The intent of the agricultural district is to protect agricultural lands and residences and other lands consisting of natural vegetation from incompatible land uses of residential, commercial or industrial expansion, so as to preserve a secure land base which can best allow farmers to make the large capital investments necessary to continue the agricultural use of the land, thereby maintaining the very important agricultural economy of the region.

(Ord. 1249 (part), 1976; Ord. 985 (part), 1971).

The following principal uses and structures shall be permitted in the "A" agricultural district:

(1)

A farm operation involving any form of agriculture, including the raising of crops, horticulture, nurseries, animal husbandry, poultry husbandry, fur farms and farm feedlots;

(2)

Hobby farms;

(3)

Single family dwellings, including mobile homes;

(4)

Land reclamation, mining and gravel pits;

(5)

Transportation systems including all roads, highways, railroad tracks and public airports.

(Ord. 1249 (part), 1976: Ord. 985 (part), 1971).

The following accessory uses and structures shall be permitted in the "A" agricultural district:

(1)

All accessory uses and structures commonly associated with a farm, such as farm buildings for storage, barns, silos and all incidental dwelling-related uses and structures such as car garages, recreational courts, swimming pools and lawnsheds;

(2)

Greenhouses of a nonretail nature;

(3)

Public meeting facilities such as schools or churches provided they are subordinate to and complementary with the agricultural activities of the district;

(4)

All utility systems necessary to service the district;

(5)

Home occupation associated with the agricultural use of the land;

(6)

Farmstands for the sale of produce raised on the premises;

(7)

The sale of seed.

(Ord. 1249 (part), 1976: Ord. 985 (part), 1971).

The following uses may be permitted in the "A" agricultural district with special restrictive conditions to reduce the incompatibility of the use after special application and commission review as described in Sections 23.04.030, 23.04.032 and 23.04.034:

(1)

Commercial feed lots;

(2)

Kennels;

(3)

Major utility or radio towers, substations or transmission lines;

(4)

Outdoor recreational facilities such as parks, golf courses, riding stables, public swimming pools or tennis courts;

(5)

Open-space entertainment activities such as race tracks, dude ranches or fairgrounds;

(6)

Cemeteries;

(7)

Private plane landing strips;

(8)

Sanitary landfills.

(Ord. 1249 (part), 1976: Ord. 985 (part), 1971).

The uses and structures specifically listed in this chapter are not considered to be the only conceivable uses of agricultural land. However, these uses listed do represent the types of uses which may be considered. If an applicant desires to construct a building or conduct a use which is not specifically listed, such applicant shall carry the burden of proof to the board of adjustment that his request is the type of use allowed in the agricultural district, it is not more compatible with a different zoning district, and it does in no way violate the intent of this chapter.

(Ord. 1290, 1977: Ord. 1249 (part), 1976).

The agricultural district shall maintain open space and low density residential development by use of the following requirements:

(1)

The minimum lot area shall be five acres;

(2)

The minimum lot width shall be three hundred feet;

(3)

The minimum lot depth shall be two hundred seventy-five feet;

(4)

The minimum front yard shall be seventy-five feet;

(5)

The minimum rear yard shall be fifty feet;

(6)

The minimum side yard shall be twenty feet;

(7)

The maximum lot coverage for all structures is ten percent;

(8)

The maximum residential dwelling height is thirty-five feet;

(9)

The maximum residential dwelling density is one residence per forty acres, except where more than one residence is necessary for person employed on a farm, then additional dwellings may be allowed;

(10)

In no case may any structure except for fences be constructed in utility easement areas along front, side or rear property lines;

(11)

If a detached accessory building is constructed three feet (or less by variance) from the property line, the roof overhang on the building will be limited to one foot including stormwater gutters.

(Ord. 1875, 2000: Ord. 1249 (part), 1976).

(Ord. No. 2086, 9-27-2010)

No building or construction shall be permitted within one hundred feet of the highwater mark of natural water drainageways, nor shall any such building or construction be permitted within the flood-prone area of the James River.

(Ord. 1249 (part), 1976).