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Planning commission approves Virginia Outdoors Foundation easement on Crawfish Valley parcel
Summary
The Wythe County Planning Commission voted to approve a conservation easement offered by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation that will protect roughly 240–243 acres in the Blacklick/Crawfish Valley area by restricting development, limiting division and allowing only one house on the parcel.
The Wythe County Planning Commission on May 4 approved a conservation easement for a Messer parcel in the Blacklick District that will limit future development on roughly 240–243 acres along Crawfish Valley.
Harry Hibbits of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, who said he works out of the foundation’s Stanton office, described the proposal and its terms. "What the easement will do is limit development potential on the property," Hibbits said, adding that the deed would generally restrict division, limit the property to one house and constrain the size of development footprints. He told commissioners the easements the foundation holds are permanent: "They're they're forever." He also said easement holders require best management practices for timbering and that timbering would be allowed only with a pre‑harvest plan reviewed with the Virginia Department of Forestry.
The commission asked about several conservation details, including protections for waterways and Golden‑winged warbler habitat. Hibbits said the foundation applies broad restrictions across a property and may add targeted buffers around waterways. He noted the Open Space Land Act governs conversion or diversion of easements and said changes would require replacement land and, in some cases, judicial proceedings. The foundation representative also said some property owners realize tax incentives when they place land under easement.
Commissioners moved and seconded the recommendation to accept the easement; the planning commission approved the motion by voice vote. Chair (speaker 1) announced the approval and thanked the foundation representative. Hibbits said the project is on track to appear on the Virginia Outdoors Foundation board agenda in June, pending any comments from the commission.
The approval at the planning commission level sends the conservation proposal forward for the foundation’s internal action and preserves the county parcel’s open‑land character, officials said. The commission did not record a roll‑call vote in the transcript; the decision was made by voice vote during the meeting.
