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Overview
Each year,
landowners may file by February 1st to create a
new Agricultural and Forestal District or to add parcels to
any existing Agricultural and Forestal District and the
Board considers these applications for new districts and
additions.
The
Agricultural and Forestal Advisory Committee, as well as the
Planning Commission, are charged under the Code with
providing advice to the Board of Supervisors relative to
these decisions.
The Fiery
Run Agricultural and Forestal District currently contains 29
parcels totaling 3,143.51 acres and will run until June 30,
2015.
Criteria
for Evaluating Applications
The Code
of Virginia also establishes standards to be considered
in determining whether or not to include land in an
agricultural and forestal district. These broad standards
include:
- The
agricultural and forestal significance of the land and
adjacent land;
- The
presence of any significant agricultural or forestal
lands within the district or adjacent areas that are not
now in active agricultural or forestal production;
- The
nature and extent of land uses other than active farming
or forestry within the district and in adjacent areas;
- Local
development patterns and needs;
- The
comprehensive plan and, if applicable, the zoning
regulations;
- The
environmental benefits of retaining the lands in
agricultural and forestal uses; and
- Any
other relevant matters.
The Code
further states that “in judging the agricultural and
forestal significance of land . . . soil, climate,
topography, other natural factors, markets for agricultural
and forestal products, the extent and nature of farm
structures, the present status of agriculture and forestry,
anticipated trends in agricultural economic conditions and
such other factors as may be relevant” may be
considered.
On March 8,
2007, the Board of Supervisors revised the policy on parcels
25 acres or smaller in agricultural and forestal districts.
The current policy conditions are:
1. No parcel less than 5 acres in size shall be added to an
agricultural and forestal district.
2. Parcels from 5 acres to 25 acres in size may be included in the
agricultural and forestal district, provided that:
a.
The parcel is under a perpetual conservation or open
space easement held for public benefit.
or
b.
The parcel is under the same or family ownership as
other parcels which together comprise a contiguous tract of
at least 25 acres. Such groups of parcels shall be
evaluated for inclusion in the District under the same
criteria established for parcels 25 acres or greater in
size.
Harrell-Stonewall Property
The
applicants have requested that two parcels totaling 91.7959
acres be added to the District. The property is located on
Hume Road in Hume, Virginia. The applicants have indicated
that the properties are not a working farm but used as open
space.
The County
approved the Boundary Line Adjustment application submitted
on January 31, 2008, for the subject properties (see
Attachment). The boundary line adjustment created two
parcels containing 61.6484 acres and 30.1475 acres. As of
the date of this report, the plat has not been recorded.
The
applicants submitted an application to the Commissioner of
Revenue requesting the 82.3953 acres be placed under a Board
of Supervisors’ Open Space Use Agreement. The agreement was
approved by the Board on June 12, 2008.
Overview
of Property
The larger
82.3953-acre parcel is almost entirely open space
(approximately 60.40 acres) with the remaining acreage being
wooded. Multiple ponds are also located on the property.
The Commissioner of Revenue records show that the larger
parcel is improved with one home and one shelter. The
Fauquier County Soil Survey shows the property to
predominantly have the following soil types:
|
Soil Type |
Soil Name |
Characteristics |
Potential
Agricultural Uses |
|
121E |
Pigeonroost loam, very stony |
Moderately deep, well drained,
yellowish-brown loamy soils on steep backslopes of
the Blue Ridge; not suited for development |
Not Suited |
|
18D |
Tankerville loam, very rocky |
Moderately deep, well drained,
strong brown, coarse-loamy soils on moderately steep
backslopes; poor development potential |
Secondary Pasture |
|
20C |
Tankerville – Purcellville
complex, rocky |
Moderately deep, well drained,
strong brown coarse-loamy soils (Tankerville) and
very deep, well drained, strong brown fine-silty
soils (Purcellville) on rolling summits and strongly
sloping backslopes; marginal development potential |
Prime Pasture |
20D |
Tankerville – Purcellville
complex, rocky |
Moderately deep, well drained,
strong brown coarse-loamy soils (Tankerville) and
very deep, well drained, strong brown fine-silty
soils (Purcellville) on moderately steep backslopes;
poor development potential |
Prime Pasture |
|
28C |
Fauquier and Eubanks soils |
Very deep, well drained, red
clayey soils (Fauquier) and/or very deep, well
drained, red loamy soils (Eubanks) on rolling
summits and strongly sloping backslopes; marginal
development potential |
Secondary Cropland |
The smaller 9.4006-acre parcel is
mostly open space with a 2.0-acre pond located on the
northern part of the parcel. The Commissioner of Revenue
records show that the parcel is improved with one dwelling.
The Fauquier County Soil Survey shows the property to
predominately have the following soil types:
|
Soil Type |
Soil Name |
Characteristics |
Potential
Agricultural Uses |
|
18D |
Tankerville loam, very rocky |
Moderately deep, well drained,
strong brown, coarse-loamy soils on moderately steep
backslopes; poor development potential |
Secondary Pasture |
|
20C |
Tankerville – Purcellville
complex, rocky |
Moderately deep, well drained,
strong brown coarse-loamy soils (Tankerville) and
very deep, well drained, strong brown fine-silty
soils (Purcellville) on rolling summits and strongly
sloping backslopes; marginal development potential |
Prime Pasture |
Blackrock I Property
The
applicant has requested that the remaining 463.66 acres
contained in 11 (eleven) lots recently divided as large lots
from PIN #5998-53-8217-000 (see Attachment) be added to the
District. This acreage was part of a 726.66-acre parcel of
which 263 acres are currently in the Fiery Run Agricultural
and Forestal District. The property is located on Hume Road
in Hume, Virginia. The applicants have indicated that the
properties are not a working farm but used as open space.
Overview
of Property
The lots are
almost entirely wooded (approximately 350.00 acres) with the
remaining acreage being open. The Fauquier County Soil
Survey shows the property to predominantly have the
following soil types:
|
Soil Type |
Soil Name |
Characteristics |
Potential
Agricultural Uses |
|
121E |
Pigeonroost loam, very stony |
Moderately deep, well drained,
yellowish-brown loamy soils on steep backslopes of
the Blue Ridge; not suited for development |
Not Suited |
|
121D |
Pegeonroost – Edneytown
complex, very stony |
Moderately deep (Pigeonroost)
and very deep (Edneytown), well drained,
yellowish-brown loamy soils on moderately steep
backslopes of the Blue Ridge; marginal development
potential |
Secondary Pasture |
|
87C |
Tate loam |
Very deep, well drained, dark
yellowish brown soils on footslopes and benches;
marginal development potential |
Prime Pasture |
Staff
Recommendation
The parcels
are surrounded by parcels located in the Fiery Run District
and allowing the parcels in the District would be in
accordance with the County’s policy on preserving
agricultural and forestal lands. Therefore, staff
recommends including the parcels in the District provided
the Harrell-Stonewall Boundary Line Adjustment Plat is
recorded prior to that item’s acceptance.
If the Board
recommends the parcels be included in the District, staff
recommends that they be subject to the standard conditions.
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