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Rappahannock County Meeting Summary

This is a summary of a meeting held on Tuesday, February 20 at the Rappahannock County Library near the Town of Washington attended by approximately 55 participants. This meeting is an early part of a larger Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Partnership/PDC project to develop a regional vision statement for the area. Future meetings are at Culpeper Middle School on April 28 and May 19. This summary was prepared by the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia (804-924-1970).

 

BASIC FACTS
Population:
• 1980: 6,903
• 1990: 6,622
• 2000: 6,983

Regional Highlights:
• Lowest regional population density (27/sq.mi.)
• Lowest regional sales tax base ($23,573)
• 2nd greatest percent loss in farmland: (-18%)
• Highest median home price ($181,500)

OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Participation in the Rappahannock County meeting illustrated one of the very strengths highlighted by its participants: that county residents are unusually active and engaged in community issues. With the lowest population in the planning district, over 55 people attended, as many as Fauquier and Orange counties. While they consider themselves ruggedly individualistic, the people of Rappahannock share a strong sense of community cohesion, high volunteerism, along with knowing and helping their neighbors. Their greatest common concern is to hold off the pressures of growth from surrounding counties.

STRENGTHS
The three greatest strengths of Rappahannock County might be characterized as its people, its unspoiled natural scenic beauty, and the local government responsiveness to local needs. Others include:

• People of Rappahannock: individualistic, diverse talents, volunteerism, strong cohesion

• Unspoiled natural scenic beauty and open space: Blue Ridge, farms, orchards, varied vegetation, small distinct villages, Shenandoah National Park (25% of county), headwaters of 7 rivers

• Low density and population growth

• No stoplights, development, fast food stores, 7-11's or Wal-Marts

• Still able to see wildlife

• 10% of county land in conservation easements

• Zoning ordinance helps preserve rural nature

• Comprehensive plan requires policies to respect rural and scenic qualities of the county

• Tax base is still farming

• Only 67 miles from Washington D.C.

• Excellent climate

• Deep history of places like the Town of Washington

ISSUES
The overriding issue for participants is how to protect Rappahannock from the mounting development pressures in surrounding counties, which they believe threatens its way of life, quality of community relationships, and rural culture.

• Decreasing county powers (Dillon rule and challenges to county powers)
- Sludge ruling of Supreme Court that doesn't allow counties to ban sludge
- Unfunded mandates
- Lack of tools to stop growth and development
- Low representation in state legislature due to low population

• Inability to stop growth and encroachment from surrounding counties Cell towers and power lines
- VDOT trying to straighten roads
- Threats and challenges to current zoning
- Competing land uses

• Changing demographics
- Aging farmer population and lack of new farms will mean end of viable county ag.
- Changing demands brought by newcomers
- Changes in composite index impacts education funding from state

• Public processes like this visioning may threaten county values

• Lack of affordable housing, rentals, and housing for elderly

• Youth are moving out of county: not enough jobs, and schools don't prepare youth for technology job market.

OPPORTUNITIES
Participants felt that Rappahannock County is now at a critical turning point, where it can decide to apply measures that will protect its scenic rural character through the next decades of growth. Failure to do so will mean the loss of its way of life and other key strengths.

• Pursue Economic Development Compatible with Rural Character
- Tourism: scenic, heritage, equestrian, agri-tourism, craft-based, hunting, battlefields, Visitor's Center (like Nelson County), Shenandoah National Park.
- Promote local villages, local crops, historical sites, and other sights
- Use county for rural retreats (church, conferences, business retreats, etc.)
- Promote and expand Fodderstock Race
- Pursue the Vermont/New Hampshire model of county-town cooperation in tourist activities, such as cross county skiing village to village
- Jobs for the young in these recreational areas
- Market county to the outside for these tourist opportunities

• Designate Rappahannock County as the "rural, open green space of the Rappahannock-Rapidan Region", the place to grow food, have clean water, see wildlife

• Planning: take measures so county will stay rural, scenic, with agricultural and tourist economic, and viable community
- Purchase of development rights
- Village development planning
- Find ways to protect open spaces other than zoning
- Use TEA-21 grants for transportation enhancement, as in Sperryville