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AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 40 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (1988) BY ADOPTING NEW SECTIONS 40-48 AND 40-48.1 PERTAINING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITY DISTRICTS. BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia: !. That Chapter 40 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (1988) be amended by adding new Sections 40-48 and 40-48.1 to read as follows: Section 40-48. Residential Opportunity Districts. (a) In order to promote healthy residential neighborhoods, protect and enhance existing property values and facilitate attractive and harmonmous new construction and the rehabilitation and expansion of existing structures, the City Council may designate a neighborhood or community as a "Residential Opportunity District." The designation shall be limited to established residential areas which have vacant or unused lots or parcels of lands, and shall be granted only after full consideration of the views of the affected neighborhood or community and recommendation of the Planning Commission. The designation shall crease an overlay district for the purpose of eligibility for an exception to certain development requirements and is not intended to replace the underlying zoning classification of the community or neighborhood. (b) A map showing the boundaries of each residential opportunity district shall be filed and maintained in the same manner required by Section 40-42.1 for zoning maps. Section 40-48.1 Residential Opportunity District; special exception. (a) An owner of property located within a Residential Opportunity District may apply to the Planning Commission for a special exception from the physical development standards applicable to properties located within the property's zoning district. (b) The Planning Commission may only grant a special exception as to those standards specified in the ordinance established a specific Residential Opportunity District. Any applicable development standard not cited in the ordinance shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be considered by the Planning Commission.