HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/3/2022 - Regular TOWN OF VINTON
311 S. POLLARD STREET
VINTON, VIRGINIA 24179
PHONE: (540) 983-0605
FAX: (540) 983-0621 ANITA MCMILLAN EMAIL: amcmillan@vintonva.gov PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR
October 26, 2022
TO: VINTON PLANNING COMMISSION
Mr. Keith Liles, Chair
Mr. David “Dave” Jones, Vice-Chair
Mr. Robert “Bob” Benninger
Mr. Jonathan McCoy
Ms. Sarah Reid
RE: Work Session and Public Hearing
Thursday, November 3, 2022
A meeting of the Planning Commission will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2022. The public
hearing portion of the meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be
heard, in the Council Chambers of the Vinton Municipal Building, 311 South Pollard Street, Vinton,
Virginia. The Planning Commission will also hold a dinner work session on November 3, 2022,
beginning at 5:15 p.m., prior to the public hearing.
Please see the attached agenda and supporting materials for the meeting.
The purpose of the public hearing is to receive comments concerning an amendment to the Town of
Vinton Comprehensive Plan to adopt and incorporate by reference the Town of Vinton GAP Summary
– Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan, May 2022.
Please let me know if you are UNABLE to attend the meeting as soon as possible by emailing me at
amcmillan@vintonva.gov or calling me at 540-983-0605. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Anita J. McMillan
Planning and Zoning Director
Enclosures
c: Richard “Pete” Peters, Town Manager
Nathan McClung, Assistant Planning & Zoning Director
Vinton Planning Commission
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Dinner Work Session - 5:15 p.m.
Public Hearing - 6:00 p.m.
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 15.2-2204 of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as
amended, the Town of Vinton, Virginia, hereby gives notice of a public hearing to be held
by the Planning Commission on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. The public
hearing will be held in the Council Chambers at the Vinton Municipal Building, 311 South
Pollard Street, Vinton, Virginia. The Planning Commission will also hold a dinner work
session prior to the public hearing in the Council Chambers on November 3, 2022,
beginning at 5:15 p.m.
AGENDA
Consideration of:
DINNER WORK SESSION – 5:15 P.M.
I. Call to Order—Roll Call
II. Briefing
1. Briefing on an Amendment to the Town of Vinton Comprehensive Plan to Adopt
and Incorporate by Reference the Town of Vinton GAP Summary – Route 24
Bike/Ped Plan, May 2022.
2. Briefing on amendments to Town Code Sec. 10-97. - Fowl, chickens, and other
domestic birds.
III. Comments of Planning Commissioners and Planning Staff
IV. Adjournment of Work Session
REGULAR SESSION – 6:00 P.M.
I. Call to Order—Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes:
1. Consider approval of the minutes:
a. Work Session and Public Hearing, February 24, 2022
b. Work Session, April 21, 2022
311 S. Pollard Street
Vinton, VA 24179
Phone (540) 983-0605
Fax (540) 983-0621
Mr. David “Dave” Jones, Vice-Chairman
Mr. Robert “Bob” Benninger
Mr. Jonathan McCoy
Ms. Sarah Reid
2
III. Public Hearing to receive comments concerning:
1. An Amendment to the Town of Vinton Comprehensive Plan to Adopt and
Incorporate by Reference the Town of Vinton GAP Summary – Route 24
Bike/Ped Plan, May 2022.
a. Chairman opens public hearing
• Report from staff
• Receive public comments
• Commissioners discussion and questions
b. Chairman closes public hearing
c. Commission takes action on whether to recommend the adoption of
the proposed Zoning Ordinance
IV. Adjournment
Memorandum
To: Vinton Planning Commission Members
From: Nathan McClung, Vinton Planning and Zoning Department
Date: November 3, 2022
Re: Town of Vinton GAP Summary – Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
The Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan was conducted by a consultant team in close collaboration with Town
staff and the guidance of two separate steering committees: a Community Steering Committee
made up of Vinton residents and members of elected and appointed committees, and a Technical
Steering Committee made up of Town and regional government staff.
Project activities began with a review of existing project area conditions by the Consultant Team,
including data, physical conditions, and existing planning documents. The project solicited input
from Vinton residents on safety issues and desired bike/ped facilities at both an in-person public
meeting conducted in October 2021 and through an online survey.
Consultants used their experience to create a toolkit of potential bicycle and pedestrian
improvement types for Vinton, using existing conditions information to apply toolkit
improvements to appropriate segments and intersections in the project area. Consultants presented
draft project recommendations to the public at a second public meeting in March 2022.
The importance of having this Plan adopted and incorporated by reference as an amendment to the
Town of Vinton Comprehensive Plan is that it:
1. Ensures that the recommended improvements and project recommendations within the
Plan are eligible for future transportation grant funding; and
2. Solidifies and legitimizes the work and efforts of the steering committees, Town staff, and
Vinton residents who were involved in the creation of the Plan itself.
TOWN OF VINTON GAP SUMMARY
ROUTE 24 BIKE/PED PLAN
MAY 2022Prepared for the Town of Vinton
iTown of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
TOWN OF VINT O N GAP SUMMAR Y
ROUTE 24 BIKE/PED PLAN
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Chasity Barbour, Citizen Representative/Town Community Programs Director
Bob Benninger, Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals Member
Stephanie Brown, Board Executive of the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce
Fayula Gordon, Associate Planner
Michael Gray, VDOT Planning Manager, Salem District
Mayor Brad Grose, Town Council Representative
Isaac Henry, Roanoke County Transportation Planner
William “Bo” Herndon, Public Works Director
Mary-Beth Layman, Citizen Representative
Nathan McClung, Assistant Planning and Zoning Director
Anita McMillan, Planning and Zoning Director
Carol Moneymaker, VDOT Planning Specialist, Salem District
Sarah Reid, Planning Commission Member
Rachel Ruhlen, Transportation Planner, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
Janet Scheid, Greenway Commission Chair
Cody Sexton, Assistant Town Manager
Kenny Sledd, Utility Systems Manager
ABOUT GAP-TA
Visit vtrans.org/about/GAP-TA for information about the Growth and Accessibility Planning Technical Assistance program.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Nathan McClung, Assistant Planning and Zoning Director
(540) 283-7009
nmcclung@vintonva.gov
311 St. Pollard St., Vinton, VA 24179
The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Office of
Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI).
OIPI does not endorse products or manufacturers. Any trade or manufacturers’ names that appear herein are solely because they are
considered essential to the object of the report.
Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
CONTENTS
I. Introduction 1
GAP Technical Assistance 1
Study Area and Background 1
Project Process and Activities 1
Steering Committees 1
II. Existing Conditions Analysis 2
Existing VTrans Needs 2
Review of Relevant Plans and Studies 4
Policy Themes 4
Existing Land Uses & Key Destinations 4
Roadway Conditions 6
Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Infrastructure 7
Previously Planned Improvements 10
Summary of Opportunities and Challenges 10
III. Public Involvement 12
Public Meetings 12
Community Survey 12
Steering Committees 12
IV. Toolkit of Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements 14
Sidewalk Gaps 14
Slow Streets 17
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
CONTENTS
Bicycle Lanes 17
Downtown Toolkit 18
V. Recommendations 19
Identifying Bicycle and Pedestrian Recommendations 19
Prioritization 19
VI. Priority Improvements 25
A: Virginia Avenue Sidewalk (Pollard Street to Vinyard Road)25
B: Intersection Improvements (Pollard Street and Virginia Avenue)26
C: Pollard Street Sidewalks (Virginia Avenue to Cleveland Avenue)26
D: Cleveland Avenue Slow Street (Pollard Street to Bedford Road)27
E: Washington Avenue Lane Reconfiguration (Pollard Street to Bypass Road)28
F: Vinyard Road/Bedford Road Pedestrian Improvements (Cleveland Avenue to Hardy Road)29
VII. Conceptual Project Costs 30
Funding Considerations 31
SMART SCALE 31
Transportation Alternatives Funding 31
Recreation-Oriented Grants 31
Appendix 1: Cost Estimate Breakdowns 32
Appendix 2: Summary of Policy Themes from Prior Plans 36
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
LIST OF TABLES, MAPS, FIGURES, AND APPENDICES
Table 1: 2021 VTrans Mid-Term Needs 2
Table 2: Prioritization Matrix 20
Table 3: Recommended Improvements 22
Table 4: Cost Estimates 30
Map 1: Key Destinations 5
Map 2: Roadway Dimensions 6
Map 3: Average Daily Traffic 7
Map 4: Existing Sidewalks & Bus Stops 8
Map 5: Regional Trails 9
Map 6: Crash Data 10
Map 7: Summary of Input from the Map Survey 13
Map 8: Recommended Improvements 21
Figure 1: Sidewalk Gaps on Multi-Lane Arterial Streets 14
Figure 2: Sidewalk Gaps on Local Streets 15
Figure 3: Signalized Intersection Enhancements 16
Figure 4: Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements 16
Figure 5: Slow Streets 17
Figure 6: Downtown Streetscapes 17
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
GAP Technical Assistance
The following study was conducted under a Growth and
Accessibility Planning (GAP) technical assistance grant.
Administered by Virginia’s Office of Intermodal Planning and
Investment (OIPI), GAP technical assistance projects seek to
align infrastructure development with designated and emerging
growth areas to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The Town
of Vinton applied for this grant to develop a planning approach
and process to develop a Multimodal Access and Improvement
Study in partnership with Vinton staff, residents, and stakeholders.
The study area includes the entirety of the area between Route
24, Washington Avenue, and South Pollard Street, an area that
includes highly variable land uses from walkable downtown blocks
to neighborhoods and commercial developments. Route 24 is an
important route, not only to the Town of Vinton, but as an important
commuter link in the greater Roanoke area.
Study Area and Background
The study area consists of the central portion of the Town of
Vinton, and is bordered by Washington Avenue to the north,
Bypass Road to the east, East Virginia Avenue/Hardy Road to the
south, and South Pollard Street to the west. It features a variety of
development patterns and land uses, including the Town’s central
business district, a historic residential neighborhood, and multiple
strip-mall styled commercial developments.
This area was chosen for planning purposes due to the important
role that it plays in the community and economic development
efforts of the Town of Vinton. It includes the two major road
corridors that serve the Town of Vinton, as well as five of the town’s
designated Urban Development Areas. The Town of Vinton desires
to improve the accessibility, safety, and efficiency of multimodal
travel in this area to make it more cohesive, and to further serve the
local goals for community services and economic development.
Project Process and Activities
The project was conducted by the consultant team in close
collaboration with Town staff. A project kickoff call was held
on June 23, 2021 between Town of Vinton staff and technical
assistance consultants to review the project scope and carry
out initial discussions, after which bi-weekly project progress
meetings were held virtually between the Consultant Team and
Town staff project managers to guide project activities and review
deliverables. This work was also guided by two separate steering
committees: a Community Steering Committee made up of Vinton
residents and members of elected and appointed committees, and
a Technical Steering Committee made up of Town and regional
government staff.
Project activities began with a review of existing project area
conditions by the Consultant Team, including data, physical
conditions, and existing planning documents. The project solicited
input from Vinton residents on safety issues and desired bike/ped
facilities at both an in-person public meeting conducted in October
2021 and through an online survey.
Consultants used their experience to create a toolkit of potential
bicycle and pedestrian improvement types for Vinton, using
existing conditions information to apply toolkit improvements to
appropriate segments and intersections in the project area.
Consultants presented draft project recommendations to the public
at a second public meeting in March 2022. The team ranked
potential improvements according to traffic stress, community
need, and tactical viability priority criteria to arrive at a short list
of priority projects, adding further detail and conceptual cost
information to selected projects.
Steering Committees
Community Steering Committee
•Chasity Barbour, Citizen Representative/Town Community
Programs Director
•Bob Benninger, Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals
Member
•Stephanie Brown, Board Executive of the Vinton Area Chamber
of Commerce
•Mayor Brad Grose, Town Council Representative
•Mary-Beth Layman, Citizen Representative
•Sarah Reid, Planning Commission Member
•Janet Scheid, Greenway Commission Chair
Technical Steering Committee
•Cody Sexton, Assistant Town Manager
•William “Bo” Herndon, Public Works Director
•Kenny Sledd, Utility Systems Manager
•Anita McMillan, Planning and Zoning Director
•Nathan McClung, Assistant Planning and Zoning Director
•Fayula Gordon, Associate Planner
•Rachel Ruhlen, Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission
•Isaac Henry, Roanoke County Transportation Planner
•Carol Moneymaker, VDOT Planning Specialist, Salem District
•Michael Gray, VDOT Planning Manager, Salem District
I. INTRODUCTION
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
The development of this report relied on a wide variety of data
sources drawn from the Town of Vinton, Roanoke County, VDOT,
and primary data collected by the consultant team to understand
the existing condition of bicycle, pedestrian, and automotive traffic
in Vinton. The data sets included, among others:
•Future Land Use
•Key Destinations
•Roadway Dimensions
•Vehicular Traffic Volumes
•Sidewalk and Trail Infrastructure
•Existing Bicycle Infrastructure
•Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes
This analysis of current conditions helps to identify potential types
and locations of improvements and strengthens the connection
between this plan and previous planning efforts.
Existing VTrans Needs
While this project plans for potential bicycle and pedestrian
improvements in the Route 24 area, the area is also subject
to existing transportation needs identified in the 2021 VTrans
Mid-Term Needs. Identified 2021 Mid-Term needs for streets,
intersections, and areas in or near the project area can be found in
Table 1.
II. EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS
Route Segments Needs
Washington Avenue (Pollard St. to Bypass Rd.)
•Transportation Demand Management
•Transit Access
• Bicycle Access
•Pedestrian Access
•Safety Improvement (Pollard to Poplar, Madison to Mountain
View)
•Intersection Safety Improvement (at Mountain View)
Pollard Street (Washington Ave. to Virginia Ave.)
•Transportation Demand Management
•Transit Access
•Bicycle Access
•Pedestrian Access
•Safety Improvement (Jefferson to Jackson)
E. Virginia Avenue (Pollard St. to Chestnut St.)
•Transportation Demand Management
•Transit Access
•Bicycle Access
•Pedestrian Access
•Safety Improvement
Table 1: 2021 VTrans Mid-Term Needs
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Route Segments Needs
Hardy Road (Chestnut St. to Bypass Rd.)
•Transportation Demand Management
•Transit Access
• Bicycle Access
•Pedestrian Access
•Safety Improvement (Spruce to Bypass)
Bypass Rd. (Hardy Rd. to Washington Ave.)
•Transportation Demand Management
•Transit Access
•Bicycle Access
•Pedestrian Access
•Safety Improvement
Areas Needs
Town of Vinton Urban Development Areas (UDAs)
•Roadway capacity
•Roadway operations
•Intersection design
•Street grid
•Safety features
•Traffic calming
•Signage/wayfinding
•Transit frequency
•Transit operations
•Transit capacity
•Transit facilities
•Bicycle infrastructure
•Pedestrian infrastructure
•Complete Streets
•Sidewalks
•On-street parking
•Off-street parking
•Environment
Table 1: 2021 VTrans Mid-Term Needs (cont’d)
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Review of Relevant Plans and Studies
The analysis included a review of previous plans and studies that
addressed the area. This review identified many policies and prior
findings that are relevant to multimodal planning for this area. The
relevant studies that were reviewed included:
•Vinton Major Corridors Bicycle and Pedestrian
Accommodations
•Town Of Vinton Comprehensive Plan
•Economic And Community Development Plan
•Vinton Area Corridors Plan
•Gus Nicks Boulevard/Washington Ave Corridor
Improvement Study
•Town Of Vinton Urban Development Areas
•Vinton UDA - Downtown Public Realm Design Guidelines
and Action Plan
•Vision 2040: Roanoke Valley Transportation
•2018 Roanoke Valley Greenway Plan
•Regional Pedestrian Vision Plan
•Roanoke Valley Transit Vision Plan
•Valley Metro Transit Development Plan; Fiscal Years 2019-
2028
•Bikeway Plan for Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan
Planning Organization 2012 Update
•Roanoke Valley Traffic Congestion Management Process
•Vinton Subdivision Ordinance Revisions Framework
As part of this review, relevant and consistent policy themes were
identified from these prior studies that could serve to guide and
direct the recommendations resulting from this planning process.
A full summary of these themes and policy directions is in the
Appendix to this report.
Policy Themes
Based on the review of prior plans and their policy direction, a
series of five potential goals for this project were identified. These
potential goals were reviewed with the committees and the citizens
of Vinton through a series of outreach efforts to verify and validate
them as the guideposts for future multimodal planning in this area.
The five affirmed goals for this plan are summarized below:
1) Improve Multimodal Travel - Enhance or reconfigure
roadway infrastructure to better accommodate multimodal
travel.
2) Connect Activity Centers - Establish corridors and
services that will provide multimodal connections between
activity centers in the Town of Vinton, as well as to other
destinations in the Roanoke metro area.
3) Connect Neighborhoods to Activities - Make strategic
investments within neighborhoods adjacent to activity centers to
improve the safety and desirability of multimodal access.
4) Reinforce Vinton’s Sense of Place - Support economic
development efforts with placemaking improvements that
enhance visual appearances and pedestrian safety.
5) Maintain Traffic Safety and Efficiency - Maintain the
safe and efficient operation of automotive travel.
Existing Land Uses & Key Destinations
The analysis examined the existing land uses and key destinations
in the study area. The community’s land use patterns determine
which areas generate the most activity and how residents will travel
to and from these places. This, in turn, determines which corridors
will feature the most automobile traffic, and which may be most
suitable to bicycle and pedestrian travel.
In general terms, the study area is characterized by a central
core of residential development surrounded by commercial and
business districts along the major road corridors that serve as the
study area boundary. The western portion of the area features a
traditional downtown commercial district that is centered around
South Pollard Street. The southern and eastern portions of the area,
by contrast, feature strip-mall style commercial developments
that were built along Bypass Road, Hardy Road, and East
Virginia Avenue. Finally, the northern edge of the study area is
characterized by a mixture of residential homes and small, free-
standing businesses along Washington Avenue.
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Several important destinations are found in this area, but three stand out as key potential activity generators for multimodal travel.
1) Downtown - The first is Vinton’s downtown central business district located on and around South Pollard Street. This area features
a variety of stores, restaurants, and professional offices, as well as public services such as the town library and municipal building. The
town has identified this area as a key generator of tourism and prime focus of economic development.
2) Lake Drive Plaza Shopping Center and Vinyard Rd Corridor - The second key activity center is the Lake Drive Plaza
shopping center and Vinyard Road corridor located on the south side of Hardy Road. This area features numerous businesses and
restaurants, entertainment venues, and a large grocery store. Though designed to be accessible primarily by car, it also serves as the
endpoint of a Valley Metro fixed bus route line which will feature numerous transit-oriented amenities, such as bus shelters, planned for
construction in the summer of 2022.
3) River Park Shopping Center - The third major activity center in the study is the River Park Shopping Center on the west side of
Bypass Rd. This a smaller shopping center than Lake Drive Plaza Shopping Center, and currently primarily features discount retail stores.
The Town of Vinton supports the redevelopment of this property, however, and intends on encouraging the establishment of a large mixed
use, “town-center” style development at the location in the future.
Other key destinations that should also be considered include the Vinton War Memorial event venue on Washington Avenue, Carilion Clinic
Family Medicine, and W. E. Cundiff Elementary School, which is located a short distance east of the study area on Hardy Road.
Any recommendations produced by this study should carefully consider bicycle and pedestrian accommodations that can be provided in
and around these activity centers. They should also consider ways that the Town of Vinton can establish bicycle and pedestrian routes that
can connect activity centers and residential neighborhoods to each other.
Map 1: Key Destinations
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Roadway Conditions
The analysis also examined the traffic conditions and volumes present on the road corridors in the study area. The analysis used readily
available traffic information from the Virginia Department of Transportation, as well as recent aerial images and mapping of the area. The
purpose of this analysis was to understand where additional bike and pedestrian facilities could be accommodated most efficiently with
minimal need for right of way acquisition or road widenings.
Pavement Width
Pavement Widths were analyzed and approximated using aerial imagery. Most of the road corridors in the study area are narrow two-lane
streets with paved travelway widths of approximately 30’ or less. The notable exceptions to this are the highway corridors running along
the northern, southern, and eastern edges of the study area—Washington Avenue, East Virginia Avenue, Hardy Road, and Bypass Road
respectively. These highway corridors feature four lanes of travel and travelway widths of approximately 50’-75’. Center turn lanes with
some medians are provided along East Virginia Avenue, Hardy Road, and Bypass Road.
Parking
On-street parking is provided along many of the streets in the central business district, as well as informally along wider portions of the
adjacent neighborhood streets. On-street parking is not allowed along any of the major highway corridors.
This inventory of existing roadway conditions helps identify where bicycle and pedestrian accommodations could be added or
enhanced most easily, as well as identifying locations where traffic volumes are high that may be need special treatments for multimodal
accommodation.
Map 2: Roadway Dimensions
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Traffic
In 2019, VDOT reported traffic volumes generally correspond with the roadway widths and capacities. East Virginia Avenue, Hardy Road,
and most of Washington Avenue average 20,000-25,000 vehicles per day. Bypass Road, by contrast, averages between 10,000-15,000
vehicles per day. All the other roads in the study area average fewer than 10,000 vehicles per day.
Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transit Infrastructure
This analysis also collected information about bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure. A sidewalk inventory was provided by the Town
of Vinton, a trail inventory by Roanoke County, and bus stop locations were collected from Valley Metro Transit.
Existing Sidewalks
Sidewalks can be found along many streets in the study area. Sidewalks are provided on both sides of the roadway for most of Washington
Ave and South Pollard St, as well as along Hardy Rd in front of the Lake Drive Plaza shopping center. Sidewalk coverage extends
throughout most of the central business district area, as well as along some of the streets in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. Of note is the
fact that the central business district can be connected to the Lake Drive Plaza shopping center with a continuous sidewalk path on at least
one side of the street using East Cleveland Ave and Bedford Rd. There is, however, a notable lack of sidewalks along East Virginia Ave and
Bypass Rd.
Map 3: Average Daily Traffic
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Bus Stops
Additionally, 22 bus stops were identified in the study area. These stops are located along South Pollard Street, Washington Avenue, Bypass
Road, and Hardy Road. As mentioned previously, Lake Drive Plaza shopping center is an important destination, and has been identified
as a potential future small bus transfer station. Sidewalk access is available to most of the bus stops, except for the stops located near the
entrances of the River Park Shopping Center.
This inventory can help identify important gaps in the Town’s existing multimodal infrastructure as well as identify opportunities that can be
expanded to build a stronger multimodal network and foster greater use of alternative modes of transportation.
Source: Valley Metro Transit
Map 4: Existing Sidewalks & Bus Stops
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Regional Trails
Existing bicycle infrastructure, by contrast, is very limited in the study area. No bicycle lanes or other formal bicycle markings are found in
the study area. There are nearby off-road trails and roads, however, that are popular with bicyclists, including the Glade Creek Greenway,
Wolf Creek Greenway, and Blue Ridge Parkway. Hardy Road, Walnut Avenue, and Washington Avenue are all commonly used to connect
to these places from the study area.
Crash Data
The analysis also considered bicycle and pedestrian safety data. This information was provided by the VDOT Crash Analyst Tool. The
database used by this tool offers the location of all reported crashes and accidents in the period from 2014-2021. During the reported
period, only one auto accident involving a bicyclist or pedestrian was reported in the study area. This was a pedestrian accident that
occurred on Jefferson Ave and resulted in a severe injury. No accidents involving a bicyclist were reported.
There were, however, three accidents involving bicyclists that occurred just outside of the study area. Two of these occurred on West Virginia
Avenue, a few blocks west of the intersection of East Virginia Avenue and South Pollard Street. One resulted in a severe injury, while the
other resulted in a minor, non-visible injury. The third accident involving a bicyclist occurred on West Lee Avenue, about one block west of
Map 5: Regional Trails
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Previously Planned Improvements
Finally, the inventory of existing conditions also included a review
of previous planning and study efforts that have been conducted
in the study area. This area has been the subject of several
previous studies that have produced numerous improvement
recommendations. Some of the recommendations that are most
relevant to the current study effort include:
•The need for pedestrian accommodations at signalized
intersections improvements in general
•The creation of a bicycle boulevard between downtown
Vinton and the River Park Shopping Center
•The reduction of the width of the travel lanes on major road
corridors
•The replacement of some on-street parking with bicycle
lanes.
1) The first recommendation that was identified in multiple studies
was the need to improve pedestrian amenities and infrastructure at
signalized intersections. Studies noted that very few intersections
offer crosswalks or pedestrian countdown signals. It has been
recommended that these elements be added to every signalized
intersection, and that pedestrian refuge islands also be added at
strategic crossing points of four-lane roads.
2) The second recommendation provided by previous studies was
the establishment of a bicycle boulevard between downtown
Vinton and the River Park Shopping Center. This facility would
parallel Washington Avenue and East Virginia Avenue as
an additional east-west route across the study area. It would
provide bicyclists with an alternative route that would avoid the
heavy traffic and high speeds of the major road corridors. This
recommendation also assumed that the River Park Shopping Center
will be redeveloped as a new “town-center” style development
that will generate additional activity and travel to the site.
Map 6: Crash Data
Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
3) The third notable recommendation made by previous studies
was to reduce the width of the travel lanes on the major road
corridors to 10’ wide to provide space for bicycle lanes on these
roads. A study of Washington Ave confirms the possibility of “road
diet” treatments on this roadway.
4) Finally, the fourth notable recommendation was to remove on-
street parking along some sections of streets in the central business
district to avoid the potential conflict between bicyclists and parked
cars. These recommendations suggested that marked bicycle lanes
be added in place of the existing on-street parking spaces.
These prior recommendations offer guidance to the current study
effort and provide useful starting points to test in the development
of plan recommendations.
Summary of Opportunities and Challenges
This analysis revealed numerous challenges and opportunities as
benchmarks for consideration in the planning process.
Challenges
One of the primary challenges for improving multimodal travel
in the study area is the lack of existing bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure. Particularly notable is the complete absence of
bicycle lanes or other formal bicycle markings, as well as the
lack of pedestrian safety amenities at nearly all the signalized
intersections in the study area.
Another challenge for providing multimodal accommodations
is the narrow street dimensions that characterize the historic
neighborhoods in the center of the study area. Narrow streets can
be favorable for non-motorized travel due to their natural tendency
to reduce automobile travel speeds. They also, however, can make
it difficult or unfeasible to add amenities such as bicycle lanes or
sidewalks using the existing right of way.
A third challenge for this study area is the high volume and speed
of traffic that uses the major corridors such as Washington Ave
and East Virginia Ave. These conditions can make bicycle and
pedestrian travel along the corridors unpleasant, and often unsafe.
Their importance as driving routes and their significant traffic
volumes can also make it difficult to successfully propose changes
such as narrowing or repurposing travel lanes to provide room for
sidewalks or bicycle lanes.
Opportunities
Along with these challenges, however, the study area also provides
numerous opportunities that support multimodal travel.
One such opportunity is the existing internal road network that
offers complete, or nearly complete, connections between the
major activity centers. These streets, such as Cleveland Ave
and Bedford Ave, can provide bicyclists and pedestrians with
alternative routes between destinations that avoid larger and
busier road corridors.
Another opportunity is the relatively wide availability of sidewalks
in the study area. While sidewalks are conspicuously absent from
large portions of East Virginia Avenue and Bypass Road, their
availability along South Pollard Street, Washington Avenue, in
front of the Lake Drive Plaza shopping center, and along many
of the internal neighborhood streets provides a solid foundation
to support pedestrian travel in the area. This existing pedestrian
network also allows future improvements to be more focused
on relatively low-cost improvements such as crosswalks and
pedestrian signals, rather than requiring the larger investments of
large sections of new sidewalks.
A third opportunity supporting multimodal travel is the fact that
much of the study area features characteristics of traditional
neighborhood design such as short blocks, buildings located near
to the street, sidewalks, and residential neighborhoods directly
adjacent to commercial developments. All these characteristics
provide a “human-scale” to the study area that supports the ease
and comfort of non-motorized travel.
A final significant opportunity for multimodal travel is the presence
of an existing bus route that serves most of the study area, including
direct service to its three major activity centers. This route not only
provides an alternative mode of transportation to reach these
destinations, but also offers residents of the area with a way to
reach other destinations around the Roanoke metro area without
the need to independently own an automobile.
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
The Town of Vinton values the input of its residents and welcomed
public input at several stages in the bicycle and pedestrian
planning process for the Route 24 area.
Public Meetings
In-person public meetings provided one method of public
involvement in the Route 24 bicycle and pedestrian plan. Public
meetings were held both early in the process to solicit public
input and experience, and late in the process to share draft
recommendations for public comment.
Early Engagement
An initial public meeting was held in person at the Vinton War
Memorial on October 4, 2021. The meeting was advertised
extensively through Town of Vinton social media, newspaper
advertisements, and other venues. At this meeting, consultants
presented basic information about the technical assistance grant
and project goals, displayed existing conditions maps and
information, and welcomed public input on their use of, and
desires for, the Route 24 project area. Accompanying the in-person
meeting, a public survey offered an additional input opportunity
at this stage. Input at his stage was used as consultants established
potential improvements and critical needs of the project area.
Late Engagement
A second public meeting was held March 31, 2022, also at
the Vinton War Memorial. Again publicized through the Town’s
existing social media, newspaper advertisements, and other
methods, this meeting presented bicycle and pedestrian toolkit
options and recommended improvements to the public for their
input. The meeting was well-attended and included a presentation
by the Consultant Team and displays of toolkit graphics. Residents
were welcomed to add notes to the overall recommendations map
as well as ask questions of consultants and Town staff. Input at
this stage was used to refine recommended improvements before
project completion.
Community Survey
As a companion to the initial in-person public meeting, the
Consultant Team launched an online survey allowing all residents
an opportunity to engage with the planning process. The survey
presented a map of the project area and asked participants
to mark with four types if information: desired bicycle and
pedestrian destinations, areas with safety concerns, desired bicycle
improvements, and desired pedestrian improvements. Participants
also had the ability to view, comment, and vote on comments
submitted by others. The community survey remained open from
September 9 to November 1, 2021 and was accessed by 340
unique users. Survey results were used extensively in identifying
potential bicycle and pedestrian improvements in the project area.
Steering Committees
Work on the Route 24 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan was guided
by two separate steering committees, each giving additional
public input to the study effort. A Community Steering Committee
was made up of Vinton residents and members of elected and
appointed committees, including Planning Commission, Town
Council, and Board of Zoning Appeals among others. A Technical
Steering Committee was made up of representatives from local and
regional government, including Town of Vinton representatives from
the Planning and Zoning Department, Public Works Department,
and Town Administration, as well as as well as representatives
from the Virginia Department of Transportation, Roanoke County,
and Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission. Steering
Committees met quarterly throughout the study process, providing
local input, vetting draft recommendations, and revising final
deliverables. Steering Committee members also served an
important role in promoting public engagement opportunities.
III. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Map 7: Summary of Input from the Map Survey
This map shows a summary of the locations of comments received by members of the community. Colored pins indicate safety concerns and
needs for bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in the Study Area.
Desired bike/walk destination |Desired bike improvement | Desired walk improvement | Safety concern
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
IV. TOOLKIT OF BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS
The GAP technical assistance for Vinton considered a variety of factors in recommending potential bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
improvements in the Route 24 study area. In consideration of bicycle and pedestrian destinations, pavement widths, traffic volume, existing
sidewalks, and other factors, the Consultant Team constructed a toolkit of potential bicycle and pedestrian improvement types that fit the
scale, character, and needs of Vinton. These toolkit options are based on the experience of other communities and may be used in locations
specified by this study but may also be deployed in other areas of the Town to create a continuous multimodal network serving Vinton on the
region.
Sidewalk Gaps
Sidewalks are the most typical and most familiar method of incorporating pedestrian infrastructure into the transportation network. Vinton
has a significant inventory of existing sidewalks, varying widely in their design. A modern standard for sidewalk construction includes a five-
foot minimum width sidewalk, with appropriate intersection curb ramps meeting requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In areas with expectations for higher volumes of pedestrian use, including along multi-lane arterial streets and in established or planned
commercial areas, wider sidewalks are appropriate and should be installed as right-of-way allows, accommodating the wideset variety of
users. While in some areas sidewalks may be separated from the street curb by a landscaped buffer, the realities of Vinton’s existing streets,
rights-of-way, and buildings will make adding sidewalks at the curb edge the most likely scenario. In areas where existing street conditions
are especially difficult, the Town may consider painted sidewalks on existing pavement for limited installations and with approval of
appropriate agencies. In all cases, sidewalks must be coordinated with crosswalks in appropriate locations to create a safe and connected
pedestrian network.
Figure 1: Sidewalk Gaps on Multi-Lane Arterial Streets
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Figure 2: Sidewalk Gaps on Local Streets
Intersection Enhancements
Intersections are the most complex and most dangerous elements of the pedestrian transportation system. The goal of all intersection
improvements will be to increase pedestrian and driver safety by increasing pedestrian visibility and reducing the distance pedestrians must
cross.
At intersections with no existing vehicle traffic signals, crosswalk markings that make pedestrians more visible to drivers are a key
improvement. While a wide variety of crosswalk designs exist, this analysis recommends high-visibility crosswalks made up of wide,
longitudinal stripes marked on the roadway at regular intervals. Vehicle stop bars or yield lines that remind drivers to stop well back from
crossing pedestrians also help to increase pedestrian visibility in the street. In addition to painted stripes, accessible curb ramps are required
by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at all crosswalks. Flashing warning beacons that warn drivers of crossing pedestrians or
pedestrian signals that stop vehicle traffic may be used in especially busy streets. Corner bulb-outs or median refuge islands that reduce the
overall pedestrian crossing distance also enhance safety.
Where crosswalks must cross higher speed or higher volume roadways, or where automobile traffic signals are already in place, signalized
crosswalks are recommended. Signalized crossings may be activated by a pedestrian push button and coordinate pedestrian crossing
timing along with the timing of traffic lights for vehicle travel. Providing a crossing time countdown or prohibiting automobiles from turning
right on red are among additional methods of increasing safety and visibility for pedestrians in the intersection.
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Figure 3: Signalized Intersection Enhancements
Figure 4: Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Slow Streets
On many quiet neighborhood streets with low automobile traffic and speeds, it may be possible for pedestrians and vehicles to safely share
the paved street surface. Improvements on these “Slow Streets” can help to reinforce the idea of a safe, shared space for both pedestrians
and drivers. Slow Street improvements may include traffic calming measures such a speed bumps or speed tables, additional signage or
street markings advising drivers of the presence of pedestrians and bicycles, or painted pedestrian zones on the street surface in areas where
separate sidewalks are not feasible due to lack of right-of-way or other limitations.
Figure 5: Slow Streets
Bicycle Lanes
Bicycle lanes are portions of the roadway that has been designated by striping, signage, and pavement markings for the exclusive use of
bicyclists. Bike lanes enable bicyclists to ride at their preferred speed without interference from prevailing traffic conditions and facilitate
predictable behavior and movements between bicyclists and motorists. Bike lanes typically run in the same direction as traffic and are
typically designated with painted lines only, although physical barriers are used in some cases. The configuration of a bike lane requires
consideration of existing traffic levels and behaviors, adequate safety buffers to protect bicyclists from parked and moving vehicles, and
enforcement to prohibit motorized vehicle encroachment and double-parking. Bike Lanes may be distinguished using color, lane markings,
signage, and intersection treatments. Typical bicycle lanes are five feet in width and may be supplemented by a painted buffer zone on
higher volume or higher speed streets to increase safety and comfort.
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Downtown Toolkit
As Vinton continues to build the vitality of its downtown core, a variety of improvements can make the area more attractive and comfortable
for pedestrians, including decorative lighting and street furniture, wayfinding signage, and café space.
Figure 6: Downtown Streetscapes
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
The GAP technical assistance for Vinton considered a variety
of factors in recommending and prioritizing potential bicycle
and pedestrian infrastructure improvements in the study area.
Consultants reviewed existing long-range planning documents,
conducted a map-based survey and stakeholder meetings for
resident input, and incorporated a wide variety of transportation
network data. Study data included nodes of activity, traffic
volumes, speed, facility design, right-of-way, population density,
employment density, safety criteria, and others.
Taken together, the steps of this process identify individual routes
and projects to form future bicycle and pedestrian networks in
Vinton.
Identifying Bicycle and Pedestrian
Recommendations
To develop a plan for a safe and effective bicycle and pedestrian
network in Vinton, this analysis began by creating an inventory of
key destinations and activity centers in the study area. These were
identified using prior studies and plans, stakeholder meetings,
survey responses, and input from local staff. Downtown Vinton,
Lake Drive Plaza Shopping Center, the River Park Shopping
Center, and the Vinton War Memorial were included among
key destinations for pedestrians and bicyclists. Stakeholders also
expressed interest in improving connections to the Glade Creek
Greenway and Wolf Creek Greenway.
Next, the analysis identified the key street corridors that provide
bicycle and pedestrian access to these destinations, as well as
those that could be used to connect activity centers to one another.
The existing pavement widths, traffic volumes, on-street parking
locations, posted speed limits, and sidewalk facilities for each
key corridor were recorded. This information was used to better
understand the challenges and opportunities for pedestrian and
bicycle travel along each corridor.
Finally, recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian facilities were
assigned to each key corridor. These recommendations varied
depending on both roadway characteristics and anticipated
levels of bicycle and pedestrian use. Some of the recommended
improvements were drawn directly from suggestions offered by the
public, while others were developed by consultants and Town staff.
Prioritization
The previous section described how the recommendations for
bicycle and pedestrian improvements were developed. Part of
the scope for this project also required the development of a
prioritization process to identify high priority recommendations.
The purpose of this process is to be able to use a standard data
analysis to guide the Town’s project prioritization and selection
process. In addition to this data, however, considerations such
as local support or funding feasibility may also be considered as
Vinton leaders advance projects for funding or construction.
All recommended projects were given priority scores in three
categories: Traffic Level of Stress, Community Need, and Tactical
Viability. Brief descriptions of each are provided below:
Traffic Level of Stress
The traffic level of stress evaluation is used to identify corridors
where vehicular traffic creates the most hazardous travel conditions
for bicyclists and pedestrians. Traffic Level of Stress was calculated
using:
•Speed Limit
•Traffic Volume (AADT)
•Number of Travel Lanes
•Recorded Bike/Ped Crashes
Community Need
The community need evaluation is used to identify corridors where
the built environment and demographic conditions are most
likely to create a high demand for bicycle and pedestrian travel.
Community Need was calculated using:
•Proximity to Activity Centers
•Proximity to Schools
•Proximity to Bus Stops
•Bike & Walk Scores
•Population Density
•Employment Density
•VTrans Equity Emphasis Areas
Project Viability
The project viability evaluation is used to identify corridors
where additions or improvements are anticipated to be easiest to
implement. Project viability was calculated using:
•Scale of Corridor
•Right-of-Way Needs
•Connectivity
•Project Readiness
V. RECOMMENDATIONS
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Table 2: Prioritization Matrix
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Map 7: Recommended Improvements
21
Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Segment Start End
Recommended
Corridor
Improvements
Recommended Intersection Improvements Traffic Stress
Rating
Community
Need Rating
Project
Viability
Rating
Notes
S Pollard St Cleveland Ave Virginia Ave Sidewalks - both sides
Signalized Intersection Enhancements at Virginia Ave,
Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at Jefferson Ave &
Cedar Ave
med high low
Install 6 ft wide sidewalks on both sides of Pollard
Street. Install ADA curb ramps and high-visibility
crosswalks at crossings.
E Cleveland Ave Pollard St Bedford Rd Slow Street Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at Maple, Poplar,
Blair, and Pine Streets low med med Crosswalk, speed table and shared lane marking
improvements for ped/bike slow street
S Blair St E Cleveland Ave Jefferson Ave Slow Street low med med
Jefferson Ave S Blair St Chestnut St Slow Street low med med
Chestnut St Jefferson Ave E Virginia Ave Slow Street Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at Hardy Rd low med med
Pine St Washington Ave E Jackson Ave Slow Street low med med
E Cleveland Ave Bedford Rd Dead End Slow Street Intersection Redesign at Bedford Rd low med med Crosswalk, speed table and shared lane marking
improvements for ped/bike slow street
Bedford Rd E Jackson Ave Virginia Ave Slow Street Intersection Redesign at E Cleveland Rd low med high Crosswalk, speed table and shared lane marking
improvements for ped/bike slow street
Bedford Rd Virginia Ave Hardy Rd Sidewalk - one side Signalized Intersection Enhancements at Hardy Rd low med med Add sidewalk or painted walk, alternating sides
E Jackson Ave S Poplar St Pine St Slow Street low med med
S Pollard St Washington Ave E Cleveland Ave Downtown Toolkit
Signalized Intersection Enhancements at Washington Ave
& E Lee Ave, Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at E
Jackson Ave & E Cleveland Ave
med high med
S Maple St Washington Ave E Cleveland Ave Downtown Toolkit Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at Washington Ave,
E Lee Ave, E Jackson Ave, & E Cleveland Ave low med med
E Jackson Ave W Jackson Ave S Poplar St Downtown Toolkit Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at S Pollard St & S
Maple St low med med
Table 3: Recommended Improvements
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Segment Start End
Recommended
Corridor
Improvements
Recommended Intersection Improvements Traffic Stress
Rating
Community
Need Rating
Project
Viability
Rating
Notes
E Lee Ave W Lee Ave S Poplar St Downtown Toolkit Signalized Intersection Enhancements at S Pollard St,
Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at S Maple St low med med
1st St Walnut Ave W Cleveland Ave Sidewalk low med med
Walnut Ave West Town Limits W Lee Ave Planned/Proposed
Improvements low med med Planned pedestrian and bicycle improvements
already underway
Gus Nicks Blvd Gearhart Park Washington Ave Planned/Proposed
Improvements
Signalized Intersection Enhancements at S Pollard St,
Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at W Madison Ave med med low Any lane reconfiguration for Washington Ave. may
be extended on Gus Nicks
Washington Ave S Pollard St Bypass Rd Lane Reconfiguration
Signalized Intersection Enhancements at S Pollard Rd &
Mountain View Rd, Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements
at S Maple St, S Poplar St, S Blair St, & S Mitchell Rd,
Enhance Existing Crosswalks at Meadow St
med high low
Reconfiguration from four travel lanes to two travel
lanes with shared center turn lane and buffered bike
lanes
Fairmont Dr S Preston Rd Bush Dr Slow Street low low
W Virginia Ave
(Eastbound)Glade Rd Commercial
Driveway Sidewalk Signalized Intersection Enhancements at commercial
driveway high high low
W Virginia Ave
(Westbound)
Commercial
Driveway S Pollard St Sidewalk Signalized Intersection Enhancements at commercial
driveway, 3rd St, & S Pollard St high high low
Hardy Rd
(Westbound)Chestnut St Vinyard Rd Sidewalk
Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at Chestnut St
& Spruce St. Signalized Intersection Enhancements at
Bradford Rd
med med low
Bypass Rd Clearview Rd Wishington Ave Sidewalk Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at Shopping
Center. Intersection Redesign at Washington Ave med med low
Hardy Rd (Eastbound)Vinyard Rd Clearview Dr Sidewalk Signalized Intersection Enhancements at Bradford Rd med med low
Table 3: Recommended Improvements (cont’d)
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Segment Start End
Recommended
Corridor
Improvements
Recommended Intersection Improvements Traffic Stress
Rating
Community
Need Rating
Project
VIability
Rating
Notes
Private Drive E Cleveland Ave Dead End Slow Street low med low Will require coordination with private property
Footpath E Cleveland Ave Bypass Rd Off Road 10 ft Shared
Use Path n/a med low Will require coordination with private property
Footpath Bypass Rd Fairmont Dr Off Road 10 ft Shared
Use Path n/a med low Will require coordination with private property
Footpath Fairmont Dr Wolf Creek
Greenway
Off Road 10 ft Shared
Use Path n/a med low Will require coordination with private property
Hardy Rd (Westbound)Vinyard Rd Clearview Dr Sidewalk Signalized Intersection Enhancements at Bradford Rd med med low
Hardy Rd Clearview Rd Nelson St Sidewalk med low low
Washington Ave Mitchell Rd Bypass Rd Sidewalk med med low
Add sidewalk on south side of Washington, joining
with proposed sidewalks on west side of Bypass
Road
W Lee Ave Walnut Ave E Lee Ave Downtown Toolkit Signalized Intersection Enhancements at S Pollard St low med med
W Jackson Ave Walnut Ave E Jackson Ave Downtown Toolkit Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at S Pollard St low med med
W Cleveland Ave 1st St Pollard St Slow Street Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at S Pollard St low med med
E Virginia Ave
(Westbound)S Pollard Chestnut St Sidewalk
Signalized Intersection Enhancement at S Pollard St.
Uncontrolled Crossing Enhancements at Chestnut St &
Spruce St
med med med
E Jackson Ave Pine St Bedford Rd Slow Street Intersection Redesign at E Cleveland Rd low med med
Table 3: Recommended Improvements (cont’d)
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
VI. PRIORITY IMPROVEMENTS
The following is a list of high priority projects based on the recommendations and prioritization criteria in Section V.
A: Virginia Avenue Sidewalk (Pollard Street to Vinyard Road)
East Virginia Avenue and Hardy Road form a key commercial corridor and link between Vinton’s downtown and shopping, restaurants, and
other services in the area of Hardy Road and Vinyard Road. Future redevelopment of the corridor may continue to add business uses and
pedestrian destination. Despite the importance of this corridor to the overall transportation and land use network in Vinton, no sidewalks are
currently provided. Installation of a sidewalk on the north side of East Virginia Avenue can provide a key pedestrian connection in this area.
Recommended Improvements:
•Install continuous 5-foot wide sidewalk on north side of East Virginia Avenue / Hardy Road
•Provide high-visibility crosswalks, with appropriate curb ramps, at existing and future street crossings and major commercial entrances
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
B: Intersection Improvements (Pollard Street and Virginia Avenue)
The intersection of Pollard Street with Virginia Avenue is a key point of transition between Virginia Avenue’s important commercial corridor
and Pollard Street’s downtown streetscape. The Town has already completed pedestrian upgrades at other key intersections, including
the Pollard Street’s northern intersection with Washington Avenue. Intersection upgrades will safely integrate pedestrians into an existing
signalized automobile intersection. With potential development, improvements can serve this growing area and should be coordinated with
development work if possible.
Recommended Improvements:
•Provide high-visibility crosswalks, with appropriate curb ramps, at crossings of Pollard Street, First Street, East Virginia Avenue, and
West Virginia Avenue
•Modify existing medians on Virginia Avenue to allow safe pedestrian crossing
•Install button-activate pedestrian signals coordinated with existing vehicle traffic signals
C: Pollard Street Sidewalks (Virginia Avenue to Cleveland Avenue)
Pollard Street is the critical center of Vinton’s downtown and path to connect to downtown businesses and other uses. Pollard Street has
already seen sidewalk improvements north of Cleveland Avenue as a part of streetscaping efforts and library construction. The segment of
Pollard Street from Virginia Avenue to Cleveland Avenue can provide key continuity to Virginia Avenue commercial uses and potential new
development in this area. While this segment of Pollard Street currently includes sidewalks, these walks are narrower than current standards,
in general disrepair, and do not meet modern accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Recommended Improvements:
•Widen sidewalks to 6-feet on both sides of Pollard Street from Virginia Avenue to Cleveland Avenue
•Add high-visibility crosswalks and ADA curb ramps at crossings of Cedar Avenue and Jefferson Avenue
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
D: Cleveland Avenue Slow Street (Pollard Street to Bedford Road)
East-west bicycle and pedestrian travel in the Route 24 study are complicated by high traffic on the area’s major east-west routes,
Washington Avenue and Virginia/Hardy. Cleveland Avenue provides one route option to make east-west connections through the study
area on a lower-traffic street, and to engage the residential neighborhood internal to the study area in the bike/ped transportation network.
Slow Streets are streets with low traffic where a combination of traffic calming, signage, and other visibility improvements can create a safer
space for bicycles, pedestrians, and automobiles to share one corridor. While Cleveland Avenue does not currently have sidewalks on both
sides of all blocks, sidewalks are available on at least one side of the street for the full length of this segment. Topographic issues will make
the addition of new sidewalks complex. The recommendations included here do not include new sidewalks, but additional sidewalks may be
considered by the Town in the long term.
Recommended Improvements:
•Install one traffic calming speed table per block between Maple Street and Bedford Road
•Add high-visibility crosswalks and ADA curb ramps at crossings of Maple Street (north side), Poplar Street (north and east sides), Blair
Street (north and west sides), and Pine Street (south side)
•Paint bicycle shared lane markings (sharrows) approximately every 200 to 250-feet from Pollard Street to Bedford Road.
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
E: Washington Avenue Lane Reconfiguration (Pollard Street to Bypass Road)
Washington Avenue is a key Vinton corridor and pass-through corridor for many commuters. The existing corridor provides two vehicle lanes
in each direction, and high volume of traffic that may deter bicyclists. Washington presents an opportunity for a “road diet” or reduction in
overall lanes to provide a more complete street that accommodates bicycle travel. While ample space is available for reconfiguration of
existing lanes, additional study of existing and projected traffic volumes will be necessary before installation of improvements.
Recommended Improvements:
•Restripe Washington Avenue from Pollard Street to Bypass Road, reconfiguring from four travel lanes to one travel lane in each
direction (11-foot widths) with a center turn lane (12-foot width) and two buffered bike lanes (5-foot lane with 3-foot painted buffer)
•Provide appropriate transitions at east and west corridor ends where the reconfigured segment reverts to other lane designs
•Reposition traffic signal heads as necessary
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
F: Vinyard Road/Bedford Road Pedestrian Improvements (Cleveland Avenue to Hardy Road)
Bedford and Vinyard Roads provide an important connection from residential areas internal to the study area to shopping and services in the
area of Vinyard and Hardy. The Town of Vinton has previously improved the intersection of Vinyard Road and Hardy Road with pedestrian
accommodations, but Vinyard itself does not provide pedestrian facilities.
Recommended Improvements:
•Install one traffic calming speed table per block between Cleveland Avenue and Hardy Road
•Provide high-visibility crosswalks, with appropriate curb ramps, at existing and future street crossings and major commercial entrances
•Paint bicycle shared lane markings (sharrows) approximately every 200 to 250-feet from Cleveland Avenue to Hardy Road
•Install 5-foot sidewalk on west side of Vinyard from Bedford Road to south of existing restaurant entrance, relocating the existing curb
approximately 2.5-feet east and acquiring approximately 2.5-feet of right-of-way from adjacent properties. Alternatively, paint 5-foot
on-street pedestrian walkway within existing pavement depending on right-of-way and pavement width available.
•Install 5-foot sidewalk on east side of Vinyard from existing restaurant entrance to Hardy Road
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
For each selected project the Consultant Team has constructed a conceptual estimate of project cost. Cost estimates are based on typical
costs for individual construction elements including sidewalks, road markings, ADA curb ramps, and pedestrian signals, along with
engineering, construction mobilization, and contingency costs. Typical costs have been drawn from regional sources, including recent
construction projects in Vinton. While efforts have been made to recommend projects within existing rights-of-way, the cost of any necessary
right-of-way acquisition have not been included.
The conceptual cost estimates provided in this document will aid the Town in budgeting for capital projects or seeking grants and outside
funding. Importantly, project costs can vary widely depending on many factors. Specific engineering of individual projects may uncover
issues that change project costs. Construction costs will also vary over time. The conceptual estimates included here should not be relied
upon beyond six months from the publication of this document.
VII. CONCEPTUAL PROJECT COSTS
Selected Project Location Recommendation Conceptual Cost
A. Virginia Avenue
Sidewalk
Pollard Street to
Vinyard Road
Install conventional sidewalk on north side
of street $2,535,944
B. Intersection
Improvements
(Pollard Street and
Virginia Avenue)
Install crosswalks, ADA curb ramps,
modified medians, and pedestrian crossing
signals
$194,231
C. Pollard Street
Sidewalks
Virginia Avenue to
Cleveland Avenue
Widen sidewalks to 6-foot width, ADA
curb ramps, and crosswalks $1,634,473
D. Cleveland Avenue
Slow Street
Pollard Street to
Bedford Road
Install crosswalks, speed tables, ADA curb
ramps, and sharrows $301,610
E. Washington
Avenue Lane
Reconfiguration
Pollard Street to
Bypass Road
Reconfigure four-lane road to two lanes
with center turn and buffered bicycle lanes $1,671,912 (includes milling and paving)
F. Vinyard Road/
Bedford Road
Improvements
Cleveland Avenue to
Hardy Road
Install crosswalks, speed tables, ADA curb
ramps, sharrows, and conventional or
painted sidewalks
$196,556 (painted sidewalk option)
$402,729 (conventional sidewalk option)
Table 4: Cost Estimates
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Funding Considerations
These projects can be funded through a variety of sources and those sources can often be combined to ensure full project completion. The
following section outlines potential sources of funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects and notes about each source.
SMART SCALE
SMART SCALE is the one of the most prominent sources of funding for transportation projects in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2022,
the program is in its fifth round and it is administered through the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) with the assistance
of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). It is a highly competitive
program and projects are scored and the scores are relative to other projects in the VDOT district (in Vinton’s case, that is the Salem District).
There are a variety of factors that make projects competitive but adding bicycle and pedestrian elements to other projects potentially
improves their scoring. For example, if a locality would like to pursue SMART SCALE for intersection improvements, the addition of bicycle
and pedestrian facilities identified in planning documents increases the multimodality of the project and may make it more competitive.
Vinton can refer to this plan when considering larger transportation (intersection or corridor) projects for opportunities to fund bicycle and
pedestrian infrastructure.
Note that not all recommended projects may be eligible for SMART SCALE funds. While SMART SCALE may be ideal for establishing
new sidewalks or bicycle facilities, this funding source may not support widening sidewalks were sidewalks already exist, or adding other
streetscaping elements.
Transportation Alternatives Funding
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides for construction and design of bicycle and pedestrian facilities through a formula
program administered by VDOT. The program is intended to help localities fund projects that expand non-motorized travel choices centered
around cultural, historical, and environmental resources.
Surface Transportation Block Grant Funding
The Surface Transportation Block Grant Program: Roanoke Valley Urbanized Area Suballocation Funding (STBG) provides federal funding
that may be used by for a wide range of highway, transit, and other transportation projects. The Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning
Organization (RVTPO) administers this funding, with the Policy Board responsible for project selection and allocation of approximately
$6M/year for the Roanoke region.
New project applications have been accepted in the Spring 2013 (Round 1), September 2014 (Round 2), September 2017 (Round 3),
September 2019 (Round 4), and September 2021 (Round 5). It is anticipated that new project applications will be accepted every other
year, with the next round of applications due in September 2023.
Recreation-Oriented Grants
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) offers a number of grant programs but two programs that may assist in
some of the off-road paths and trails is its Trail Access Grant program and the Recreational Trails Program. The former is a 100 percent
reimbursement program for trail projects and projects that increase access to trails for individuals with disabilities. The latter is a matching
program aimed at building and rehabilitating trails and acquiring land for trail corridors. These programs are potential funding options for
connecting to Vinton and Roanoke area greenways.
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Appendix 1: Cost Estimate Breakdowns
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Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Appendix 1: Cost Estimate Breakdowns (cont’d)
33
Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Appendix 1: Cost Estimate Breakdowns (cont’d)
34
Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Appendix 1: Cost Estimate Breakdowns (cont’d)
35
Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Appendix 2: Summary of Policy Themes from Prior Plans
36
Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Appendix 2: Summary of Policy Themes from Prior Plans (cont’d)
37
Town of Vinton GAP Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Town of Vinton Gap Summary
Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan
Memorandum
To: Vinton Planning Commission Members
From: Fayula Gordon, Vinton Planning and Zoning Department
Date: November 3, 2022
Re: Chicken Ordinance Updates - Discussion Points
Over the last few years, there has been an increased interest in raising backyard chickens by the
residents in the Town of Vinton. Planning and Zoning staff have received a number of phone calls
inquiring about obtaining permits to keep chickens.
However, there is one restriction that disqualifies most residents from obtaining the required
permit. That restriction is the one (1) the acre of land requirement. Because of the frequent rates
at which permits were denied due to this restriction and the increased interest in raising backyard
chickens, the Planning and Zoning Department decided to do research to find out what our
neighboring localities are currently doing in regards to their residents being permitted to raise
chickens.
The final results showed (please see attached documents) that Vinton has the most restrictive code
in regards to raising chickens. Most localities allowed 6 or more chickens based on smaller lot size
requirements when compared to Vinton. This research has allowed us to make the proposed
changes to the current regulations which can be seen in the attached documents.
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Chicken Ordinance Research
Town of Vinton Zoning Ordinance Research
Locality Residential Zoning District(s) / Structure Maximum #/ Lot Size Requirement
Town of Vinton
(pop. 8,231) Allowed for each single-family dwelling
Roanoke County
(pop. 95,583) Allowed for each single-family dwelling
20,000 square feet or less = 6 hens
20,001 square feet to 1.0 acre = 9 hens
Greater than 1.0 acre = 12 hens
City of Roanoke
(pop. 99,920) Allowed in residential zoning districts
20,000 square feet or less = 10 poultry animals
20,001 square feet or greater = 40 poultry animals
(maximum)
Town of Blacksburg
(pop. 44,215)
Allowed for each single-family dwelling (R-4,
RR-1 & RR-2 districts) Maximum of 6 hens / No lot size requirement
Allowed for each single-family dwelling
Allowed for each single-family dwelling
Not permitted in residential zoning districts Not permitted
Town of Bedford, VA
(pop. 6,561) Allowed for each single-family dwelling Maximum of 6 hens / 10,000 square feet lot size
requirement
Town of Culpepper, VA
(pop. 17,557)
Allowed in residential zoning districts if a
special use permit is attained for agricultural
use.
No specification of lot size or chicken amount.
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Town of Warrenton, VA
(pop. 9,897) Allowed, zoning districts not specified No specification of lot size or chicken amount.
Town of Orange, VA
(pop. 4,947) Allowed, zoning districts not specified No specification of lot size or chicken amount.
Purcellville, VA
(pop. 9,232) Allowed, zoning districts not specified No specification of lot size or chicken amount.
Locality Applicable Code Sections and Definitions
See Sec. 10-97 of the Vinton Town Code
Roanoke County
(pop. 95,583)
Sec. 5-38. - Standards for residential chicken keeping. Standards:
• Single-family dwelling – Owner Occupied.
• Predator-resistant coop or chicken enclosure at all times.
• TEN ft setback for rear and side lines – THIRTY-FIVE (35) feet from residential dwelling on an adjacent lot.
- Behind the front building line of the principal structure.
• Coops shall provide at least TWO (2) square feet of interior space per chicken and chicken enclosures shall
provide at least TEN (10) square feet of exterior space per chicken with a maximum total area of two hundred
fifty (250) square feet for both the coop and chicken enclosure. Neither the coop nor chicken enclosure shall
exceed ten (10) feet in height.
• Coops and chicken enclosures shall be securely constructed, well-ventilated and kept in a clean, dry and
sanitary condition at all times.
• Provision shall be made for the storage and removal of chicken waste (manure). Such waste shall not create a
nuisance or health hazard to adjoining property owners.
• All chicken feed or other material intended for consumption by chickens shall be kept in containers
impenetrable by rodents, insects or predators.
• The keeping of roosters, capons, and crowing hens is prohibited.
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•
City of Roanoke
(pop. 99,920)
Sec. 6-96. - Fencing; roaming at large.
All poultry shall be kept in securely and suitably fenced areas, and no fenced area or pen for poultry shall be
permitted closer than fifty (50) feet to any house or other building used for residential purposes by anyone other than
the person maintaining such poultry or his immediate family. No poultry shall be permitted to roam at large.
Sec. 6-97. - Maintenance of area where kept. Every person maintaining any area for keeping poultry shall keep it
clean, sanitary and free from refuse. All poultry feed or other material intended for consumption by poultry shall be
kept in containers impenetrable by rats or other rodents, and such containers shall be equipped with tightly fitting caps
or lids. The presence of rats in an area used for the keeping of poultry shall be prima facie evidence that such area is
maintained in violation of this section.
Town of Blacksburg
(pop. 44,215)
Section 5-118. - Urban chickens.
Keeping "urban chickens," is subject to the following terms and conditions:
• No more than six (6) hens shall be allowed for each single-family dwelling.
• No roosters shall be permitted at any time.
• Chickens shall be kept in an enclosed area (max 128 square feet), hereinafter known as a "pen." Pens shall
include a coop, an enclosed structure containing a minimum of four-square foot per hen and an open run area
containing a minimum of eight square feet per hen.
• Pens must be located in the rear yard and shall be situated at least fifteen (15) feet from all property lines and
fifty (50) feet from dwellings on adjacent properties. In addition, all pens shall be located at least twenty (20)
feet from streams, tributaries, ditches, swales, stormwater management facilities, drop-inlets, or other storm
drainage areas that would allow fecal matter to enter any storm drainage system or stream.
• All pens must be kept in a neat and sanitary condition at all times, and must be cleaned on a regular basis so as
to prevent offensive odors.
• All feed for the hens must be kept in a secure container in a garage, shed or the residence to prevent the
attraction of rodents and other animals.
• Adequate shelter, care and control of the hens is required. Any person permitted to keep urban chickens
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pertaining to, but not limited to, the adequate care and control of animals.
• Application submission requirements and registration. a. Persons wishing to keep hens pursuant to this
subsection must file an application with the town's department of planning and building development, which
application shall include:
i. A sketch showing the area where the chickens will be housed and the types and size of pens in which the
chickens shall be housed. The sketch must show all dimensions and setbacks.
ii. A thirty-dollar ($30.00) application fee. iii. Applicants are encouraged but not required to give notice to adjacent
property owners. For purposes of this section, "adjacent property" means all parcels of privately owned land that the
applicant's property comes into contact with at one or more points, except for parcels that are legally adjacent to but
are separated from the applicant's property by a public or private street.
iv. Documentation that the property owner consents to keeping chickens on the property.
b. Once the application has been reviewed and approved, the department of planning and building development shall
issue a registration, which shall be valid for one (1) year.
c. Each existing registration will be renewed on an annual basis by procedures developed by the town's department of
planning and building.
Town of Christiansburg
(pop. 21,943)
Sec. 42-663. - Urban agriculture; zoning permit required.
Pens … shall have setbacks of 15 feet from all property lines and 50 feet from dwellings on adjacent properties and no
closer to the street right-of-way than the primary dwelling. Such permits shall be valid for chicken hens, chicks and
bees only. NO roosters, ducks, geese, quail, turkeys, ostriches, peacocks, or any other non-domesticated pet.
All approved urban agriculture uses are required to contain the hens and/or chicks and not allow them to roam at
large. Chickens shall be kept in a fully enclosed, secure area not to exceed a total of 128 square feet, hereinafter
known as a pen. Pens shall include a coop (enclosed structure) containing a minimum of two square foot per hen and
an open run area containing a minimum of eight square feet per hen. The materials used for pens shall be uniform and
kept in good condition in order to protect the safety of the chickens. Pens may be portable and shall meet setbacks at
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maintain compliance with all presented measures. The operation of an urban agriculture use shall not include the
slaughtering or butchering of chicken hens or chicks.
All approved urban agriculture uses are subject to inspection by the zoning administrator or designee for compliance.
All applicants for urban agriculture are responsible for obtaining permission of the property owner and approval of
urban agriculture zoning permits does not constitute waiver of any restrictive covenants.
Applicants for an urban agriculture zoning permit shall submit the following for review and approval of the zoning
administrator:
1) Site drawing showing the size and location of all proposed structures and use areas, the setback distances from
street rights-of-way, property lines and nearby dwellings, and any provisions for screening;
(2) Management plan addressing protection from predators, use of feeding and bedding materials, management and
disposal of wastes, and other factors deemed relevant for the protection of the public health.
The town manager or zoning administrator shall have authority to approve urban agriculture zoning permits and may
revoke such permits for noncompliance. A permit shall be valid for one year and require a $25.00 fee. The permit is
renewable on an annual basis, with the appropriate fee. Should the town manager or zoning administrator have
questions regarding compliance with an urban agriculture zoning permit, the town manager or zoning administrator
may seek an advisory opinion or recommendation from the planning commission regarding compliance with the
permit. The keeping of a garden for the production of fruit or vegetables shall not require an urban agriculture zoning
permit and shall be allowed by right in all zoning districts.
City of Salem
(pop. 25,643)
Sec. 106-318.1. - Keeping of chickens.
• No Roosters
• Household's personal consumption only (chickens).
• NO selling of eggs/chickens for meat
• NO slaughtering or processing of chickens.
• Provid
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• Comply
sanitation, health, rodent control, cruelty, neglect, noise, reasonable control and any other requirements
pertaining to, but not limited to, the adequate care and control of animals in the city.
• Reduce the attraction of predators and rodents and the potential infestation of insects and parasites….
• Chickens shall not be allowed to roam free…..’enclosed secure area not to exceed a total of 128 square feet’.
Pens shall include a coop (enclosed structure) containing a minimum of one and one-half square foot per hen
and an open run area containing a minimum of eight square feet per hen. Pens may be portable.
• The materials used for pens shall be uniform and kept in good condition in order to protect the safety of the
chickens
• All pens shall be deemed accessory structures and shall comply with the setback requirements as provided
in section 106-202.3 (B)(2) herein, and shall be no closer than 50 feet from any adjacent principal structure,
situate on an adjacent parcel, other than that of the owner of the chickens. Portable pens shall be moved on a
regular basis.
• All pens shall be located in the rear yard only.
• All pens shall be located out of any drainage areas that could allow fecal matter to enter a storm drainage
system or stream.
• All pens shall be constructed and maintained so as to be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators,
including dogs and cats, and to prevent such animals or other pests from being harbored underneath, inside, or
within the walls of the enclosure. All pens must be kept dry, well-ventilated, and in sanitary condition at all
times, and must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent offensive odors. All manure not used for composting
or fertilizing shall be removed promptly. Odors from chickens, manure, or other chickens-related substances
shall not be detectable at the property boundaries.
• All feed or other material intended for consumption by the chicken shall be kept in containers impenetrable by
rats or other rodents, and such container shall be equipped with tightly fitting caps or lids. All feeding shall be
conducted in a manner so as to prevent unconsumed food from being accessible to other animals or rodents.
The presence of rodents in an area used for the keeping of chickens shall be prima facie evidence that such
area is maintained in violation of this section.
• Composting of chicken litter and waste on site is highly encouraged. If any litter and/or waste is to be
disposed of, it must be double bagged and securely closed and deposited in either a city approved receptacle
or taken to the city transfer station. Also, any dead chickens shall also be double bagged and securely closed
and deposited in either a city approved receptacle or taken to the city transfer station.
• Disposal of litter, waste, and dead chickens on public land or in the sewage or stormwater collection system is
strictly prohibited.
•
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Administration.
Persons wishing to keep chickens pursuant to this subsection must file an application with the city zoning department.
The application shall include a sketch showing the area where the chickens will be housed and all types and size of
enclosures in which the chickens will dwell along with a $25.00 fee. The sketch must show all property dimensions
and setbacks. Once the site and enclosures have been inspected and approved by the city's animal control officer, a
permit will be issued. The permit shall be valid for one year. Each existing permit must be renewed annually in July
by filing an application with the city zoning department, along with payment of a $25.00 renewal. The animal control
officer shall make another inspection of the site, prior to the approval of the renewal application.
2. Any violations found may subject the owner to revocation of their permit and to criminal charges as provided
herein. 3. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the zoning administrator and such enforcement authority
may be delegated by the administrator to the animal control office or other departments of the city. 4. Any person
violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a class 4 misdemeanor. Each day a violation
continues shall constitute a separate offense. 5. The keeping of chickens in AG—Agriculture district shall conform
with the requirements of section 106-302 herein, and shall not be subject to the provisions of section 106-
316.3 and section 106-318.
(D) Existing use at time of enactment. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, places of residences
where chickens (roosters not being permitted under any circumstances) are currently being kept at the time of
enactment of this ordinance shall have a period of two years from such date of enactment to comply with the
requirements herein. However, those eligible hereunder shall, on or before August 1, 2012, declare and certify such
existing use to the satisfaction of the city and make application as required by section 106-318.1(C).
Town of Vienna, VA
(pop. 16,522)
Sec. 18-12. - Permitted uses.
Agricultural operations, including floriculture, horticultural and nurseries, provided all structures and buildings used
in connection therewith are at least 100 feet from the nearest property line; poultry and dairy farming and horse
breeding on parcels of at least ten acres in area, provided all animals and buildings and structures used in connection
therewith are located at least 100 feet from the nearest property line.
Town of Bedford, VA
(pop. 6,561) Sec. 602. - Single Family Residential District R-1.
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following conditions:
i. Each parcel shall contain one single family dwelling and must have a minimum size of 10,000 square feet.
The dwelling may not be used for residential purposes by anyone other than the person maintaining such
chickens as are permitted or his or her immediate family.
ii. Chickens are defined herein as domestic female chicken hens. Roosters are prohibited.
iii. Chickens shall be kept for the household's personal consumption only. Commercial use (such as selling eggs
or selling chickens for meat) shall be prohibited. No slaughtering or processing of chickens shall take place.
iv. No more than six chickens shall be allowed.
v. Chickens shall not be allowed to roam free. They shall be kept in securely and suitably fenced areas. All pens
must be no closer than 50 feet from any principal structure. All pens shall be located within the rear yard
only.
vi. Every person maintaining any area for keeping chickens shall keep the area clean, sanitary and free from
refuse. All feed or other material intended for consumption by chickens shall be kept in containers
impenetrable by rats or other rodents, and such containers shall be equipped with tightly fitting caps or lids.
The presence of rats in an area used for the keeping of chickens shall be prima facie evidence that such area
is maintained in violation of this section.
Town of Culpepper,
VA
(pop. 17,557)
Sec. 3-10. - Cleanliness of stables, kennels, etc.
All cow stables, chicken houses, dog houses or kennels or other facilities for keeping livestock, fowl, poultry or dogs,
kept of maintained within the town, shall, in addition to any town, county or state requirement now existing or
hereafter enacted, be under the supervision and regulations of the county health department. Such stables, etc., shall
be kept in a clean and sanitary condition for the protection of health, and shall be kept so as not to give rise to
objectionable odors upon any public highway or upon any premises owned or occupied by any person other than the
person maintaining such stables or other facilities.
(b) Any person, having been given notice in writing by the county health department to correct any conditions called
to his attention by the county health department, shall correct such condition within ten (10) days from the receipt of
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Town of Warrenton,
VA
(pop. 9,897)
Sec. 3-4. - Fowl, poultry and livestock running at large.
It shall be unlawful for any person to allow or permit any fowl, poultry or livestock of any description, to stray to
public property or private premises of another, and all fowl, poultry or livestock shall be sufficiently housed or fenced
up by the owner or person exercising control over such fowl, poultry or livestock, so as to prevent such
fowl, poultry or livestock from trespassing or straying.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any animal belonging to him or under his control, and known by him
individually or by repute to be dangerous, mischievous or vicious, to go at large. Any animal at large in violation of
this provision may be killed by any police officer upon the written order of the judge of the general district court. This
section shall not be construed to apply to dogs.
Town of Orange, VA
(pop. 4,947)
Sec. 10-4. - Maintenance of places where fowl are kept.
Any person owning or having custody or control of fowl within the town shall provide for such fowl a suitable pen or
other enclosure or place of habitation and physical restrictions which prevent the fowl from leaving the premises. It
shall be his duty to maintain such place at all times in a safe and sanitary condition, free of excrement and other
unsanitary or offensive substances or liquids, and so as not to constitute a hazard to the health or safety of any person
Purcellville, VA
(pop. 9,232)
Sec. 10-3. - Confinement of fowl.
The owner or custodian of any fowl shall keep such fowl on his premises. No roosters are permitted within the
corporate limits.
Created: 2022-07-28 11:13:08 [EST]
(Supp. No. 16)
Page 1 of 2
Sec. 10-97. Fowl, chickens and other domestic birds.
(a) Definitions. Fowl is defined as any various domestic birds by way of example but not limited to: Chickens,
roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, emus, rheas, ostriches and pigeons.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, permit or allow any domesticated fowl within the corporate limits
of the town, or to allow any domesticated fowl to run at large within the corporate limits of the town, except
as specifically permitted below.
(c) It shall only be lawful for a person to keep, permit or allow chickens within the corporate limits of the town on
residential property only, under the following terms and conditions:
(1) The principal use of the property shall be a single-family dwelling. No chickens shall be allowed on
townhouse, duplex, apartment, or manufactured housing park properties.
(21) No more than six chicken hens shall be allowed for each single-family dwelling, with roosters prohibited.
No chickens shall be allowed on townhouse, duplex, apartment or manufactured housing park
properties.
(32) No roosters shall be permitted at any time.
(42) Chicken hens allowed under this section shall only be raised for domestic purposes and no commercial
use such as selling eggs or selling chickens for meat shall be allowed. There shall be no outside
slaughtering of chickens.
(3) Each single-family dwelling shall contain at a minimum an acre (43,560 square feet) of land.
(45) Chicken hens shall be kept in an enclosed secure movable/portable pen/chicken tractor, stationary pen
or a fenced enclosure (henhouse/coop) that contains at a minimum four square feet per bird. The size
of the enclosed portable and/or stationary henhouse/coop shall not exceed 64 square feet in area. Birds
shall not be allowed to roam free.
(56) The materials used in making a henhouse/coop or chicken tractor shall be uniform for each element of
the structure such that the walls are made of the same material, the roof has the same shingles or other
covering, and any windows or openings are constructed using the same materials. The use of scrap,
waste board, sheet metal, or similar materials is prohibited. Henhouses and chicken tractors shall be well
maintained.
(67) All enclosed permanent henhouses/coops must be at least 25 15 feet from the adjoining property lines
and no closer than 50 40 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling or to any other building used for
residential purposes, other than that of the owner of the chicken hens. All enclosed permanent
henhouses/coops shall be located at least 3 feet behind the rear property building line of the principal
structure. All enclosed permanent henhouses/coops shall not be located in the front yard, required
street side yard, required side yard, nor shall be located in any drainage area that would allow fecal
matter to enter any storm drainage system or stream.
(78) Secure movable/portable henhouses/coops and chicken tractors must be located at least 15 20 feet from
the adjoining property line and no closer than 2540 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling or to any
other building used for residential purposes, other than that of the owner of the chicken hens. All secure
movable/portable henhouses/coops and chicken tractors shall be located at least 3 feet behind the rear
property building line of the principal structure.
(89) All enclosures for the keeping of chicken hens shall be constructed and maintained as to prevent rodents
or other pests from being harbored underneath, inside, or within the walls of the enclosure. The
henhouse/coop must be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators, including dogs and cats. All
enclosed pens must be kept dry, well-ventilated, and in sanitary condition at all times, and must be
Formatted: Justified
Formatted: Justified
Formatted: Justified
Created: 2022-07-28 11:13:08 [EST]
(Supp. No. 16)
Page 2 of 2
cleaned on a regular basis to prevent offensive odors. All manure not used for composting or fertilizing
shall be removed promptly. Odors from chickens, chicken manure, or other chicken-related substances
shall not be detectable at the property boundaries.
(910) No dog or cat that kills a chicken hen will, for that reason alone, be considered a dangerous or aggressive
animal.
(1011) Adequate shelter, care and control of the chicken hens are required. Any person allowed to keep
chicken hens under this section shall comply with all of the provisions and definitions of the Code of
Ordinances regarding care, shelter, sanitation, health, rodent control, cruelty, neglect, noise, reasonable
control and any other requirements pertaining to the adequate care and control of animals in the town.
(1112) The chicken hen owner shall take necessary action to reduce the attraction of predators and
rodents and the potential infestation of insects and parasites. Chicken hens found to be infested with
insects and parasites that may result in unhealthy conditions to human habitation may be removed by
an animal control officer.
(1213) All feed or other material intended for consumption by the chickens shall be kept in containers
impenetrable by rats or other rodents, and such container shall be equipped with tightly fitting caps or
lids. All feeding shall be conducted in a manner as to prevent unconsumed food from being accessible to
other animals or rodents. The presence of rodents in an area used for the keeping of chickens shall be
prima facie evidence that such area is maintained in violation of this section.
(1314) Chicken litter and waste shall not be deposited in any trash container that is collected by any public
and shall be disposed of by either composting on site or disposed of at a permitted solid waste facility in
accordance with the applicable permit. Also, any dead birds shall not be deposited in any trash container
that is collected by any public waste collector but shall be taken to the permitted solid waste disposal
facility and properly disposed of in accordance with the receiving facility's applicable permit.
(1415) Disposal of chicken litter, waste, and dead birds in the public wastewater collection system is
strictly prohibited since this may cause backups and/or overflows.
(1516) Persons wishing to keep chicken hens pursuant to this subsection must file an application with the
town's planning and zoning department. The application shall include a sketch showing the area where
the chickens will be housed and all types and size of enclosures in which the chickens will be housed
along with a fee of twenty thirty-five dollars fee. The sketch must show all property dimensions and
setbacks. Once the site and enclosures have been inspected and approved by the town's animal control
officer and/or Planning and Zoning Staff, a permit will be issued by the planning and zoning department.
The permit shall be valid for one year. Each existing permit must be renewed annually in January by filing
an application with the town's planning and zoning department, along with payment of a twenty-five
dollar renewal. The town's animal control officer shall make another inspection of the site, prior to the
approval of the renewal application.
(d) The above subsection (c) shall not apply to indoor birds, such as, but not limited to parrots or parakeets, or to
the lawful transportation of fowl through corporate limits of the town.
(e) Any person found guilty of violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and subsequent
violations of this section by the same person shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor. Additionally, any such
person found guilty of violating this section shall have their permit revoked.
(Ord. No. 913, 4-5-2011)
What do you know about
Chickens in Vinton?
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Where to find information:
The ordinance for raising chickens in Vinton can be
found under Chapter 10. Article III Sec.10-97. Fowl,
Chickens and other domestic birds.
Notable Changes
Chicken hens must be kept in an enclosed coop
(portable or fixed).
A permit application is required which must include
a sketch of all property dimensions and setbacks.
Chickens can only be kept on single family
dwelling properties.
Hens may not be used for commercial purposes.
No roosters permitted at anytime.
Maximum of six chickens/hens allowed.
Existing Regulations
Standard of Care
Enforcement
Materials used to make henhouses shall be
uniform.
Henhouse construction should prevent rodents
from being harbored within or underneath coop.
Pens should be dry, well-ventilated and kept in a
sanitary condition.
No offensive odors shall be detectable at the
property boundaries.
Questions?
Contact the Planning and Zoning Department
311 S Pollard St, Vinton VA 24179
Tel: 540-983-0605 Website: www.vintonva.gov
For Complaints: 540-562-3265 (Non-Emergency)
For permit approval, coop inspection must be
performed prior to housing chickens.
For complaints about non-compliance call the non-
emergency dispatch number listed below or submit
a complaint online.
Non-compliance can result in a Class 3
misdemeanor; subsequent violations shall
constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Must be 40ft from any adjacent residential
dwelling.
Must be 3ft behind the rear building line of the
principal structure.
Must be 15ft from adjoining property lines.
No minimum lot size requirement.
A one-time permit fee of $35.