As part of the zoning and subdivision code update, Planning and Zoning staff members are hosting a series of Lunch and Learn Zoom webinars on a variety of commercial and residential zoning topics. The webinars will be offered at noon on the first and third Friday of the month throughout the project.
Each webinar will provide an approximately 20-minute presentation followed by an opportunity to ask questions; the sessions won’t go longer than one hour. Click on a calendar icon below to register for an upcoming webinar or view a past webinar.
Join Town staff as they summarize the proposed code changes related to commercial properties and uses and answer your questions.
Lot Coverage Options & Front Porch Encroachments
Planning and Zoning staff will go over the options proposed to address lot coverage and the proposed 8' front yard encroachment for open porches. We encourage you to ask questions and share your thoughts on the proposals.
Tree Coverage
Town Arborist Scott Diffenderfer will be sharing information about Tree Canopy and how it relates to the zoning ordinance.
Draft Residential Standards
Incorporating what was collected through the visual survey and other comments submitted as well as Town Council and Planning Commission comments, the consultant is developing a draft of the residential standards section of the code update.
Town staff will present the information share with Town Council and the Planning Commission, answer questions, and receive your comments on the draft code section.
The Economic Development Manager is working with consultants Streetsense and RCLCO to develop an economic development strategy for the Town. The consultants completed a market study to combine the value of quantitative and qualitative data.
The analysis will consider key areas across the retail, office, industrial, and hospitality markets, as appropriate, with the goal of developing a comprehensive understanding of Town conditions that will guide development of tools and strategies that ensure equitable and sustainable success of businesses across each commercial node/cluster. This data and analysis also helps inform the zoning code update.
The Town of Vienna is an unincorporated Town located within Fairfax County. What does that mean when it comes to zoning and development within the Town limits? How does the County's recently updated zoning code affect the Town's code update? Staff will explain all of this and answer any other questions you have about when we follow Town Code and when County or State regulations are followed.
The Town’s zoning compliance officer investigates reported violations, related to Chapters 13, 13.A, and 18 of the Town Code. and work with property owners to achieve compliance through education about the Town’s ordinances. Learn about common violations for both residential and commercial properties and what to do if you see a potential violation.
How is building height measured? What differences are there between residential and commercial height limits? What’s the history of building heights in Vienna?
How many parking spaces is enough? Who decides and how? Learn about the history of parking standards in Vienna, the challenges, trends, and what will be looked at in the code update.
On February 3 and 4, the zoning consultant presented a proposed zoning map to the Planning Commission and Town Council. In addition to renaming some zones, new districts are also proposed. Staff will discuss the proposed changes and answer your questions about what it all means and what to expect next.
If you want to do something on your property, but it doesn’t meet the code, what options do you have?
The Zoning Administrator will step you through the options available including variances and conditional use permits. How might these change in the code update?
What are the requirements to subdivide a property? How do we control the size and shape of lots? What's the process?
What are the steps for a restaurant to be approved to offer outdoor dining for their customers? How has that changed during the pandemic? What should the process be as we update the code?
Working from home?
If you have ever considered starting a business out of your home then this is the webinar for you. Planning and Zoning staff will review what home occupancy uses are currently allowed and what the process is to be able to start your own business at home.
What's your sign?
Signs are everywhere and play an important role in how a business attracts customers. Planning and Zoning staff will go over what the current ordinance allows and prohibits and the process for applying for signs. As we update our code we want to hear from the business community about what is important to you when it comes to signs.
What is lot coverage?
For the first residential focus webinar, Planning and Zoning staff will go over what is counted towards lot coverage, what is excluded, how to calculate it, and what to do if your property or a project you want to do puts you near or over that limit. We will also be discussing the ideas for potential changes and exceptions for outdoor living.
Why update the Zoning Code now?
The Town of Vienna's Zoning and Subdivision Code Update is just starting and Planning and Zoning Director Cindy Petkac will be kicking off our first lunch and learn with an overview of what zoning is, how it works with the comprehensive plan, and why the Town needs an update of the code.