*Update to Culpeper County Meetings on Changes to Minor Divisions

NEXT MEETING

Next meeting date coming soon!

 

Update

September 26, 2024

GPR is currently in a pause phase for the Issues Mobilization Campaign on Minor Divisions as the issue works its way through the process.  The Planning Commission sent a proposal to the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors that preserved the current time-based methodology for doing minor divisions and added a clustering option.  The Board of Supervisors rejected that option and instead voted to send a downzoning back to the Planning Commission for consideration.  The Board's motion would keep the time-based methodology but increase the minimum lot size from the current 3 and 5 acre minimums for A-1 and RA to 6 and 10 acre minimums.  In addition, the Board asked the Planning Commission to consider establishing private road standards for any minor divisions.  

 

This is expected to be on the Planning Commission's October 16 work session agenda with a public hearing expected sometime in November.  GPR will send another mailer to our target audience of landowners once the Planning Commission sends something back to the Board.  In the meantime, we will gather the contact information of those who have already responded to our Call for Action and alert them to the Planning Commission public hearing when it is scheduled in case they are motivated to turn out and advocate against these changes.    

 

Meeting Update

Culpeper County Planning Commission

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

The Planning Commission met in a Work Session and extensively discussed many options for further regulating Minor Divisions.  After much debate, one option was officially put forward to the Board of Supervisors to see if the Board would like to formally initiate an ordinance change for that specific option.  This option would encourage clustering when doing Minor Divisions but also allow the option for the current-based system of doing a division every five years for a max of two lots plus a remainder parcel. 

Culpeper County is exploring options to significantly restrict Minor Subdivisions in the A-1 and RA zoning category.  Keep track of all meeting activity using this post.  Public comment is a powerful tool for making sure your elected officials know how proposed changes will impact you.  Consider speaking at an upcoming meeting and telling your story about how valuable your land is to you and your family.

Option 5 reads as follows:  Require clustering in A1/RA but allow option that uses current time-based regulations

• Create new primary minor subdivision ordinance that requires clustering, with an alternative option that uses the current time-based system and lot minimums. 
• Minimum 70% of land must be deed-restricted to one parcel with current rights of a parcel in A1/RA excepting subdivisions rights 
• Minimum 70% of any state road frontage must convey with the 70% land if practicable (if it can be achieved without reducing permitted density in the 30% cluster area)