HomeMy WebLinkAboutAFD201300002 Staff Report 2013-11-26COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
STAFF REPORT
Project Name:
Staff. Scott Clark, Senior Planner
AFD2013 -00002 Keswick Addition - May
Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee Meeting: November 7, 2013
Planning Commission Public Hearing:
Board of Supervisors Public Hearing:
December 3, 2013
December 4, 2013
Proposal: Addition to the Keswick Agricultural and
Comprehensive Plan Designation:
Forestal District
Rural Areas
This item was reviewed by the Planning Commission on October 22, 2013. However, due to issues with the
Agricultural/Forestal Districts Advisory Committee's prior action, the item was not properly before the
Commission for action. The item has now been properly reviewed by the Committee and is now before the
Commission for public comment and recommendation for action.
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, 3013, 30C, 30D, 30E; tax map 63, parcels 39, 39A, 40,
42A; tax map 64, parcels 5, 7, 7A, 8A, 9, 10 10A, 1013, IOC, IOD, 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, 3H, 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, 1513, 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 November 7, 2013, the Agricultural /Forestal Districts Advisory Committee recommended
approval of AFD201300002.
Attachments:
A. Keswick District Map — District and Proposed Addition
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