The Virginia Advisory Legislative Council, in a report made to the 1960 Session of the General Assembly, presented a bill to revise and consolidate into a single statute the various laws relating to the subjects of zoning, subdivision control, and planning which are now covered in Title 15 of the Code of Virginia. The Council did not advocate passage of the bill at that time but in its report stated that the bill needed more minute analysis and revision and to this end recommended a continuation of the study. Pursuant to this recommendation, the General Assembly of 1960 adopted House Joint Resolution No. 89 directing further study of the subject.

The Council selected Lewis A. McMurran, Jr., of Newport News, member of the House of Delegates and member of the Council, to serve as Chairman of a Committee to make the initial study and report to the Council. Selected to serve as members of the Committee with Mr. McMurran were the following: Melvin W. Burnett, Executive Secretary, Chesterfield County; Chesterfield; John A. K. Donovan, Attorney and member of the Senate of Virginia, Falls Church; Horace H. Edwards, City Manager, City of Richmond; Allen H. Harrison, Jr., Attorney, Arlington; William B. Hopkins, Attorney and member of the Senate of Virginia, Roanoke; Carlton C. Massey, County Executive, Fairfax County, Fairfax; Willard J. Moody, Attorney and member of the House of Delegates, Portsmouth; Robert D. Morrison, City Manager, City of Lynchburg; William F. Parkerson, Jr., Commonwealth's Attorney, Henrico County; and Wendel L. Winn, Chairman, Tidewater Regional Planning Commission, Norfolk.

The Committee met and organized, electing Senator Donovan as Vice Chairman. John B. Boatwright, Jr., and Wildman S. Kincheloe, Jr., were appointed Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Committee.

The proposed bill was carefully considered in detail and suggestions relating thereto were sought from persons having particular experience with or knowledge of the matters covered therein. The existing legislation was also reviewed, both those provisions in Chapters 23, 24 and 25 of Title 15 dealing with local activities in planning, zoning and subdivision control, and the provisions of Chapters 8-and 9 of Title 10 which are concerned with the Division of Industrial Development and Planning in the Department of Conservation and Economic Development and with the Advisory Council on the Virginia Economy.

Two public hearings were held, one of which was concerned with the effect of the suggested revisions of the zoning, planning, and subdivision laws, and the other with the program for aiding the industrial development and planning work of both State and local agencies as well as private organizations by the provision of more adequate topographic mapping of those areas of the State now deficient in this coverage. Many helpful suggestions and much valuable information were received as a result of these hearings.

Based on its study, the Committee reported to the Council. The Council has carefully considered the report of the Committee, and makes the following recommendations.