CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Circuit Court judge Claude V. Worrell II will hear more arguments in the case against the city’s revised zoning ordinance, he said Wednesday.

Worrell had granted the plaintiffs in the suit, White vs. Charlottesville, a summary judgement last month, after the city’s outside counsel missed a filing deadline. But Wednesday, Worrell gave the city until Monday to file arguments defending the 2024 ordinance, and – specifically -the process by which it was adopted.

The plaintiffs have argued that the city failed to follow Virginia Department of Transportation guidelines regarding the process of passing the ordinance.

The judge gave the plaintiffs until Wednesday, to respond to whatever the city files. For now, the city is still operating under the 2024 ordinance.

Charlottesville mayor Juandiego Wade said Wednesday that, regardless of the case’s outcome, the city council plans to push forward with the ordinance, even if it means passing it a second time.

“Either way, we’re moving forward,” Wade told Cville Right Now. “I have the mentality at this point that, whatever happens, let’s say that he’s going to stay with his judgement, then we’re still planning to pass it again.”

The ordinance is designed to allow taller buildings within the city limits to increase opportunities for housing.

“Of course, everybody’s not happy with it, but the majority of the people support it,” Wade said. “We have to do something. I believe that is the best tool that we have to address affordable housing in Charlottesville and I support it 100%. We may have got nicked on a technicality, but I think the base of the zoning ordinance is still strong.”