HomeMy WebLinkAboutADAC 02-19-15 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
SUBJECT: February 19, 2015 Meeting
DATE: February 17, 2015
The Agricultural District Advisory Committee will be meeting on February 19, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
in the first floor conference room (purple room) at 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia.
Please find attached a memo regarding the criteria for evaluating Agricultural and Forestal District
Applications.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Cheran at 540-665-5651.
MRC/pd
107 North Kent Street, Suite 202 • Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
COUNTY of FREDERICK
Department of Planning and Development
540/665-5651
FAX: 540/665-6395
MEMORANDUM
TO: Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC)
FROM: Mark R. Cheran, Zoning Administrator
RE: Criteria for Evaluating Agricultural and Forestal District applications.
DATE: February 17, 2015
There are currently eight (8) Agricultural and Forestal Districts within Frederick County with a total
of 11,786+/- acres. A review of Frederick County policies regarding future district renewals and/or
additions to districts may be warranted. Staff in reviewing current districts has noted a number of
properties under five (5) acres in size. This poses a problem to adjoining property owners who are
not within the district, in regards to developing their property. Any property adjoining an
Agricultural and Forestal District has a building setback of 200 feet. This significant setback
inadvertently penalizes the adjoining proper wArner who may not be able to develop their property
do to the greater setbacks. Quite simply, a parcel under five (5) acres in size within an Agricultural
and Forestal District could be deemed an adjacent parcel of similar size unbuildable; clearly not the
intent of the District.
Currently Frederick County evaluates properties for inclusion in an Agricultural and Forestal District
using the Virginia Land Evaluation and Site Assessment (LSSA) System, as required within Section
15.2 -4306 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended. There are seven (7) factors involved with an
evaluation of a property(s) for inclusion into a district:
1. The agricultural and forestal significance of land within the district or addition and in areas
adjacent thereto;
2. The presence of any significant agricultural lands or significant forestal lands within the
district and in areas adjacent thereto that are not now in active agricultural or forestal
production;
3. The nature and extent of land uses other then active farming or forestry within the district and
in areas adjacent thereto;
4. Local development patterns and needs;
5. The Comprehensive Plan and, if applicable, the zoning regulations;
107 North Kent Street, Suite 202 • Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
ADAC Committee
Re: Criteria
February 17, 2015
Page 2
6. The environmental benefits of retaining the lands in the district for agricultural and forestal
uses; and
7. Any other matter which may be relevant.
The Code of Virginia allows localities to evaluate and judge properties via a local LESA System, and
allows for localities to use other criteria to closely evaluate properties for inclusion into the district
(Number 7). This allows for a more collective evaluation ofproperty(s) to ensure that an application
has met the requirements of the Code and the policies of Frederick County.
One provision that should be examined is a minimum acreage should be assigned to a property to be
included in a district. Currently, Frederick County does not have a minimum acreage for property to
be included in a district. Staff would recommend in addition to the listed seven (7) factors provided
by the Code to include as part of the County's evaluation process for any future District(s) that
property(s) have a minimum of five (5) acres to be in a District. Furthermore, any current properties
less than two (2) acres in size be excluded from the County's Agricultural and Forestal Districts.
Staff believes that a more comprehensive review of property (s) for inclusion into an Agricultural
and Forestal District will ensure the integrity of the land in the agricultural and forestal district(s),
and not impact adjoining property not in the district. Staff is requesting the Agricultural District
Advisory Committee (ADAC) consider a new policy establishing a local LESA system for evaluating
applications for inclusion in an Agricultural and Forestal District. Any recommendations, additions,
or concerns from the ADAC on this policy will be forward to the Board of Supervisors.
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