ADAC 04-21-14 Meeting AgendaCOUNTY of FREDERICK
Department of Planning and Development
540/665-5651
FAX: 540/665-6395
MEMORANDUM
TO: Frederick County Agricultural District Advisory Committee
FROM: Mark R Cheran, Zoning Administrator
RE: April Meeting Date and Agenda
DATE: April 15, 2014
The Frederick County Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC) will be meeting on
Monday, April 21, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in the first floor conference room (purple room) of the
County Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia.
Chapter 43, Section 15.2-4300 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, requires the local
governing body to establish an Agricultural District Advisory Committee for the purpose of
reviewing proposals that establish or renew districts to ensure conformity with the
provisions of Section 15.2-43000. Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors approves, approves with
modifications, or denies the proposal to establish or renew an Agricultural and Forestal District.
The ADAC will discuss the following agenda items:
AGENDA
1) Discussion on a request regarding the creation of the Green Springs Agricultural
Forestal District.
2) Discussion on a request regarding the increase of acreage of the South Timber Ridge
Agricultural and Forestal District.
Please contact me if you are unable to attend this meeting. Thank you.
Staff has been directed to advise all committee members that access to the County Administration
Building for night meetings that do not occur in the Board Room will be limited to the back door
of the four-story wing. I would encourage committee members to park in the County parking lot
located behind the new addition or in the Joint Judicial Center parking lot and follow the
sidewalk to the back door of the four-story wing.
MRC/pd
107 North Kent Street, Suite 202 • Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
Item No. 1
Proposed Green Springs Agricultural and Forestal District
This is a request to the Frederick County Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC) to
establish a new Agricultural and Forestal District (District) to be named Green Springs
Agricultural District.
Chapter 43, Section 15.2-4300 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, enables local
governments to establish Agricultural and Forestal Districts to conserve and protect agricultural
and forestal lands for the production of food and other agricultural products and to provide
natural and ecological resources. The Code of Virginia requires the local governing body to
establish an ADAC for the purpose of reviewing proposals that establish or renew Districts to
ensure conformity with the provisions of Section 15.2-43000. Ultimately, the Board of Supervisors
approves, approves with modifications, or denies the proposal to establish or renew Forestal
District applications.
LOCATION
This proposed District is located in the Stonewall Magisterial District, fronting Glaize Orchard
Road (Route 682) to the south, and Green Springs Road (Route 671) to the east.
SIZE
The proposed District will contain 385.63+/- acres within two (2) parcels, managed by two (2)
property owners.
AGRICULTURAL & FORESTAL SIGNIFICANCE
The predominantly agricultural operations in the proposed District are 40 percent agriculture
(livestock, and crop harvesting) and 60 percent open-space/woodlands. The area within the
District is rural in nature.
LAND USE
All parcels within the proposed District are vacant and woodland.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The 2030 Comprehensive Policy Plan of Frederick County (Comp Plan) provides guidance when
considering land use actions. The location of this proposed District lies outside the Urban
Development Area (UDA) and Sewer and Water Service Area (SWSA), and is not part of any
land use plan or study by the County. The land use within this proposed District of 385.63+/-
acres is vacant. The current land use should remain in its present land use of pristine condition
with land use of vacant and woodland.
ZONING
All of the parcels are of this proposed District are currently zoned RA (Rural Areas) Zoning
District. The surrounding properties are zoned:
North: RA (Rural Areas) South: RA (Rural Areas)
East: RA (Rural Areas) West: RA (Rural Areas)
LAKES/PONDS/STREAMS
The proposed District lies within the Green Springs and Babbs Run drainage areas. These two
bodies of water are tributaries to Back Creek. The establishment of this District will further
assist with managing the quality of the County's water resources.
SOILS
The general relief of the proposed District varies from rolling hills to ridges to the south, west,
and north. Flat and gentle rolling hills are to the east. This District lies within the Green Springs
and Babbs Run drainage area and water is available from ponds, wells, and springs.
PRIME AGRICULTURE SOIL
The largest amount of prime agricultural soils located within the proposed District is Weikert-
Gainesboro-Berks
STAFF COMMENTS
This proposed District is not part of any land use plan or study as indicated within the 2030
Comprehensive Policy Plan of Frederick County (Comp Plan). The proposed District is located
outside the Urban Development Area (UDA) and Sewer and Water Service Area (SWSA), and is
to remain rural in nature and protected from any further development. The intent of the County's
Rural Areas is to maintain agriculture as a significant portion of the County's economy, and to
maintain the rural character of areas outside of its UDA and SWSA. The proposed District is
agriculturally significant as outlined in the Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act.
STAFF CONCLUSIONS FOR THE FREDERICK COUNTY ACAC MEETING:
This proposed District meets the intent of Chapter 43, Section 15.2-4300 of the Code of Virginia,
1950, as amended, that enables local governments to establish Agricultural and Forestal Districts
to conserve and protect agricultural and forestal land. The Code of Virginia sets out criteria for
evaluating Agricultural and Forestal District applications. One of the criteria is that the
application should be evaluated in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) of the
locality. This proposed District provides an opportunity for the agribusiness community to
conduct long range planning efforts for the management of their operations, while providing a
reserve of agricultural land through the year 2015. Staff recommends that these parcels be
included as part of Frederick County's Agricultural and Forestal District program.
Creation of Green Spring
Agricultural and
Forestal District
21 - A - 25, 21 - A - 36
Item No. 2
Proposed Addition to the South Timber Ridge Agricultural and Forestal District
This is a request to the Frederick County Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC) to
enlarge the South Timber Ridge Agricultural and Forestal District. This Agricultural and
Forestal District was created in 2010.
Chapter 43, Section 15.2-4300 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, enables local
governments to establish Agricultural and Forestal Districts to conserve and protect agricultural
and forestal lands for the production of food and other agricultural products and to provide
natural and ecological resources. The Code of Virginia requires the local governing body to
establish an ADAC for the purpose of reviewing proposals that establish or renew Districts to
ensure conformity with the provisions of Section 15.2-43000. Ultimately, the Board of
Supervisors approves, approves with modifications, or denies the proposal to establish or renew
an Agricultural and Forestal District.
LOCATION
The District is located in the Gainesboro Magisterial District along Hollow Road (Route 707) to
the north, Muse Road (Route 610) and Gold Orchard Road (Route 708) to the east.
SIZE
The District currently contains 15 parcels and 883+/- acres, managed by one (1) property owner.
The proposed addition will be one (1) parcel containing of total acreage of 85+/- acres. If this
addition is approved, the resulting District will contain a total of 968+/- acres, to be managed by
the same property owner.
AGRICULTURAL & FORESTAL SIGNIFICANCE
The predominantly agricultural operations in the District are 90 percent agriculture (orchard, and
crop harvesting) and 10 percent open-space/woodlands. The area within the District is rural in
nature.
LAND USE
The proposed parcel is in agricultural use.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The 2030 Comprehensive Policy Plan of Frederick County provides guidance when considering
land use actions. The location of the proposed addition to the District lies outside the Urban
Development Area (UDA) and Sewer and Water Service Area (SWSA), and is not part of any
land use plan or study by the County. The land use within this proposed addition to the District
is residential and agricultural. The current land use should remain in its present land use of
pristine condition with land use of orchards, agricultural, and residential.
ZONING
The proposed parcels are currently zoned RA (Rural Areas) Zoning District. The surrounding
properties are zoned:
North: RA (Rural Areas) South: RA (Rural Areas)
East: RA (Rural Areas) West: RA (Rural Areas)
LAKES/PONDS/STREAMS
The proposed addition to the District lies primarily within the Gainesboro drainage area. The
establishment of this District will further assist with managing the quality of the County's water
resources.
SOILS
The general relief of the addition to the District varies from rolling hills to ridges to the north,
west, south and east. This District lies within the Gainesboro watershed and water is available
from ponds, wells and springs.
PRIME AGRICULTURE SOIL
The largest amount of prime agricultural soils located within the South Timber Ridge
Agricultural and Forestal District is Weikert-Berks-Blairton
STAFF COMMENTS
The 2030 Comprehensive Policy Plan of Frederick County indicates the area of the County
where this proposed addition is not part of any land use plan or study. The proposed addition is
located outside the UDA and SWSA, and is to remain rural in nature and protected from any
future development. The intent of the Rural Areas is to maintain agriculture as a significant
portion of the County's economy, and to maintain the rural character of areas outside of its UDA.
The addition of this parcel to the South Timber Ridge District is agriculturally significant as
outlined in the Agricultural and Foresta! Districts Act.
STAFF CONCLUSIONS FOR THE FREDERICK COUNTY ADAC MEETING:
The proposed addition to the District meets the intent of Chapter 43, Section 15.2-4300 of the
Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended that enables local governments to establish Agricultural and
Forestal Districts to conserve and protect agricultural and forestal land. The Code of Virginia
sets out criteria for evaluating Agricultural and Forestal District applications. One of the criteria
is that the application should be evaluated in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan of the
locality. The Comprehensive Plan and this proposed addition provides an opportunity for the
agribusiness community to conduct long range planning efforts for the management of their
operations, while providing a reserve of agricultural land through the year 2015. Therefore, staff
would recommend that this proposed addition of this one (1) parcel containing 85 acres to be
included within the South Timber Ridge Agricultural and Forestal District. This additional
acreage will increase the District from 883 acres to 968 acres.
Addition South Timber Ridge
Agricultural and
Forestal District
26 - A - 49