Citizens Group To Hold Land Conservation Meeting

Monday, September 13, 2010

The citizens’ group J4C is co-hosting a public meeting Tuesday afternoon on land conservation and what new and existing programs are available to James City County.

County General Services Director John Horne will talk about the purchase of development rights (PDR) program, which allows the county to pay rural land owners to keep them from developing their land, and the green space acquisition program, which allows the county to buy existing open space and preserve it.

Callum Murray, in charge of rural lands in Montgomery County, Maryland, will discuss his county’s transfer of development rights (TDR) program. James City County has been seriously considering TDR as a tool to preserve rural lands and Murray will be on hand to talk about how this tool has functioned in his area. The TDR program allows an increase in density in targeted areas by lowering density (transferring development) in a rural area or other area where the county would like to limit development.

Currently, the county relies on the primary service area (PSA), or the imaginary line where county services end, as the main way to limit development. They also use PDR and green space acquisition when possible.

Other county staff will be on hand for the question and answer session.

The meeting is intended to share information on land conservation techniques as the county gears up to amend its zoning ordinances. It’s hosted by J4C (the James City County Citizens Coalition), Friends of Powhatan Creek, Friends of Forge Road and Toano, and the Stonehouse District Association.

The meeting will be held Tuesday from 2 until 4 p.m. in building C of the county government complex on Mounts Bay Road.