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Home My WebLink AboutAFD200900002 Staff Report 2009-07-17COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE STAFF REPORT SUMMARY Project Name: Staff: Eryn Brennan, Senior Planner AFD2009 -00002 Yellow Mountain AF District Review Planning Commission Public Hearing: Board of Supervisors Public Hearing: July 21, 2009 September 2, 2009 Proposal: Periodic review of the Yellow Comprehensive Plan Designation: Mountain AF District. Rural Areas RECOMMENDATION: That the Commission recommend renewal of the District for another 10- year period. Petition: Review of the Yellow Mountain Agricultural /Forestal District: Periodic (10 -year) review of the Yellow Mountain Agricultural/Forestal District, as required in Section 15.2 -4311 of the Code of Virginia. The district includes the properties described as Tax map 54 Parcel 7113; Tax Map 55 Parcel 15; Tax Map 70 Parcels 15, 15A, 15D, 15E, 29, 37B, 37B 1 (part), 37D (part), 37K, 37L; Tax Map 71 Parcels 213, 22, 22A, 22B, 64, 64A. The District includes a total of 656.72 acres. The area is designated as Rural Area in the Comprehensive Plan and the included properties are zoned RA Rural Areas. Purpose: The Agricultural and Forestal Districts program is an important voluntary protection measure utilized in the County. It is enabled by state law, and was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in Chapter 3 of the County Code. Through the program, rural land is safeguarded and the County's policy goal of protecting "Albemarle's agricultural and forests as a resource base for its agricultural and forestry industries and for related benefits they contribute towards the County's rural character, scenic quality, natural environment, and fiscal health" is implemented. The purpose of an Agricultural and Forestal District is further expanded in the County Code, adding that agricultural and forestal lands should be protected as valuable natural and ecological resources which provide essential open space for clean air sheds, watershed protection, wildlife habitat, as well as for aesthetic purposes. Effects of a District: The District provides a community benefit by conserving and protecting farmlands and forest; environmental resources such as watersheds, air quality, open space, and wildlife habitat; and scenic and historic resources. 2.The State Code stipulates that the landowner receive certain tax benefits *, and restrictions on public utilities and government action (such as land acquisition and local nuisance laws) to protect the agricultural/ forestal use of the land. In exchange, the landowner agrees not to develop the property to a "more intensive use" during the specified number of years the district is in effect. 3. Since Albemarle County currently permits all four categories of use value assessment, a district designation may not provide any additional real estate tax deductions. Land in a district is protected from special utility assessments or taxes. 4. The State Code stipulates that, "Local ordinances, comprehensive plans, land use planning decisions, administrative decisions and procedures affecting parcels of land adjacent to any district shall take into account the existence of such a district and the purposes of this chapter." The district may have no effect on adjacent development by- right, but could restrict proposed rezonings or uses by special use permit which are determined to be in conflict with the adjacent agricultural/ forestal uses. Districts must now be shown on the official Comprehensive Plan map each time it is updated. In general, a district may have a stabilizing effect on land use. The property owners in the district are making a statement that they do not intend to develop their property in the near future, and that they would like the area to remain in agricultural, forestal, and open space uses. Adjacent property owners may be encouraged to continue agricultural uses if they do not anticipate development of adjacent lands. Currently, there are 26 agricultural /forestal districts in the County containing approximately 81,100 acres. Renewal Procedure: In conducting a renewal, the Board shall ask for the recommendations of the local Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission in order to determine whether to terminate, modify, or continue the district. The Board may stipulate conditions to continue the district and may establish a time period before the next renewal of the district, which may be different from the conditions or period established when the district was created. Any such different conditions or period must be described in a notice to landowners in the district, AFD2009 -00002 Yellow Mountain AF District Review PC 7 -21 -09 BoS 9 -2 -09 2 and published in a newspaper at least two weeks prior to adoption of the ordinance continuing the district. Unless the district is modified or terminated by the Board of Supervisors, the district shall continue as originally constituted, with the same conditions and time period before the next review as were established when the district was created. When each district is reviewed, land within the district may be withdrawn at the owner's discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the district. AFD 2009 -00002 YELLOW MOUNTAIN DISTRICT REVIEW The Albemarle County Code currently contains this description of the Yellow Mountain District: Sec. 3 -228 Yellow Mountain Agricultural and Forestal District. The district known as the "Yellow Mountain Agricultural and Forestal District" consists of the following described properties: Tax map 55, parcel 15; tax map 70, parcels 15, 15A, 15D, 15E, 29, 37B, 37K, 37L; tax map 71, parcels 22, 22A, 22B, 64, 64A. This district, created on March 8, 1989 for not more than 10 years, shall next be reviewed prior to March 8, 2009. (Code 1988, § 2.14(p); Ord. 98 -A(1), 8 -5 -98; Ord. 99 -3(1), 1- 13 -99, Ord. 99 -3(4), 5- 12 -99) The parcels in the District are located in three general areas: 1) a cluster of parcels southwest of the 64W and 250 West interchange; 2) a second cluster of parcels north of Batesville, flanked by Dick Woods Road and Plank Road; and 3) a small cluster of parcels south of Plank Road, east of Ortman Road, and north of Dick Woods Road (see Attachment A). The first cluster of parcels is located in the Stockton Creek watershed. The two remaining clusters of parcels are located in the Upper Mechums River watershed. While the first and third clusters are characterized by large farm parcels, the second cluster of parcels is primarily forested. The District was created in 1989, and originally included 717 acres. In 1999, 3 parcels and 46 more acres were added. However, during the 1999 review, 107 acres were removed. The District now includes 18 parcels and 657 acres. Agricultural and Forestal District Significance: Of the 657 acres that comprise the Yellow Mountain District, 161.20 acres are enrolled in the Agricultural category of the land -use taxation program, while 235.75 acres are enrolled in the Forestry category. Enrollment in these tax categories is an indicator of active rural land uses. Land Use other than Agriculture and Forestry: In addition to agricultural and forestal uses, the Yellow Mountain District includes approximately 23 dwellings. Local Development Patterns: The District primarily consists of large forested parcels and large farm parcels. Five parcels in the District, and many nearby, are under conservation easements (see Attachment B). Comprehensive Plan Designation and Zoning Districts: The Yellow Mountain District is entirely designated as Rural Areas in the Comprehensive Plan, and the parcels included in the District are zoned RA Rural Areas. Several parcels south of the second cluster and west of the third cluster are zoned Planned Residential Development (see Attachment Q. Environmental Benefits: 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, mountain resources, critical slopes, and wildlife habitat. AFD2009 -00002 Yellow Mountain AF District Review PC 7 -21 -09 BoS 9 -2 -09 3 Time Period: The District was created on March 8, 1989, and was last reviewed on January 13, 1999. The Yellow Mountain District is currently on a 10 -year review cycle. Landowners may withdraw their parcels from districts by right during a renewal at anytime before the Board of Supervisors takes final action to continue, modify, or terminate the district. Landowners were notified of the renewal by certified mail on June 9, 2009. As of this date, no landowners have requested withdrawal. Agricultural /Forestal Districts Advisory Committee Recommendation: On June 22, 2009, the Committee recommended that the Yellow Mountain District be continued for another 10 -year period. StaffRecommendation: That the Planning Commission recommend renewal of the Yellow Mountain District for a 10 -year period. Attachment: A. Yellow Mountain District map B. Conservation Easements in the Yellow Mountain District C. Zoning Map AFD2009 -00002 Yellow Mountain AF District Review PC 7 -21 -09 BoS 9 -2 -09 4 Attachment A Yellow Motuitaill Agricultural. Forestal District Legend 0 790 1,580 2,370 3,160 watersheds Feet Yellow Mountain District Roads Stream AFD2OO9 -00002 Yellow Mountain AF District Review PC 7 -21 -09 BoS 9 -2 -09 5 Attachment B Conservation Easements in the Yellow Mountain District - r .' u y •�y v - - -. r` f; +� I `* R 4 J 0 720 1,440 2,160 2,880 Feet I AFD2009 -00002 Yellow Mountain AF District Review PC 7 -21 -09 BoS 9 -2 -09 I-,' .. 1 I I I . Legend Yellow Mountain District conservation Easement 0 Zoning in the Yellow Mountain District Attachment C Y,T 0 72D 1,440 2,160 2,884 Legend * Feet Yellaw Mountain District AFD2009 -00002 Yellow Mountain AF District Review PC 7 -21 -09 BoS 9 -2 -09 7