Robert Gibson,
Frank Herrin, Paul Koll, Rachel Williams, Russell Williams (King and Queen);
Dorothy Miller (Essex); Andy Lacatell (The Nature Conservancy); Robert Hudgins,
Anne Ducey-Ortiz (Gloucester); Mary Ann Krenzke, Lorna Anderberg, Mike
Anderberg, Gordon Page (Friends of Dragon Run); David Milby (VA Dept. of
Forestry); Hoyt Wheeland (VA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation); Matt
Higgins (Middlesex); Julie Bixby (VA Coastal Program); David Fuss (MPPDC);
Vladimir Gavrilovic (Paradigm Design)
David Fuss welcomed
everyone and initiated introductions. David noted several announcements,
including: Friends of Dragon Run kayak trips for county officials,
decision-makers, etc.; Rose Hill Farm open house event on May 18 sponsored by
Friends of Dragon Run and MPPDC; an article concerning loss of hunting grounds
due to encroaching development in Northern Virginia.
David introduced
Vladimir Gavrilovic of Paradigm Design as the land use consultant who has been
hired to perform a land use policy audit for the Dragon Run watershed. Vlad
presented a “Technical Memorandum – Review of Existing Policies.” A PowerPoint
slideshow summarized his findings:
·
Background on
the Special Area Management Plan
·
Reasons for
undertaking this study
·
Growth and
change in the counties and in the watershed
·
Comprehensive
Plans
o
Most of the
watershed is designated agricultural
o
Goals are so
broad that they are difficult to apply on a day-to-day basis
o
Water quality
policies are consistent across county boundaries, but other natural feature
policies vary widely
o
Utility
policies
·
Zoning
o
There is a
general impression of protection of traditional land uses
o
More intensely
zoned areas are small and few
o
Distinction
between regulation by use and by performance standards
o
Density
allotments are controlled by major/minor subdivision requirements
o
Major
subdivisions generally require rezoning; can yield to market forces when it
becomes cost-efficient to develop major subdivions
o
Potential for
industrial uses to expand by virtue of similar uses
o
Dragon Run
Conservation District – streamside protection overlay district
·
Chesapeake Bay
Preservation Act
o
Resource
Protection Areas (RPA) are very similar
o
Resource
Management Areas (RMA) are very different
o
Activities are
limited in the RPA and controlled by performance standards in the RMA
·
Subdivision
o
Prohibit major
subdivisions in agricultural zoning district
o
No
conservation-based design principles
o
Intent should
be clearly defined through comp plan, zoning and subdivision provisions
·
Other
regulations
o
Don’t address
small-scale, single-family development
·
Opportunities
– Comp Plans, Zoning, Subdivision, Bay Act
·
Discussion
o
Considerable
discussion of differences between RMA and RPA and differences between counties
in designation of RMA
·
Recommendations
o
Will present
alternatives for consideration at next work session
o
Time frame for
feedback is 2-3 weeks
David Fuss
presented the group with a draft of the Dragon Run Watershed Management Plan.
He asked the group to review the document and provide comments to be discussed
at the next SAMP meeting.
David informed the
group that the next SAMP meeting would be from 7-9 PM on Tuesday, June 10 at
the MPPDC offices in Saluda. The meeting was adjourned.