Planning commission recommends five agricultural and forestal district additions to Board of Supervisors

The Louisa County Planning Commission voted in May to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve five separate additions to Agricultural and Forestal Districts, involving parcels across the county and a total of several hundred acres.

The commission approved recommendations for additions to the Cuckoo Agricultural and Forestal District, Trevillian Station (amended to include Hooves and Polls Animal Rescue Inc.), Shelton's Mill, Indian Creek and Goldmine Creek districts. Staff described the parcels as largely rural and used for livestock, timber, pasture and crops and said all applications met program criteria.

The most detailed applicant statement came from Sarah Truslow, introduced by staff as one of the landowners for the Cuckoo District addition. "We are the owners of 93.72 acres," she told the commission, describing livestock on the property and an equine-therapy nonprofit she operates. She said the family partners with Louisa County Public Schools and the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, and that they plan to continue agricultural production and habitat improvements on the site.

For each application the chair opened and closed a public hearing, staff summarized the parcel descriptions and policy findings from the packet, and commissioners moved to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors. Motions were seconded and carried for each item; commissioners indicated support during roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.

The applications and parcels cited in the meeting packet included two parcels (93.72 acres) for the Cuckoo District; an amended Trevillian Station submission that referenced a 17.336-acre parcel and an amended parcel of 36.497 acres for Hooves and Polls Animal Rescue Inc.; two parcels (157.49 acres) for Shelton's Mill; 12 parcels totaling 1,332.939 acres for Indian Creek; and eight parcels (253.626 acres) for Goldmine Creek. Staff said the Indian Creek parcels were designated rural by the comprehensive plan and used for cattle, pasture, timber and crops.

The commission's action is a recommendation only; final approval of each district addition requires a decision by the Board of Supervisors. The Board will receive the commission's recommendations and the supporting application materials referenced in the planning packet.