AGENDA DATE: 6/17/2026
TITLE:
Title
Agricultural and Forestal Districts (AFDs): Additions to the Green Mountain and Chalk Mountain AFDs
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Adoption of an ordinance to amend County Code Chapter 3, Agricultural and Forestal Districts, Article II, Districts of Statewide Significance, Division 2, Districts, to add lands to certain districts, as specified below.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Herrick, Tevendale, Svoboda, Barnes, Maliszewski, Clark, Van Vranken
PRESENTER (S): James Van Vranken
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Agricultural and Forestal Districts (AFD) program is a voluntary land conservation program in which landowners limit the development potential of their land to help protect the rural landscape. Localities are enabled to establish AFDs under the Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act (Virginia Code § 15.2-4300 et seq.). The program is structured to protect the following public interests: production of food and other agricultural and silvicultural products; provision of essential open spaces; strong agricultural and silvicultural economies; and protection and preservation of natural resources and retention of continuous and unfragmented land. The County currently has 27 districts covering approximately 62,000 acres, or 14% of the Rural Area.
A landowner may apply to add land to an AFD at any time (Virginia Code § 15.2-4310). Virginia Code §§ 15.2-4307 and 15.2-4309 require the Agricultural and Forestal Districts Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission to review such applications and report their recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, which must hold a public hearing and, by ordinance, may add land to an existing district as applied for or with any modifications the Board of Supervisors deems appropriate.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Mission: To enhance the well-being and quality of life for all citizens through the provision of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
DISCUSSION: The AFD Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission reviewed the following applications and recommended approval unanimously in both cases.
AFD-2026-00002 Green Mountain Addition
The proposed 753-acre addition consists of two parcels (Tax Map 120 Parcel 20 and Tax Map 128 Parcel 1) on Alberene Road, just north of Esmont, which together comprise the historic property known as Guthrie Hall. The property is currently used for agriculture (horses) and forestry, and is protected by a conservation easement that was donated to the ACEA in 2022.
AFD-2026-00003 Chalk Mountain Addition
The proposed 234-acre addition consists of one parcel (Tax Map 98 Parcel 4) on Sutherland Road, just west of the North Garden crossroads. The property is currently used for agriculture (hay) and forestry.
Staff has reviewed both applications against the addition criteria in County Code Sec. 3-201(F) and recommends approval in both cases. See Attachment B for more information on the two applications and an assessment of their merits against those criteria.
BUDGET IMPACT: The addition of parcels to AFDs has no budget impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the ordinance (Attachment A) to approve the Green Mountain and Chalk Mountain District Additions.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Proposed Ordinance
B - May 12, 2026 PC Staff Reports - Green Mountain and Chalk Mountain District Additions
C - PC Action Letter Green Mountain D - PC Action Letter Chalk Mountain
E - Final PC Minutes Green Mountain F - Final PC Minutes Chalk Mountain