                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

EXPEDITED LAND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCEDURE (§ 15.2-2263)

A. The Counties of Hanover, Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince William, and Roanoke,
and the Town of Leesburg, may establish, by ordinance, a separate processing
procedure for the review of preliminary and final subdivision and site plans and
other development plans certified by licensed professional engineers, licensed
architects, licensed land surveyors, and landscape architects who are also
licensed pursuant to &#xA7; 54.1-408 and recommended for submission by persons
who have received special training in the locality&#8217;s land development
ordinances and regulations. The purpose of the separate review procedure is to
provide a procedure to expedite the locality&#8217;s review of certain qualified
land development plans. If a separate procedure is established, the locality
shall establish within the adopted ordinance the criteria for qualification of
persons and whose work is eligible to use the separate procedure as well as a
procedure for determining if the qualifications are met by persons applying to
use the separate procedure. Persons who satisfy the criteria of subsection B
below shall qualify as plans examiners. Plans reviewed and recommended for
submission by plans examiners and certified by the appropriately licensed
professional engineer, licensed architect, licensed land surveyor, or landscape
architect shall qualify for the separate processing procedure.

B. The qualifications of those persons who may participate in this program shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:

   1. A bachelor of science degree in engineering, architecture, landscape
   architecture or related science or equivalent experience or a licensed land
   surveyor pursuant to &#xA7; 54.1-408.

   2. Successful completion of an educational program specified by the locality.

   3. A minimum of two years of land development engineering design experience
   acceptable to the locality.

   4. Attendance at continuing educational courses specified by the locality.

   5. Consistent preparation and submission of plans which meet all applicable
   ordinances and regulations.

C. If an expedited review procedure is adopted by the board of supervisors or
town council pursuant to the authority granted by this section, the board of
supervisors or town council shall establish an advisory plans examiner board,
which shall make recommendations to the board of supervisors or town council on
the general operation of the program, on the general qualifications of those who
may participate in the expedited processing procedure, on initial and continuing
educational programs needed to qualify and maintain qualification for such a
program and on the general administration and operation of the program. In
addition, the plans examiner board shall submit recommendations to the board of
supervisors or town council as to those persons who meet the established
qualifications for participation in the program, and the plans examiner board
shall submit recommendations as to whether those persons who have previously
qualified to participate in the program should be disqualified, suspended or
otherwise disciplined. The plans examiner board shall consist of six members who
shall be appointed by the board of supervisors or town council for staggered
four-year terms. Initial terms may be less than four years so as to provide for
staggered terms. The plans examiner board shall consist of three persons in
private practice as licensed professional engineers or licensed land surveyors
pursuant to &#xA7; 54.1-408, at least one of whom shall be a licensed land
surveyor; one person employed by the government of the locality; one person
employed by the Virginia Department of Transportation who shall serve as a
nonvoting advisory member; and one citizen member. All members of the board who
serve as licensed engineers or as licensed surveyors must maintain their
professional license as a condition of holding office and shall have at least
two years of experience in land development procedures of the locality. The
citizen member of the board shall meet the qualifications provided in &#xA7;
54.1-107 and, notwithstanding the proscription of clause (i) of &#xA7; 54.1-107,
shall have training as an engineer or surveyor and may be currently licensed or
practicing his profession.

D. The expedited land development program shall include an educational program
conducted under the auspices of a public institution of higher education. The
instructors in the educational program shall consist of persons in the private
and public sectors who are qualified to prepare land development plans. The
educational program shall include the comprehensive and detailed study of local
ordinances and regulations relating to plans and how they are applied.

E. The separate processing system may include a review of selected or random
aspects of plans rather than a detailed review of all aspects; however, it shall
also include a periodic detailed review of plans prepared by persons who qualify
for the system.

F. In no event shall this section relieve persons who prepare and submit plans
of the responsibilities and obligations that they would otherwise have with
regard to the preparation of plans, nor shall it relieve the locality of its
obligation to review other plans in the time periods and manner prescribed by
law.

HISTORY: 1991, c. 444, § 15.1-501.1; 1997, c. 587; 2007, c. 813; 2009, cc. 214,
309, 518.