Central Virginia Ecovillage of tiny houses may be built soon

Central Virginia may see the emergence of another tiny home community in upcoming years. 
Piedmont Ecovillage will be yet another member of the Virginia tiny house community. The RVA Tiny House Team has already been fostering discussions and helping others transition to tiny home life, and Piedmont Ecovillage seems to be another step toward making the region more tiny home-friendly. 
Advertisement
Zoning ordinances vary county to county but generally are not prepared to handle tiny home communities. According to Richmond Virginia's Zoning Ordinance, single-family detached homes, “shall be located on lots of not less than 5,000 square feet in area with a width of not less than 50 feet.” Other requirements of single-family detached homes are a minimum of 25 feet in depth for front yards, 5 feet in width for side yards, and 5 feet of depth for backyards. Lot coverage cannot exceed 40 percent of the lot area, and cannot be taller than 35 feet. This ordinance does not seem to have been adjusted since 2004.     
Though Piedmont Ecovillage doesn’t exist (yet), within the next two to five years, a cohousing community made up of green-minded single-family homes, condominium-style living spaces and tiny homes could be a reality. According to the official website, the plan is to form a neighborhood focused on combating environmental concerns with green building structures, alternative energy and community gardens. Resources such as tools, kitchen areas and laundry stations will be shared within the proposed common house — the central hub for the community. 
Advertisement
So what will Ecovillage look like? The final answers haven’t been determined yet. For now, Piedmont Ecovillage doesn’t have a set piece of land, as the planners are exploring their options around Richmond’s metro region and nearby counties. According to the FAQ, neighboring Powhatan County is of interest but hasn’t been confirmed as the official location. There are proposal committees and online message boards to voice concerns as well as ideas for the village, but only full members of the Piedmont Ecovillage (those who pay a $100 annual fee) have voting rights to final decisions. Interested people may sign up via the membership tab on the website.