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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAFD201300002 Staff Report 2013-10-23COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE STAFF REPORT Project Name: Staff. Scott Clark, Senior Planner AFD2013 -00002 Keswick Addition - May Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee Meeting: July 22, 2013 Planning Commission Public Hearing: Board of Supervisors Public Hearing: TBA October 22, 2013 Proposal: Addition to the Keswick Agricultural and Comprehensive Plan Designation: Forestal District Rural Areas The Albemarle County Code currently contains this description of the Keswick District: Sec. 3 -219 Keswick Agricultural and Forestal District The district known as the "Keswick Agricultural and Forestal District" consists of the following described properties: Tax map 48, parcels 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E; tax map 63, parcels 39, 39A, 40, 42A; tax map 64, parcels 5, 7, 7A, 8A, 9, 10 10A, 10B, IOC, 10D, 11 12, 13, 13A, 14; tax map 65, parcels 13, 31C1, 31C3, 31D, 32; tax map 79, parcel 46; tax map 80, parcels 1, 2, 2A, 2C, 3A, 3A1, 3G, 314, 3I, 4, 61D, 88, 114A, 115, 164, 169, 169A, 169C, 169C1, 174, 176, 176A, 182, 182A, 183, 183A, 190, 192, 194; tax map 81, parcels 1, 8A, 15A6, 15B, 63, 69, 72, 73, 74, 79. This district, created on September 3, 1986 for not more than 10 years, was last reviewed on November 3, 2004, and shall next be reviewed prior to November 3, 2014. The district included 5,412 acres when it was founded, and today includes 6,886 acres. The Keswick Agricultural and Forestal District is located in the vicinity of Keswick and Cismont (Attachment A) The district is characterized by large pasture areas and significant blocks of forest. Agricultural and Forestal District Significance: Of the 6,886 acres that comprise the Keswick District, 4,771 acres include soils listed in the Comprehensive Plan as being important for agriculture. Most of the remaining acreage is in soils that are valuable for forestry. Land Use other than Agriculture and Forestry In addition to agricultural and forestry uses, the district includes approximately 86 dwellings. Local Development Patterns: The District primarily consists of large forested parcels and large farm parcels. Comprehensive Plan Designation and Zoning Districts: The Keswick District is entirely designated as Rural Areas in the Comprehensive Plan, and the parcels included in the District are zoned RA Rural. Environmental Benefits: The District includes woodland and agricultural fields. Protecting and preserving these properties in an Agricultural and Forestal District will help protect forest and rich farm land, which the Comprehensive Plan and Rural Areas Zoning Ordinances seek to preserve. Conservation of this area will help maintain the environmental integrity of the County and aids in the protection of ground and surface water, agricultural soils, and wildlife habitat. The Keswick District is located in the Mechunk Creek and Middle Rivanna River watersheds. Proposal: The proposal is to add two parcels (Tax Map 65 Parcels 14A and 14A1) totaling 36.86 acres to the District. Approximately 27.9 of those acres are in soils listed as important for agriculture in the Comprehensive Plan. The majority of the property is open, and the remainder is wooded. There is one dwelling. Recommendation: At their meeting on July 22, 2013, the Agricultural/Forestal Districts Advisory Committee recommended approval of AFD201300002. Attachments: A. Keswick District — District and PYObosed Addition AFD2013 -00002 Keswick Addition - May N 0 0.250.5 0 1 1.5 2 Miles