HomeMy WebLinkAboutAFD201200005 Staff Report 2012-05-17COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
STAFF REPORT SUMMARY
Project Name:
Staff: Scott Clark, Senior Planner
AFD201200001 Keswick AFD Addition - Gonda
Locally Important
AFD201200005 Keswick AFD Addition - Cox
32.7%
Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee Meeting: March 19, 2012
Planning Commission Public Hearing:
Board of Supervisors Public Hearing:
May 22, 2012
TBA
Proposal: Additions to the Keswick Agricultural and
Comprehensive Plan Designation:
Forestal District
Rural Areas
RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission recommend approval of the additions to the Keswick
Agricultural and Forestal District.
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, 39B, 40,
42A; tax map 64, parcels 5, 7, 7A, 8A, 9, 10 10A, 1013, l OC, l OD, 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. This district, created on September 3, 1986 for not more
than 10 years and last reviewed on November 3, 2004, shall next be reviewed prior to November 3,2014.
(10- 12 -94; 4- 12 -95; 8- 13 -97; Code 1988, § 2.1 -4(e); Ord. 98 -A(1), 8 -5 -98; Ord. 04 -3(3), 11 -3 -04; Ord.
09 -3(4), 12 -2 -09; Ord. 10 -3(3), 12 -1 -10)
The District was created in 1986 and originally included 38 parcels and 4,622 acres. The District now includes 67 parcels
and approximately 6,799 acres.
Agricultural and Forestal District Significance: The district has the following important soils, as designated in the
Comprehensive Plan:
Prime
1825.7 acres
26.9%
Locally Important
2223.3 acres
32.7%
Unique
698.3 acres
10.3%
Land Use other than Agriculture and Forestry In addition to agricultural and forestal uses, the Keswick District includes
approximately 43 dwellings (secondary dwellings may not appear in this count).
Local Development Patterns: The area include many large farms, as well as some smaller residential lots. Thirty -seven
parcels in the District are under conservation easement (Attachment A).
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 Areas. The parcels adjoining the parcels
in the District are zoned RA Rural Areas as well (Attachment A).
Environmental Benefits: The District includes woodland and open agricultural land. Protecting and preserving these
properties in an Agricultural and Forestal District will help protect forest and productive 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.
Time Period: The Keswick District is currently on a 10 -year review cycle. The District is scheduled to be reviewed prior
to November 3, 2014.
Proposal:
Two applications have been submitted requesting to add three parcels totaling 90.67 acres to the Keswick Agricultural and
Forestal District, in accordance with Chapter 3, Sections 3 -101, 3 -201, 3 -203 and 3 -215 of the Albemarle County Code,
which allows for additions of land to Agricultural and Forestal Districts.
The parcels —Tax Map 81 Parcel 69 (AFD201200001, the Gonda property) and Tax Map 81 Parcels 72 and 73
(AFD201200005, the Cox property) are located approximately 1.25 miles southeast of Route 22 in Keswick (Attachment
A).
The parcels are zoned Rural Areas with agricultural, forestal, and fishery uses as the preferred land use and includes a
residential density of .5 unit per acre. The Comprehensive Plan identifies these parcels as Rural Areas; focusing on the
preservation and protection of agricultural, forestal, open space, and natural, historic and scenic resources, including a
residential density of .5 units per acre.
Committee Recommendation:
At their meeting on March 19, 2012, the Agricultural & Forestal Districts Advisory Committee recommended approval of
the proposed additions to the Keswick Agricultural and Forestal District
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the proposed additions to the Keswick
Agricultural and Forestal District.
Attachments:
A. Keswick AFD Map
2
N I4 IZIj uonservamn casements II
Spring 2012 KeswickAFD Additions A 0 0.5 1 2
Miles