M.S.

Increasingly, information on rural land is needed by land owners, realtors, investors, appraisers, government officials, and researchers to make effective economic and policy decisions involving land. One source of information that could meet this demand is local real property tax records. These records continuously provide parcel data relating to value, use, ownership, location, size, and taxes. These records also provide data on transfers of rural land, such as sales price, previous ownership, date of transfer, and type of transfer. Transfer data, in particular, may be useful at meeting data needs because sales prices are generated strictly from market interaction and because rural transfers represent only two to four percent of all rural parcels, thus providing a small, efficient sample to rely upon. Transfer data have often been used in land market analyses, particularly for local land markets. However, questions have arisen as to the representativeness of parcels sold of all parcels. The purpose of this study is to determine whether transfers of rural land are representative of all rural land parcels in terms of value and several value-producing characteristics. To accomplish this, an economic model is developed to explain the variations in the assessed per acre value of rural land in three Virginia counties. This model is then transformed into a statistical model that examines a data set composed of all rural land parcels and a data set composed of bona fide transfers occurring in 1983. The regression results of the two data sets are statistically compared. In addition, comparisons of the two data sets are also made on the basis of mean assessed land value per acre, per acre assessed land value distribution, and parcel size distribution. The results of these comparisons indicate that bona fide transfers of rural land are not representative of all rural parcels in terms of value and value-producing characteristics. / M.S.

no abstract provided by author / M.L. Arch.

Soils in the area studied seemed to be a determining factor in land class. With very few exceptions the land of Class IV was found to consist mainly of alluvial soils, lying along Little River. Classes I and II combined, and Class III lands were found in some cases along Little River but these areas were dominated by cliffs, woods, and untillable land, and included relatively little alluvial soil. Rock outcroppings in the hilly soils were noticeable on most of the land of Classes I, II, and III. Farm management data alone provide insufficient information for an adequate classification of the land. A personal investigation in conjunction with farm management data will tend to improve the classification. Value and condition of buildings are an important factor in classifying land but too much importance should not be attached to this factor, especially in areas where lumber is relatively plentiful, as was the case in Floyd County. It seems, from the results of this study, that when the value and condition of buildings are used in the classification of land that the tenure of the operator should be taken into consideration. To attempt a land classification project without topographical and soil maps may easily result in many errors unless reliable farm management data be supplemented with information obtained by careful personal investigation. It is thought that on the basis of the procedure followed in this study a dependable classification is possible. However, the use of such maps should reduce considerably the difficulty and cost of making an adequate classification. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was two-fold: first, to determine the reliability of the reconnaissance method of land classification as indicated by various farm management, home economic, and other economic factors; second, to determine the economic conditions existing on each class of land, attempting to measure the relative importance of the major factors affecting farm financial successful on land of different classes. / Master of Science

Land use pattern and plans influence future urban development. More desired urban forms can be created through land use decisions and policing power. Unfortunately, land use data is rarely analyzed, and researchers rely on a few historical, morphological studies for any information on land use change. Historical, morphological studies show that cities, and sections of cities, face different developmental problems at various points In time; for example, out-migration, poor quality housing, competition among employment sectors and lack of undeveloped land. How these problems are addressed depends on the current state of planning. Well-organized and up-dated plans address current and future growth, and foster or hinder specific kinds of growth. In Roanoke, Virginia, a bounded city with limited vacant land, redevelopment has become an essential element of growth. A case study of Roanoke examined the transformation of Roanoke's zoning ordinance from 1966 to 1987 when Roanoke was emerging from development into redevelopment. Publications by Roanoke City Government, rezoning request notices for the city from 1978 to 1991 and rezoning request files from 1982 to 1991 and publications on five neighborhoods were used to examine the (1) differences between the 1966 and 1987 zoning ordinances, (2) application of the 1966 zoning ordinance, (3) application of the 1987 zoning ordinance, and (4) application of conditional zoning. The data showed that zoning affected the land use pattern by fostering or hindering specific land use categories. The 1966 ordinance's large minimum lot sizes hindered the application of residential zoning categories by stopping small scale, inner city developments. The 1966 ordinance fostered the expansion of commercial and industrial zoning categories through an absence of lot size requirements. The 1987 zoning ordinance decreased the minimum lot size in several residential categories and added lot width, area and yardage requirements to commercial and industrial zoning categories. This ordinance preserved old. inner city structures through techniques, including historic districts. By addressing different developmental stages within the city, the ordinance encouraged infill development in inner city areas and planned unit developments in peripheral locations. Conditional zoning influenced the land use pattern by limiting changes. Land usage limitations give planners more control over land use changes that occur outside of the traditional rezoning process. Time limitations result in an automatic reversion of zoning if construction does not begin within the specified time. The zoning decision-makers used discretion in implementing zoning. Such decisions are important to planning and influence the types of land use changes approved. / Master of Science