Prince William County Rural Preservation Study Public Open House - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Prince William County Rural Preservation Study Public Open House Sessions, December 7, 2013 Rural Character Areas Keith A. Weaver, PLA, AICP, LEED AP, ASLA Associate Principal, EDSA, Inc. “Insert” then choose “Picture” – select your picture. ERM Team Right click your picture and “Send to back”. The world’s leading sustainability consultancy The world’s leading sustainability consultancy

Agenda 1. Welcome and introductions 2. Session purpose 3. What we have done 4. What we have heard 5. What is/is not rural for you? 6. What is out there?  How do maps translate to real conditions?  Emerging Rural Character Areas - Visual assessment of physical elements in the rural area 7. Options for protecting/ enhancing the Rural Character Areas 8. Final Discussion – Q&A

What We Have Done Since our last public meeting we have: 1. Conducted an online survey to solicit public input about the County’s rural preservation efforts. 2. Conducted 18 stakeholder interviews with 33 participants 3. Conducted a photographic tour of the Rural Crescent area  Over 1300 photographs  Traveled most public roads and a representative sample of private roads and subdivisions  This work will be the focus of this session

Session Purpose 1. Exploring what the terms rural and rural landscape mean in Prince William County 2. Comparing regulatory mapping to real Rural Area conditions 3. Recognizing different Rural Character Areas and the potential need for different practices/policies in different areas to protect and enhance the character 4. Considering best practices and potential policy options to protect/enhance the character areas

Defining Rural in Prince William County How can we go beyond popular definitions/ perceptions of rural?  “Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the country, country life or country people”;  “Living in the country”;  “Of or pertaining to agriculture”;  “A geographic area that is located outside cities and towns”;  “Typically areas of low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas are commonly rural, though so are others such as forests”.

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Mountaintop vistas from Bull Run Mountain across the valley floor farms & rural subdivisions

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Valley vistas across large farms to Bull Run Mountain

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Mountain and valley vistas along Logmill Road and Shelter Lane

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Active livestock farming in the north and south portions of the Rural Crescent

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Relatively large picturesque farms in the north and south portions of the Rural Crescent

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Large individual single-family estates on large lots are dispersed through the Rural Crescent

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Rural estate lot subdivisions are a growing trend in the Rural Crescent

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Higher density rural subdivisons / residential hamlets were a trend of the past prior to the Rural Crescent’s establishment

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Country churches and cemeteries also dot the Rural Crescent

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? Large portions of the southern valley areas are dedicated to regulated shooting/hunting preserves and hunt clubs

What is Rural Today in Prince William County? The rural area scenic roads are a draw for all forms of shared transportation

What We Have Heard 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 SURVEY TOPIC #5 A place for agriculture and forestland 242 What does the Rural A place for low density residential 169 development Area mean to you? A place for non-farm rural businesses 45 and jobs A place to play and recreate and enjoy Please indicate your 180 open space Strongly Agree opinion about what the A place to preserve and enhance the 252 rural character of Prince William… Rural Area means to A place to emphasize environmental 253 protection (e.g., streams,… you; how you think of A place to preserve and celebrate the 193 the Rural Area. County’s cultural heritage and … A place to be held for future suburban 11 development Nei either er Stron ongl gly Stron ongl gly Rat ating g Res espon ponse e Answer er O Opt ption ons Agr gree ee Agr gree n ee nor or Disagr agree ee Agr gree ee Disagr agree ee Aver erage age Count unt Disagr agree ee 242 98 17 7 3 1.45 367 A place for agriculture and forestland 169 96 36 46 16 2.02 363 A place for low density residential development 45 109 86 69 52 2.93 361 A place for non-farm rural businesses and jobs 180 126 38 20 3 1.75 367 A place to play and recreate and enjoy open space A place to preserve and enhance the rural character of Prince 252 67 24 20 4 1.52 367 William County A place to emphasize environmental protection (e.g., streams, 253 65 34 10 7 1.52 369 groundwater, soils, wildlife habitat) A place to preserve and celebrate the County’s cultural heritage 193 97 46 25 8 1.80 369 and historical significance 11 20 36 81 213 4.29 361 A place to be held for future suburban development an answer ered qu ed ques estion on 371 371 skipped qu pped ques estion on 13 13

What We Have Heard SURVEY TOPIC #6 Future Residential Development: The primary residential development pattern (occurring today) in the rural area is ten-acre lots. Do you think this approach to residential development is (check all that you think apply). Res espon ponse e Res espon ponse e Answer er O Opt ption ons Per ercen ent Count unt 61% 223 A good way to protect rural character 53% 195 A good way to protect the environment An inefficient use of rural land? (too small to farm, too 23% 85 large for residential development) A reasonable balance between encouraging farming 48% 176 and allowing large-lot residential Harmful to farming (creates conflicts between farmers 18% 66 and non-farming residents) 13% 48 Too restrictive on residential development 16% 59 Not protective of landowners' property rights an answer ered qu ed ques estion on 366 366 skipped qu pped ques estion on 18 18

What We Have Heard Responses SURVEY TOPIC #12 0 50 100 150 200 Building setbacks from 143 118 property lines Preserving and Building placement on the 145 Enhancing Rural 96 property Fences (material, style, 143 Character: 73 placement) Subdivision entrance feature 155 No Change 112 design A number of site External building features 149 70 design, landscape (e.g., materials, color) More Control plus Much More 121 Location of open spaces architectural, and Control 133 150 architectural techniques Exterior lighting 112 can help preserve 143 Views from roads 115 and/or enhance the 134 Public road design 158 character of a rural landscape. To what extent would Mor ore C e Cont ontrol ol + + Muc uch M h More Muc uch Le h Less Rat ating g Res espon ponse e Answer er O Opt ption ons Mor ore C e Con ontrol ol No C o Chan ange ge Les ess C Con ontrol ol Muc uch M h Mor ore e Con ontrol ol Con ontrol ol Aver erage age Count unt Cont ontrol ol you support more or 1 Building setbacks from property lines 37 81 143 45 19 2.78 325 118 2 Building placement on the property 28 68 145 61 24 2.95 326 96 3 Fences (material, style, placement) 21 52 143 71 35 3.15 322 73 less county control over 4 Subdivision entrance feature design 38 74 155 36 21 2.78 324 112 5 External building features (e.g., materials, color) 22 48 149 68 36 3.15 323 70 6 Location of open spaces 46 87 121 45 25 2.74 324 133 7 Exterior lighting 39 73 150 37 22 2.78 321 112 the following? 8 Views from roads 36 79 143 40 26 2.82 324 115 9 Public road design 59 99 134 19 12 2.46 323 158 an answer ered qu ed ques estion on 329 329 skipped qu pped ques estion on 55 55

What is Rural in Prince William County?  From the survey results, it's clearly a lifestyle choice for many Prince William County Residents that needs to be carefully protected and maintained.  It is a combination of uses, density, development pattern, environmental response and resources.  Citizens of Prince William County decide to live and do business in the Rural Crescent for a particular reason....What are those reasons? What draws people from different walks of life to converge on the rural area?  Family heritage in area?  Perceived better schools? Individuals grew-up in the rural setting? Less crime per capita?   Family tie to the land/homestead? Scenery and vistas?    Country living close to DC, goods and  Less traffic? services?  Less controls over what happens on the  Quality of life decision for self or family - property? Quieter lifestyle? More land and space?  The lifestyle aligns with hobbies; hunting,  Others reasons?  fishing, horse riding, golfing, biking, running, canoeing, etc.?