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PUBLIC HEARING ON FIVE AREAS OF PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS: TREE CANOPY, WINDOVER HEIGHTS BOARD OF REVIEW, OUTDOOR DINING, SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION, AND WIRELESS FACILITIES
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BACKGROUND
On October 26, 2026, the Town Council voted to refer to the Planning Commission five areas of proposed amendments to Chapters 17 and 18 of the Town Code, thereby requesting the Commission’s review and recommendations.
The first step for any topic related to changes in land use standards or procedures is to hold a public hearing. The topics for the public hearing are described below.
PUBLIC HEARING TOPICS
1. Tree Canopy (Chapter 17)
Since 2020, the Town Council, community members, the Conservation and Sustainability Commission (CSC), and staff have been bringing increased attention to the challenge of the declining number of trees in the Vienna town limits. Research showed a 13 percent decline in Vienna’s tree canopy from 2011 to 2021. After many work sessions, meeting agenda items, and public hearings, the Town Council adopted updates to the Town Code within Chapters 17, 18, and 27 on April 29, 2024. Those changes 1) shifted from one approach enabled under Virginia law (15.2-961. Replacement of trees during development process) to another enabled approach (15.2-961.1. Conservation of trees during land development process in localities belonging to a nonattainment area for air quality standards); 2) established procedures for managing the new approach; and 3) established the new Tree Advisory Committee (TAC), as a subcommittee to the CSC but also reporting directly to the Town Council.
In parallel with this initiative, the Town Council has advocated to the Virginia General Assembly for many years for a change to Virginia law, which was finally enacted during the 2026 legislative session. The adopted HB549 now allows the Town to require that canopy coverage limits be reached within 10 years of a development or redevelopment project, rather than the prior 20 years...
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