Charlottesville Settles the Legal Dispute That has Left it Without a Zoning Code Since June

The city plans to fund two impact studies to settle the suit and move forward with enacting its 2023 zoning plan update.

1 minute read

October 30, 2025, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Walkable red brick street with restaurant patios and small shops in Charlottesville, Virginia.

MargJohnsonVA / Shutterstock

After months without a zoning code, the Charlottesville, Virginia City Council voted to settle a lawsuit that has held up the city’s zoning update. 

As Ryan Kushner explains in Smart Cities Dive, the lawsuit was brought by residents who claimed the city failed to follow proper procedures such as conducting an impact study when it updated its zoning code to allow more density in 2023. According to Kushner, “The city’s updated zoning eliminates single-family zoning and parking space requirements at new developments, moves intended to address the city’s housing affordability crisis.” 

Now, the council voted to fund two infrastructure and transportation studies in an effort to settle the suit and move forward with the zoning update. City Attorney John Maddux called the settlement “the best outcome in this case,” saying, “It’ll help us move forward with clarity and purpose with our zoning.”

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 in Smart Cities Dive

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

The Chicago Avenue Bridge when it was open, a dark red bridge in front of downtown.

Chicago Avenue bridge construction delays enrages city leaders

The bridge has been closed since 2025. The city originally aimed to re-open it in December, and now expects to finish construction in 2027.

November 1 - Block Club Chicago

People walk to a bus in Queens

NYC bus network redesign speeds up Queens buses

Rush routes have seen a 4.6% speed increase after the redesign.

November 1 - Mass Transit

A rendering of the California high speed rail Fresno station. Two escalators leading into the station are visible.

California High-Speed Rail Authority picks trainset manufacturer

The California High-Speed Rail Authority aims to start servicing passengers by 2033.

November 1 - Railway News