Attendance
Nancy Miller
(CBLAD); Mike Anderberg, Mary Ann Krenzke, Davis Rhodes (Friends of Dragon
Run); Robert Gibson, Frank Herrin, Rachel Williams, Russell Williams (King and
Queen); Pat Tyrrell (Tidewater RC&D); Dorothy Miller (Essex); Karen Reay
(DGIF); Anne Ducey-Ortiz (Gloucester); David Birdsall (Resource Management
Service, Inc.); David Milby (DOF); Andy Lacatell (The Nature Conservancy);
Julie Bixby (VA Coastal Program); David Fuss (MPPDC)
Update on Memorandum of Agreement
After brief
introductions, David informed the group that the Dragon Run SAMP Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) had been signed by all four counties (Essex, Gloucester, King
and Queen, and Middlesex) and the Planning District Commission. He
congratulated the group on this successful effort and indicated that the group
now had an increasing sense of responsibility to develop action plans to
achieve the goals and objectives laid out in the MOA.
Major Issues and Available Tools
David noted that
one of the main pressures on the Dragon Run Watershed will be development,
which is what spurred the formation of the Dragon Run Steering Committee in
1985. He briefly discussed the population projections over the next 30 years
for the four counties in the watershed.
David then shared a
watershed management hierarchy with the group that he modified from a
presentation at the 9th VA Watershed Management Conference by D.
Hirschman of Albemarle County. This hierarchy consists of three levels of
management – land use; redevelopment and BMP’s; and restoration. Political
willpower and cost both increase as one descends the hierarchy, so that
restoration is often strongly supported but it costs the most. David noted that
the presentation contended that stakeholder groups, such as the SAMP Advisory
Group, tend to slide to the middle of the hierarchy. Yet, new development with
BMP’s leads to higher pollutant loading because it is still a net increase in
pollutants.
Watershed
Management Hierarchy (modified from
D.J. Hirschman, Albemarle County)
Land Use
Political Willpower Cost ($$)
Redevelopment, BMP’s
Restoration (buffer, wetlands, forest)
·
Stakeholder groups tend to slide to the middle of hierarchy
·
New
development with BMP’s still leads to higher pollutant loading (e.g. population
increase, buildout analysis)
David mentioned
that, from the SAMP meetings, the major issues for the SAMP are:
·
Farm and
Forest Preservation
·
Habitat
Protection
·
Lack of
Understanding of Value of Ecosystem, Traditional Uses, and Landowner
Stewardship
·
Public Access
vs. Trespass
David then
discussed a variety of land use tools that are available, including:
Command and
Control Voluntary
Comprehensive Plan Easement Programs (e.g. PDR, PACE)
Zoning, Subdivision
Ordinance Land
Use Taxation
Regulation
Enforcement (e.g. Bay Act) Ag/Forestal
Districts
Other Ordinances TDR
Program
Cluster Zoning Market
Initiatives
Federal
and state programs
BMP’s
– Farm and forest plans
It was noted that
Middlesex and Gloucester Counties use land use value taxation and that Essex
and King and Queen Counties do not use land use value taxation.
Mike Anderberg
indicated that there are a variety of tax credits available for donation of
conservation easements.
Proposed and Possible Action Plans
David then
presented the group with action plans that have been proposed by the working
groups.
1. Institute Overlay District for Dragon Run
Watershed in all 4 counties
·
Triggers
official request for Steering Committee opinion for rezoning requests,
conditional use permit applications, and special exception rulings
This concept would
require the Steering Committee to meet more frequently than quarterly; it would
also need to maintain a low level of burden on the landowner, since there is
concern that it would add extra time and effort to an already lengthy process. This
might be too often for involving the Steering Committee, so an alternative
would be to leave action up to the individual counties unless it represents a
major departure from the comprehensive plan. It was noted that, while special
exceptions and conditional use permits might be too often (e.g. kennels),
rezoning requests in the watershed are not frequent and the Steering Committee
would act as a citizen review of consistency with the county comprehensive
plan. There is also a high value of information being shared between the
Steering Committee, the Board of Supervisors, and the Planning Commission that
would increase the level of comfort between these entities.
Because this is
important to immediately adjacent counties and possibly others in the
watershed, a review of rezoning requests, special exceptions, and conditional
use permits should be tried. The group should be careful about how it is
presented to the elected officials for their approval, however. The group
should look into how other PDC’s have handled review bodies and lessons that
they have learned from their experiences.
2. Establish Public Education Campaign
·
Promote the community and economic benefits of farming/forestry
·
Promote the unique ecological/recreational values of the Dragon
Run
·
Target BOS, Planning Commissions, civic/community groups
·
Delivered by Steering Committee, landowners, PDC staff
·
Help to
establish specific topics in comp plans
The education
effort should target service clubs and civic groups. It should also focus on
Boards of Supervisors and Planning Commissions. Effort could be aimed at the
schools, such as 4-H, teacher/class projects, PTA, high school civics classes,
and science classes. It was noted that to reach decision-makers, education must
target adults; yet, youth education is important for continuing efforts into
the next generation.
Karen Reay announced
that Willy Reay will be hosting a Dragon Run Conference at VIMS at the end of
January. The conference will focus on presenting research findings about the
state of the natural resources in the Dragon Run. It will mostly involve state
and local agencies and organizations.
3.
Develop Awards Program
·
Honor local citizens who are good stewards (e.g. farmers,
forestry operators, hunt clubs)
·
Solicit nominations from agency/organization reps
This is an
excellent opportunity to gather landowners once a year to speak with them about
the planning process and the future of the Dragon Run. The awards could also
provide an incentive for landowners to install projects that would demonstrate
good stewardship of the land. This could be tied to the idea of a festival for
the Dragon Run communities, with the emphasis being on landowners and good
stewardship – celebrate history, culture, quality of life, etc.
This topic sparked
a debate about a conflict between establishing the community’s connection to
the Dragon Run and overuse causing damage to the ecosystem. Friends of Dragon
Run was offered as an example of an organization that provides a connection to
the stream without too much use.
This line of
discussion led to a discussion of the need for land-based access that does not
put tremendous pressure on the aquatic resources but can establish the
community’s connection to the land and water of the Dragon Run. The VDGIF
Birding and Wildlife Trail for the Coastal Area was discussed. Just out in
early October, the trail guide lists 18 loops in the Coastal Area. Texas-based
consultants identified sites, which were investigated for features like
parking. The Friends of Dragon Run property at Rt. 603 in Mascot is the only
Dragon Run site. Maps are also available online. David Whitehurst is the VDGIF
contact for the Trail Guide. Some concern was expressed about whether the
concept of seeking permission from private landowners was addressed for sites
on privately owned property.
4.
Erect Watershed Boundary Signs
·
Make community and visitors more aware of the watershed as
important resource
Like the
Adopt-a-Highway signs, this would increase community awareness of the Dragon
Run watershed. The signs would serve as part of the public education campaign.
Signs can be vandalized, but should be inexpensive. Some landowners may not
like the idea because of visual/aesthetic impairment of the area.
Other ideas that
had been proposed or that should be considered, but that were not discussed
are:
1.
Lobby for State Bill to Establish Nutrient Credit Transfer
Program
·
Could allow credits in the Dragon Run Watershed to be sold to
other areas in the state that need to pollute
2.
Provide Tax Breaks for Farm/Forest Land or Open Space
3.
Establish a Purchase of Conservation Easements Program
·
Target high quality habitat
·
Target farm and forest land
·
Will need to educate landowners, accountants, estate planners,
attorneys
·
Re: Farmland Preservation Steering Committee
Areas of Concern
or Ideas to Consider
Minor subdivision
requirements
Permitted uses
Farm and forest
plans
BMP’s
No wake zones
Exceptional waters
designation
Conservation/Cluster
Subdivision
Net Buildable Lot
Subdivision
Adjourn
It was decided that
the next SAMP Advisory Group meeting would be held on Tuesday, November 12,
2002 at the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission offices from 7-9 PM. The
meeting was adjourned.