Board renews and expands multiple Agriculture and Forestry Districts; approves some parcel withdrawals

On July 14 the New Kent County Board of Supervisors approved a series of Agriculture and Forestry District (AFD) actions: renewals of Higgins Swamp, Putney Creek and Pelham Swamp districts for 10 years, additions of parcels to the Holtz Creek and Pelham Swamp AFDs, and withdrawals of individual parcels from Warnock Swamp and Putney Creek AFDs.

Principal Planner Patrick Silva presented each case and said staff found the requests consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan and state AFD rules. He said the Warnock Swamp parcel (tax map 37‑4, 67.7 acres) and the Putney Creek parcel withdrawn by Ronald and Joanne Durer (24.5 acres) were being removed because the landowners intend family subdivisions and the recipients will not continue active forestry uses; the owners were therefore subject to rollback taxes under Virginia law for withdrawing before district expiration.

Silva described the Holtz Creek addition (tax map 13‑5A, about 23.2 acres) as active pasture used to raise roughly 35 belted Galloway cattle and recommended adding the parcel to the AFD. He said the Pelham Swamp additions are five parcels totaling about 284 acres; staff recommended approval to conserve agricultural and forestal land.

Each AFD advisory committee and the planning commission recommended approval at their prior meetings; supervisors voted by roll-call to adopt the ordinances for each renewal, addition or withdrawal. Supervisor (Ms.) Stewart moved the Warnock Swamp withdrawal motion; Supervisor (Ms.) Pearson moved Holtz Creek addition and Pelham additions; all motions passed on recorded votes.

Staff noted the Higgins Swamp renewal covers 10 parcels (about 682 acres), Putney Creek includes 33 parcels (about 3,340 acres) and Pelham Swamp includes 38 parcels (about 3,258 acres). The renewals extend each district’s protection for a 10‑year term.

The board closed related public hearings after no commenters signed up (one resident, Douglas Houston, spoke in favor of the Pelham renewal), and the actions were approved as recommended by staff and advisory bodies.