Fauquier planners review proposed Stark Park at historic Neville’s Mill for consistency with county plan

The Fauquier County Planning Commission heard a staff presentation on a comprehensive plan compliance review for a proposed public park donated to the county by the Stark family at the site of Neville’s Mill near Auburn.

Planning staff said the applicant, Fauquier County Parks and Recreation, proposes a passive park with walking trails, educational signage and adaptive reuse of existing buildings on roughly 3.9 acres of parcels along the north side of Cedar Run, about 4.5 miles northwest of Catlett. Staff noted the site includes the reconstructed 1770-era Neville’s Mill, two previously recorded archaeological sites and approximately 2.4 acres within the 100-year floodplain.

Staff explained the legal standard under the Code of Virginia: because the proposed park is not specifically shown in the County’s Comprehensive Plan, the Planning Commission must determine whether the general location, character and extent of the proposed use is substantially in accord with the plan. Staff identified relevant Comprehensive Plan chapters — including the rural land use chapter (Chapter 8), natural and heritage resources (Chapter 2), parks and facilities (Chapter 9) and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan in Appendix 1 — and said the proposal generally furthers policies that encourage protection of water courses, preservation of cultural resources, adaptive reuse of historic buildings and development of trails.

Wendy Wheatcraft, the staff lead, said the applicant intends to reuse existing buildings and eventually offer public classes and programs. She told commissioners that the park would assist county Parks and Recreation priorities and noted the parcels are bordered by a Virginia Scenic Byway and lie within the Auburn Battlefield area.

Commissioners asked about parking and floodplain impacts; staff said trails and non‑inhabitable park structures such as kiosks and signage are permitted within the 100‑year floodplain under the county plan and that an existing drain field and existing parking areas are associated with the parcel complex. Commissioners also asked staff to clarify which parcels were already in public ownership and whether the lots across Old Auburn Road included the existing parking area; Wheatcraft replied that the Starks had owned both parcels and that the parking is located on the south side of Old Auburn Road, while a drain field is on the north side.

Staff prepared a resolution for the commission that would find the proposed park is substantially in accord with the Comprehensive Plan. No formal vote on that resolution was recorded in the provided transcript of the work session.

Commissioners did not take a final action during the portion of the meeting captured in the transcript; staff said they were available to answer additional questions.

The commission's consideration will determine whether the applicant proceeds to park design and any subsequent permitting steps.