AGENDA DATE: 1/16/2019
TITLE: Yard Maintenance Open-Air Burning Discussion
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Yard Maintenance Open-Air Burning
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Farley, Eggleston, Oprandy, Lagomarsino
PRESENTER (S): Howard Lagomarsino
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND:
Citizen complaints and Board of Supervisors concerns regarding open-air burning processes and laws in Albemarle County have generated discussion and changes over recent months. In framing the discussion, staff has referred to three types of open burning: commercial open-air burning (large scale, land clearing for development), Certified Burn Program (predominantly maintenance of land involved in agricultural or farming operations or the ACE program), and yard maintenance open-air burning (yard maintenance and garden trimmings). Although State and local codes regulate these types of burning, there are differences in processes and requirements. For further description of each and their associated processes, please see Attachment B - Open-air Burning Explained.
The Board discussed commercial open-air burning during its December 6, 2017; April 4, 2018; and June 6, 2018 meetings, and then enacted changes to the County Code on October 3, 2018. Throughout the conversation about commercial open-air burning, concerns and issues were discussed that are relevant to the Certified Burn Program and yard maintenance open-air burning as well. To further understand these issues ahead of the Board work session on the Certified Burn Program and yard maintenance open-air burning, staff engaged directly with individual Board members and residents to capture not only their concerns, but ideas for solutions as well. The purpose of this work session is to review those concerns and ideas, provide context where possible, and identify possible actions (along with pros and cons) the Board may wish to take as a mean...
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