Rockfish Valley Area Plan Area Analysis & Asset-Based Strategies Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission March 29, 2017 Please see page 40 for acknowledgments. Rockfish Valley Area Plan Table of Contents Section 1. RVAP Project Intro Section 4. RVAP Phase II: Area Planning 1...Background 29...Rockfish Valley Vision Statement 2...What is the RVAP? 30...Strategic Recommendations by Topic 3...Why conduct an Area Plan? 35...Growth Management Strategies 4...What projects are in the RVAP work plan? 37...Asset-Based Development Strategies 39...Summary & Priority Action Items Section 2. RVAP Phase I: Public Engagement 40...Acknowledgments 5...Overview 6...What were the results of the community survey? Section 3. RVAP Phase I: Area Analysis Appendix 7...Summary of Previous Plans & Existing Studies Appx. 1: S.W.O.T. Analysis 8...Study Area Quick Facts Appx. 2: Summary of Previous Plans & Existing Studies 9...Area Analysis: Natural Resources Appx. 3A: Community Survey Summary 11...Area Analysis: Community Appx. 3B: Community Survey Responses (by Question) 13...Area Analysis: Economy Appx. 3C: Community Survey Responses (Written Comments) 15...Area Analysis: Agriculture Appx. 4: Summary of Open House Meeting (June 28, 2016) 17...Area Analysis: Transportation Appx. 5: County Ordinance Review 19...Zoning & Land Use Patterns Appx. A: Area Analysis Posters (Ag, Comm. Econ., Natural Resources, Transport.) 23...Development Trends & Zoning Permit History Appx. B: Asset Inventory Maps (Basemap, Infrastructure, GI, Amenities) 25...Business Cluster Analysis & Tax Revenue Assessment Appx. C: Commercial Land Use Analysis Map 27...S.W.O.T. Analysis Appx. D1: Future Development Areas Map Appx. D2: Asset-Based Development Strategies Map 1. RVAP Project Intro Nelson County’s Rockfish Valley: The RVAP attempts to answer (place) the following questions: What makes the Rockfish Valley so special? A Special Place The Rockfish Valley is widely recognized as a special place – These recent trends and issues create an important and (change) a highlight of Nelson County and all of Virginia. The area’s increasingly urgent need to ensure that the Rockfish Valley What are the area’s most recent growth and many special qualities, places, and features provide: is well-planned. The Rockfish Valley is so deeply special to development trends? How have these growth –an authentic rural character and a high quality of life area residents – and is achieving such success and renown as a patterns changed the Rockfish Valley? that are cherished by local residents; special tourism experience – that the area cannot be subjected –a special sense of place that is enjoyed by many visitors to unplanned growth. during all four seasons; and (location of growth and development) Over time, it is inevitable that changes will occur in the –a beautiful and bountiful Blue Ridge landscape that Rockfish Valley area – and that is not automatically good or What areas are most suitable for future growth? supports agritourism and nature-based tourism. bad. But now is a prudent time to proactively make plans to What are the most important areas for rural The Rockfish Valley’s many natural assets and rural Blue manage the changes that this community can see coming, preservation? Ridge character have proved to be a solid foundation for and attempt to maximize the degree to which those changes building a strong place-based economy, now comprised of: are positive. (Amount of growth and development) –vineyards & farm wineries; Accordingly, this Rockfish Valley Area Plan (RVAP) is a local –breweries & distilleries; How much future growth is appropriate with public planning effort to analyze the area’s characteristics and –four-season resort tourism with ski & golf; respect to...roadway capacity? ...community recent trends; and to identify appropriate long-range goals –performing arts, festivals, & events; and character? ...quality of life? ...sense of place? and short-term strategies for the area regarding a wide variety –outdoor recreation at multiple National Park units. of public issues. Is more always better? Is there enough? This beautiful patch of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains has Is there too much? What is the right amount? truly become a major tourism destination. Members of this More specifically, the RVAP is an attempt to determine how the area’s future land use patterns and economic development area’s unique business community have thoughtfully capital- (vision) ized on the Rockfish Valley’s local assets and sense of place, activities can be complimentary to, and harmonious with, the and have produced a veritable cornucopia of award-winning existing land uses and the invaluable qualities of the one and What should the Rockfish Valley be like in... local products and experiential attractions. only Rockfish Valley. This RVAP effort is equally important 5 years? ...10 years? for area residents, local businesses, and members of the With the ongoing success of the local economy, the area is visiting public – because everyone would benefit from the (Action) hosting an expanding number of visitors; experiencing a stewardship of the Rockfish Valley’s special sense of place and higher demand on local rural roads; and attracting the wise use of the area’s abundant community assets. What specific strategies could help achieve continued commercial development activity and interest. better balance and harmony between growth 1 and preservation? What is the Rockfish Valley Area Plan (RVAP)? The Rockfish Valley Area Plan (RVAP) is a public community The study area includes the entire RVAP Study Area: planning effort conducted by Nelson County and the Thomas Rockfish River watershed above Jefferson Planning District Commission. The RVAP was a US29. This area contains much Upper Rockfish River two-phase process: of the North District and Central Watershed District, from Afton to Nellysford Phase I: area analysis + public engagement to Beech Grove to Wintergreen, and (January 2016 – August 2016) also the area from the Martin’s Store Phase II: recommendations + strategies substation (VA151/VA6) over to Woods Mill (VA6/US29). (September 2016 – January 2017) The RVAP is an effort to understand how ongoing changes Identify the local community’s and future development in the Rockfish Valley can occur in current concerns, desires, values, ways that are most harmonious with, and complimentary to, and priorities through a public the area’s special sense of place, high quality of life, premier engagement process; scenic beauty, and rich natural heritage. Develop short-term and long-term Therefore, this project attempts to provide a community goals for meeting the needs of the planning framework that facilitates the optimal balance Rockfish Valley’s families, businesses, between the area’s economic development potential, and the and visitors; and careful preservation of the area’s special sense of place and Identify a framework for balancing growth and rural Blue Ridge character. Achieving such balance between preservation that will attempt to: commercial activity and traditional rural heritage is a real Maintain authentic rural character necessity – and a community priority – in order to sustain the Preserve unique sense of place highest possible quality of life for everyone, while also Protect Blue Ridge Mountain scenery supporting the strongest, most sustainably successful local Sustain working farms, working forests, and other economy possible. To those ends, the RVAP intends to: productive ag lands Produce an up-to-date evaluation of a wide variety of Support local economic vitality community assets and topics, including: Provide specific recommendations for possible [agriculture] ... [economy] ... [community] updates and modifications to County policies. [natural resources] ... [transportation] Understand recent land use patterns and development trends within context; RVAP | 1. Project Intro 2 Why conduct an Area Plan? Purpose: Purpose: to minimize unplanned growth and Economic Development Community Development Responsibility: prevent undesirable change Develop strategic recommendations that: Develop strategic recommendations to to protect rural residential areas –complement and strengthen the area’s protect the area’s rural character, natural to identify future land use patterns that existing businesses and industries; and beauty, and special sense of place are most desirable and most appropriate –help to attract new commercial activity Develop strategic recommendations to from compatible target industries to maximize quality of life for residents protect rural residential areas from Establish a practical framework to guide unplanned commercial development(s) and to ensure continued economic vitality commercial development towards the most from other unharmonious land use changes Opportunity: to maximize Nelson Co. tourism “brand” appropriate locations throughout the area to help attract the desired types of growth Purpose: Purpose: to help guide development towards the Comprehensive Plan Zoning Policy most appropriate areas Identify any elements of the existing 2002 Identify strengths and weaknesses of how the area’s ongoing commercial growth, Comp Plan to be updated, expanded, the current Zoning Ordinance tools and Priority: as well as anticipated future development replaced, or otherwise revised regulations affect this area pressures, create an urgent need for a Produce up-to-date, forward thinking Identify practical opportunities to review proactive response recommendations that can be considered