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Planning Commission recommends renewal of Agricultural and Forestal District No. 6
Summary
After a staff presentation, the Montgomery County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend renewal of Agricultural and Forestal District No. 6 (South of Shawsville); staff said the district has no proposed changes and reported a 100% response rate from owners.
The Montgomery County Planning Commission unanimously recommended renewing Agricultural and Forestal (AFD) District No. 6 on Nov. 19 following a staff presentation that described the district’s boundaries, uses and statutory requirements.
Kim Wright, the staff presenter, told the commission the district — located south of Shawsville — was originally formed in 1981 and last renewed in 2017. "We have our annual renewal," Wright said, adding that there are no proposed additions or withdrawals. Wright stated the district "comprises of 1,658 acres among six landowners" and reported a 100% response rate to the renewal notice.
Wright explained the district’s purpose under state code and Montgomery County code: to conserve lands for agricultural and forestal production, protect natural resources and limit development rights in exchange for real-estate benefits. She said the local code lists compatible uses including residences, farming, forestry operations, temporary sawmills and certain communications infrastructure.
A commissioner asked about parcels within the Shawsville village (a designated urban development area). Staff answered that properties can remain enrolled in an AFD within a village but are typically shown as open space on local plans; if an owner wants to develop, they must first withdraw from the AFD and then seek a comprehensive-plan amendment through the twice-yearly amendment cycle.
Staff also noted the district includes a core area and an outlier parcel 0.87 miles from that core, which is within the state code’s one-mile limit for outliers. Wright said the AFD Committee met on Sept. 25 and recommended renewal; if the Board of Supervisors approves the commission’s recommendation, the district would continue by resolution and, under the terms discussed, would expire on Dec. 31, 2033.
The commission closed the public hearing after no one from the public spoke. An unidentified commissioner moved to approve staff’s recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote in which all present members voted yes and one member was absent.
The planning commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
