Dragon Run Special Area Management Plan

Advisory Group

May 13, 2003

 

 

      Topics

1.      Welcome and Announcements

 

2.      Dragon Run Land Use Policy Audit – Technical Memorandum: Review of Existing Policies

Vladimir Gavrilovic – Paradigm Design

 

3.      Draft Dragon Run Watershed Management Plan

 

4.      Adjourn

 

Ř      Next meeting: Tuesday, June 10

 

Attendance

 

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)

 

Welcome and Announcements

 

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.

 

Dragon Run Land Use Policy Audit

 

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

 

Draft Dragon Run Watershed Management Plan

 

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.

 

Adjourn

 

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.