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City of Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance 11/6/2020
<br />Article I. — General Provisions
<br />Sec. 40.2 -100 — Short Title
<br />Article I. — General Provisions
<br />Sec. 40.2 -100 — Short Title
<br />This Ordinance, the full title of which is "Zoning Ordinance, City of Portsmouth, Virginia," may,
<br />for convenience, be referred to as the "Portsmouth Zoning Ordinance," and the accompanying
<br />map, titled "Zoning Map, City of Portsmouth, Virginia," may be referred to as the "Portsmouth
<br />Zoning Map."
<br />Sec. 40.2 -101 —Authority
<br />(A)The City of Portsmouth's Comprehensive Plan embodies the community's vision and goals.
<br />(B) Two primary mechanisms for achieving the City's land use goals are the zoning and
<br />subdivision ordinances.
<br />(C)The Zoning Ordinance sets forth the regulations that legally enforce land use policies and
<br />establishes the rules guiding the development of land within the city as enabled in Ch. 22 of
<br />the Code of Virginia.
<br />(D) Similarly, the subdivision ordinance establishes the rules by which land can be divided, often
<br />setting the stage for subsequent development under the zoning regulations.
<br />(E) These two land use tools work hand in hand to help achieve the City's vision regarding land
<br />use and the overall well -being of the community.
<br />Sec. 40.2 -102 — Purpose and Intent
<br />This Ordinance and any amendments hereto, have been adopted for the general purpose of
<br />implementing the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia and for the purpose of
<br />promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of the public. To these ends, this Ordinance is
<br />designed to give reasonable consideration to each of the following purposes:
<br />(A)Provide for adequate light, air, convenience of access, and safety from fire, flood, crime, and
<br />other dangers;
<br />(B) Reduce or prevent congestion in the public streets;
<br />(C)Facilitate the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community;
<br />(D)Facilitate the provision of adequate police and fire protection, disaster evacuation, civil
<br />defense, transportation, water, sewerage, flood protection, schools, parks, forests, playgrounds,
<br />recreational facilities, and other public requirements;
<br />(E) Protect against the destruction of, or encroachment upon, historic areas and working waterfront
<br />development areas;
<br />(F) Protect against one or more of the following: overcrowding of land, undue density of
<br />population in relation to community facilities existing or available, obstruction of light and air,
<br />danger and congestion in travel and transportation, or loss of life, health, or property from fire,
<br />flood, impounding structure failure, panic, or other dangers;
<br />(G)Encourage economic development activities that provide desirable employment and enlarge
<br />the tax base;
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