A new 48-acre easement protects the forested northern slope and summit of Mole Hill.

A new conservation easement held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation protects a highly visible portion of one of Rockingham County’s most distinctive landforms, “Mole Hill.” Dominating the landscape of Dayton and the Dry River area, and also highly visible from much of Harrisonburg, Mole Hill is relatively unique in its geology and has served as a cultural touchstone in this farming community.

Mole Hill viewed from Oldtown in Harrisonburg

Mole  Hill is an isolated hill just off Route 33 about four miles west of Harrisonburg. Well known to generations of JMU geology students, the core of the hill is a remnant volcanic plug made of harder, igneous basalt—evidence of younger, molten rock that rose up through the much older limestone bedrock of the valley floor.

Lowell Ulrich, who owned a farm that included the summit and north slope of Mole Hill, contacted VCC over three years ago for help in conserving his part of the hill. Ulrich shared his excitement about permanently conserving this land for use by people seeking a spiritual sanctuary and for the future benefit of the thousands who enjoy its subtly changing views every day. As Lowell proceeded through meetings with VCC and Virginia Outdoors Foundation, everyone involved caught his infectious reverence for the place.

Mole Hill helps define the line between development and farmland near Harrisonburg.

Sadly, before Lowell could see the property conserved, he died in a tractor accident. Knowing his wishes, VCC worked over several years to keep his dream alive while his estate was settled. Eventually, a very conscientious and equally conservation-minded neighbor stepped forward who wanted to purchase the property and conserve it for his own family and for the public benefits it provides.

That neighbor is Gerald Knicely, who grew up in the shadow of Mole Hill on another nearby farm. Gerald is pleased that Lowell’s legacy can also be passed on to his own children and those of future generations. “My family has identified with Mole Hill for three generations. It is such a local landmark and is so much a part of the community, that we’re very glad to be working with VCC and VOF to conserve it.”

Knicely’s easement covers 48 acres of forested land that is highly visible from Harrisonburg and Route 33. Now that the summit is permanently protected, VCC is committed to seeking further conservation of properties on and around Mole Hill.

Corrected DATE:  February 9, 2012 at 7:30

This is your chance to give input on the plan that will guide the city. In particular, those interested in the future use of the undeveloped areas of the city should tune in.  The city has proposed a “Planned Farm Development” category for the areas currently being farmed. See details on pp. 13-14 in the “Land Use and Development Guide” chapter.

Key chapters:
·        Priority Initiatives and Recommendations
·        Land Use and Development Guide  (category descriptions start on p. 7;  future land use maps on pp.17-18)

To see what’s in the plan:

website: http://www.staunton.va.us/directory/departments-h-z/planning-inspections/draft-comprehensive-plan-2010-2030
-  hard copies at the library and 3^rd floor City Hall
- for more information, contact the Department of Planning and Inspections, 540-332-3862.

Further questions or guidance? Please contact  sara@valleyconservation.org;  886.-3531.

Join VCC and various guest speakers for a series of talks hosted by the Augusta Community Partnership and organized by Valley Conservation Council, Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District, and Augusta County Farm Bureau.

All sessions will be held at 7pm at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona.

Map Directions

Next Event:  February 29th,  “Planning Augusta”

Topic: Planning Augusta
Date: February 29, 2012

Topic: Conserve as You Grow Augusta
Date: March 27, 2012

Topic: Future Augusta
Date: April 30, 2012

Support for the series is provided through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.

Part 1 of The Rural Co-op

Part 2 of The Rural Co-op

Along with great footage of the area, you’ll learn about the early poultry industry and the development of Rockingham’s many cooperative businesses including Rockingham Cooperative and the Valley of Virginia Co-operative Milk Producers (the original Shenandoah’s Pride).  This cooperative trend in the Valley continues in Rockingham to this day with the relatively new Shenandoah Valley Beef Cooperative, the  Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative and the recently opened Friendly City Food Co-op.

New legal tools may appeal to more working farmers.

Farm Bureau and others have embraced a new legal template for easements on intensively worked farms.  All the hard work of many partners was kicked off by a process VCC helped start years ago by bringing farmers from Lancaster County PA to the Valley.

Read all about the new easement template here: http://southeastfarmpress.com/management/virginia-farm-bureau-supports-land-conservation

View all the award winning projects here

“We seek to honor projects that show successful innovation right here in our backyard,” said Sara Hollberg, author of VCC’s book, Better Models for Development in the Shenandoah Valley 2010. “Each developer and each community has choices they can make that will help keep the Valley a unique, beautiful, and vibrant place even as we continue to grow and prosper. These projects and many like them demonstrate these better ways to develop.”

Award winners are from across the region, north to south, from Berryville, Boyce, Buena Vista, Luray, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, Greenville, Lexington, Daleville, Eagle Rock, and Botetourt County.

Just one of the stories in the Spring 2011 issue of VCC’s Vision newsletter.

In 2010, landowners in the Valley region donated conservation easements to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation on 20 properties totaling 4,760 acres.

Bath County was the clear leader in Valley acres conserved in 2010 with five VOF easements totaling 2,395 acres, but both Rockbridge and Highland Counties also conserved significant amounts of land during 2010.

This is just one of the stories in the latest edition of VCC’s Vision newsletter. Other stories include:

• McDonnell Administration Emphasizes Conserving Working Lands
• Expanded Federal Benefit Makes 2011 Good Year to Conserve Land
• Meeting the Demand for Walkable Neighborhoods (part of our Build Livable Communities series)

See these stories and more in the Spring issue of Vision, available here in PDF.

Communities Urged to Embrace “Better Models for Development”

Using more than 300 full-color images, the book showcases innovative projects from the region and beyond. Organized along “Six Principles for Better Development,” the book lays out concepts in simple terms and illustrates them through actual projects. VCC is hoping to raise awareness of the choices in development and help establish a new direction.

VCC Executive Director John Eckman feels the timing is right for that discussion. “Development has slowed significantly, but that gives us a chance to think through the best approaches. Many of the buildings that will be needed in 20, 30 or 50 years haven’t been built yet. We have a great opportunity to help communities avoid the problems others have faced as they grow.”

The book’s author, VCC planner Sara Hollberg, notes that recent development patterns have spiraled along a path that can not be sustained in terms of local and state finances, household budgets, and consumption of energy, water, and farmland.

Communities are wrestling with how to maintain water quality in their streams, how to build in ways that encourage health for all ages, and how to make communities not only attractive and safe, but also efficient and affordable. Surveys show people want different things too, like less time in the car. Younger and older generations seem to be more interested in smaller units convenient to amenities.

“Fortunately,” says Hollberg, “since the design of development has been part of the problem, it also can be part of the solution. Trends are converging toward designs that are more efficient to serve and that have spin-off benefits for the environment and for quality of life.”

An example is compact and well-designed mixed-use projects that offer housing choices to varied ages and income. The book also highlights how conservation can be a valuable (and cost-effective) part of development decisions. Strategies cover conserving not only rural landscapes, but also protecting natural assets and offering outdoor recreation in growth areas. Those interested in the look of development also will find plenty in the book, such as redeveloped corridors and franchises that use their own designs instead of cookie-cutter models.

The book takes a positive approach. Development does not have to destroy what people love. What most people value about the Shenandoah Valley is its extraordinary beauty and its productive farms. Every community has special places and features. “Yet we must ask ourselves,” says Hollberg, “What are we building today that will be valued by the next generation? Where are the vibrant neighborhoods and the beautiful public spaces?” Better Models shows that we can build such places again.

Better Models 2010 updates the original publication that Hollberg co-authored in 1999 as a joint production by VCC and The Conservation Fund. Since then, VCC has recognized dozens of outstanding projects with through its annual Better Development Awards. Many of these are pictured in the book, which includes examples from n early every community in the Valley.

VCC will distribute the Better Models book to localities throughout the region. The organization also will offer presentations to local groups or interested parties. For information or to order a copy of the book, call 540.886.3541 or click here.

Valley Conservation Council is a private, nonprofit, member-supported land trust serving eleven counties in the Shenandoah Valley region. The Better Models project was made possible through contributions from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Beirne Carter Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, the Dominion Foundation (through The Conservation Fund), and individual donors.

The George Washington Hotel, Winchester, VA, winner of the 2010 Better Development Award.

Please join us on May 25th, in Harrisonburg.

Click here for agenda and registration information.

Join planners, elected officials, architects, developers and concerned citizens from throughout the Valley region for VCC’s Better Development Symposium and Awards ceremony.

On the afternoon of May 25th we will have a full program including a tour of downtown projects, guest speakers and our Better Models for Development Awards.