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Fauquier County planning commission finds proposed Nevills Mill park in substantial accord with comprehensive plan
Summary
The Fauquier County Planning Commission voted to find a proposed passive park at Nevills Mill substantially in accord with the county comprehensive plan after a brief public hearing; the park would reuse existing buildings and provide walking trails and educational signage on about 3.9 acres.
The Fauquier County Planning Commission on Sept. 18 voted to find a proposed passive park at the Nevills Mill site substantially in accord with the county comprehensive plan, advancing the project to any subsequent permitting steps.
The applicant, Fauquier County Parks and Recreation, asked the commission to determine whether “the general location, character, and extent” of the proposed park are substantially in accord with the comprehensive plan, as required under the Code of Virginia. The commission approved that finding by voice vote following a short staff presentation and no public speakers in opposition.
Staff told commissioners the subject parcels lie off Old Auburn Road about 4.5 miles northwest of Catlett along the north side of Cedar Run and total roughly 3.9 acres. The south parcel includes Nevills Mill; staff said the mill was rebuilt in 1962 on the site of an 18th-century gristmill and that an office building on the parcel dates to the 1980s. Staff also said approximately 2.5 acres of the parcels are within the 100-year floodplain and that the land was donated to the Board of Supervisors last year.
Fauquier County Parks and Recreation is proposing a passive park with walking trails, educational signage and reuse of the existing buildings; staff said the department expects to offer public classes and programs at the site. Gary Ropecki, director of Fauquier County Parks and Recreation, told commissioners the department has “not investigated the fishing” but has been asked to study whether kayaks or canoes could be used downstream and said any fishing work would be coordinated with the state agency (Fish and Wildlife). He added the department is working to keep parking outside the floodplain and to improve water quality.
Staff framed the parks proposal against policies in the county comprehensive plan that guide rural land use, protection of stream valleys and scenic view sheds, and pursuit of recreational trails and multi-use paths. After the hearing the planning commission voted to find the proposal in substantial accord with the comprehensive plan. A commissioner moved the finding and a second was made; the commission then voted in favor.
Commissioners and staff emphasized the application before them was a comprehensive plan compliance review only, not the same step as any special-use or building permits that could follow. The motion recorded in the meeting minutes states the commission found the project substantially in accord with the comprehensive plan.
The commission closed the item with no additional public testimony. If the county pursues park construction and programming, staff said further approvals or permits would be required before site work or events occur.
