COUNTY OF FAUQUIER

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

PUBLIC HEARING

STAFF REPORT

JUNE 16, 2003

SUBJECT:  3^rd Renewal of the Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District

EXPIRATION DATE OF DISTRICT: January 10, 2004

APPLICANT:                                                  Renewal required to prevent expiration of District

LOCATION:                                                   The Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District is located in the western portion of the County and the boarders of the district are:  Route 211 to the north, the Town of Warrenton to the east, Route 802 to the south, and the Rappahannock River to the west.

PARCEL ID#:                                                  Various (See attached listings)

CURRENT AND SURROUNDING

ZONING:                                                        The surrounding zoning of the District is RA (Rural Agricultural), with the exception of those parcels which border the Villages of Turnbull and Fauquier Springs, in which case the zoning is V (Village).

MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT:                           Marshall

STAFF PLANNER:                                         Holly Meade

BACKGROUND:

The Springs Valley Fauquier Agricultural and Forestal District was originally created in 1980 and was last renewed by the Board of Supervisors for a third eight-year term in 1996.  Without this renewal, the District will expire on January 10, 2004 . The Department of Community Development is in the process of realigning the terms for Agricultural and Forestal Districts.  If renewed, this district would take effect July 1, 2003 and expire June 30, 2011 .  The District currently consists of  86 parcels and totals approximately 5,342.0693 acres of land.

STAFF REVIEW:

The renewal of the Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District is contingent upon a Board of Supervisors policy which was adopted in March of 1990. This policy states that parcels which are smaller than twenty-five (25) acres in size shall be excluded from an Agricultural and Forestal District unless one of the following exceptions is met:  (1) The subject property is under an open space easement; and/or (2) The subject property is part of a working farm and under the same ownership, or family ownership, of other lands which are currently a working farm and are in or being added to an Agricultural and Forestal District. 

AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:

In order to make the third renewal of the Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District come into conformance with the above referenced Board of Supervisor’s policy, the Agricultural and Forestal Advisory Committee recommends the following action for the Planning Commission to consider:

·        Recommend that all parcels listed on Attachment #A be approved for renewal into the Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District for another eight year term.  The Department of Community Development is in the process of realigning the terms for Agricultural and Forestal Districts.  If renewed, this district would take effect July 1, 2003 and expire June 30, 2011 .

·        Recommend that all parcels listed on Attachment #B be excluded from the renewal of the Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District unless written notice from the property owner stating that the parcel meets one of the criteria outlined in the Board’s March 1990 policy statement is received prior to the Board of Supervisor’s public hearing, which is tentatively scheduled for June 16, 2003.

ATTACHMENTS:

1.   Parcels Recommended for Inclusion in the 3^rd renewal of the Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District

2.   Parcels Recommended for Removal from the 3^rd renewal of the Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District

3.   Springs Valley Agricultural and Forestal District map