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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
Marshall/Warrenton Agricultural and Forestal District
currently contains 172 parcels totaling 12,457.30 acres and
will run until June 30, 2012.
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.
Property
The
applicant, Jane M. Hurst, has requested that one parcel
containing 62.2503 acres be added to the District. The
property is located on James Madison Highway in Warrenton.
The applicant has indicated that the property is not a
working farm but used as open space. The property has
qualified for Land Use taxation for the last five years
based on forestal use of the property.
Overview
of Property
The
62.2503-acre parcel is partially open and partially wooded,
with 100-year floodplain along the entire frontage of the
property. 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 |
|
40D |
Myersville silt loam, stony |
Deep, well drained, strong
brown silty soils on moderately steep backslopes;
poor development potential |
Prime Pasture |
|
45C |
Fauquier silt loam |
Very deep, well drained, red
clayey soils on strongly sloping backslopes;
marginal development potential |
Secondary Cropland |
|
12A |
Rohrersville loam |
Very deep, somewhat poorly
drained, brownish-yellow loam soils with
intermittent high water tables in drainageways; not
suited for development |
Secondary Pasture |
|
16B |
Meadowville silt loam |
Very deep, well drained,
yellowish-brown to reddish-brown silty soils with
intermittent high water tables in concave uplands
and along small drainageways; not suited for
development |
Prime Cropland |
Property
The
applicant, James L. Hitt, has requested that the two
properties totaling 79.50 acres be added to the District.
The property is located on Olinger Road in Marshall. He
indicates that the properties are a full-time working farm
with hay as the main crop. The property has qualified for
Land Use taxation for at least the last five years for
agriculture.
Overview
of Property
The larger
73.4733 acre parcel is almost entirely open space. The
Commissioner of Revenue records show the parcel improved
with several barns, shelters, and sheds. The Fauquier
County Soil Survey shows the property to predominately have
the following soil types:
|
Soil Type |
Soil Name |
Characteristics |
Potential
Agricultural Uses |
|
53D2 |
Glenelg loam |
Very deep, well drained,
micaceous, yellowish-red loamy soils on moderately
steep backslopes in dissected uplands; marginal
development potential |
Prime Pasture |
|
55C |
Elioak loam |
Very deep, well drained,
micaceous, dark red clayey soils on rolling summits
and strongly sloping backslopes; good development
potential |
Secondary Cropland |
|
25D |
Hazel loam; rocky |
Moderately deep, excessively
drained, yellowish-brown coarse-loamy soils on
narrow summits and moderately steep backslopes; poor
development potential |
Secondary Pasture |
The smaller
6.0267-acre parcel is also almost entirely open space. The
Commissioner of Revenue records show that the parcel is
improved with one dwelling, a detached garage, and several
outbuildings. The Fauquier County Soil Survey shows the
property to predominately have the following soil types:
|
Soil Type |
Soil Name |
Characteristics |
Potential
Agricultural Uses |
|
53D2 |
Glenelg loam |
Very deep, well drained,
micaceous, yellowish-red loamy soils on moderately
steep backslopes in dissected uplands; marginal
development potential |
Prime Pasture |
|
26C |
Culpeper fine sandy loam |
Very deep, well drained, red
clayey soils on rolling summits and strongly sloping
backslopes; marginal development potential |
Secondary Cropland |
|
55C |
Elioak loam |
Very deep, well drained,
micaceous, dark red clayey soils on rolling summits
and strongly sloping backslopes; good development
potential |
Secondary Cropland |
Issues/Staff Recommendation
The parcels are surrounded by parcels
located in the Marshall/Warrenton 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.
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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