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Change to a county ordinance

The county is changing its rules for bulk propane businesses

Commercial bulk oil and propane storage facilities could sell to the public, and could be located in the B-1 business district with a conditional use permit.

Every step done

Board of Supervisors: Approved, 5-0 on September 10.

“Such facilities shall not may include retail sales.”

The proposed change to the definition in § 148-3 of the Zoning Ordinance.

What you can do

Remembered on this phone. No name or number needed.

Where it stands

Board of Supervisors: Approved, 5-0 on September 10.

  1. Planning Commission hearing (county’s record, Aug 20)

    Recommended, unanimously · August 20

  2. Board of Supervisors hearing (county’s record, Sep 10, p. 8)

    September 10

  3. Board of Supervisors decides (county’s record, Sep 10, p. 8)

    Approved, 5-0 · September 10

A step the records show opens the record itself.

In plain words

The county proposes changing the Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance definition of Bulk Oil/Propane Storage, Commercial, from "Such facilities shall not include retail sales." to "Such facilities may include retail sales."1 A second revision would change § 148, Attachment 1, Table of Usages to add this use as a conditional use in the B-1, Business, General Zoning District.2 At the Planning Commission public hearing, opened at 7:08 pm, no one present or online spoke, and staff reported no public comment on the definition revision.3 The Planning Commission then voted to recommend the definition change to the Board of Supervisors, and "The motion passed unanimously."3 County Planner Stuart McKenzie told the Board the Planning Commission voted to approve the revised definition at its meeting on August 20, 2026.4

Summarized from the county’s records, October 11.

Where each sentence comes from
  1. “to modify the definition of Bulk Oil/Propane Storage, Commercial, (third sentence of the definition) from “Such facilities shall not include retail sales.” to “Such facilities may include retail sales.””The matter as the records title it
  2. “Table of Usages to add Bulk Oil/Propane Storage, Commercial as a conditional use in the B-1, Business, General Zoning District”Jul 16, 2026 · Planning Commission · On the agenda
  3. “Mr. Parker opened the Public Hearing at 7:08 pm” … “neither Mr. Marston or himself had received any public comment on the definition revision” … “made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors to revise the Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance, § 148-3” … “The motion passed unanimously.”Aug 20, 2026 · Planning Commission · In the minutes
  4. “County Planner Stuart McKenzie stated that the Planning Commission unanimously voted to approve revising the definition as presented at their meeting on August 20, 2026.”Revisions to the Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance, § 148-3, to modify the · full text

Written automatically from the county’s records. Each sentence has to quote the record it comes from, word for word, or it’s left out. The records have the final say.

The official wording

Revisions to the Northumberland County Zoning Ordinance, § 148-3, to modify the definition of Bulk Oil/Propane Storage, Commercial, (third sentence of the definition) from “Such facilities shall not include retail sales.” to “Such facilities may include retail sales.”

Zoning districts here

  • B-1 · Business GeneralWhat the ordinance says it’s for
    “A. It is the purpose of this district to promote light commercial expansion, development, and redevelopment in the existing business centers for mixed commercial and residential uses. B. This district covers these areas of the County intended for the conduct of general business to which the public requires direct and frequent access. This district is not characterized either by constant heavy trucking, other than stocking and delivery of light retail goods, or by any nuisance factors other than occasioned by incidental light and noise of congregation of people and passenger vehicles.”
    Zoning Ordinance § 148-81

Words the law defines

  • Conditional use permit

    Virginia law calls this a special exception, or special use permit:

    “‘Special exception’ means a special use that is a use not permitted in a particular district except by a special use permit granted under the provisions of this chapter and any zoning ordinances adopted herewith.”

    Code of Virginia § 15.2-2201, Chapter 22. Planning, Subdivision of Land and Zoning

How the zoning ordinance is changed

The Board of Supervisors can't amend the zoning ordinance without first referring the change to the Planning Commission for its recommendation. If the Commission doesn't report within 100 days of its first meeting after the referral (or a shorter period the Board sets), that counts as approval.

The Planning Commission and the Board each hold an advertised public hearing. The Board makes the final decision.

The law: Va. Code § 15.2-2285 (Adoption of zoning ordinances and amendments); Va. Code § 15.2-2204 (Advertising public hearings). This describes the general process, not this decision.

The records

Gathered from Northumberland County’s agendas, minutes and notices. Checked October 11.