A Master Plan for Courthouse Village - College of Humanities and ...
A Master Plan for Courthouse Village - College of Humanities and ...
A Master Plan for Courthouse Village - College of Humanities and ...
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Soil Conditions <strong>and</strong> Development Potential<br />
The role played by soils in choosing building site locations <strong>and</strong> sanitary facilities<br />
is extremely significant <strong>and</strong> should be a vital part <strong>of</strong> the local l<strong>and</strong> use planning<br />
program. Of the County's 188,800 total acres, only about 17,000 acres or nine<br />
percent are capable <strong>of</strong> supporting intensive residential development with physical<br />
modifications. In order to support high density development, these areas would<br />
require water <strong>and</strong> sewer systems. Septic tanks would require some modifications<br />
in these areas <strong>for</strong> lower densities.<br />
In the 2023 Comprehensive <strong>Plan</strong>, three development potential categories were<br />
used in analyzing Goochl<strong>and</strong> County's soils: slight; moderate; <strong>and</strong> severe. In<br />
considering soils suitable <strong>for</strong> building site developments, three major soil types<br />
are included in the slight category: Georgeville, Madison <strong>and</strong> Pacolet. These soil<br />
types comprise approximately nine percent <strong>of</strong> the total l<strong>and</strong> area in Goochl<strong>and</strong><br />
County. The moderate category consists <strong>of</strong> several major soil types in the<br />
County: Masada, Mayodan, Nasan <strong>and</strong> Tatum. These soil types have moderate<br />
limitations <strong>for</strong> development due primarily to slope <strong>and</strong> low strength. Although the<br />
four soil types listed are the most prevalent in this category, there are several<br />
other soil types included in this category in Goochl<strong>and</strong> County. In fact, this<br />
category <strong>of</strong> soils makes up a majority <strong>of</strong> the soils in the County. The major soils<br />
found in the severe category include Creedmoor, Enon, Fluvanna, Wedowee,<br />
Monacan, Pinkston, Sedgefield, Tuckahoe, Vance <strong>and</strong> Wilkes. These soils have<br />
severe limitations <strong>for</strong> development due to slope, shrink-swell potential, low<br />
strength <strong>and</strong> wetness. These soils comprise approximately <strong>for</strong>ty percent <strong>of</strong> the<br />
l<strong>and</strong> area in Goochl<strong>and</strong> County. Thus, soils are a major limiting factor <strong>for</strong><br />
development in <strong>Courthouse</strong> as well as the County as a whole (Goochl<strong>and</strong>, 2003).<br />
In considering the capability <strong>of</strong> soils to support septic tanks, there are no soil<br />
types which have slight limitations <strong>for</strong> development. Most soils are classified as<br />
having moderate limitations; while some <strong>for</strong>ty percent have severe limitations.<br />
The soils in Goochl<strong>and</strong> County have high concentrations <strong>of</strong> clay which provide<br />
slow percolation <strong>for</strong> septic tank absorption fields. Engineering modifications can<br />
be carried out which will increase the capacity <strong>of</strong> some soils to support septic<br />
tank drain fields. However, specific soil conditions should be studied when<br />
evaluating development proposals <strong>for</strong> specific sites. The overriding danger <strong>of</strong><br />
residential development with septic tanks in areas with severe soil limitations is<br />
disease.<br />
The soil characteristics exhibited in the severe category restrict the dilution <strong>of</strong><br />
effluent drainage by causing surface pooling due to the high clay content <strong>of</strong> the<br />
soil. If this leads to contamination <strong>of</strong> water supplies, it could result in the<br />
occurrence <strong>of</strong> typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis, staph, salmonella <strong>and</strong> sugella in<br />
epidemic proportions. Contamination <strong>of</strong> water supplies created by a<br />
malfunctioning waste disposal unit can have serious implications. The dangers<br />
are real <strong>and</strong> should be closely monitored.<br />
A <strong>Master</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Courthouse</strong> <strong>Village</strong> Page 45 <strong>of</strong> 96<br />
Spring, 2006<br />
Goochl<strong>and</strong> County