CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) Despite a default judgement in Circuit Court, due to a missed filing deadline, the City of Charlottesville is still operating under its 2024 development code, it announced Friday.

On June 30, the Charlottesville Circuit Court granted a default judgement in the case of White vs. Charlottesville, a case challenging the zoning ordinance the city council adopted on Dec. 18, 2023. And while the plaintiff wants to see that ordinance voided, the city won’t be doing that until it receives a formal, written order from the court, according to the statement it released Friday.

“Despite the June 30 decision, building permit applications, including trade and fire permits, are continuously being accepted and processed,” the city announced. “All zoning‐related applications are temporarily on hold pending further developments, but the city anticipates being able to resume those reviews in the near future.”

The city announced it is pursuing a settlement with the plaintiffs in the case and, if that is unsuccessful, it will appeal the court’s ruling.

The default judgement was issued when the city’s outside counsel, Gentry Locke, missed a filing deadline. Gentry Locke has not responded to requests for comment from Cville Right Now.

On July 2, the city announced that city attorney John Maddux had taken over the case.

City manager Sam Sanders said he believes the zoning ordinance would have been upheld by the court, if not for the missed filing deadline and said the City Council will pursue restoring the ordinance, which aimed to create more affordable housing by increasing zoning for duplex and other multi-family dwellings. That ordinance went into effect in February 2024.