AGENDA DATE: 10/5/2016
TITLE:
Title
Agricultural and Forestal Districts (AFD's); addition to the Carter's Bridge AF District and the periodic review of the South Garden AF District
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, pertaining to an addition to the Carter's Bridge AF District and the periodic review of the South Garden AF District.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Kamptner, Herrick, Graham, Benish, Clark
PRESENTER (S): Scott Clark
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: Localities are enabled to establish agricultural and forestal districts (AFD's) under the Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act (Virginia Code ? 15.2-4300 et seq.). AFD's serve two primary purposes: (1) to conserve and protect agricultural and forestal lands; and (2) to develop and improve agricultural and forestal lands. Land within an AFD is prohibited from being developed to a more intensive use, other than a use resulting in more intensive agricultural or forestal production, without prior Board approval. In addition, the County is prohibited from exercising its zoning power in a way that would unreasonably restrict or regulate farm structures or farming and forestry practices in contravention of the Agricultural and Forestal Districts Act unless those restrictions or regulations bear a direct relationship to public health and safety (Virginia Code ? 15.2-4312).
Additions A landowner may petition to add its land to an AFD at any time (Virginia Code ? 15.2-4310). Virginia Code ?? 15.2-4307 and 15.2-4309 require that the Board conduct a public hearing on proposed additions to AFDs, and that these actions be reviewed by both the Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission for their recommendations. The Advisory Committee and...
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