.2-2273. Fee for processing application under § 15.2-2271 or § 15.2-2272
§ 15.2-2274. Effect of vacation under § 15.2-2272
§ 15.2-2275. Relocation or vacation of boundary lines
§ 15.2-2276. Duty of clerk when plat vacated
§ 15.2-2278. Vacating plat of subdivision
§ 15.2-2279. Ordinances regulating the building of houses and establishing setback lines
§ 15.2-2280. Zoning ordinances generally
§ 15.2-2281. Jurisdiction of localities
§ 15.2-2282. Regulations to be uniform
§ 15.2-2283. Purpose of zoning ordinances
§ 15.2-2283.1. Prohibition of sexual offender treatment office in residentially zoned subdivision
§ 15.2-2284. Matters to be considered in drawing and applying zoning ordinances and districts
§ 15.2-2285. Preparation and adoption of zoning ordinance and map and amendments thereto; appeal
§ 15.2-2286.1. Provisions for clustering of single-family dwellings so as to preserve open space
§ 15.2-2287. Localities may require oath regarding property interest of local officials
§ 15.2-2287.1. Disclosures in land use proceedings
§ 15.2-2288. Localities may not require a special use permit for certain agricultural activities
§ 15.2-2288.1. Localities may not require a special use permit for certain residential uses
§ 15.2-2288.2. Localities may not require special use permit for certain temporary structures
§ 15.2-2288.3. Licensed farm wineries; local regulation of certain activities
§ 15.2-2288.3:1. Limited brewery license; local regulation of certain activities
§ 15.2-2288.3:2. Limited distiller's license; local regulation of certain activities
§ 15.2-2288.4. Extension of expiration dates for special use permits
§ 15.2-2288.5. Meaning of "cemetery" for purposes of zoning
§ 15.2-2288.6. Agricultural operations; local regulation of certain activities
§ 15.2-2288.7. Local regulation of solar facilities
§ 15.2-2288.8. Special exceptions for solar photovoltaic projects
§ 15.2-2289. Localities may provide by ordinance for disclosure of real parties in interest
§ 15.2-2290. Uniform regulations for manufactured housing
§ 15.2-2291. Assisted living facilities and group homes of eight or fewer; single-family residence
§ 15.2-2292. Zoning provisions for family day homes
§ 15.2-2292.1. Zoning provisions for temporary family health care structures
§ 15.2-2293. Airspace subject to zoning ordinances
§ 15.2-2293.1. Placement of amateur radio antennas
§ 15.2-2293.2. Regulation of helicopter use
§ 15.2-2294. Airport safety zoning
§ 15.2-2295.1. Regulation of mountain ridge construction
§ 15.2-2295.2. Dam break inundation zones
§ 15.2-2296. Conditional zoning; declaration of legislative policy and findings; purpose
§ 15.2-2297. Same; conditions as part of a rezoning or amendment to zoning map
§ 15.2-2299. Same; enforcement and guarantees
§ 15.2-2301. Same; petition for review of decision
§ 15.2-2302. Same; amendments and variations of conditions
§ 15.2-2303. Conditional zoning in certain localities
§ 15.2-2303.1. Development agreements in certain counties
§ 15.2-2303.1:1. When certain cash proffers collected or accepted
§ 15.2-2303.2. Proffered cash payments and expenditures
§ 15.2-2303.3. Cash proffers requested or accepted by a locality
§ 15.2-2303.4. Provisions applicable to certain conditional rezoning proffers
§ 15.2-2304. Affordable dwelling unit ordinances in certain localities
§ 15.2-2305. Affordable dwelling unit ordinances
§ 15.2-2305.1. Affordable housing dwelling unit ordinances
§ 15.2-2306. Preservation of historical sites and architectural areas
§ 15.2-2306.1. Creation of working waterfront development areas
§ 15.2-2307. Vested rights not impaired; nonconforming uses
§ 15.2-2307.1. Protection of established commercial fishing operations
§ 15.2-2308. Boards of zoning appeals to be created; membership, organization, etc.
§ 15.2-2308.1. Boards of zoning appeals, ex parte communications, proceedings
§ 15.2-2309. Powers and duties of boards of zoning appeals
§ 15.2-2310. Applications for special exceptions and variances
§ 15.2-2312. Procedure on appeal
§ 15.2-2313. Proceedings to prevent construction of building in violation of zoning ordinance
§ 15.2-2314. Certiorari to review decision of board
§ 15.2-2315. Conflict with statutes, local ordinances or regulations
§ 15.2-2316. Validation of zoning ordinances prior to 1971
§ 15.2-2316.2. Localities may provide for transfer of development rights
§ 15.2-2316.4. Zoning; small cell facilities
§ 15.2-2316.4:1. Zoning; other wireless facilities and wireless support structures
§ 15.2-2316.4:2. Application reviews
§ 15.2-2316.4:3. Additional provisions
§ 15.2-2316.5. Moratorium prohibited
§ 15.2-2316.7. Negotiations; siting agreement
§ 15.2-2316.8. Powers of host localities
§ 15.2-2316.9. Effect of executed siting agreement; land use approval
§ 15.2-2317. Applicability of article
§ 15.2-2319. Authority to assess and impose impact fees
§ 15.2-2320. Impact fee service areas to be established
§ 15.2-2321. Adoption of road improvements program
§ 15.2-2322. Adoption of impact fee and schedule
§ 15.2-2323. When impact fees assessed and imposed
§ 15.2-2324. Credits against impact fee
§ 15.2-2325. Updating plan and amending impact fee
§ 15.2-2327. Refund of impact fees