On November 4, 2024, the King George County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to send a resolution to the Planning Commission to initiate a text amendment to dramatically increase minimum lot sizes in all three agricultural zoning districts. These changes would impact over 90% of all land in the County. The increases would change the current lot sizes as follows: A-1 which encompasses about 38% of the County would go from 10 acres to 50 acres, A-2 which encompasses about 52% of the County would go from 2 acres to 20 acres, and A-3 which encompasses just 1% of the County would go from 1 acre to 10 acres. The resolution further directs the Planning Commission to hold at least one public hearing on the issue and to send their recommendations back to the Board of Supervisors.
FAAR is strongly opposed to this drastic downzoning as a violation of private property rights and a bankrupting of rural land owners. This action could greatly devalue land throughout the County and could increase the tax burden on all citizens as that lost revenue would need to be made up in higher taxes. FAAR stands against this proposed ordinance change and has initiated the following action steps.
- Letter of concern sent to the King George County Planning Commission
- Letter of concern being drafted to the King George County Board of Supervisors
- Developing an education and action campaign utilizing the National Association of Realtors Issues Mobilization grant to alert County citizens about the proposed changes and give them an opportunity to take action
The King George County Planning Commission met and discussed this item recently and requested more Board direction on what the Supervisors were looking to accomplish with this action. One member stated that a 50-acre minimum is a non-starter and expressed a desire to have a work session with the Board before the Planning Commission initiated any action on this item.
FAAR hosted Supervisor Cathy Binder as part of our regularly scheduled Real Estate Roundtable series and this topic was addressed. Supervisor Binder indicated that for her, this resolution was just the start of a conversation to talk about ways to address growth in the rural areas. She stated that transportation concerns are a big part of this desire as smaller, rural roads cannot always handle significant growth. FAAR looks forward to continuing a dialogue with Supervisor Binder and hopefully other Supervisors as we work to fight this onerous proposed change.
Access below the full text of the resolution and ordinance below and also the letter that FAAR sent to the Planning Commission.