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Former supervisor warns of farmland loss as Augusta County begins comprehensive‑plan meetings
Summary
A former supervisor told the Board that the county has lost a significant share of farms and working farmland since 2017 and urged the board to slow the comprehensive‑plan process and increase public engagement; staff announced the first community meeting at Riverheads Middle School.
Nancy Sorrows, a former supervisor who helped prepare a prior comprehensive plan, told the board she believed the current plan’s growth areas and maps would accelerate farmland loss and change the county’s rural character. She cited ag census figures, saying Augusta County lost about 12% of its farms and roughly 40,000 acres of working farmland between 2017 and 2022 and urged more community involvement and clearer materials for upcoming meetings.
Board members and other supervisors acknowledged the concerns and encouraged public participation in an upcoming series of area meetings. County staff noted the first community meeting is scheduled Monday at Riverheads Middle School at 5 p.m., and that five public meetings are posted on the county website.
Supervisors discussed the potential scale of growth in specific development projects and suggested staff could explore options—such as pacing large subdivisions—to avoid over‑burdening schools and infrastructure. No formal policy change on the comprehensive plan was made at the meeting; supervisors emphasized outreach and additional analysis.
