The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) reviews, hears, and decides applications for Special Exceptions (SE) to, Variances from, and Appeals regarding the administration of the County's Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Division of the Department of Planning, Zoning, and Environmental Programs serves as staff to the BZA. The Board has six primary duties:
1. To hear and decide Appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative officer in the administration or enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance.
2. To grant upon appeal or original application in specific cases Variances from the terms of the Zoning Ordinance as where the strict application of the ordinance would unreasonably restrict the utilization of a property or that granting of a Variance would alleviate a hardship as defined by state code.
3. To hear and decide applications for Special Exceptions as may be authorized in the official schedule of district regulations of the Zoning Ordinance.
4. To hear and decide applications for interpretation of the zoning district map where there is an uncertainty as to the location of a district boundary.
5. To hear and decide Appeals from the decision of the Zoning Administrator.
6. To revoke a Special Exception previously granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
For Special Exception and Variance applications, the Board of Zoning Appeals reviews the application, receives public comments, and decides on approval or denial of these applications. All applicants for Special Exceptions must attend a Pre-application meeting with Planning and Zoning staff prior to submitting the Special Exception application and fee.
When hearing an Appeal, the BZA will review the Zoning Administrator’s action and the applicant’s reason for appeal, but does not receive public comments. The Board of Zoning Appeals does not have the power to rezone property.
Since the Board of Zoning Appeals meets only when an application for a Special Exception, Variance, or Appeal has been received, this Board may not meet every month. Once scheduled, meeting dates and their materials (as they are prepared) will be posted on the County’s Meeting Portal website.
Board Information
4th Tuesday of the month if an application is received (unless otherwise noted on posted meeting calendar)
7:00 p.m.
Colonial Courthouse (unless otherwise noted on posted meeting calendar)
6504 Main Street
Gloucester, VA 23061
The Board of Zoning Appeals consists of 7 members, each of which must be a resident of the County. Each member is appointed by the Gloucester County Circuit Court (on recommendation by the Board of Supervisors), serves a 5-year term, and may be reappointed by the Circuit Court. Any vacancy in membership is filled by Circuit Court appointment only for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members of the BZA shall hold no other public office in Gloucester County.
Contact the Zoning Division staff at 804-693-1224 or ZoningStaff@gloucesterva.info for more information.
Fees
All BZA Applications (Special Exception, Variance, and Appeal): $275.00
Agendas, Meeting Materials & Minutes
Agendas and other materials for Board of Zoning Appeals meetings are typically available a week prior to the date of the meeting and can be accessed on the County’s Meeting Portal website. Minutes for previous Board of Zoning Appeals meetings (also posted on the Meeting Portal website) are available following approval by the BZA.
| Name | Position | Term Start | Term End | Status | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gandolfo, Mark J. | County-Wide Representative | 01 Jul 2021 | 30 Jun 2026 | Active | |
| Holthaus, Mark | County-Wide Representative | 01 Jul 2022 | 30 Jun 2027 | Active | |
| Horsley, J. Wayne | County-Wide Representative | 01 Jul 2023 | 30 Jun 2028 | Active | |
| Hostenske, Thomas | County-Wide Representative | 01 Apr 2022 | 31 Mar 2027 | Active | |
| Leigh, James S. | County-Wide Representative | 01 Apr 2022 | 31 May 2027 | Active | |
| Little, Tripp | Staff | 01 Jan 2022 | 01 Jan 2099 | Active | |
| Newton, James | County-Wide Representative | 01 Jul 2020 | 30 Jun 2025 | Active | |
| Ottarson, Robert N. | County-Wide Representative | 01 Jul 2019 | 30 Jun 2024 | Active | |
| Walton, Laura | Staff | 01 Jan 2022 | 01 Jan 2099 | Active |
