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Local farmers urge Accomack supervisors to lower acreage threshold for aquaculture land‑use assessment
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Summary
Several aquaculture and small‑farm advocates asked the board to adopt a local option under state law allowing parcels smaller than five acres to qualify for land‑use assessment for aquaculture, arguing the change would support beginning farmers and working waterfronts.
Thomas Clark, an aquafarm owner on Chincoteague Island, told the board that Virginia law contains a provision (cited in the hearing as Code of Virginia 58.1‑3,230) allowing localities to adopt a lower acreage threshold for land‑use assessment for aquaculture and small farms. Clark said he operates a five‑acre operation and asked the board to adopt the local option to make small aquaculture operations eligible for tax relief.
Kellen Singleton, speaking in support, said the county's comprehensive plan emphasizes a rural, working landscape and that many farms are family‑scale operations. He cited U.S. Census of Agriculture figures indicating a high share of small farms in the county and argued lowering the threshold would help new and beginning producers stay in business and preserve working waterfronts.
Both speakers asked the board to adopt the ordinance amendment to align local policy with state law and to preserve the county's agricultural and marine economy.
