November 2022

Welcome to the November 2022 edition of the Dulles Direct newsletter. I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday and had the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. 

Speaking of being thankful, the big news this month has been the opening of the Silver Line to Loudoun County - at long last! More on that below. 

This month also marked an important birthday - Washington-Dulles International Airport turned 60 years old. I was pleased to sponsor a Board Resolution to recognize the impact of the airport on Loudoun’s economy and growth. If you happened to visit Dulles recently, you may have seen the iconic terminal “dressed up” in red, white, and blue for the occasion. 

As Virginians, we know that elections happen every year here, and I want to thank our Loudoun County Registrar Judy Brown and the entire team of staff and volunteers who once again ran a fair, drama-free election. Years ago, I worked to add the Dulles South Recreation and Community Center as an early voting site, and I’m so glad that many are continuing to take advantage of that location to vote. We also celebrated Veterans Day a few weeks ago, and it is has always been fitting to me that Election Day and Veterans Day are so close together because our ability to participate in free and democratic elections is so dependent on the sacrifices that our veterans have made. Thank you for your service!

SILVER LINE OPENING

On November 15, Silver Line service officially began in Loudoun County! We had a memorable opening ceremony at Dulles International Airport. I was honored to speak in my capacity as both a Metro Board member and as the only remaining member of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors who voted for Metro in 2012. You can view the ceremony here.

I know that this took longer than it was supposed to, and like most major infrastructure projects, it wasn’t cheap or easy. Since I was appointed to the Metro Board in February 2020, I did everything I could to facilitate productive discussions between the Airports Authority constructing the project, and Metro. We were able to work through remaining issues, including a fair monetary agreement for Metro to address various issues that came up during construction. 

At the opening ceremony, I told the story of the Board’s 5-4 vote to opt into the project in 2012. It wasn’t easy, and there were many loud voices telling us it wasn’t a good idea. However, I’ve always believed that the hardest thing to do in elected office is to make big decisions that may not pay off in the short term, and that was one of them. The truth is, Metro gives us our best opportunity to diversify our economy away from reliance on data centers. We’ve already seen land values around the stations soar and there are some exciting projects on the horizon. It is also worth noting that the tax districts the Board of Supervisors set up 10 years ago to pay for our share of Phase 2 construction actually outperformed expectations, and fully covered the costs. That is a testament to our outstanding financial team in Loudoun County government that I’ve had the pleasure of working with during my three terms on the Board. Now that the trains are running, I’m pleased to report that so far ridership has been strong, with both the Ashburn and Dulles Airport stations routinely seeing over 1,000 passengers a day.

With Metro’s expansion into Loudoun comes increased transit service to get riders to the stations. As transit needs change and the industry adapts following the pandemic, we are pivoting our transit model to provide a neighborhood level of service for residents. I want to highlight a few of these new routes that will be of special interest to residents in southern Loudoun. Routes 381 and 382 will both deliver riders to the Loudoun Gateway station. Route 381 serves South Riding and includes stops at the East Gate Park and Ride Lot, while 382 serves the Stone Ridge community and includes stops at the Dulles South Park and Ride Lot. Commuters from the Dulles District to the Ashburn station can utilize Route 371 from Moorefield Parkway/Old Ryan Road or Route 372 from Westwind Farm. New riders are encouraged to visit this site before taking their first ride to familiarize themselves with the service and safety measures. Bus routes are being phased in over time, so you can click here to find out the latest scheduling information.

Dulles Planning Commission Nominee

As I shared in last month’s newsletter, Dulles District Planning Commissioner Jeff Salmon will be stepping down at the end of the calendar year after 11 years of service in that position. I will be honoring Jeff at our December 6 Board meeting, and will discuss that further in next month’s newsletter.

The Planning Commission is the most significant appointment for the Board, as it is the group with the biggest workload and an important legally defined role to play in our land use process. I’m pleased to share that at our November 15 Board meeting, I nominated Madhava Madireddy of Stone Ridge to be our Dulles District Planning Commissioner. Reddy, as he is known to his friends, has served on the Stone Ridge Association Board of Directors since 2019 and is currently Vice President. He is also the President of the John Champe PTSA. Professionally he works in executive human resource management and has a degree in civil engineering. I have known Reddy for several years and I believe that he possesses the qualities that I am looking for in a Commissioner - someone who is smart, has common sense, is attune to the public and our district, and adheres to high ethical standards. I look forward to working with him.

The Board will be voting on Reddy’s appointment at our December 6 meeting, and he will take his seat on the Commission in January. 

Airport Impact Overlay District

At the Board’s November 9 Public Hearing, we voted to send the Airport Impact Overlay District to the second Business Meeting in January 2023 for action. I have included in-depth discussions of the AIOD and why we are updating it in past newsletters so I won’t reiterate all that information, but you can access the Dulles Direct newsletter archive and get caught up to speed here.

There continues to be some confusion between the issue of airplane noise and the overlay district itself. This process has brought to the forefront concerns from residents about noise, especially for those living close to the airport in the Brambleton area. As part of the Board’s motion to move the item to January, we asked the County Administrator to develop a strategy to address noise concerns with MWAA and the FAA. 

I will reiterate that the County’s overlay district is merely mirroring what is already occurring in the skies above us. I continue to think that it is important that we don’t leave in place a clearly outdated, 1993-era noise study, and instead adopt the new districts. While I understand that some residents have concerns about home values, there is very little evidence that disclosures have an impact. When there is an impact, it is due to the noise itself. I’m happy to address individual concerns or questions on this topic by email.

Bull Run Post Office Road Through Truck Restriction

At the Board’s November 15 Business Meeting, we voted unanimously to endorse a through truck restriction on Bull Run Post Office Road between Cedar Ridge Boulevard and Route 29. Staff will now notify VDOT of the County’s position; VDOT is responsible for making the final decision. The restriction was initially proposed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and would complement our existing restriction between Cedar Ridge and Braddock Road. A through truck restriction would not prevent trucks from getting to end destinations along the road, but would prevent trucks and large commercial vehicles from using the designated section of roadway as a cut through. We have been relatively successful in the past with getting through truck restrictions implemented by VDOT, and I’ll be sure to update you once they make a decision in this case.

Arcola Boulevard

Like many of you, I’m very eager for the new section of Arcola Boulevard to open. I know how bad traffic was at Dulles Landing over the past week with holiday shopping. The latest update is that the Arcola Center developer met onsite with VDOT just before Thanksgiving to discuss the status of the project and plan for opening the road to traffic. Final paving at the tie-in to Route 50 is anticipated to happen this week. The developer has submitted an interim operations plan for VDOT to review and approve that would allow a free-flow movement at the intersection of Arcola Boulevard and Dulles West Boulevard (the signals won’t be needed initially since the straight through movement won’t be open). Upon VDOT’s approval, the plan would need to be implemented in the field with pavement markings and signage. My staff continues to check in with the developer and VDOT regularly.

Solar Project at Dulles Airport

ZOAM-2022-0002 & ZMAP-2022-0011

The Board voted at our November 1 Business Meeting to approve a rezoning at Dulles Airport from R-2 (single family residential) to PD-GI so that Dominion Energy can establish a utility-scale ground-mounted solar generation and storage facility on airport property. The project will be taking place exclusively on 835 acres of land at the airport that has no future plans for development. Also under consideration was a Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOAM) application to permit solar farms as a use in the Planned Development – General Industry (PD-GI) zoning district (under certain conditions); the ZOAM was sent to the Transportation and Land Use Committee, who voted at their November 16 meeting to recommend approval to the Board (it is currently a Special Exception Use in that zoning district, which will change if we take TLUC’s recommendation).

The Solar + Storage Project, as it is being called, will allow Dominion to install hundreds of acres of solar panels in the next 37 years. In return, Dominion will build and operate a two-megawatt solar carport at the airport and provide a fleet of electric vehicles for airport operations. The solar project is also pursuing approvals from the FAA, Department of Transportation, and State Corporation Commission.

As discussed in my May newsletter, the Board of Supervisors approved a Resolution of Intent to Amend the County Zoning Map to rezone Dulles from R-2 to PD-GI. In addition, the Board voted to initiate the amendment to the PD-GI regulations to add “utility generating plant and transmission facility, ground-mounted solar energy generation facility only” to the list of allowed uses.

There was some discussion at the meeting regarding tree removal, which was a hang-up for the Planning Commission; concerns were echoed by some of the Supervisors. The Airports Authority could remove trees on their property at their discretion, so I don’t really understand why this particular issue should hold up the entire solar project. The environmental assessment has also shown that the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than 50 times the amount that leaving the existing trees in place would accomplish. Having this much more solar generation can help move the County closer to our energy goals. Furthermore, the impacts of this approval are limited. Loudoun’s Zoning Administrator stated that solar farms are not a permitted use in the zoning districts within the Rural Policy Area and Transition Policy Area, which means that this process would not allow solar generation facilities in rural areas.

Beach Commercial

SPEX-2021-0033, SPEX-2021-0034, SPEX-2021-0037, & SPMI-2021-0006

At the Board’s November 9 Public Hearing, the Board approved an application for a convenience store, retail sales establishment, and fast food restaurant use (no drive through) at the Beach commercial property on the north side of Tall Cedars Parkway at Meadows Farm Court. I have been told by the applicant that there will be an Indian food market and carryout restaurant opening in this space.

The Board had previously approved a gas station at this location and residents in the East View neighborhood across the street brought forward this alternative use that was ultimately agreed upon by the property owner. The applicant has worked with County staff on buffering in front of the building, as well as pedestrian connections and making contributions to future intersection improvement projects. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the application and staff had no outstanding concerns since it is consistent with the 2019 General Plan, so I was happy to support the application.

Road Renaming Business Assistance Program

At our November 15 Business Meeting, the Board discussed a proposed Road Renaming Business Assistance Program to help businesses with costs associated with changing their addresses. If you recall past correspondence regarding the Board’s initiative to inventory confederate and segregationist symbols Countywide, you’ll know that several roads are being renamed, including Route 50 and Route 7. These roads are major business corridors in the County and the program is intended to help offset the costs of required address changes. The program provides a one-time grant of $500 (for home-based businesses) or $750 (for commercial-based businesses) to complete address changes on websites or materials. There is also up to $5000 available for businesses that can provide proof of costs associated with changing addresses on physical signage and/or vehicles. The Board voted to send consideration of program funding to the FY22 Fund Balance discussion, which will take place in December.

Composting Pilot Program

At our November 1 Business Meeting, the Board voted to include an expansion of our Category 1 Composting Program and a food waste drop-off center pilot program to our FY24 budget process, which means the program has a good chance of being funded when we put together our operating budget next spring. The first part would expand our vegetative waste composting program (plant or plant-derived pre-consumer materials, yard waste, leaves, grass clippings, etc.), but the more interesting element in my opinion is the food waste drop-off center. No food waste is permitted to be composted at either the County landfill or the Loudoun County Composting center, so a dedicated facility would allow a serious expansion of the composting program. Currently, the Balls Ford Road Composting Facility in Prince William County is the nearest facility in Northern Virginia that processes food waste. Food waste from Loudoun (which totals over 1,300 tons of commercial food waste from major grocery store operators alone each year) is also processed on a much smaller scale at two smaller facilities in Maryland.

The item includes five options for a standalone food waste processing facility that will be discussed as part of the larger FY24 budget deliberations (the estimated cost of each option is in parentheses): a drop-off center for food waste that mirrors collection models in surrounding jurisdictions ($57,000 for startup costs and $20,000 annually for maintenance), a drop-off center featuring public self-serve collection containers ($115,000 for startup costs and $10,000 annually for maintenance), a composting facility with an in-vessel composter ($275,000 for startup costs), a compost facility with an outdoor compost structure ($210,000 for startup costs and $65,000 annually for maintenance), or a public-private partnership where the County contracts with a private vendor to provide facilities ($105,000 for startup costs and $35,000 annually for maintenance). I expect these options and more to be part of our discussions during budget season, and I’ll provide an update once that conversation takes place.

County Fleet and Transit Bus Update

At our November meeting of the Board’s Finance, Government Operations, and Economic Development Committee, we heard an information item from staff on efforts to update the County’s vehicle and transit bus fleet to improve fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions. During the most recent fleet planning process, I urged staff to look at interim improvements rather than just electric vehicles. EVs have limited availability and significantly higher costs. The updated plan from staff now includes plug-in hybrids as an interim step. In addition, staff will be proceeding with purchasing compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses given the limited availability of electric buses.

The FY23 budget includes funding to continue building out our EV-charging capability at County facilities, which will benefit residents who visit those facilities as well as aid in future fleet infrastructure. The current fleet replacement plan includes 1,551 fleet assets (about 23% of which are administrative vehicles). There is some savings associated with transitioning to plug-in hybrids and EVs due to reduced fuel and maintenance costs. Administrative vehicle replacement is currently planned for 2026, with some possibilities for acceleration. Current projections are showing that the County could reduce tailpipe CO2 emissions by one million pounds by FY27 under the adopted fleet plan.

Information on our fleet replacement program will be before the full Board at our December 6 Business Meeting. I’ll provide another update in the future as we continue to transition our fleet.

Also part of the discussion at our Finance Committee meeting was transitioning transit buses to compressed natural gas vehicles. A 2015 feasibility study recommended not to transition buses to CNG due to increased costs compared to diesel. However, new information received from staff shows that recently increased diesel costs change the equation. CNG conversion of transit buses will cost about $2 million over a 12 year period, not including the Transit Maintenance Facility, which would also need to be upgraded for in-house CNG maintenance, which would cost an estimated $750,000 - $800,000. However, CNG vehicles would save us money long-term in fuel costs and would be quieter and have a cleaner combustion process, leading to quality of life improvements. CNG buses reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20% when compared to traditional diesel buses. If we do move forward, the operational data gathering phase of the conversion process would take place around the fall of 2023. The County has already ordered two 35-foot CNG buses, which are expected to arrive between May and July of next year.

In addition, the County has ordered two 35-foot electric buses for use at transit facilities. They are tentatively scheduled to arrive in Loudoun between July and September of next year. They will be used to help us evaluate future electric bus purchases.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Help Shape the Future of Transit and Commuting Services in Loudoun County

Loudoun County Transit and Commuter Services is seeking community input as the county works to update the strategic plans for its transit and commuter assistance programs. Members of the public are invited to provide comments about their transportation needs and priorities through listening sessions and an online survey. This input will help the county develop effective transportation services for the community.

Anyone interested in providing comments may do so through an online survey at loudoun.gov/transitstrategicplans as well as a series of listening sessions in November and December, including one virtual session and three in-person meetings:

• Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 6:30 p.m. - In-Person Listening Session, Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street SE, Leesburg.
• Thursday, December 1, 2022, 6:00 p.m. - Virtual Public Listening Session: Information on how to access the meeting is available at loudoun.gov/transitstrategicplans.
• Monday, December 5, 2022, 6:30 p.m. - In-Person Listening Session, Woodgrove High School, 36811 Allder School Road, Purcellville.
• Wednesday, December 7, 2022, 6:30 p.m. - In-Person Listening Session, Briar Woods High School, 22525 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance to participate in a listening session, please contact Loudoun County Transit at 571-509-1469/TTY-711. Three business days’ notice is requested.

For more information about the strategic planning process for transit service and commuter assistance, including a link to the survey, visit loudoun.gov/transitstrategicplans.

Dulles South Neighborhood Closet Collection

The nonprofit Dulles South Neighborhood Closet is collecting clean clothing, shoes, and accessories (new or used in excellent condition) for the free community clothing event on Saturday, 12/3, 8:00 a.m. - 11 a.m. at Lightridge High School, 41025 Collaboration Drive, Aldie, VA 20105. Drop off donations at Community Baptist Church, 43100 Center Street, South Riding, VA 20152, on Sat, 11/26, 9:00-12:00 p.m., Tue, 11/29, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Wed, 11/30, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Thu, 12/1, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., or Fri, 12/2, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Donations may also be dropped off at Lightridge High School on Fri, 12/2, 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Tax receipts available on request. See DullesCloset.org for volunteer opportunities or to register for a guest appointment. On site walk-in registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. on 12/3. Guests with a referral have appointment priority. 

VDOT Winter Weather Information

VDOT hosted its annual winter weather briefing on November 15; they are responsible for clearing over 14,000 miles of road during winter weather events in the Commonwealth. VDOT encourages folks not to drive if it is snowing, and to be safe in the case of a storm. If we do get snow, VDOT's goal is to have one passable lane on every road within 24 hours when snowfall is 2-4" and within 48 hours for 4-6". Over 6" is expected to take at least 72 hours. VDOT will prioritize getting the roadways as safe as possible before moving on to shoulders, ramps, turn lanes, intersections, park and ride lots, and more. VDOT will be testing a Waze pilot program with several targeted Northern Virginia neighborhoods this winter; the program will test using Waze to report neighborhood snow conditions.

If you feel that your street is missed after these time frames have passed, you can use the resources below to get more information on plowing status and/or report your issue directly to VDOT:

• http://www.virginiadot.org/about/emer_response.asp for news releases, important messages, frequently asked questions and links to many other resources, including:
• @VaDOTNOVA on Twitter
• www.511virginia.org for road conditions and traffic cameras
• http://www.vdotplows.org for neighborhood status and locations of plows
• http://www.virginiadot.org or 800-FOR-ROAD (367- 7623) to report issues

Loudoun County Opens Survey of Youth & Parents to Help Young People Thrive

The Loudoun County Advisory Commission on Youth (ACOY) is conducting a survey to gather information that will help inform county leaders when making decisions about services and programs designed to meet the needs of young people in the community.

The survey is intended for youth in Loudoun County ages 13-22 and their parents or guardians. The survey consists of 25 questions and is expected to take about ten minutes to complete. The survey covers four topic areas:

• Activities and interests
• Drug and alcohol use
• Mental health and stress management
• Online access and activity

Responses are anonymous. Participants are not required to provide any individually identifying information such as their name, home address, birth date, IP address, etc.

• Take the survey in English.
• Take the survey in Spanish.

The survey is open through Tuesday, December 6, 2022. Information gathered from the survey will be used to inform ACOY's “State of Loudoun Youth” annual report to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.

This survey was first opened in 2019 as part of the Board of Supervisors’ initiatives involving youth, which, in part, aim to ensure there are effective programs and services available to help Loudoun’s youth thrive. The survey is intended to be an annual feedback mechanism to help county leaders stay current on trends in youth behaviors, interests and needs.

More information about the current youth survey is online at loudoun.gov/youthsurvey. More information about ACOY, including a link to the commission’s “State of Loudoun Youth – 2022” report, is online at loudoun.gov/acoy. More information about existing youth services offered by Loudoun County is online at loudoun.gov/youth.

COVID-19 Information

Loudoun County encourages eligible individuals to consider getting a single dose of the new COVID-19 bivalent booster at least two months following a completed primary series or booster vaccination, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bivalent vaccines, also known as “updated boosters,” contain messenger RNA (mRNA) components of the original strain and the omicron variant. 

The bivalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals aged 18 years and older and the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals aged 12 years and older. 

Monovalent COVID-19 vaccines (based on the original strain of the virus), whether Moderna, Pfizer, Novavax or Johnson & Johnson Janssen, are no longer authorized as booster doses for individuals aged 12 years and older. 

The bivalent vaccine booster is now available at many local pharmacies and some private medical offices. To find a provider, go to vaccines.gov. Loudoun County encourages eligible individuals to consider getting the bivalent booster at the same time they receive their annual flu shot. September and October are the best times to get vaccinated for protection throughout the expected winter surge.

Loudoun County encourages everyone to stay informed about COVID-19:

• Sign up for email and text updates about Loudoun’s response to COVID19 at loudoun.gov/coronavirus.
• Opt in to receive text message updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic: English: Text LCCOVID19 to 888777 Spanish: Text LCCOVIDESP to 888777
• Follow the Loudoun County Government Facebook page and @LoudounCoGovt on Twitter

For additional information about COVID-19, visit loudoun.gov/coronavirus, call the Health Department's information line at 703-737-8300, or email the Health Department.

Donations to Local Food Banks

Donations to the Dulles South Food Pantry (DSFP) can be made in person at the pantry at 24757 Arcola Mills Drive on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or on Mondays from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., or online. DSFP provides food assistance up to twice a month to any person who resides in the attendance zones for the following high schools: Freedom, John Champe, Lightridge, Independence, Rock Ridge, and Briar Woods. Call 703-507-2795 or email info@dsfp.org to schedule an appointment. See the pantry's website for information on how you can help fight local hunger. The pantry is currently looking for plastic bag donations as well. 

Donations to the Dulles South Soup Kitchen can be made on their website or at their location by appointment. Call (202) 930-3775 or email to make an appointment. The Dulles South Soup Kitchen distributes fresh and nutritious hot meals to anyone in need within Loudoun County every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the StoneSprings Hospital Center parking lot by Route 50. Registration is required on their website.

Dulles South Soup Kitchen's annual fundraiser dinner will take place on Saturday, December 3 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Pavilion at BeanTree, located at 43635 Greenway Corporate Drive in Ashburn. Rangoli will be providing a menu of great food and drinks. All proceeds benefit the Soup Kitchen. To register now, click here.

Blood Donation

There is a need for blood in the County, especially Type O and platelets. To schedule an appointment to donate blood or platelets with the American Red Cross, please visit redcross.org/give-blood.

Inova Blood Services also takes donors by appointment. Visit https://www.inovablood.org/ to schedule an appointment.