Sec. 106-386 through 106-389

Other

• Atlantic Ocean Watershed building envelope exemption3,500 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  The following land development in the RPA shall be exempted from the buffer area requirements of the CAPA Overlay District, to the extent necessary to provide a building envelope no greater than 3,500 square feet...

• Exemptions for public utilitiesPublic utilitiesInfrastructure serving the wider area — substations, pump stations, towers.

  Construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of electric, natural gas, fiber optic and telephone transmission lines, railroads, and public roads ... are exempt.

• Exemptions in the RPA

  The following land disturbances in the RPA may be exempted from the 100-foot RPA buffer protection requirements: water wells; passive recreation facilities such as boardwalks, trails, and pathways; and historic preservation and archaeological activities...

• Exemptions for silvicultural activities

  Silvicultural activities are exempt from the requirements of this article provided that silvicultural operations adhere to water quality protection procedures prescribed by the Virginia Department of Forestry...

• Major WQIA disturbance threshold10,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  A major water quality impact assessment shall be required for any development which (i) exceeds 10,000 square feet of land disturbance within the RPA and involves any encroachment into the 100-foot buffer; (ii) causes less than 10,000 square feet of land disturbance within the RPA and involves any encroachment into the waterward 50 feet of the 100-foot buffer; ...

• Minor WQIA disturbance threshold10,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  A minor water quality impact assessment pertains to land disturbances and development within RPAs that causes no more than 10,000 square feet of land disturbance and requires any encroachment into the landward 50 feet of the 100-foot buffer.

• Continuation of nonconformingNonconformingLawful when built, but not compliant with the rules now in force; usually allowed to continue but not to expand. uses

  The lawful use of a building or structure which existed on October 1, 1989 within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed or which existed on February 18, 2009, in Atlantic Ocean Watershed, and which building or structure is not in conformity with this article, may be continued...

• RPA buffer width100 ft

  100-foot RPA buffer

• Seaward buffer width50 ft

  50-foot seaward RPA buffer

• Water quality impact assessment required

  A water quality impact assessment is required for any proposed development within a RPA, including any buffer modification or encroachment.