Designating Special Project Areas

The Board of Trustees of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation may occassionally designate certain areas in the Commonwealth as Special Project Areas. Special Project Areas are particular geographic regions where protection through easements is especially warranted and where VOF expects to concentrate resources. One or more of the following factors may aid in justifying the designation of Special Project Areas:

A. The area is of statewide natural, scenic, historic, scientific, open-space, or recreational significance. One or more of the following documents may help identify such significance:

• The Virginia Outdoors Plan;
  
• The locality's Comprehensive Land Use Plan;
  
• Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas Study;
  
• Division of Natural Heritage database;
  
• The Virginia Landmarks Register;
  
• Other statewide or federal planning documents.

B. Local landowners have indicated their support.

C. A local land trust, conservation group, other organization, or state or federal agency has expressed an interest in working with VOF to encourage protection of the area.

D. The local government has indicated an interest in protection of the area through easements.

VOF will accept nominations for Special Project Areas to be designated according to VOF Guidelines. Special Project Area designation will help make the case for high conservation value on proposed easement projects and will be an important factor for prioritizing lands for VOF easement program efforts.

Special Projects Area Designation Process

1. Six weeks prior to any scheduled VOF Board meeting, submit to G. Robert Lee, VOF Executive Director, 324 Waterloo St., Warrenton, VA, 20186: (a) a letter requesting Special Project Area designation, a map of the area, and supporting materials (may include letters of support, photos, other documentation of conservation values); and (b) a draft resolution for consideration by the VOF Board, which has been reviewed by VOF regional Easement Program staff. Click here for examples of a nomination letter and resolution.
   
2. Make a 5-10 minute presentation at a VOF Board meeting, making the case for Special Project Area designation.
   
3. The VOF Board may vote on the designation at the same meeting or at a subsequent meeting.
   
4. Special Project Area designation will become an important factor in determining conservation value of lands within the Area. Designation will be one among several factors determining if VOF will work on a particular project, including conservation value/public benefit, degree of protections (proposed restrictions), acreage, readiness of landowner to proceed, regional development pressures, and VOF staff capacity.

If you have any questions about nominating Special Project Areas, please contact Tamara Vance, Deputy Director of Easements, in our Blacksburg office.