Planning & Community Development

Virginia Code

Title 15.2 (22) of the Code of Virginia encourages localities within the Commonwealth to improve the public health, safety, convenience, and welfare of their citizens and to plan for the future development of their communities to the end that transportation systems be carefully planned; that new community centers be developed with adequate highway, utility, health, educational, and recreational facilities; that the need for mineral resources and the needs of agriculture, industry, and business be recognized in future growth; that the concerns of military installations be recognized and taken into account in consideration of future development of areas immediately surrounding installations and that where practical, installation commanders be consulted on such matters by local officials; that residential areas be provided with healthy surroundings for family life; that agricultural and forestal land be preserved; and that the growth of the community be consonant with the efficient and economical use of public funds.

Responsibilities

The purpose of the Department of Planning and Community Development is to help create a community of lasting value, offer better choices for where and how people work and live, and engage citizens, businesses and civic leaders in creating a community which enriches the lives of its residents.

Planning implementation is aided by several citizen appointed boards and commissions which include The Board of Zoning Appeals, the Planning Commission, Wetlands Board, and the Board of Historic and Architectural Review. Further guidance is provided by the Comprehensive Plan, small area plans, subdivision and site plans, and the Capital Improvement Plan.

Maps

A link is provided to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Map Service Center for the purpose of obtaining information about the flood zone designation of properties in the County by using the property address.

Fast Track Permitting Process

Surry County can offer a “fast track” permitting process for both site and building plans review should a project need to be expedited.  To receive the incentive benefit, a company must make a request to the Director of Economic Development asking for a “fast track” designation for the project. 

Requests that meet the “fast track” criteria will then be forwarded to the Director for Planning and Community Development who will make the final determination on “fast track” designation.

Because Surry County will expend significant resources expediting these review processes, the applicant, project engineer, and project architect must also commit that they will exercise their respective roles in a similar time frame.

Upon submittal of a complete plan of development, the county’s Site Plan Team will review the documents in seven working days, arrange a work session with the engineer and owner to discuss any comments, and address the changes which should be made to obtain site plan approval.

Upon the second submission of plans, the same process will be repeated, and it will continue until the plans are submitted in approvable form; however, plans not approved within three submittals will be reconsidered for a continuation of fast-track status.

A similar system will be utilized for the building permit review process which may run concurrently.  Please note, the county is not involved in federal and state regulatory approvals.