19781 Ridgeside Rd, Bluemont, VA 20135

Agricultural Rural-2 District

The purpose of the Agricultural Rural-2 Zoning District is to: Implement the Rural South Place Type of the General Plan; Preserve and protect Prime Farmland Soils, recognizing their importance to the agricultural community and overall economic health of the rural economy; Support the use of land that protects, preserves, and enhances natural areas and for open space, retains farmland and the vitality of rural economy uses, consistent with the pattern of rural and agricultural land uses in the district, including sustaining and nurturing the economically significant equine industry, while fostering high quality of life for residents; Ensure complementary rural economy uses, including traditional and new agricultural uses, agriculture support and basic services directly associated with on-going agricultural activities, and other uses can be developed in ways that are consistent with the rural character of and compatible with existing residential development in the AR-2 Zoning District through mitigation or other standards; Recognize the County’s tourism industry is interconnected with the rural economy and rural economy uses in the AR-2 Zoning District by allowing for tourism uses related to agricultural uses; public, civic, and institutional uses; and rural activity and special event uses for tourists; Limit residential development to densities that will protect the land resources for agricultural operations, common open space uses, and rural economy uses, and consistent with the land use patterns in the AR-2 Zoning District, which are marked by low density and large parcels relative to the other portions of the County; Promote consistency between residential development and rural economy uses through lower density residential development or the clustering of residential development and Ensure development incorporates natural, environmental, and heritage resources while preserving important viewsheds that contribute to the rural landscape.