CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Cape Charles Town Council has formally voiced support for Northampton County’s proposed changes to its Town Edge zoning rules, backing a plan county officials say could expand housing options — including workforce housing — near incorporated towns without immediately approving any new development.
In a resolution adopted June 18, the council said it supports Northampton County’s proposed amendments to the Town Edge zoning ordinance, which would create a new Town Edge-Residential, or TE-R, zoning district for areas adjacent to towns such as Cape Charles.
County officials have said the amendments are intended to give property owners another zoning option in areas already identified in Northampton’s comprehensive plan as appropriate for future growth. Supporters say the changes could help address the county’s housing shortage, particularly for local workers and families who are increasingly priced out of the market.
The resolution approved by Cape Charles emphasizes that the ordinance itself would not rezone any land, approve a development project, expand town boundaries or require Cape Charles to extend water, sewer or other municipal services. Instead, any landowner seeking to use the proposed TE-R zoning would still have to file a separate rezoning application and go through the county’s public review process.
That process would include review by county staff, public hearings before the Northampton County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, and compliance with state and federal regulations.
Town officials also noted that any future development proposals would still have to be evaluated for water and sewer availability, traffic impacts, emergency services, stormwater management, environmental concerns and other infrastructure needs.
In its resolution, the Cape Charles Town Council said it recognizes the need for additional housing opportunities in Northampton County, particularly for local families, employees, educators, health care workers and first responders. The council also said carefully planned growth near towns could help support businesses, strengthen the regional economy and make service delivery more efficient.
At the same time, the council sought to draw a clear line between supporting the zoning framework and endorsing any specific project. The resolution states that the town’s support “shall not be construed as support for any specific development proposal, rezoning application, or future project,” and says each proposal should be judged on its own merits through the established public review process.
The measure also calls for continued coordination between Northampton County, Cape Charles, property owners and the public as future proposals are considered under the Town Edge framework.
The county’s proposed Town Edge amendments have drawn attention because they could shape how land near incorporated towns develops in coming years. Supporters argue the changes could create a path for more housing in locations already close to infrastructure and jobs, while critics have raised concerns about density, growth pressure and the long-term impact on the Eastern Shore’s rural character.
Northampton County has not yet approved the zoning amendments. If adopted, the ordinance would serve as a planning tool that property owners could pursue through future rezoning requests, each of which would require separate public hearings and county approval.
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This is great news for our town and county. We cannot expect to have good restaurants, schools, etc., if we do not have affordable housing.
If so, how on earth did the Eastern Shore feed, educate, and house it’s citizens before now? The only difference is the amount of come-heres living here, that wish to change The Shore to suit their imaginations.
Editor’s Note: Agreed. We have many times wondered the same thing.
I’ve never seen a group of people so butthurt. If you don’t like the come here’s, stop selling your land to them. Your daddies got rich doing it but you seem forever resentful that they left nothing for you. Blame them not the come heres.
Laughing King, why do you keep repeating the same thing over and over about your father getting rich from selling his land and leaving you nothing? I understand it’s a bitter pill for you to swallow, but why do you keep posting about it? I’m sorry you’re sad and depressed about your situation, but enough with repeating yourself over, and over, and over and…
Hank – why else do all the been heres hate all the come heres? The come heres made the been heres rich.
Being a fool is one thing, but not knowing you are a fool is another thing all together.
spot on