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 o...
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