(A) Intent. This chapter is intended to encourage the improvement of public health, safety, convenience and general welfare of citizens and to plan for future development of communities. It seeks to implement the goals, objectives and policies set forth in the Comprehensive Plan of Northampton County adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Northampton County and as set forth in the Code of Virginia, including but not limited to VA Code §§ 15.2-2200, 15.2-2283, 15.2-2284, and 15.2-2223.
(B) Purposes. The regulations that follow are part of the county's comprehensive program to guide and facilitate the orderly and economical growth of the community and to promote the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare. More specifically, the purpose of these regulations is to:
(1)
Provide for adequate light, air, convenience of access and safety from fire, flood, impounding structure failure, crime, and other dangers;
(2) Reduce or prevent congestion in the public streets;
(3) Facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community;
(4) Assure that residential areas be provided with healthy surroundings for family life;
(5) Facilitate the provision of adequate police and fire protection, medical services, disaster evacuation, civil defense, transportation, water, sewerage, flood protection, schools, parks, forests, playgrounds, recreational facilities, airports and other public requirements;
(6)
Protect against destruction of or encroachment upon historic areas and working waterfront development areas;
(7) Protect against the following: overcrowding of land, undue density of population in relation to the community facilities or natural resources existing or available, including soil and groundwater supply, 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;
(8) Assure the growth of the community be consonant with the efficient and economical use of public funds;
(9) Encourage economic development activities that provide desirable employment and enlarge the tax base;
(10) Provide for the preservation of agricultural and forestal lands and other lands of significance for the protection of the natural environment, by measures including, but not limited to, the following: reducing and preventing sedimentation and soil erosion that may harm citizens or the natural environment; protecting the marine environment for the preservation of the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the seafood industry; providing for the orderly development of the county in order to conserve valuable natural resources including farmland, forests, dunes, wetlands, waters and wildlife; and allowing for the safe and unobtrusive excavation or mining of soil or other natural resources;
(11) Protect surface water and ground water by means consistent with applicable state water quality standards;
(12) Promote the creation and preservation of affordable housing suitable for meeting the current and future needs of the planning district within which the locality is situated;
(13) Protect approach slopes and other safety areas of licensed airports and landing areas, including United States government and military air facilities.
(14) To provide reasonable modifications in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.§§ 12131 et seq.) or state and federal fair housing laws, as applicable. Such chapter may also include reasonable provisions not inconsistent with applicable state water quality standards, to protect surface water and ground water as defined in VA Code § 62.1-255.
(Ord. passed 4-12-2016; Ord. passed 4-9-2024)