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Navy and Northern Neck Land Conservancy present conservation‑easement options to Planning Commission
Summary
A Navy liaison explained the REPI program and its use of conservation easements to protect compatible land uses near Naval Support Facility Dahlgren; Northern Neck Land Conservancy described voluntary conservation easements, local acreage protected, benefits to the county, and possible collaboration on mapping, grants and a revised MOU.
Adam Lynch, the Community Planning Liaison Officer for Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, described the Navy’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program, noting Dahlgren is marking its 10th year of participation and has completed 14 REPI projects since 2017. Lynch said three projects are completed in King George County and several more are pending; REPI can fund conservation easement purchases to preserve compatible land use in mission‑sensitive areas.
Lynch told commissioners the Navy favors permanent conservation easements to guarantee compatible land use near noise contours and test ranges and that the Navy sometimes partners with local land trusts and national groups to secure easements. When asked about public access, Lynch said easement terms are negotiated with landowners and public access can be included but is not required: “The most important aspect for us is the compatible land use, bottom line,” he said.
Later in the meeting, Lisa Beaver, executive director of Northern Neck Land Conservancy, presented the land trust’s work in King George County (the conservancy stewards 58 properties across the region, 494 acres currently in easement in King George and about 277 acres expected to close this year). Beaver explained what conservation easements can and cannot do, tax and grant incentives, and how easements are coordinated with comprehensive plans under the Virginia Conservation Easement Act.
Beaver proposed several concrete ways the conservancy could support county planning: updated intergovernmental agreement or MOU, technical support for mapping and GIS, assistance with grant writing and matching funds (including use of state land‑preservation incentives), and participation in comp‑plan working groups. Commissioners asked about purchase/transfer of development rights (PDR/TDR) programs and updating the county’s MOU; Beaver said state programs and recent changes to Office of Farmland Preservation resources could help.
Commissioners thanked the speakers and directed staff to consider involving the conservancy in the comprehensive‑plan process and to pursue an updated MOU where appropriate.
