Board defers Hidden Springs private‑road approval after AFD buffer concerns

Charity Gold, planner with Powhatan planning and zoning, presented the Hidden Springs private‑road request (case 2402PR) on Jan. 27. The plan would create a conservation subdivision served by a private road built to VDOT standards, with 34 residential lots and roughly 186 acres proposed as open space. Gold summarized staff's recommendation of 16 conditions to ensure ordinance compliance — notably that wetland features be included in the open‑space set‑aside "to the maximum extent practicable" and that required buffers be enforced.

The Agricultural‑Forest District (AFD) committee urged expanded buffers (up to 200 feet in the priority conservation area) because the parcel contains extensive wetlands and wildlife habitat. An AFD representative said the property "is pretty well riddled with wetlands," highlighting water‑quality and corridor values. The applicant's representative said the developer had already revised the concept in response to staff review and preferred the open‑space layout as submitted.

Given the differing interpretations, a board member moved to defer the private‑road request to allow staff, the AFD and the applicant to negotiate; the board adopted a 30‑day deferral by roll call. Staff noted that if the applicant withdrew the private‑road request they could still proceed with a VDOT‑standard public road that would be reviewed under existing subdivision rules; the deferral is intended to pursue conditions that better align the concept with conservation goals.