Land Use Policy
This local government tool regulates what kinds of development can occur, where they can occur, and how development takes place.
What is zoning
Virginia's largest private industry with a total economic impact of over $80 billion.
What is agriculture?
A comprehensive approach to address the impacts of land use planning and development on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area.
What is the Chesapeake Bay Act?
A land-use regulation that permits developers to group houses at higher density in specific areas while preserving natural features and open space as part of the overall development.
What is cluster development?
Voluntary land enrollment program that provides farm and forestal landowners with use value assessment and protection from eminent domain.
What are agricultural and forestal districts?
These land uses received 42 cents in community services for every dollar they generate in local taxes.
Local subdivisions of state government that partner with public and private landowners to manage and protect natural resources.
What are conservation districts?
Percent of Virginia's land base that is in farms or forests.
What is 92%?
This public policy tool compensates landowners for restricting development rights on farmland in perpetuity.
What is Purchase of Development Rights?
Rural land use benefits such as filtering water, storing carbon in the soil, and providing wildlife habitat.
What are ecosystem services?
Name one of the three foundational land-use tools that minimize conflicts between incompatible land uses, manage stormwater, and protect the environment.
What are setbacks, buffers, and screening?
A nature-based approach to managing environmental and urban challenges by using or mimicking natural processes
What is green infrastructure?