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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAFD201200003 Staff Report 2012-05-17COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE STAFF REPORT SUMMARY Project Name: Staff: Scott Clark, Senior Planner AFD201200002 Hardware AFD Addition - Vlasis Locally Important AFD201200005 Hardware AFD Addition - Eudy 42.0% 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 Hardware Agricultural and Comprehensive Plan Designation: Forestal District Rural Areas RECOMMENDATION: That the Commission recommend approval of the proposed additions to the Hardware Agricultural and Forestal District. The Albemarle County Code currently contains this description of the Hardware District: Sec. 3 -214 Hardware Agricultural and Forestal District. The district known as the "Hardware Agricultural and Forestal District" consists of the following described properties: Tax map 73, parcels 38, 39C7, 41A, 41B1, 41B2, 42, 42A, 43, 44; tax map 74, parcels 6N, 26, 28, 28B; tax map 75, parcels 4A, 5; tax map 86, parcels 14, 16, 16A, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16F, 16H, 27, 27A; tax map 87, parcels 10, 13A, 13E (part consisting of 89.186 acres), 16A; tax map 88, parcels 2A, 3V, 6A, 20A, 2013, 20C, 20D, 20F, 23, 23E, 23F, 24, 24A, 24B, 26B, 29, 40, 42; tax map 99, parcels 10(part), 29, 52, 52B. This district, created on November 4, 1987 for not more than 10 years and last reviewed on September 12, 2007, shall next be reviewed prior to September 12, 2017. The District was created in 1986 and originally included 52 parcels and 5,947 acres. The District now includes 30 parcels and approximately 2,411 acres. Agricultural and Forestal District Significance: The district has the following important soils, as designated in the Comprehensive Plan: Prime 647.5 acres 26.9% Locally Important 1012.7 acres 42.0% Unique 230.5 acres 9.6% Land Use other than Agriculture and Forestry In addition to agricultural and forestal uses, the Hardware District includes approximately 35 dwellings (secondary dwellings may not appear in this count). Local Development Patterns: The area includes many large farms, as well as some smaller residential lots. Nine parcels in the District are under conservation easements (Attachment A). Comprehensive Plan Designation and Zoning Districts: The Hardware 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 Hardware District is currently on a 10 -year review cycle. The District is scheduled to be reviewed prior to September 12, 2017. Proposal: Two applications have been submitted requesting to add two parcels totaling 42 acres to the Hardware 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 allow for additions of land to Agricultural and Forestal Districts. The parcels —Tax Map 72 Parcel 5 1 C (AFD201200002, the Vlasis property) and Tax Map 88 Parcel 3T (AFD201200003, the Eudy property) are each 21 acres in size. The Vlasis property is located on Dick Woods Road (Route 637) approximately 600 feet east of its intersection with Pounding Creek Road (Route 689).. The Eudy property is located on Chopin Drive, approximately 500 feet south of its intersection with Blandemar Drive. (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 Hardware Agricultural and Forestal District. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the proposed additions to the Hardware Agricultural and Forestal District. Attachments- A. Hardware AFD Map 2 0 0.5 1 2 Miles