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History
of the District
The Paris
Valley Agricultural and Forestal District was created in
1990. At the time of its inception, 9 parcels totaling 1,250
acres were included in the District. The District now
consists of 11 parcels totaling 1,514 acres. On May 15,
2006, the District expires.
Renewal
Process
The Code of
Virginia establishes procedures for the review and renewal
of local agricultural and forestal Districts. The renewal
process is intended to provide the local jurisdiction with
an opportunity to re-evaluate the agricultural and forestal
significance of the land remaining in the District, and to
change or add conditions to the parcels in the District.
The renewal process also provides landowners in the
District an opportunity to re-evaluate their participation
in the District; any landowner may withdraw their parcel
from the District during the renewal process by written
request.
Fauquier
County sent letters to all owners of property in the
District notifying them of the renewal process and their
options relative to the renewal. Property owners may
continue to make requests for withdrawals and additions up
to the time the Board of Supervisors acts on the renewal.
Withdrawals
Pursuant to
the Code of Virginia, any landowner with property in the
District may request to withdraw their land during the
renewal process by submitting a written request for
withdrawal. As of May 31, 2005, eight property owners have
requested their property to be withdrawn from the District.
In 1990,
the Board of Supervisors adopted a policy stating that
parcels less than 25 acres in size will not be permitted
within an agricultural and forestal District unless the
parcel is under an open space easement, or the parcel is
part of a working farm totaling more than 25 acres which are
included within the agricultural and forestal District.
Therefore, any parcel less than 25 acres will be
automatically removed from the District during the renewal
process unless a landowner specifically requests that the
parcel remain in the District and demonstrates compliance
with the Board’s 1990 policy. At the direction of the
Agricultural and Forestal Committee, staff has asked the
owners of these smaller parcels requesting to specifically
confirm that they are either part of a working farm over 25
acres in the District or under open space easement.
There are 3
parcels in the current District that are less than 25
acres. As of May 31, 2005, 1 of the 3 parcels will
automatically be removed since no request has been made by
the owner for inclusion. The other 2 parcels have been
requested to be removed by the owners.
Additions
The Code of
Virginia also allows additions to be made to the District
during the renewal process up until Board action on the
renewal. As of May 31, 2005, no requests for additions have
been received.
Existing
Conditions
The Board
may place conditions on the renewal of any District.
Currently, all parcels in the Paris Valley Agricultural and
Forestal District are subject to the following conditions:
1. That pursuant to Title 15.1, Chapter 36. Section
15.1-1512(b) of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, the
Fauquier County Zoning Ordinance shall apply except as
modified below. These modifications are necessary to assure
that the Ordinance does not conflict with the purpose for
which the District was established.
a. All uses allowed by right in the applicable zoning
District(s) for each parcel listed in this Ordinance shall
require a special exception except that farming uses and
single family dwellings on a legally recorded parcel of
record shall be permitted by right.
b.
Subdivisions of land as defined in Article 2-39 of
the Fauquier County Subdivision Ordinance are not permitted.
c.
No special exception shall be in conflict with the
purposes for which the District was created.
2. That these parcels shall qualify for land use value
assessment provided that the parcels meet the criteria of
Section 58.1-3229 and 58.1-3244 of the Code of Virginia.
3. That the owners of land within the District shall not
terminate the District except as provided for in Section
15.1-1511(e) of the Code of Virginia.
4.
That lawful termination of any owner’s association in
the District shall not serve to terminate the existence of
the District, but the District shall continue in effect
until the review required by Section 15.1-1511 (e) of the
Code of Virginia.
5.
That parcels under twenty-five (25) acres shall be
excluded except where exempted by the Board.
In addition, recent additions to the District have had these
additional conditions placed on them:
1. If a parcel is sold, it is to be withdrawn from the
District.
2.
If a parcel is sold, divided or boundary adjusted to
below 25 acres, it is to be withdrawn from the District.
Agricultural and Forestal Advisory Committee and Planning
Commission Review
The
Agricultural and Forestal Advisory Board and the Planning
Commission have both met to review this renewal and
application for addition to the District. These bodies are
charged with advising the Board of Supervisors regarding the
renewal of and additions to agricultural and forestal
Districts. The Committee and Planning Commission recommended
that the District be renewed subject to the conditions
recommended by staff. The Committee asked staff to follow up
with additional review of parcels less than 25 acres, to
ensure that owners of such parcels meet the criteria
established by the Board of Supervisors in 1990, and also to
be sure owners of such parcels realize they must take
affirmative action to stay in the District. Staff has
carefully reviewed the smaller parcels recommended for
inclusion to ensure they do meet the policy. Multiple
letters have been sent to the owners advising all of the
actions necessary to stay in or be removed from the
District.
Staff
Recommended Conditions:
The staff
recommended conditions are incorporated into the
attached Ordinance.
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