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M. <br />�. <br />A RESOLUTION DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO PREPARE A PROPOSED <br />AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM SIZE <br />REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL LOTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF <br />ENSURING THAT THE LOTS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING <br />NEIGHBORHOOD. <br />WHEREAS, from time to time the City of Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 40.1 <br />of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (2006), as amended) merits evaluation, and <br />modifications should be considered whenever warranted by good zoning practice or the public <br />necessity, convenience, or general welfare; and <br />WHEREAS, the Zoning Ordinance should be maintained as a living document, adjusting <br />to the needs of the community; and <br />WHEREAS, effective May 2010 the City adopted an entirely new Zoning Ordinance; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, the new Zoning Ordinance established new districts and regulations which <br />in many cases did not adequately take into account existing conditions in the areas to which they <br />applied, resulting in the creation of numerous nonconforming uses and structures and many other <br />difficulties; and <br />WHEREAS, for this and other reasons on February 28, 2017 City Council adopted <br />Resolution R -17 -10 to initiate a review for the purpose of'substantially amending the Zoning <br />Ordinance, and <br />WHEREAS, while the overall review of the existing Zoning Ordinance is ongoing City <br />Council has continued to adopt targeted amendment~ to the Ordinance firr the purpose of <br />addressing the most significant issues; and <br />WHEREAS, the May 2010 Ordinance consolidated 13 residential zoning districts into 4 <br />residential zoning districts and reduced the minimum lot tines which had been previously applied <br />in many neighborhoods; and <br />WHEREAS, it now appears that this reduction in minimum lot tines is having a <br />disruptive and undesirable effect on existing neighborhoods throughout the city in that new lots <br />are being created that are incompatible with the surroundings, existing infrastructure, and the <br />neighborhood in general, <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the ('ounc 1 ofthe City of Portsmouth, <br />Virginia, that City staff is hereby directed to prepare it proposed amendment to the Zoning <br />Ordinance for consideration by the Planning ('ommission and City Council for the purpose of <br />increasing the minimum lot sizes Im newly platted residential lots to it size or sizes that are more <br />co +mpatible with existing neighborhoods; and <br />