Nope. There are strict limits on total square feet of disturbed earth and “impervious” areas within RPA land. The stone dust base of most correctly designed arenas makes them essentially impervious. Time limits don’t apply… total disturbed square feet and impervious square feet does. The limit in Fairfax in an RPA is roughly equal to a 60 foot in diameter round pen. I was hoping for a 20x 40 meter rectangular dressage space… Nope. It would have required public hearings, notification to all neighbors, water quality impact assessments, a native plant mitigation plan (whatever that was… my eyes were bleeding at that point when reviewing lists of requirements)… And somehow or other the county’s storm water run off team wanted to be involved in everything, over and above the land disturbance permitting and site plan people… if we decided to pursue the 20x40 arena. They estimated a 12 month timeline involving representation by a civil engineering firm to the county… Just to get initial permits!
So we designed a solution for our farmette that didn’t require a permit. It was a HUGE cost savings. And headache reliever. If we ever sell this and buy a bigger property (we hope to)… I will have a RIDICULOUS list of questions about zoning on individual properties, any creeks or even remotely wet looking areas on or near the property, and all possible construction limitations. An ounce of prevention and forethought is worth $$$$ in permitting issues trying to make an otherwise awesome property functional for horses.
