Charlottesville Regulatory Process Guide | Process 04 →

Zoning Variance & Special Use Permit

Governed by Chapter 34 (Zoning). A variance is heard by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) under § 34-156 when strict application of zoning regulations would cause undue hardship. A Special Use Permit (SUP) goes to the Planning Commission for recommendation, then City Council for final approval under § 34-41 and § 34-42. Denials of BZA decisions may be appealed to the Circuit Court under Virginia Code § 15.2-2314.


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    <bpmn:startEvent id="SE_zv" name="Submit Variance or SUP Application (Ch. 34)"><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv1</bpmn:outgoing></bpmn:startEvent>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv1" sourceRef="SE_zv" targetRef="GW_zv_type"/>
    <bpmn:exclusiveGateway id="GW_zv_type" name="Variance or SUP?" default="Flow_zv_sup"><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv1</bpmn:incoming><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv_variance</bpmn:outgoing><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv_sup</bpmn:outgoing></bpmn:exclusiveGateway>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv_variance" name="Variance" sourceRef="GW_zv_type" targetRef="Task_zv_boa"><bpmn:conditionExpression>isVariance</bpmn:conditionExpression></bpmn:sequenceFlow>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv_sup" name="SUP" sourceRef="GW_zv_type" targetRef="Task_zv_pc"/>
    <bpmn:userTask id="Task_zv_boa" name="Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing (§ 34-156)"><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv_variance</bpmn:incoming><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv2</bpmn:outgoing></bpmn:userTask>
    <bpmn:userTask id="Task_zv_pc" name="Planning Commission Review (§ 34-41)"><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv_sup</bpmn:incoming><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv3</bpmn:outgoing></bpmn:userTask>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv2" sourceRef="Task_zv_boa" targetRef="GW_zv_decision"/>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv3" sourceRef="Task_zv_pc" targetRef="Task_zv_council"/>
    <bpmn:userTask id="Task_zv_council" name="City Council Approval (§ 34-42)"><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv3</bpmn:incoming><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv4</bpmn:outgoing></bpmn:userTask>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv4" sourceRef="Task_zv_council" targetRef="GW_zv_decision"/>
    <bpmn:exclusiveGateway id="GW_zv_decision" name="Approved?" default="Flow_zv_denied"><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv2</bpmn:incoming><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv4</bpmn:incoming><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv_granted</bpmn:outgoing><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv_denied</bpmn:outgoing></bpmn:exclusiveGateway>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv_granted" name="Yes" sourceRef="GW_zv_decision" targetRef="EE_zv_granted"><bpmn:conditionExpression>isApproved</bpmn:conditionExpression></bpmn:sequenceFlow>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv_denied" name="No" sourceRef="GW_zv_decision" targetRef="Task_zv_appeal"/>
    <bpmn:endEvent id="EE_zv_granted" name="Variance / SUP Granted"><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv_granted</bpmn:incoming></bpmn:endEvent>
    <bpmn:manualTask id="Task_zv_appeal" name="Appeal to Circuit Court (§ 15.2-2314 VA Code)"><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv_denied</bpmn:incoming><bpmn:outgoing>Flow_zv5</bpmn:outgoing></bpmn:manualTask>
    <bpmn:endEvent id="EE_zv_appeal" name="Appeal Filed"><bpmn:incoming>Flow_zv5</bpmn:incoming></bpmn:endEvent>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_zv5" sourceRef="Task_zv_appeal" targetRef="EE_zv_appeal"/>
  </bpmn:process>
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      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="GW_zv_type_di" bpmnElement="GW_zv_type" isMarkerVisible="true"><dc:Bounds x="265" y="197" width="50" height="50"/><bpmndi:BPMNLabel><dc:Bounds x="253" y="254" width="74" height="14"/></bpmndi:BPMNLabel></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
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      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Task_zv_pc_di" bpmnElement="Task_zv_pc"><dc:Bounds x="390" y="300" width="150" height="80"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
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      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="EE_zv_granted_di" bpmnElement="EE_zv_granted"><dc:Bounds x="1000" y="102" width="36" height="36"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Task_zv_appeal_di" bpmnElement="Task_zv_appeal"><dc:Bounds x="970" y="300" width="150" height="80"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="EE_zv_appeal_di" bpmnElement="EE_zv_appeal"><dc:Bounds x="1200" y="322" width="36" height="36"/></bpmndi:BPMNShape>
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      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_zv_variance_di" bpmnElement="Flow_zv_variance"><di:waypoint x="290" y="197"/><di:waypoint x="290" y="120"/><di:waypoint x="390" y="120"/><bpmndi:BPMNLabel><dc:Bounds x="296" y="153" width="44" height="14"/></bpmndi:BPMNLabel></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
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      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_zv_denied_di" bpmnElement="Flow_zv_denied"><di:waypoint x="890" y="222"/><di:waypoint x="970" y="222"/><di:waypoint x="970" y="340"/><bpmndi:BPMNLabel><dc:Bounds x="926" y="275" width="15" height="14"/></bpmndi:BPMNLabel></bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
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    </bpmndi:BPMNPlane>
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</bpmn:definitions>


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