Thursday, October 12, 2023 |
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Fun Fact About Loudoun County |
Loudoun County is the largest generator of tourism revenue in the Commonwealth of Virginia, contributing 13.2% to overall visitor spending in the state. According to the latest data released by Virginia Tourism, revenue from tourism in Loudoun topped $4 billion in 2022 and visitor spending in Loudoun was up 32% from 2021. Tourism in 2022 supported 17,134 jobs (an increase of 26.6% from 2021) and generated $988 million in salaries and wages in Loudoun. It also generated $136 million in local taxes and $72.6 million in state taxes, an increase from 2021 of 24.8% and 31.9% respectively.
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Featured in the Ashburn District Flyer
Upcoming Election
Dominion's Transmission Line Project
(Scroll down for more information)
Transportation & County Facilities Update
Loudoun County News
Upcoming Events & Opportunities to be Involved
Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP)
(Scroll down for more information)
LandMARC Progress Updates
(Scroll down for more information)
Legislative Applications for Development in the Ashburn District
(Scroll down for more information)
Significant By-Right Developments in the Ashburn District
(Scroll down for more information)
* = This application is coming to the November 15th, Board of Supervisors Public Hearing. Learn more about providing public input here.
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Greetings Ashburn/Lansdowne!
In the introduction to this week’s newsletter, I would like to address the now widely talked about issue of overhead Dominion transmission lines along Route 7. Dominion Energy has been conducting a series of public and community meetings regarding this issue to explain what’s going on, and the most recent meeting was held at Lansdowne Woods on September 27, 2023.
My staff, county staff and representatives from Lansdowne on the Potomac and the Lansdowne Conservancy have already met to determine our options and next steps. We all agree that we do not want overhead power lines along Rte. 7, but the final decision rests with the State Corporation Commission (SCC), not the Board of Supervisors. We are exploring options for convincing the SCC to require Dominion to bury the transmission lines and getting the data centers to pay for the installation. Of note, we've learned that there is only one location in the United States where a 500kv line is buried.
Just a couple of additional points. About 20 years ago, when data centers were a new concept, Loudoun County, like many counties throughout the country, anticipated office parks, industrial parks and anchor-based malls as the likely development trend. Therefore, much of the land in eastern Loudoun was zoned for “office park” or “industrial park,” with “office park” often located near or adjacent to residential and retail. When data centers began to develop, the Board of Supervisors at the time considered data center development to be appropriate for these types of land parcels and made them a permitted/by-right use (meaning that they could be built without BOS approval).
No one could have anticipated the explosive growth of data centers in the past ten years, and by then, data centers had bought a significant portion of the remaining land zoned for “office” and “industrial” uses. Compounding this challenge is the enormous energy consumption of data centers. Dominion Energy announced these challenges about 18 months ago when the Transportation and Land Use Committee I chair did an inventory of where data centers are and where they could be developed. For the first time, the Board became aware of the significant energy shortages in eastern Loudoun County which Dominion Energy, a public utility, is required by law to address. Since then, Dominion has determined their only viable option is to run a combination 500/230kv line from near Goose Creek to the power constrained area of “data center alley” on Waxpool Road. The only practical routes are along the Greenway, requiring the condemnation of at least 36 homes, along the W+OD Trail, requiring the condemnation of at least 89 homes, or along Rte. 7, requiring no home condemnations. These routes will be the focus of our discussions with the SCC.
We’re working very hard to regain management over this growth. I plan to introduce a motion at the November Board of Supervisors meeting to amend both the Comprehensive Plan (land-use policy) and the underlying zoning ordinance (county land-use legal basis) to once again enable the BOS to manage data center growth proactively. The Comprehensive Plan and the zoning ordinance, which should have been updated every five years since 2001, were only recently updated in 2019, an effort led by Chair, Phyllis Randall. That said, though the plan and ordinance clearly should have been updated several times since 2001, it would have been nearly impossible for any BOS to anticipate the explosive growth of data centers in the last five years alone. Stated simply, Loudoun County has found itself as ground zero in a technology explosion no one could have predicted.
There really are no good answers at this point. However, in addition to continuously monitoring this situation, we’re continuing to engage Dominion and the SCC for options and will keep the community fully apprised of all developments through our e-newsletter. If you are not already a regular subscriber, you can sign up here.
Be safe!
Mike Turner
Ashburn District Supervisor
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Early Voting for November Election Begins September 22; Deadline to Register to Vote is October 16 |
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Loudoun County election officials remind voters of important dates and deadlines for the upcoming general election on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
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Friday, September 22: First day of early voting at the Office of Elections and Voter Registration, 750 Miller Dr. SE, Suite 150, Leesburg, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday -Friday. (Note: The office will be closed October 9 for Indigenous Peoples Day.)
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Monday, October 16: Last day to register to vote a non-provisional ballot.
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Monday, October 23: In-person early voting expands to additional locations.
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Friday, October 27: Last day to request a ballot by mail.
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Saturday, November 4: Last day for early voting.
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Tuesday, November 7: Election Day; In-person voting, 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
What’s on the Ballot:
Offices on the November 7, 2023, general election ballot in Loudoun County include the Board of Supervisors, School Board, Virginia House and Senate, Constitutional Officers, Mayor and Town Council in Middleburg and Round Hill, Town Council seats in Hamilton, Lovettsville and Purcellville, and Soil and Water Conservation Director-Loudoun District. There are also three ballot questions involving the issuing of bonds for parks and recreation, public safety, school and transportation projects. Links to sample ballots are online at loudoun.gov/sampleballots.
Stay Informed
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Text LCVOTES to 888777 to receive text alerts from the Loudoun County Office of Elections and Voter Registration or sign up for the Election Update category through Alert Loudoun, the county’s email and text notification system.
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Follow the Office of Elections and Voter Registration on Facebook and Twitter. Loudoun County Government also posts general information on Facebook and Twitter.
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Dominion's Energy's Transmission Line Project |
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Background:
Shortly after the TLUC series concluded, Dominion and PJM (the regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of 13 states and D.C.), announced that new overhead transmission routes will be required to provide additional energy to areas in eastern Loudoun County. Dominion Energy initiated meetings with staff from County Administration to discuss Dominion’s plans for system upgrades across Loudoun County. During these conversations, County Administration asked Dominion to identify opportunities for placing electrical infrastructure underground, where practical. Dominion Energy acknowledged the request but was unable to offer any commitments at that time.
Dominion Energy has since developed and submitted potential transmission routes to the SCC. These plans call for the construction of new Transmission Lines along Route 7, between Belmont Ridge Road and Route 28. Potential routing options for the new transmission lines includes a route running along the north of Route 7, or a route running along the south side of Route 7, or a potential combination thereof. These plans were discussed during several in-person and virtual meetings, throughout 2023, that were advertised and hosted by Dominion Energy. Residents in the affected areas have provided feedback, including a petition from the Lansdowne Conservancy to oppose towers on Route 7.
Next Steps:
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is the legal authority in Virginia that makes the routing decisions for all transmission routes and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (BOS) has no authority to approve or deny transmission line placement. Dominion Energy is required by law to provide electricity to its customers. Dominion submits potential transmission routes to the SCC and engages the community for feedback on the proposed concepts.
Supervisor Turner continues to encourage his constituents to speak out against powerlines on Route 7 at public input sessions during BOS Business Meetings. For BOS meeting schedules and information about signing up to speak at BOS Business Meetings, please click here.
Stay Informed
We understand that our community is going to have a lot of questions, especially as this process moves forward. We encourage you to stay informed about the progress of this project.
General information landing page for Dominion’s NOVA projects:
“GeoVoice,” an interactive mapping tool that gives members of the public the ability to review and provide feedback on Dominion’s proposed project routes:
“NOVA Virtual Open House,” an interactive website that includes information about all of Dominion’s transmission route plans for Loudoun County:
Contact Dominion Energy:
Dominion Energy has provided the following contact information for questions and to provide feedback about this project:
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Transportation & County Facilities Update |
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The move comes in response to residents’ concerns about noise, particularly those residents whose homes are in areas nearest to the airport’s only east-west runway. Following the January 17, 2023, approval of a new Airport Impact Overlay District, which affects how properties within it can be developed, the Board voted to engage the FAA to better understand future options available to address community concerns about airplane noise.
As proposed, the work group would include ten members who represent the areas west of the airport based on a combination of geography and community affiliation. Vianair, a consultant hired by the county to assist with FAA engagement, has advised that creating the work group demonstrates the county’s level of interest and improves the chances of that engagement.
Next, staff members will reach out to the communities to identify representation for the group so that Vianair can begin its work with them by January.
More Information
For more information about the Airport Impact Overlay District and to sign up for email and text updates, visit loudoun.gov/airportdistrict.
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Loudoun County will actively participate in the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) proceedings concerning the toll increase request by the owners of the Dulles Greenway. The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously September 19, 2023, to direct the County Attorney to file a “notice of participation” with the SCC in the case.
The notice of participation ensures that Loudoun’s Board will have access to all information provided to the SCC as it considers the application for a 40% increase in the maximum toll for passenger vehicles on the Greenway. It also allows the Board to provide the SCC with testimony and analysis independent of that offered by the owner of the toll road.
Public Comment Period
The SCC has opened its public comment opportunity and scheduled hearings on the application (Case # PUR-2023-00089) from the owners of the Greenway requesting to increase the maximum tolls for most drivers to $8.10 during peak hours, up from the current $5.80, and $6.40 during off-peak hours, up from $5.25.
Written Comments
Members of the public may submit written comments through January 24, 2024. Written comments regarding the Greenway’s request for increased toll rates can be provided online through the SCC’s website at scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments (click on “Submit Comments” next to case # PUR-2023-00089).
Written comments can also be submitted by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments must refer to case number PUR-2023-00089.
Register for Oral Testimony
The SCC has also scheduled hearings regarding the Greenway’s request for increased toll rates. The public witness session is currently scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at 1300 East Main Street in Richmond. Public witnesses will testify by telephone.
Public witnesses who wish to provide oral testimony must pre-register by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 24, 2024, in one of three ways:
The SCC allots each witness five minutes to provide testimony.
A separate public evidentiary hearing will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 31, 2024, to receive testimony and evidence from the company, any respondents and the SCC staff. Although testimony from members of the public will not be accepted on January 31, 2024, the hearing will be open to the public.
Background
Loudoun County has opposed toll rate increases requested by the operators of the Dulles Greenway, Toll Road Investors Partnership II (TRIP II), which filed its application for the authorization for an increase in the maximum level of tolls last month. The SCC is the entity that considers such requests.
TRIP II has requested a toll increase of 22% during off-peak hours (from $5.25 to $6.40) and a 40% increase during peak morning and afternoon hours (from $5.80 to $8.10). TRIP II claims the increases are necessary to meet its debt obligation; however, data shows that use of the Greenway is down because of its already high toll rate. Traffic on the Greenway decreased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not returned to pre-COVID levels.
To promote use of the Greenway by more motorists, Loudoun County has consistently supported changing the Greenway’s toll structure to distance-based tolling while also lowering toll rates. The Greenway operator has the lawful ability to implement both changes now. Loudoun County believes TRIP II’s proposed rates will further discourage the use of the Greenway.
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Motorists traveling on Route 7 and Route 50 in Loudoun County are seeing new road signs indicating the new names of the highways.
The renaming of Harry Byrd Highway (Route 7) to Leesburg Pike and the renaming of John Mosby Highway (Route 50) to Little River Turnpike is effective Thursday, September 28, 2023. Loudoun County has replaced approximately 75 blue rectangular signs on both highways. The Virginia Department of Transportation is expected to begin installing the larger overhead green signs in early to mid-October.
Loudoun County will provide updated address information to the U.S. Postal Service, Apple Maps, Google Maps, TomTom GPS and Waze. In addition, the updated names and addresses have been entered into the county’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) 9-1-1- system.
To assist property owners in the transition to a new address, the county has prepared a helpful checklist that is available at loudoun.gov/roadrenaming.
Business Assistance Grants
Loudoun County is offering grants to help businesses financially impacted by the renaming of the roads. Businesses or nonprofits with an address on Route 7 or Route 50 may apply for a one-time grant, as well as a sign reimbursement grant, if eligible. The grant program is also open to businesses impacted by the renaming of several other streets and roads in the county. The deadline to apply for the grants is December 1, 2023. Details about the program are online at loudoun.gov/roadrenamingassistance.
More Information
The renaming of the roadways is a result of the Board of Supervisors’ September 2020 decision to inventory and review Confederate and segregationist symbols in the county; the Board's November 2021 decision to rename Fort Johnston Road, Jeb Stuart Road and streets adjacent to and within the Town of Round Hill and the Board’s December 2021 decision to rename Routes 7 and 50. More information about the renaming process is online at loudoun.gov/roadrenaming.
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The Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) is seeking input from county residents regarding the naming and branding of the planned countywide Linear Parks and Trails (LPAT) system. The comprehensive system will provide a variety of functions and benefits, including recreation, alternative transportation, wildlife habitat, water quality protection, flood hazard reduction, aquifer recharge, erosion prevention, property value enhancement, economic development, and scenic beauty.
Survey
Loudoun County PRCS is seeking input from community members to provide guidance and identify values that can contribute to the naming and branding of the trails system. Loudoun PRCS is working with a professional branding agency to conduct a survey that measures the preferences of Loudoun County residents. The survey will help identify the specific resources and experiences visitors enjoy when they visit or use a PRCS park or trail.
The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. The survey is confidential and individual responses will not be shared.
Workshops
In addition to the survey, two virtual public workshops will be hosted by Loudoun PRCS and the branding agency, Eastern Standard. Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to provide additional feedback on the future trail system.
There are two options for attending a workshop on Thursday, October 19, 2023.
Background:
The LPAT plan was approved by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in July 2021 and will provide an interconnected, countywide linear parks and trails system. The LPAT plan offers a roadmap for the county and its partners to build out an interconnected system that protects natural and cultural resources, honors Loudoun County’s unique sense of place, and connects residents to each other and to the county’s natural and cultural landscapes, communities, and destinations. The plan seeks to provide multiuse experiences along its corridors for hikers, walkers, nature enthusiasts, runners, equestrians, cyclists, and canoe and kayak paddlers.
More Information
Details about LPAT are available at loudoun.gov/linearparksandtrails. Residents who are interested in staying informed about the project of the LPAT project are encouraged to sign up for email or text updates by visiting the project webpage.
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Loudoun County, in partnership with the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), invites members of the public to celebrate the completion of construction of Northstar Boulevard, Phase II, from Route 50 to Tall Cedars Parkway. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. near the intersection of Northstar Boulevard and Marrwood Drive in Aldie.
Members of the Board of Supervisors, NVTA and VDOT are scheduled to be on hand for the ceremonial ribbon cutting for this regionally significant project. The new segment of Northstar Boulevard is scheduled to open to traffic following the event on October 19, 2023.
This project constructed a segment of Northstar Boulevard from Route 50 to Tall Cedars Parkway, addressing traffic congestion in the corridor, and improving capacity and safety on existing roadway networks within the Dulles south area. The project includes the construction of a new signalized intersection on Route 50, located near VDOT’s Arcola maintenance area headquarters. This new segment of Northstar Boulevard provides an alternative north/south connection to Route 50, improving capacity and safety on existing roadway networks within the Dulles south area.
Northstar Boulevard is part of the North/South Corridor of Statewide Significance, addressing congestion on parallel north/south routes between I-95 and Dulles International Airport and connecting travelers to activity centers in Loudoun County and beyond.
More information about Northstar Boulevard: Phase II, including details about the ribbon cutting ceremony, may be found on the Loudoun County website at loudoun.gov/northstarphase2.
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The award recognizes jurisdictions that create annual financial reports specifically designed to be readily accessible and easily understandable to members of the general public who do not have a background in public finance. To receive the award, the report must meet high standards of creativity, presentation, understandability and reader appeal. This is the sixth year in a row that Loudoun has earned the award for the Popular Annual Financial Report.
The Popular Annual Financial Report for FY 2022 is part of the Loudoun County government’s commitment to transparency. The report is intended as a companion document to the award-winning Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, presenting the highlights of the county’s complex financial activities in a concise and accessible format.
The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving more than 21,000 government finance professionals in the United States and Canada.
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Do you have a well, cistern, or spring? Did you know that it is your responsibility to test your water to ensure that it is safe to drink for your family?
Registration for VCE Loudoun’s reduced cost water testing program is open this fall. The number of sample kits available is limited, so the earlier you sign up, the better.
The Virginia Household Water Quality Testing program provides water testing for wells, cisterns, or springs, and it aids with understanding test results and information about addressing problems.
Our program tests for the following 14 water quality parameters: Iron, manganese, nitrate, lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, copper, total coliform bacteria and E. coli bacteria.
A water testing kit costs $65. A comparable analysis at a private commercial lab would cost more than $300.
Please note that financial support is available for individuals/families who may need assistance covering this cost. Please e-mail us if you are interested in a need-based scholarship.
How Does the Program Work?
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Register and pay for your sample kit(s) here.
- Monday, October 16, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Pick up your sample kit at the VCE Loudoun office, 750 Miller Drive SE, Suite 161, Leesburg.
- Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.: Collect samples at your home and drop them off outside our office located at 750 Miller Dr. SE, Suite 161, Leesburg, VA 20175 (Drive-thru drop- off).
Samples are then analyzed at Virginia Tech’s Research Lab. You will receive your confidential results, an explanation of what they mean, and information about addressing any problems via email about six weeks after the sample drop off.
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The Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility located at 21101 Evergreen Mills Road in Leesburg will temporarily stop accepting waste tires at the county landfill effective today, Tuesday, September 26, 2023.
The landfill must temporarily suspend accepting all types of tires because the facility has reached its permitted limit for scrap tires. The temporary stoppage is expected to last two to three weeks.
The Commonwealth of Virginia limits the number of tires a facility can store, in part, to promote safe storage environments. The county’s landfill has seen a recent increase in scrap tires, likely due to regional limitations on disposal sites accepting tires and increasing costs of disposal. In addition, the limited number of tire hauling operator services available to keep up with the increase volume of discarded tires resulted in the county’s facility quickly reaching its permit limit.
Within the next two to three weeks, the Loudoun County landfill expects its service provider will haul away the current accumulation of tires for recycling, at which time the county can resume accepting scrap tires. Tires collected at the landfill are transported to a permitted recycler who can recycle the scrap tires for other beneficial uses, such as “crumb rubber,” which is used in road construction and other applications. The tires are also repurposed as tire-derived fuel.
To minimize the potential for the landfill to reach its tire storage capacity in the future, Loudoun County will implement a limit on the number of tires residential and commercial customers may discard daily. Customer limits will enable the landfill’s contracted hauler to remove the tires in a timely fashion and ensure the number of tires temporarily stored on site do not reach the limits permitted by the state. The fees for discarding tires at the county’s landfill range from $3 to $39, depending on the size of the tire.
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The Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility is now offering free compost that will enhance soil and promote healthy plant growth for local gardeners. This is in addition to the free mulch at the landfill that the county has offered to residents for many years.
The landfill annually processes more than 7,000 tons of vegetative material received from the public into landscape grade mulch. Through recent program enhancements, the landfill is now able to create a finished compost product from yard waste, such as grass clippings, hedge clippings and leaves.
Stockpiles of the free mulch and compost are limited. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are located on the right side of the main entrance of the landfill, located at 21101 Evergreen Mills Road in Leesburg. Only hand tools are allowed when loading; no powered equipment.
The upgraded composting operation is the result of a Board of Supervisors initiative to increase composting in the county through advancements in the processing of vegetative material at the landfill. The Loudoun County Energy Strategy, approved by the Board in February 2023, calls for the county to expand the yard waste composting and recycling program to divert solid waste from the landfill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Landfill operating hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. More information about services provided at the landfill is available online at loudoun.gov/landfill.
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The National 4-H Council has announced that two Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Loudoun 4-H members, Kashvi Ramani and Pranav Kalidindi, are among the twelve finalists selected for the 2024 National 4-H Youth in Action award. The 4-H Youth in Action Awards recognize 4-H’ers who have overcome challenges and used the knowledge they gained in 4-H to create a lasting impact in their community.
Kashvi Ramani is being recognized for her efforts to build a diverse and inclusive world through tools of self-expression. Pranav Kalidindi is being recognized for his commitment to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) innovation and sparking change in his community.
Ramani, 17, seeks to empower youth to address societal inequalities and racism through poetry, webinars and workshops, giving youth a path to initiate difficult conversations. Targeting societal needs, Ramani is a member of Mending Walls, an organization focused on creating murals expressing hope, peace and self-growth. She also created LoCo Parenthesis, a countywide initiative designed to stimulate appreciation for poetry among young people and encourage creative expression to tackle difficult topics. She is also the 2023 Youth Poet Laureate of Virginia.
Kalidindi, 15, serves as President of the 4-H Innovation Club and a STEM Ambassador for Virginia. He addresses community needs such as the environment and mental health through innovative approaches in STEM. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kalidindi created a stress relief app to detect, predict and reduce stress, and a posture monitor to help prevent spinal issues. He also created an air quality monitor and a pH sensor for detecting impurities in drinking water, which have impacted both his hometown and a village in Kenya.
About VCE Loudoun 4-H
4-H is the youth development education program of Virginia Cooperative Extension, which focuses on development of life skills. More than 176,000 young people between the ages of 5 and 19 participate in Virginia 4-H activities each year with the help of over 15,000 adult and youth volunteers. Virginia Cooperative Extension is an outreach of Virginia Tech and Virginia State Universities.
Anyone who would to learn more about VCE Loudoun 4-H may contact Loudoun 4-H Extension Agent Carly Wright at 703-777-0373 or by email. More information about 4-H, including how you can join a club, is online at loudoun.gov/4-H.
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The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office (FMO) reminds residents that from October 1, 2023, through midnight February 14, 2024, open burning is permitted for the burning of leaves and trees, brush, yard, and garden trimmings generated on-site, except where always prohibited. Note: all fires must be called into the Loudoun County Emergency Communications Center at 703-777-0637 prior to ignition and when extinguished.
If current weather conditions for open burning deem it to be a high-risk activity, additional restrictions may apply. Burning is always prohibited in urban or built-up areas (such as subdivisions) throughout Loudoun County and the Town of Leesburg. Or in the town limits of Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, and Round Hill.
Legally Set Open Air Fires are Subject to All Local Regulations
- Fires are to be constantly attended by a competent person(s) at least 18 years of age, with means to control and extinguish the fire.
- Open burning may be no closer than 50 ft. from any structure and pose no hazards to a roadway.
- Bonfires are permitted, provided that they consist of neatly piled seasoned wood, stacked no more than 5’ x 5’, and no closer than 50 ft. from any structure.
Prohibited Open Burning
- The burning of household trash, garbage, refuse, household waste, commercial waste, construction waste or debris, combustible liquid, hazardous waste, impregnated lumber, junk, rubber, stumps, products of salvage operations, plastics, tires, tar-based materials, oil or petroleum-based products, hazardous materials, chemicals, animal carcasses and similar materials or waste is prohibited countywide (Incorporated towns included).
- Open burning that is offensive or objectionable because of smoke or odor emissions, or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous, open burning shall be prohibited.
Development-Related Burning
- Agricultural burning, such as clearing of a field or fence row, is limited to materials generated on-site. The burning may be no closer than 50 ft. from a structure and 1,000 ft. from an occupied structure unless prior permission has been given by the occupant and poses no hazard to highways and airfields.
- All land clearing (pit burn) operations by contractors/landowners for development purposes shall be approved by the FMO. Burning of trees, stumps or brush may require a permit from FMO and the State Air Pollution Control Board.
- Warming barrels at a construction site shall be approved by the FMO. Only clean lumber can be burned, in a barrel or similar container that is screened or covered to prevent flying embers and is not within 15 ft. of any structure.
The Loudoun County Fire Marshal may impose regulations, at any time, based upon a complaint, atmospheric or other environmental circumstances, to restrict or extinguish any fire that is otherwise permitted according to these guidelines. For additional open burning information, please call the Fire Marshal’s Office at 703-737-8600 or visit www.loudoun.gov/openburning.
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The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is alerting citizens to another jury duty scam reported by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, including calls to victims from someone posing as a Sheriff’s Deputy demanding payment of court fines for failure to appear for jury duty. The Clerk’s Office will contact any known victim and also urges them to file a report with the LCSO.
The LCSO or any other law enforcement agency will never contact anyone by telephone to inform them of a failure to report for jury duty or threaten them with a fine or imminent arrest. Anyone who misses a scheduled appearance for jury duty can expect to receive an official written notice from the Circuit Court with instructions on the necessary next steps. Officials urge anyone who receives an unexpected call regarding legal or law enforcement matters to exercise caution and common sense. Anyone who has concerns may reach out to the LCSO and any other relevant authorities.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a scam may contact the Sheriff's Office at 703-777-1021.
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At the October 3, 2023, meeting, winners of the Loudoun Disability Services Board’s FAIME—Full Accessibility and Inclusion: Moving toward Equity—Awards were honored. The awards recognize businesses and organizations for their commitment to hiring people with disabilities and providing them with opportunities to develop their skills and career in an inclusive work environment.
This year’s honorees are:
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Custom Software System, which partners with the county’s Job Link program.
- Inova Loudoun Hospital, which provides opportunities for high school seniors with disabilities.
- Janelia Research Campus, which is an employment site for the nonprofit organization ECHO (Every Citizen Has Opportunities).
The Disability Services Board is an at-large advisory body appointed by the Board of Supervisors to identify and advise county leaders on issues of importance to people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers to help make Loudoun County an accessible and inclusive community.
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities to Be Involved |
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The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Jury Management team is sending out 50,000 jury questionnaire postcards to Loudoun County residents in the month of September for the purpose of determining who is qualified for jury duty in Loudoun County in 2024. These mailings have begun will continue through the month of September.
Loudoun residents who receive a postcard are required to use an online, secure portal to complete the jury questionnaire instead of using paper documents. The postcard questionnaires are less expensive, and the online portal is a more efficient way for the recipient to complete the questionnaire and more efficient for the Clerk’s Jury Office team to process tens of thousands of questionnaires.
The annual jury questionnaire process enables the circuit court to establish a qualified pool of jurors who may be summonsed to serve jury duty in 2024. While the questionnaire process is beginning now, those citizens who are deemed qualified to serve as jurors will not be called to serve jury duty until calendar year 2024. “The jury questionnaire postcard is not a summons for jury duty,” stated Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary M. Clemens. “The questionnaire process is simply the first step to determine who is qualified to fulfill jury service in calendar year 2024.”
Clemens is requesting that citizens who receive a jury questionnaire postcard to take the time to read and complete the questionnaire online by using the secure website link to access the online process. There are instructions in the questionnaire postcard to assist recipients who may not be able to complete the process online.
“The timely participation of those who receive the questionnaires is beneficial to the efficiency of the qualification process and it helps the court system provide the constitutional guarantee of a jury trial to criminal and civil litigants,” Clemens said. “I appreciate the cooperation of each resident who receives a juror questionnaire postcard.”
More information about jury duty and the juror questionnaires may be found at loudoun.gov/jury. To find out more about the services offered by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, visit loudoun.gov/clerk.
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The Loudoun County Continuum of Care (CoC) is seeking applicants for membership. The CoC is a community coalition of public, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations that provide a variety of shelter and support services to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The overarching goal of the group is to ensure that there is a continuum of services to meet the needs of homeless persons in the community.
CoC membership is open to individuals and organizations that represent or offer services to anyone in Loudoun County who is unsheltered or unstably housed, including homeless service providers, hospitals, mental health providers, advocacy groups, public housing authorities, developers, public schools, law enforcement, judicial entities, and faith-based organizations. CoC membership is also open to individuals with lived experience in homelessness.
The key activities of the CoC include:
- Collecting data about homelessness in Loudoun County; Conducting the annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count in January.
- Maintaining the Homeless Management Information System.
- Operating the Coordinated Entry System to assist those experiencing a housing crisis.
- Sharing information about funding opportunities for Continuum of Care Members; Providing a forum for service providers to network and to collaborate on funding applications for homeless services.
The Loudoun County CoC currently has 43 members and meets quarterly.
More information, including a link to the online application form, is available at loudoun.gov/coc.
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The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System (LC-CFRS) strives to provide effective, consistent, and readily accessible fire and life safety education for our residents year-round. Annually we designate October as Fire Prevention Month, and LC-CFRS first responders and community outreach specialists dedicate additional time and resources to increase community awareness about preventing home fires. As we kick off Fire Prevention Month this year, several volunteer fire and rescue companies across the county will host in-person open house and community outreach events as listed below.
In addition to these events, LC-CFRS will be sharing virtual outreach measures to include fun and innovative activities that focus on critical fire prevention measures for children, adults, and special populations. To access the Fire Prevention Month materials, you can follow us on LC-CFRS official social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and NextDoor or visit loudoun.gov/kidsfiresafetycorner to select from various activities.
Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department Open House
Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
20688 Ashburn Road
Ashburn, VA 20147
Join us at Station 6 for AVFRD's Open House. Events to include:
- Station tours
- Fire safety education for all ages including CPR instruction
- Apparatus displays and equipment demos
- Ladder Climbing Challenge
- Meet AVFRS personnel and learn how to become a volunteer!
Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company and Purcellville Volunteer Rescue Squad Open House
Saturday, October 14, 2023, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
500 N. Maple Ave
Purcellville, VA 20132
Join us for October Fire Prevention Month fun at the safety center! Events to include:
- Meet your local Firefighters, EMT’s and Paramedics and learn how to become a volunteer
- Touch a Truck - Fire & Rescue Vehicle Displays and Fire Truck rides
- Equipment demonstrations, fire and life safety information, games, food, drinks, and more!
Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Open House
Sunday, October 15, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
12837 Berlin Turnpike
Lovettsville, VA, 20180
Join us for October Fire Prevention Month fun! Events to include:
- Meet your local Firefighters, EMT’s and Paramedics and learn how to become a volunteer
- See live action equipment demonstrations and tons of activities for all ages
- Fire, Rescue, Fire Marshal, and Law Enforcement apparatus on display
- Visit from our local AirCare Medical Helicopter
Arcola Volunteer Fire Department Open House
Sunday, October 15, 2023, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
24300 Stone Springs Blvd
Sterling, VA, 20166
Join us at the Station 9 Annex for fun October Fire Safety and Prevention Month activities. Events to include:
- Touch a Truck - Fire & EMS Vehicle Displays and Fire Truck rides
- AirCare Medevac Helicopter visit
- Meet your local First Responders
- Play fun games and learn about fire safety, see safety demos and more!
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Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP) |
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The Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP) assists low-income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs. Applications for Fuel, Crisis, and Cooling assistance are accepted at the local departments of social services.
The EAP consists of four components: Fuel Assistance, Crisis Assistance, Cooling Assistance and Weatherization Assistance.
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Fuel Assistance: Fuel assistance helps with home heating costs; but can also be used for furnace re-starts, late charges, delivery charges, installation charges, and connection or re-connection fees.
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Crisis Assistance: Crisis Assistance helps households in heating emergency situations with primary heat security deposits, utility heating bills, repair/replacement of heating equipment, or primary heating fuel. This component is intended to meet a household’s emergency heating need when no other resource is available.
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Cooling Assistance: Cooling assistance provides purchase or repair of cooling equipment and/or payment for electricity to operate cooling equipment. To be eligible, a household must contain at least one vulnerable individual who is age 60 or over, is living with a disability, or is under age 6.
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Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): The WAP reduces household energy use through the installation of cost-effective energy savings measures, which also improve resident health and safety. Common measures include sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and repairing heating and cooling systems. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) works with a network of nonprofit organizations around the state, who directly implement the program. More information is available at: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/wx
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LandMARC Progress Updates |
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On August 14, 2023, Loudoun County launched LandMARC (Land Management, Applications, Research, Coordination). LandMARC is the county's online land management system. More information about LandMARC can be found here.
Stay Informed
Beginning September 26, 2023 there will continue to be twice-weekly updates to share the progress in processing permits. These updates will be posted online at Loudoun.gov/bdpermits. The link to this information is also posted in the LandMARC self-service portal. Loudoun.gov/LandMARC remains the landing page for all industry to get information about the system, including system status, help and how-to guides, and read important updates on the LandMARC blog.
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Legislative Applications for Development in the Ashburn District |
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Changes to the Code of Virginia [§ 15.2-1427(F) and 15.2-2204(A)]requires that board approval of any land use application or adoption of any ordinance amendment occur no more than 14 days after a descriptive public notice has been published.
Modifications to the Rules of Order apply to the structure of BOS Public Hearing Agendas. All items appearing on the agenda of a BOS Public Hearing will be placed into one of the following sections: “Hearing of New Items,” “Hearing of Returning Items Ready for Action,” and “Adoption of the Consolidated Agenda.”
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Hearing of New Items: Unless the Board sends an item from this section to a standing committee, or votes to suspend its rules, the default “next step” for these items is to be forwarded to a future BOS Public Hearing for action.
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Hearing of Returning Items Ready for Action: Items that have appeared on the agenda of a previous BOS Public Hearing will be placed in the section of the agenda titled “Hearing of Returning Items Ready for Action.”
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Approval of Consolidated Agenda: At the beginning of the consolidated public hearing, the Chair will announce the individual items proposed for the consolidated agenda. After a call for public speakers has been made, the BOS may act on each item, without voting to suspend its rules. If there are speakers for an item on the consolidated agenda, the item will be removed from the consolidated agenda and placed on the standard public hearing agenda. To qualify for placement on the consolidated agenda, an item must have unanimous support from the BOS, as well as a recommendation of approval from county staff and the planning commission. “New” or “returning” items may be added to the consolidated agenda if the above criteria are met.
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Northstar Square
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0020
(Formerly known as "Mercer Crossing")
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Description: "Northstar Square” is a proposed application to rezone 110.86 acres to allow the construction of 1,138 dwelling units. These include 297 single-family attached units, 485 multi-family stacked units, and 356 multi-family attached units. The residents are currently zoned to Newton-Lee Elementary School, Belmont Ridge Middle School, and Riverside High School.
Update: The Northstar Square rezoning application was removed from the September 13th BOS Public Hearing agenda, by the developer. The developer has indefinitely deferred their application.
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Previous Update: At the June 8th Planning Commission Work Session, the Planning Commission voted to send the Northstar Square application to the September 13th, Board of Supervisor's Public Hearing, with a recommendation of approval.
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Previous Update After the Planning Commission voted to send the Northstar Square application to the Board of Supervisors, with a recommendation of denial, the applicant requested that the recommendation be reconsidered, the recommendation was rescinded, and was sent back to the Planning Commission’s Work Session on June 8th.
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Previous Update: At the April 13th, Planning Commission Work Session, the Planning Commission voted to send this application to the June 14th Board of Supervisors Public Hearing.
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Previous Update: At the February 9th, 2023, Planning Commission Work Session, the Planning Commission voted to send this application to future work session on April 13th.
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Previous Update: This application is scheduled to come to the February 9th, 2023 Planning Commission Work Session.
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Previous Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Lansdowne Blvd Rezoning
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0026
(Also known as "Elm Street Development")
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Description: “Lansdowne Blvd Rezoning” is a proposed application to rezone 9.22 acres to allow the construction of an additional 120 dwelling units. These include 72 single-family attached units and 48 multi-family stacked units. The residents are currently zoned to Steuart W. Weller Elementary School, Belmont Ridge Middle School, and Riverside High School.
Update: At the September 14th, Planning Commission Public Hearing, the Planning Commission voted to send this application to the November 15th Board of Supervisors Public Hearing.
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Previous Update: At the May 23rd, 2023, Planning Commission Work Session, the Planning Commission voted to send this application to a future work session. The date of this work session is September 14th, 2023.
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Previous Update: This application is scheduled to come to the May 23rd, Planning Commission Public Hearing.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Broadlands Section 104
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0024
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Description: “Broadlands Section 104” is a proposed application to rezone 10.19 acres to allow the construction of 106 dwelling units. These include 45 single-family attached units, 30 multi-family stacked units, and 31 multi-family attached units. The residents are currently zoned to Cedar Lane Elementary School, Trailside Middle School, and Stone Bridge High School.
Update: At the September 14th, Planning Commission Public Hearing, the Planning Commission voted to send this application to the November 15th Board of Supervisors Public Hearing.
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Previous Update: At the June 27th, 2023, Planning Commission Public Hearing, the Planning Commission voted to send this application to a future work session. The date of this work session is September 14th, 2023.
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Previous Update: This application is scheduled to come to the June 27th, Planning Commission Public Hearing.
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Previous Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Arcola Farms Residential
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0034
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Description: “Arcola Farms Residential” is a proposed application in Ashburn and Little River Districts to rezone 80.8 acres to allow the construction of three hundred and seven (307) single-family detached residential units. The residents are currently zoned to Sycolin Creek Elementary School, Brambleton Middle School, and Independence High School.
Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Goose Creek Village West
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0038
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Description: “Goose Creek Village West” is a proposed application to rezone 20 acres (revised from 25 acres) to allow for the construction of an additional 222 residential units. These include 104 single-family attached units, and 46 multi-family stacked units, and 72 multi-family attached units. The residents are currently zoned to Belmont Station Elementary School, Trailside Middle School, and Stone Bridge High School.
Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Belmont Innovation Campus
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0048
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Description: “Belmont Innovation Campus” is an application to rezone 84.52 acres to allow for the construction of a data center.
Update: At the September 26th, Planning Commission Public Hearing, the Planning Commission voted to send this application to the November 15th Board of Supervisors Public Hearing.
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Previous Update: The application for the Belmont Innovation Campus (LEGI-2023-0048) is scheduled to come to the September 26th, Planning Commission Public Hearing.
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Previous Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Luck Stone Leesburg Plant
Application Number LEGI-2023-0084
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Description: Luck Stone Leesburg Plant is a Zoning Concept Plan Amendment (ZCPA) Application to amend proffers and development conditions to allow for expansion of mining operation in quarry B, on the east side of Goose Creek, underneath the current processing plant, resulting in the processing plant and point of sale to move to the west side of the property. On the west side of Goose Creek, the application is amending the development conditions to allow for Stonewater Lane to be used for shipping mined materials off-site and to rezone a portion of Luck Stone’s property to allow for data center uses. According to Luck Stone, if this application is approved, the timing of the relocation of the point of sale to Stonewater Lane and the expansion of mining operations in quarry B is subject to several variables but is not currently anticipated for approximately 25 years.
Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Goose Creek Retail LLC
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0067
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Description: “Goose Creek Retail LLC” is a Special Exception application to permit a restaurant with a drive-thru use on approximately 0.51 acres of the property.
Update: This application is scheduled to come to the October 24th Planning Commission Public Hearing.
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Previous Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Belmont Cove
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0074
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Description: “Belmont Cove” is a Zoning Map Amendment application to rezone 8 acres to allow for the construction of 80 multifamily residential units. The residents are currently zoned to Newton-Lee Elementary School, Belmont Ridge Middle School, and Riverside High School.
Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Milestone Trailside Park
Application Number: LEGI-2023-0083
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Description: “Milestone Trailside Park” is an application to construct a 150-foot-tall monopole (“tower”) telecommunications facility. The current application calls for the tower and a related equipment compound that will accommodate AT&T antennas and up to four other future telecommunication providers at this location. The tower will be located within a 36-foot by 55-foot fenced compound space, in the southwestern corner of Trailside Park.
Update: County staff from multiple departments are reviewing this application with the applicant.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab. To leave a comment click here.
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Significant By-Right Developments in the Ashburn District |
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By-right: A "by-right" development is an application that does not require approval from the Board of Supervisors. The approval/denial of applications for by-right developments are managed administratively by county staff and must conform to the current zoning ordinance.
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Description: “Vantage VA 3” is a by-right application which plans to build four data center buildings on 89 acres. The underlying zoning is Planned-Development Office Park (PDOP) and Planned-Development Industrial Park (PD-IP). Data Centers are allowed by-right on PD-OP and PD-IP zoned land.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab.
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Description: “CyrusOne Broadlands Data Center” is a by-right application which plans to build a 41,000sf data center on 58 acres. The underlying zoning in Planned-Development Industrial Park (PD-OP). Data Centers are allowed by-right on PD-OP zoned land.
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab.
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Description: “Baker-Beam DC Yard-Luck Property” is a Site Plan application (STPL-2022-0021) to build a two story “shop” building for contractor services, a three story office building, underground utility infrastructure that is associated with the two buildings and a parking lot. This parcel is 11.1 acres and is zoned MRHI (Mineral Resources/Heavy Industry).
For more information on this application, click here. To review the application documents, scroll down to the middle of the page and click the “Attachments” tab.
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21819 Ashburn Road Property
Application Number: BLDR-2023-001655
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Description: "21819 Ashburn Road" is a building residential demolition application (BLDR-2023-001655) which plans to demolish the Single Family Home on the property. The house at this address was built in the 1920's and has been vacant for some time. The owner wishes to demolish the home as quickly as possible due to safety concerns.
For more information on this application, click here.
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VDOT 511
511 provides users with real-time, accurate traffic information from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) about road conditions, traffic congestion, and highway construction anywhere you are, anytime you need it.
More information on VDOT 511 can be found here.
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Online Process for Building Permits, Land Development Applications
Homeowners and residential contractors can submit their completed application form and supporting documentation, including drawings and plats, in PDF format for most residential construction projects to the Department of Building and Development online. More information about the online submission process and requirements is available here.
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Residential Traffic Calming Guide
Loudoun County’s Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure (DTCI) manages an eight-phase process to address traffic calming, which considers residents’ concerns regarding speeding, safety and overall quality of life on publicly-maintained residential streets.
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Who Maintains my Street?
To identify which entity responsible for maintaining your road/street, Loudoun County made an online color coded mapping system which helps residents determine who to contact when work needs to be done.
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Report a road problem
VDOT created an easy to use online form to report unsafe and hazardous road conditions. Similarly, work requests for state-maintained roads can also be made here.
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Paving Schedule
VDOT reports what roads will be paved during the fiscal year and updates their website with progress updates.
Find VDOT's Paving Schedule here.
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As your representative on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, my top priority has been to serve your needs and work towards the betterment of our community. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly or my staff with any input and ideas you may have for the Ashburn District. The best way to reach me is by email, which I monitor on a regular basis.
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Mike Turner
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Supervisor
703-777-0205
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Rachael Mai
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Chief of Staff
703-737-8180
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Joel Gicker
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Legislative Aide
571-440-1947
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