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Authority defers decision on 16-acre Crozet donation, asks owner to consider consolidating three parcels
Summary
The authority deferred action on a proposed 16-acre conservation easement northeast of Crozet amid staff concerns that three underlying parcels could weaken long-term protection; staff will return with options for parcel consolidation or deed language addressing internal boundaries.
The Albemarle County Conservation Authority deferred action on a proposed donation of a 16-acre property northeast of Crozet from Miss McCormack Ray, citing concerns that the property is held as three separate parcels on the record and that those internal boundaries could reduce the easement's durability.
Staff described the property's natural resources: roughly 700 feet of perennial stream, about 600 feet of intermittent stream, critical slopes, and location within the Ragged Mountain (note: transcript referenced reservoir watershed) watershed. The proposed easement terms staff presented would prohibit subdivisions, retain an existing 3,000-square-foot dwelling (with permitted expansion to 4,000 square feet), limit accessory structures to 1,000 square feet (within 100 feet of the dwelling), allow agricultural buildings up to 1,500 square feet, and include a riparian buffer of 100 feet on perennial streams and 50 feet on intermittent streams.
Staff recommended acceptance because the parcel is contiguous with existing conservation easements and would eliminate roughly three to four theoretical development rights, but several board members raised the risk that retaining three separate parcels of record could create vulnerability for the easement in the future. Board members discussed possible remedies: (1) ask the landowner to combine the interior parcels before recordation, (2) require a boundary-line consolidation to be recorded concurrently with the easement, or (3) add more explicit deed language. County staff and the authority legal staff said a formal consolidation or boundary-line adjustment may require county review, current surveys and fees, and that the deed template already contains language prohibiting separate conveyance of portions of the property, though board members said combining parcels would provide stronger protection in practice.
The authority decided to defer final action and asked staff to consult with county survey and subdivision staff and the landowner about the realm of possible consolidation approaches. Staff will report back with options for either recording a consolidation/plat concurrently with the deed or adding deed language the authority feels is necessary to prevent future fragmentation. Board members emphasized they would accept the easement if the risk could be reduced, and encouraged staff to recommend practical steps the owner could take (including a concurrent plat if feasible) to ensure the easement is durable.
No final approval or vote on acceptance was recorded in the transcript excerpt; the item was left open for follow-up.
