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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
Middleburg/Marshall Agricultural and Forestal District
currently contains 139 parcels totaling 12,336.85 acres and
will run until June 30, 2014.
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 has requested that one parcel totaling 40.82 acres
be added to the District. The property is located at the
intersection of Atoka Road and Rectors Lane in Marshall.
The applicant has indicated that the property is a full-time
working farm with the principal crop listed as hay. The
property has qualified for Land Use taxation for at least
the last five years for agriculture.
Overview
of Property
The
40.82-acre parcel is entirely open space. The Commissioner
of Revenue records show no improvements on the property.
The Fauquier County Soil Survey shows the property to
predominately have the following soil types:
|
Soil Type |
Soil Name |
Characteristics |
Potential
Agricultural Uses |
|
23B |
Purcellville loam |
Very deep, well drained, strong
brown fine-silty soils on undulating summits and
gently sloping backslopes; good development
potential |
Prime Cropland |
|
31C |
Purcellville – Tankerville
complex |
Very deep, well drained, strong
brown, fine-silty (Purcellville) and moderately
deep, well drained, strong brown, coarse-loamy (Tankerville)
soils on strongly sloping backslopes; marginal
development potential |
Secondary Cropland |
|
22B |
Purcellville-Swampoodle complex |
Very deep, well drained, strong
brown silty soils (Purcellville) and very deep,
moderately well drained, brownish yellow loamy soils
(Swampoodle) with intermittent high water tables on
broad summits and slight depressions; poor
development potential |
Prime Cropland |
|
15B |
Seneca loam |
Very deep, moderately well
drained, yellowish-brown loamy soils with
intermittent high water tables in concave swales and
along small drainageways; not suited for development |
Secondary Cropland |
Staff
Recommendation
The parcel
is surrounded by parcels located in the Upperville and
Middleburg/Marshall Districts; however, the parcel should be
placed in the Middleburg/Marshall District, as it is within
one (1) mile from a core parcel in that District. Allowing
the parcel in the District would be in accordance with the
County’s policy on preserving agricultural and forestal
lands. Therefore, staff recommends including the parcel in
the District.
If the Board
recommends the parcel be included in the District, staff
recommends that it be subject to the standard conditions.
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