HomeMy WebLinkAboutAFD201200004 Staff Report 2012-05-17COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
STAFF REPORT SUMMARY
Project Name:
Staff. Scott Clark, Senior Planner
AFD201200004 Chalk Mountain AFD Addition —
Locally Important
Mehring
22.5%
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 Chalk Mountain Agricultural
Comprehensive Plan Designation:
and Forestal District
Rural Areas
RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission recommend approval of the proposed addition to the
Chalk Mountain Agricultural and Forestal District.
The Albemarle County Code currently contains this description of the Chalk Mountain District:
Sec. 3 -211 Chalk Mountain Agricultural and Forestal District.
The district known as the "Chalk Mountain Agricultural and Forestal District" consists of the
following described properties: Tax map 97, parcels 2, 21A1, 21B1, 22, 22A, 22B, 27; tax map
98, parcels 1G (part), 11, 12, 13, 14; tax map 99, parcel 30. This district, created on September 6,
1989 for not more than 10 years and last reviewed on December 2, 2009, shall next be reviewed
prior to December 2, 2019.
The District was created in 1989 and originally included 14 parcels and 1,082 acres. The District now includes 13 parcels
and approximately 1,049 acres.
Agricultural and Forestal District Significance: The district has the following important soils, as designated in the
Comprehensive Plan:
Prime
71.8 acres
7.1%
Locally Important
226.4 acres
22.5%
Unique
106.7 acres
10.6%
Land Use other than Agriculture and Forestry In addition to agricultural and forestal uses, the Chalk Mountain District
includes approximately 8 dwellings (secondary dwellings may not appear in this count).
Local Development Patterns: The area includes many large forest parcels, as well as some open land. No parcels in the
District are under conservation easements (Attachment A).
Comprehensive Plan Designation and Zoning Districts: The Chalk Mountain 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 mostly woodland, as well assome 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 Chalk Mountain District is currently on a 10 -year review cycle. The District is scheduled to be reviewed
prior to December 2, 2019.
Proposal:
One applications has been submitted requesting to add three parcels totaling 552 acres to the Chalk Mountain 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 97 Parcels 21B, 21C, and 21D —are located on Hungrytown Road (Route 698), approximately 0.8
miles north of its intersection with Heards Mountain Road (Route 633 (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 addition to the Chalk Mountain Agricultural and Forestal District.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the proposed addition to the Chalk Mountain
Agricultural and Forestal District.
Attachments:
A. Chalk Mountain AFD Map
2
- Chalk Mountain Additions N
0 0.25 0.5 1
Conservation Easements Miles