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Planning commission recommends withdrawal of several parcels from Ag & Forestal Districts, schedules May 13 public hearings
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Summary
The commission approved recommendations and public-hearing schedules for multiple requests to withdraw parcels from Ag & Forestal Districts — including a 127-acre Rudder parcel and about 35-acre withdrawals for other owners — citing proximity to town and subdivision plans.
Planning staff briefed the Accomack County Planning Commission on multiple requests to withdraw parcels from Agricultural and Forestal Districts and the commission either scheduled public hearings or recommended withdrawal to the Board of Supervisors.
Cindy Jones, the zoning code enforcement officer handling AFD applications, presented several cases. She described the Rudder application (Tax Map 108-A-12, Election District 9) as a roughly 127-acre agricultural parcel in the Craddockville Ag & Forestal District where the owner seeks removal to adjust a lot line and place a house. "He would like to adjust property lines in order to get this house put on this lot," Jones said, and noted that the change would require withdrawing the entire parcel from the district because parcel-level withdrawal is the ordinance procedure.
The commission voted to schedule a public hearing for the Rudder parcel on May 13.
Jones also briefed the commission on two Hatfield parcels (Tax Map 11A-29A and 11A-30B, Election District 3, about 26 acres) where owner Barbara Hatfield intends to locate a well and septic and ultimately place a house; the commission likewise voted to put Hatfield on the May 13 public hearing agenda.
In a public hearing on a separate set of parcels tied to the Van Kestrin property, staff said the roughly 35.24-acre case was residentially zoned and close to an incorporated town. "Staff recommends approval of the removal from the Ag & Forestal District, given the proximity to an incorporated town," Jones said. Applicant Suzanne Van Kester Tankard addressed the commission briefly, noting family ownership and the desire to have the county review subdividing that combined tract. The planning commission voted to recommend withdrawal of the listed parcels to the Board of Supervisors.
Later, staff presented Vincestrin Farm Incorporated parcels (Tax Maps 85-A-60 and 85-A-52, District 6, roughly 35 acres) where mixed zoning (general business fronting Fairgrounds Road, agricultural behind) and interest in a "more intensive use" drove the withdrawal request; staff noted the AFD committee recommended withdrawal and staff took a neutral stance. Justin Harris spoke for the applicant. The commission moved and recommended those parcels for withdrawal to the Board of Supervisors.
Motions on the Rudder and Hatfield public hearings and on the recommendations for withdrawal were carried by voice vote.
The staff presentations cited Virginia Code and county code provisions that limit subdivision within an Ag & Forestal District and outline the criteria and process for withdrawal; staff emphasized that lots meeting statutory criteria for family or continued agricultural use may be handled differently. The commission closed the hearings and advanced the items to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
The commission also noted upcoming dates: a county work session at 6 p.m. on April 28 to review large rezoning items and the planning commission's next regular meeting on May 13.
