Loudoun Now for Jan. 4, 2023

Supervisors Target Tax Rate Cut in Tight Budget

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors are aiming for a one-cent cut to the real estate tax rate, although homeowners will likely once again see higher tax bills next year. And the board is looking ahead to the toughest decisions on the annual budget than it has had to make.

Supervisors on Jan. 3 instructed County Administrator Tim Hemstreet to propose a fiscal year 2024 budget based on a real estate tax of 88 cents per $100 of assessed value, along with a five-cent cut to the personal property tax rate to $4.15 per $100 of value. And this year, that budget will send a set 60% of the year-over-year growth in tax revenues to the school district, skipping the debate over how much to grow the school budget. The revenue generated by a half penny of the tax rate will be directed into the county’s housing fund. Hemstreet’s budget proposal will serve as the starting point for supervisors’ annual budget talks.

Based on preliminary estimates from Commissioner of the Revenue Bob Wertz’s office, an average home in 2023 will be worth $642,300, and the owner of that home would pay a $6,077 real estate tax bill next year at that tax rate. That’s an increase of $361 over this year’s bill as their home value climbs faster than the tax rate falls.

As supervisors prepare for their annual budget and tax rate deliberations in March, county budget staff estimate each half-penny on the real estate tax rate will cost the average homeowner $35, and each penny will add $12.7 million to the county budget.

Supervisors will face tough choices in the next budget that could push them toward a higher tax rate.

The 88-cent tax rate is projected to raise enough money for the county government to cover usual budget growth such as employee raises, annual inflation and opening new facilities under construction now when they are finished. But it is not expected to leave much else

On Second Anniversary of Closing, Poolesville Rallies at White’s Ferry

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

A long-running land dispute in Loudoun County led to a rally across the Potomac River as people living in and around Poolesville, MD, gathered Dec. 29 to mark the second anniversary of the closing of White’s Ferry.

The ferry closed in December 2020 after a more-than 11-year legal battle between the owners of the Virginia landing at Rockland farm and the then-owners of the ferry, and after the cable that guided the ferry across the river snapped. And while the land dispute is in Virginia, the nearby small, rural town of Poolesville has felt its impacts

most strongly. Poolesville Commission President Jim Brown led the rally, including a call-and-response chant in the crowd: “Two years! Too long!”

Poolesville Chamber of Commerce President Tom Kettler said

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Whites Ferry has been closed since December 2022, following a legal battle more than 11 years long between the ferry operator and the owners of the Virginia landing, and after the cable that guided the ferry across the Potomac River—now coiled on the Maryland side of the river—broke.

WHITE’S FERRY continues on page 47

Supervisors Approve Raises for Next Board

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Loudoun County supervisors on Jan. 3 approved raises for the county board’s next term, which by the end of the next term would bring the chair’s salary near six digits.

The action give board members a $5,000 raise in the first year of the next term, then 3% raises each year after that. That would see supervisors in 2027 making $82,956; the vice chair, who is elected by their fellow board members, making $90,536; and the board chair making $99,508 in the last year of next term.

Most of the board have other jobs, and some supervisors said they would not be able to live on their current board salaries alone.

“When I say I believe I could not live on this salary, what I’m saying is, living off the current board salary by itself. That’s not including my salary that I get from my day job,” Vice Chair Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) said.

“I don’t necessarily agree that someone could live on this salary, especially if you’re a single head of household or even someone starting out new,” Supervisor

Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) said.

According to 2021 Census Bureau data, around a third of full-time workers living in Loudoun do. Saines’s salary this year is $77,853, while Briskman’s is $70,916; the Census Bureau estimates in 2021, about 30% of full-time workers in Loudoun earned less than $65,000. Almost 19% of Loudoun households get by on less than $75,000.

The raises also bring the county chair close to the median income for full-time workers living in Loudoun. The Census Bureau estimated in 2021, full-time employees in Loudoun earned on average $115,383, with a median income of $100,190.

Supervisors compared their salaries to other county boards in Northern Virginia, and argued being a supervisor is a fulltime job and that increasing the salary would make running for local office an option for more people.

“I believe these salaries are necessary for those who may want to be in these positions and do these as their full-time jobs, and that’s why I feel that it makes sense for us to have these increases to these board salaries,” Saines said.

“I think this is a good step in that direction to making sure that anyone who

wants to run for office has the opportunity to do that and can be secure in being able to serve their community, and it could potentially—as we move forward to getting better pay in these positions—it could open it up to having new voices on our board,” Briskman said.

Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) said for supervisors, “you are a public servant, a member of the board, 24/7, and we’re always in one way or another doing this job.”

“It is definitely a full-time job. It follows you everywhere you go every day of the week, no matter what,” he said. “The only way to get away from it, if you need a real break, is to turn your phone off and go away from your phone or any type of electronic device.” And, he added, supervisors should be able to devote their full time and attention to the job: “You should be able to do this job, represent your constituents the way they deserve to be represented and live in your district.”

“The chair’s job is not a full-time job. It’s a full-time-plus-plus-plus job. I don’t put in less than probably 55 hours a week, I’m not kidding either,” County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said. “And I’m not complaining. I asked to be here. I love the position.”

Supervisor Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said he felt he is “amply paid” for the job and wondered if he could donate a portion of his salary to his office budget, with the latest redistricting having grown his district.

“I foresee that Catoctin District especially, since it’s going to such a large district, is going to need significant more staff help to cover the extra villages and towns that are there,” he said. “I mean, it’s going to be almost half of Loudoun County in terms of land mass.”

County Attorney Leo Rogers said that would be possible after tax.

And Buffington asked if a supervisor could decline to take the raise—another yes, and something supervisors have done before.

Supervisors adopted the new salaries 8-0-1, with Kershner abstaining.

State law forbids supervisors from creating automatic salary increases or enacting salary increases in their own term; if the next board takes no action, the salaries will stay at their 2027 level after that year.

It is the second board in a row to get a raise; the previous Board of Supervisors also approved raises. Before that, the last raise was for the 2008 board. n

Newest Inova Cares Clinic Offers Mental Health Care for the Uninsured

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Inova Health Systems has opened its first mental health clinic for people who are uninsured or underinsured, launching the new program at its Cornwall Campus in Leesburg.

It is the newest addition to the regional hospital system’s Inova Cares clinics, serving people who don’t have health insurance, are underinsured, or have Virginia Medicaid coverage. The new Inova Cares Clinic for Behavioral Health joins existing Inova Cares clinics for children, families and women, each targeting particular needs in the community. And while it’s housed in Leesburg, the new clinic is meant to serve people across the region—and as a model for growing that service.

Inova Senior Vice President and Community Health & Health Equity Chief Karen Berube said the clinic was born out of the 2022 Loudoun Community Health Needs Assessment, an effort

by Inova, the Loudoun County Health Department and other community organizations to identify the biggest health issues facing the county. Mental health emerged as one of the top priorities.

“There’s been a lot of talk over the last three to five years about the need for more behavioral health out here. So this is really a direct result of that group saying there’s services if you’re severely, chronically mentally ill, but if you’re struggling with mild to moderate depression, there’s really nowhere to go because everybody is trying to address the needs that are most urgent at the time,” she said.

The clinic serves adults aged 18 years and older with mild to moderate mental health needs such as anxiety, depression, and grief, who are uninsured or eligible for Inova Financial Assistance. It offers weekly and biweekly individual therapy sessions in short-term, goal-oriented therapy and connections to other

community and medical resources, and telemedicine for people unable to attend their session in person.

The new clinic opened in May, starting small with two therapists. One of the challenges of serving lower-income residents is just letting them know that help is available. Berube said they’ve tried to do different kinds of marketing, reaching out through community center and social media.

“The traditional, you call your health plan and they tell you where to go for the services you need, doesn’t work, so you’ve got to get in the community,” she said. “And to be honest, our biggest referral source is the community itself. Once the community gets comfortable and they know the services are there and they’re not going to get billed for the services, and that it is free for them,

INOVA CARES

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Inova Senior Vice President and Community Health & Health Equity Chief Karen Berube at the Inova Cares Clinic for Behavioral Health.

Loudoun

Supervisors Look to Simplify, Expand Residential Rental Tax

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors will vote in February on whether to simplify the tax on short-term residential rentals like Airbnb stays by eliminating an exemption for the smallest rentals.

The proposed changes would also establish new zoning regulations around the rentals based on whether the rental is an accessory use to a home, or the whole building is a home for rent in a commercial operation.

Life in 2022

Currently, the county taxes short-term residential rentals with capacity for at least four guests at once. Visit Loudoun estimated that as of December 2020, there were around 450 rentals available in the county. County staff members and Visit Loudoun now seeks consistency and simplicity for taxing overnight stays across the county.

Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson said the new rules would simplify the work of collecting and remitting those taxes. And she said while platforms like Airbnb are now able to collect and remit those taxes for their hosts after a change in state law, Loudoun’s minimum occupancy threshold is out of sync.

“At the heart of the request is that short-term residential rental operators, residential accessory or commercial whole-house, should not be exempt in collecting and remitting those taxes based on occupancy,” she told supervisors at a public hearing Dec. 14.

One commercial example of shortterm rentals is Waterford Reservations, which renovates and rents out cottages in western Loudoun. Owner Donnie Walker said trying to comply with the current tax has been confusing.

But Walker also raised a concern in a phone call after the hearing—property owners may be responsible for remitting the tax to the county, but when the tax is collected through online platforms like Airbnb, they never actually see the money. He has been pushing to clarify that in those cases, the local owners are not responsible for the tax.

“We don’t want to be accountable for the money we’re not given,” he said. “They’re going to ask where the money is one day, and it’s a lot of money.”

Walker, a member of the Visit Loudoun Board of Directors, said properties like

Andrew Sample for Waterford Reservations

One of the properties for rent from Donnie and Reagan Walker’s business, Waterford Reservations, a stone cottage dating to the 1800s, which they restored.

County Projects Land Funding in Federal Budget Bills

STAFF REPORT

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10) and U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have announced millions in federal money for Loudoun projects in Congress’s proposed fiscal year 2023 budget.

Wexton on Tuesday announced $18.4 million in community project funding for the 10th Congressional District, and she, Kaine and Warner announced $7 million toward projects in Loudoun. That includes $1 million for the Franklin Park to Purcellville trail, $2 million for pedestrian improvements around the new Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway Metro stops, and $4 million toward the project to build an interchange at Rt. 7 and Rt. 690. Wexton also announced $1 million toward the Tuscarora Crossing price-controlled housing development.

Elsewhere in the 10th District, funded programs include the Northern Virginia Community College diesel technology certificate program, development and education programs for early childhood through young adulthood, health clinic renovations and behavioral health training, among others.

“I am proud that through my work on the Appropriations Committee, I’ve successfully secured over $18 million to support key community projects across Virginia’s 10th District,” Wexton stated. “These investments will meet long overdue needs in our community like supporting affordable childcare and the needs of early childhood educators, expanding job and tech training programs for our youth, and reducing traffic and easing commutes through new infrastructure improvements.

I’m eager to see this federal funding make an impact in VA-10, and look forward to working closely with local leaders on the next phases of these projects.”

The Rt. 690 interchange project last week was threatened with cancellation by repeated delays in permitting and approvals by the Town of Purcellville and Town Council. County Administrator Tim Hemstreet on Monday warned construction on that project is now “unlikely,” with the county likely to return $9.6 million in state funding won through a competitive grant. County officials have warned that not using that money in a timely manner could impact the county’s ability to win funding in the future for projects across Loudoun. Unless another source of funding can be found, he wrote, that would delay the project for years.

The project previously was not budgeted to include any federal money, meaning the federal money could offset some the loss of state funding. The federal money would leave a $5.6 million gap in the project budget if the state money is returned. Hemstreet advised supervisors in a memo Monday that the county staff would offer a detailed report on the project at their January finance committee meeting.

Meanwhile, Kaine and Warner in a

Dulles Toll Road Rates Increase

STAFF REPORT

The tolls on the Dulles Toll Road increased on Jan. 1, to $4 at the main toll plaza and $2 at the ramps, which will be followed by a new fee for drivers without an E-ZPass.

The new tolls are an increase of 75 cents at the toll plaza and 50 cents on the ramps.

The toll road ended manual toll collection in April, and will soon add an additional fee for people who pay-by-plate rather than using an E-ZPass. In the first quarter

of 2023, the airports authority will charge $1.60 per transaction to those drivers.

Drivers without an E-ZPass device will be identified by their license plate and receive an invoice to their associated billing address. It may be possible to pay a toll before receiving an invoice and additional fee at tollsinvirginia.com.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors voted in November to increase rates on the Dulles Toll Road. The airports authority took over the toll road for 50 years starting in 2008 as

joint press release also highlighted funding for other Loudoun County priorities in the region, including $150 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority or Metrorail, $115,000 for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission to study weather data to better anticipate the severity of flooding, and $300,000 for the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce’s technical assistance and resources to Black-owned small businesses. It also includes $45 million for the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program, which will support multi-purpose trails across the state.

They also highlighted major funding for national programs connected to issues felt particularly keenly in Loudoun County, such as affordable housing. The bill includes $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, $3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program which can help fund price-controlled housing, and an $85 million competitive grant fund for localities looking to increase housing construction. Similarly, the budget bill includes $364 million for the USDA’s ReConnect Program to expand broadband internet to remote, underserved areas.

And with emergency rooms crowded with an especially busy respiratory virus season, the bill includes $10.5 billion to support health and vaccination efforts globally, $10 million to support research into long COVID, includes provisions to

PROJECT FUNDING

continues on page 8

part of the deal to build the Silver Line extension into Loudoun. The airports authority projects it will be paying off debt on the Silver Line project through that 50year period ending in 2058, with toll rate increases expected every five years going forward.

Tolls are higher for vehicles with more axles. For three axles, tolls are $8 at the plaza and $4 at the ramps; for four axles, $9.25 and $4.50; for 5 axles, $10.50 and $5; and for six or more axles, tolls are $11.75 and $5.50.

The last toll increase on the Dulles Toll Road was in 2019, and before that 2014. n

Supervisors Sell Park-and-Ride Lot for Affordable Housing

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

Supervisors have signed off on terms to sell part of the park-andride lot on Russell Branch Parkway that closed in October to a developer planning to build 450 apartments, including more than 100 income-restricted apartments.

The county reached an agreement with Cleveland, OH-based developer The NRP Group to sell 3.2 acres of the former Ashburn North Park and Ride lot across from Strayer University. It included 190 parking spaces and a Metro Connection bus stop until it closed in October, and according to county staff totals just under 4.9 acres.

NRP proposes to combine those 3.2 acres with an adjacent 6.2 acre parcel it has under contract already. On the newly combined land, NRP plans to build 450 apartments, with one quarter of those, 133 units, designated income-restricted. Those units would stay price controlled for 40 years. A county staff report notes the sales price is more than the parkand-ride’s assessed value, and that on the adjacent parcel a rezoning application for a smaller 178-unit project, The Flats at Broad Run, has been pending since 2020. The larger project would replace plans for The Flats at Broad Run if approved.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING continues on page 8

Kaine Warner Wexton

NRP

A conceptual layout for a proposed apartment complex on Russell Branch Parkway, where the developer NRP plans to build on land previously used for the county’s Ashburn North Park and Ride.

Rental tax

continued from page 4

Waterford Reservations are “the poster of what Loudoun County should have” for its tourism and hospitality business. He said they are small, one and two-bedroom houses that wouldn’t make great permanent homes, or that were derelict and which he has restored. And he said the alternative would be disruptive to communities—newly-built houses with multiple bedrooms built by out-of-town companies, which could bring crowds and parties into their neighborhoods.

Hidden View Bed & Breakfast owner and Loudoun County Bed and Breakfast Guild member Cheri Shields said the changes make things fair for businesses like hers.

“All lodging business should collect, report and remit to the county based on their gross earnings, even if the lodging facility can only accommodate one guest,” she said. “If compensation is collected for rentals for less than 30 days, the shortterm rental is a commercial business, and they are acting as a hotel and should be treated as such. This action will help level the playing field.”

Simplifying the rules may also help bring more rental owners into compliance with county rules, Commissioner of the Revenue Bob Wertz said. Many owners have not registered with the county, despite a requirement they do so whether or not they are large enough to be taxed today. Visit Loudoun estimated only a quarter of those rentals are registered with the county.

Loudoun highlighted that they can range from a single room inside someone’s house, to a building with room for 18 people; that some are rented rarely if ever, while others are regularly booked up; and rates for a night’s stay can vary from less than $100 to $4,000. In their December 2020 study they estimated that if the county taxed all short-term residential rentals—and they all complied—the county would bring in between $4.6 million and $7.6 million.

Meanwhile short-term residential rentals are not currently listed in county zoning, and the county considers them governed under regulations for bed and breakfasts, inns or resorts.

The county launched work to write residential rentals into the zoning ordinance in 2018. Since that time both the county government and Visit Loudoun has sought feedback several times, with a county online survey and numerous Visit Loudoun and county information sessions and meetings with groups like the Loudoun Local Business League, the Loudoun Coalition of Homeowners and Condominium Associations and the Rural Economic Development Council.

The ordinance changes now set for adoption in January would create a zoning definition for “Short-Term Rental –Commercial Whole House” and establish regulations on where they can operate, requirements such as that a property manager must be available onsite within an hour any time they are occupied, caps on how many people they can accommodate based on location and sewage capacity, and parking and safety requirements.

Life in 2022

“Some of these are as part of the gig economy, and folks don’t consider it a business if they rent out a room sometimes in their house, so that’s been part of the challenge relative to the collection of TOT [transient occupancy tax],” he said. “’It’s not my business, it’s my side hustle.’”

Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) asked county staff members to look into another option.

“One way hypothetically, to level the playing field with bed and breakfasts and Airbnb would be to remove the current tax from bed and breakfasts,” he pointed out. However, he and County Attorney Leo Rogers also noted that may not be possible without running afoul of the county’s obligation to treat different businesses uniformly by continuing to tax hotels.

The county government has been grappling with how to regulate and tax the rentals for years, in part because they can take so many forms. Research by Visit

They would also define what qualifies as less strictly-regulated accessory use, capping the number of nights rented at 180 per year, and requiring the owner live there at least 185 days of the year.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) noted “there’s been a lot of work that has gone on in this over the years,” and said Erickson is probably currently the state’s foremost authority on shortterm residential rentals.

“When we first started, we were very much looking at it as a person who rented a room in their house, as being kind of mom-and-pop operations,” she said. Since then, supervisors have heard also about Airbnb owners operating like hotels, too.

“What we heard tonight was, if you’re renting rooms, you’re renting rooms,” she said.

Supervisors voted 9-0 to send the new rules to their first meeting February for action. n

Supervisors Clear Way for Dulles Solar Project

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors have cleared the way for plans to build a 100-megawatt solar array proposed on undeveloped forest and wetlands at Dulles Airport.

Supervisors had previously rezoned the land from a long-outdated residential district into an industrial district, where the 835-acre array would be permitted through a zoning exception, requiring public hearings and votes from the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The county government often negotiates mitigations and offsets for proposals’ expected impacts through that process, imposing conditions for approval. Although a green energy project, the Dulles solar plans have faced criticism from environmental groups who claimed it will destroy hundreds of acres of forest and nearly 80 acres of wetlands, and who pushed to build much of that array on existing structures like parking lots and garages.

But supervisors on Dec. 6 voted to allow solar arrays by-right, meaning with only administrative approvals, on parcels of at least 500 acres, giving up that lever-

ON THE Agenda

Loudoun, Leesburg Offer Christmas Tree Recycling

Loudoun County is offering free Christmas tree recycling drop-offs at five locations across the county through Jan. 20, and the Town of Leesburg’s trash collector will pick up and recycle Christmas trees on Monday, Jan. 9.

Both are only accepting live trees and wreaths, not artificial trees. Remove all ornaments, lights, wire, tree bag, etc. Those may be disposed of separately with regular trash.

Trees may be dropped off for recycling at five places:

LEESBURG: Loudoun County Landfill Recycling Center, 21101 Evergreen Mills Road. Open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LOVETTSVILLE: Game Protective Association, 16 South Berlin Pike. Open daily

PURCELLVILLE: Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SOUTH RIDING: Town Hall, rear parking lot next to tennis court, 43055 Center Street. Open daily

STERLING: Claude Moore Park, 46150

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority A map of Dulles International Airport with a planned 835-acre, 100-megawatt solar array marked in

age. It is an exception crafted specifically for the Dulles project—according to county staff members, no other industrial properties have the acreage to qualify. Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) pointed to a passage in state law allowing large and fast-growing localities to negotiate a siting agreement with applicants for a solar project.

“I think that gives the county a seat at

the table to discuss how we’re going to build this solar array,” he said.

State law allows that siting agreement to include terms and conditions including mitigating the project’s impacts, payment to the locality to help with capital needs, and assistance by the applicant in deploying broadband internet. The locality then holds a public hearing and vote on the agreement before it is signed. Failure to reach a siting agreement can be considered as a reason for denying a land use approval, but cannot be the sole reason for that denial.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Dominion Energy plan the massive solar array on the southern end of the airport, around plans for an eventual fifth runway. They also plan a 50-megawatt battery system, switchyard, and substation, and a smaller solar system on the economy parking lot directly powering the airport and new electric fleet vehicles at the airport.

Supervisors voted 8-0-1 to allow the solar arrays by-right in the Planned Development-General Industrial zoning district for parcels of 500 acres or more, Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) absent. n

feet tall and with trunks less than 6 inches in diameter during the regular town brush collection. Trees should be set out on Sunday evening for same week collection.

For more information, go to leesburgva.gov/christmastreerecycling.

Silver Line Bus Fares Return

Loudoun County this week resumed collecting $1 fares on its Silver Line bus routes, including paratransit bus service.

Affordable housing

continued from page 5

The agreement also specifies at least 3,000 square feet of space at the development must be offered for free to the county or local nonprofits to host services like teaching financial literacy or first-time homebuyer counseling, and the project must include at least 6,000 square feet of commercial or retail space fronting Russell Branch Parkway.

The developer will pay approximately $2.1 million for the property. According to a county staff report, NRP has said that is the same price per square foot for the adjacent parcel it has under contract, and county staff note it is more than the land’s assessed value.

The apartment complex would also require a rezoning approval. NRP would settle on its purchase of the properties once the rezoning is approved. n

Project funding

continued from page 5

support quicker research and development tests and vaccines for new infectious diseases, and extends COVID-19-related flexibility around telehealth for two years.

Loudoun Park Lane. (Use Loudoun Park Lane entrance, follow signs for ball fields.) Open daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More information about the Christmas Tree Recycling Program and other Loudoun County recycling programs is available at loudoun.gov/recycle.

Trees collected by Loudoun County will be converted into mulch, which is available to Loudoun residents for free year-round at the Loudoun County landfill.

Meanwhile for Town of Leesburg residents, the town’s trash contractor, Patriot Disposal Services, will collect trees curbside on Monday, Jan. 9. Place trees at the curb the night before collection day.

After those dates for recycling, town crews will collect trees that are less than 8

In November, the Board of Supervisors approved a temporary fare waiver for Silver Line bus routes to promote the use of bus services to Metrorail.

Loudoun Transit offers commuter, local, paratransit and Silver Line bus services, including 21 new Silver Line bus routes that began Nov. 15, taking passengers to and from the Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway stations in Loudoun County the Innovation and Reston Town Center stations in Fairfax County.

Fares may be paid with a SmarTrip card or exact cash. Go to loudoun.gov/ silverlinebusroutes for more information about Silver Line bus routes and schedules, loudoun.gov/busfare for more information on fares, and loudoun.gov/buschanges and loudoun.gov/rideralerts for information on service changes. n

“This bill funds critical national priorities, including health care, education, scientific research and veterans services. It builds on the important progress Congress has made this year to lower costs, fight gun violence, and create good-paying jobs here in the U.S.,” Warner stated. “I’m especially proud that we secured $200 million in funding for key projects all over Virginia.”

“Our annual budget has always been an opportunity to secure resources for Virginia priorities, and the budget text released yesterday shows that we are on track to do the same again this year,” Kaine stated. “This budget will raise pay for servicemembers, support pediatric disease research, expand internet access, and help our communities stay healthier and safer from gun violence. It will also bring over $200 million back home to Virginia to support essential local projects for everything from improving our water treatment facilities and roads to putting public transportation and substance abuse treatment within reach for more Virginians. The time is now to get this bill across the finish line and signed into law.” n

orange.

Loudoun Now file photo

Workers at the Loudoun County landfill recycle Christmas trees into mulch, which is available to county residents for free year-round.

Leesburg Police Seek Suspect in Smoke Shop Break-in

The Leesburg Police Department is investigating a Dec. 29 burglary at the Tobacco King store on East Market Street.

According to the report, officers were called to the store shortly after 2 a.m. Dec. 29 for a report of a burglary that had just occurred. A man shattered the store’s plate glass door and took an undetermined amount of merchandise. The suspect was gone when officers arrived.

Anyone who has not already spoken with law enforcement and has information about the incident is asked to contact Detective S. Bultrowicz at 703-771-4500 or at sbultrowicz@leesburgva.gov. Those

Deputies: Hamilton Man Killed Father with Axe

STAFF REPORT

A Hamilton man has been charged with second-degree murder in a fatal attack on his father early Monday morning.

Shortly before 6 a.m., Loudoun County deputies were called to a home on Twinoaks Place for a reported stabbing. Arriving deputies found 62-year-old David Eugene Brown

wishing to remain anonymous, may call the Leesburg Crime Line at 703-443TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent using TIPSUBMIT via text. Text 274637 (CRIMES) and begin your message with LPDTIP.

Contractor’s Spark Cited in Fire at Historic Hillsboro Home

The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office determined that last week’s fire at a historic home in Hillsboro was accidental.

According to the report, a contractor working in the building inadvertently started the fire when a spark from a saw

inside, suffering from life-threatening injuries. He died at the scene.

His son, 24-year-old Angus Brown, was taken into custody near the home without incident.

According to arrest warrants filed by Det. K.K. Mitchell, Brown struck his father in the neck and shoulder area with a hatchet and the assault was witnessed by his brother, Jed. During

ignited insulation inside the wall.

Damages to the home, built in 1858 as the Methodist Episcopal Church South, are estimated at $619,350.

Two adults were displaced and are staying locally with family.

The fire was reported shortly after 9:30 a.m. Dec. 27. Fire and rescue units from Loudoun Heights, Purcellville, Round Hill, Hamilton, Leesburg, and Lovettsville were dispatched to the scene. The first arriving units, from Loudoun Heights, reported significant smoke coming from a two-story stone structure. All occupants were found to have self-evacuated prior to the arrival of the initial units.

A Rapid Intervention Task Force and a

an interview with investigators, Brown confessed to the attack, Mitchell wrote.

Brown is charged with seconddegree murder, and shoot, stab, cut or wound in the commission of a felony. He was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 12. n

Tanker Task Force also were dispatched, bringing additional units from Philomont, Hamilton, Leesburg, Purcellville, and Round Hill. Crews drafted water from a pond on Highwater Road.

One occupant was treated and released on scene. One first responder was transported to a hospital for evaluation and released.

The Hillsboro Preservation Foundation quickly established a fundraiser through its Neighbors in Need program to assist the family with emergency expenses. As of Jan. 3, the campaign had raised nearly $8,000. Contribute to the Don and Cindy Fire Recovery Fund at gofundme.com. n

Leesburg

Local Artists Featured in New Leesburg Calendar

The Leesburg Commission on Public Art is distributing a 2023 wall calendar featuring images of town scenes created by local artists.

The calendar is available for free.

In September, COPA issued a call to artists seeking images to be considered for the project. More than one hundred were received.

An advisory panel worked with the commission to select 13 photographs used in the calendar.

“We are pleased to showcase the best of Leesburg through the eyes of local artists,” Commission Chair Jeanette Ward said about the project.

“The number and quality of submissions we received were beyond what we hoped for in our first year for this project.”

Calendars may be picked up at Leesburg Town Hall, Thomas Balch Library, Ida Lee Recreation Center, Leesburg Executive Airport and the Leesburg Police Department.

For more information, contact Leah Kosin at lkosin@leesburgva.gov.

Leesburg Extends Free Parking Downtown

Leesburg Woman Celebrates 100 Years

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Flo Conklin moved fast with her walker into the living room of her daughter’s home. The centenarian gets around pretty quickly with it these days.

Her son-in-law, Michael Chamberlin, said she used to use a cane but they worried it wasn’t enough, so one day while she was in her garden he brought her the walker.

But that brought about a new problem, he said she started to get around too fast.

The “Unstoppable” Flo Conklin, who also goes by the nicknames Flobo, Florentine, and when she was younger, Flossy, turned 100 years old on Dec. 25. She’s been a Loudoun County resident for 48 years and has seen some major changes in that time, including the development along Evergreen Mills Road where her home is.

Flo Conklin was born in Tower City,

a small Pennsylvania mining town, in 1922. During her youth, she lived through the Great Depression and World War II, working at the Pentagon as a secretary

during the war.

She met her husband Ronald “Ronnie” Conklin at the Pentagon, where he worked as an elevator mechanic.

He left his job at the Pentagon to go into the construction business, building their first home in Dunn Loring in 1960.

They had two children, Shari and Dale.

Ronnie and Flo moved to Loudoun County in 1975, right after their oldest daughter Shari graduated high school. They bought 144 acres along Evergreen Mills Road just south of Leesburg that they eventually subdivided and sold. Today, this area makes up the bulk of the land surrounding and south of Heritage High School.

She said when she first moved out to Loudoun it was empty and she asked her husband why he would bring them to what she considered “God forsaken country,” but over time it became her home.

continues on page 11

Parking in downtown Leesburg will remain free through the end of February, the town government announced Jan. 2.

The extended free parking promotion is intended to facilitate the conversion to the new ParkMobile system for on-street parking. The town plans to remove parking meters and transition to the app-based system with designated parking zones.

While parking will remain free until the new system is implemented, on-street parking will continue to be limited to two hours, to be enforced by the town’s parking staff.

The town plans to begin the removal of on-street parking meters and replace them with new ParkMobile signs the week of Feb. 22. New on-street parking rates are slated to go into effect March 1.

Free parking also continues in the Town Hall parking garage, where parking spaces are limited due to ongoing repair work. Paid parking is expected to resume in the Town Hall parking garage beginning the week of Feb. 27. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Mother and daughter Flo Conklin and Shari Chamberlin sit in Chamberlin’s living room. Flo turned 100 on Christmas Day.

CONKLIN

Contributed by Shari Chamberlin

A picture of Flo Conklin when she first moved to Loudoun County. Flo, a resident of Loudoun County for 48 years, turned 100 on Christmas Day.

When they first moved to Evergreen Mills Road, Shari said cows and horses running up and down the road was a familiar sight. She said they often had to knock on doors of homes to let them know their livestock had gotten out as they made their way to church on Sundays. The Conklin’s themselves had cows and farmed the land.

Ronnie worked in construction and developed several subdivisions in the county. Shari said her dad was ahead of the time, often buying land to develop, including the area known today as Raspberry Falls but selling it when no one seemed interested in building on the land.

Today, Raspberry Falls is a neighborhood just north of Leesburg boasting a prestigious golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts. Homes in the neighborhood have a median price range of $1.29 million, according to Realtor.com.

Flo said it still amazes her seeing all the growth in the county.

“I can’t believe the number of stores

and things in town, and all the schools,” she said.

When the Conklin’s moved to the county there were only three high schools, Loudoun County High School, Valley High School and Broad Run High School. J.L. Simpson Middle School was under construction.

Ronnie’s brother, Dale, was in the first graduating class of Loudoun County High School.

When Ronnie died in 1995 Flo started teaching preschool at the YMCA on Catoctin Circle in Leesburg. She eventually went to Evergreen Mills Elementary School and became a lunchroom monitor where she helped kids open items from their lunches for well over a decade, even watching four of her grandchildren graduate the elementary school.

She was also active in her church and taught Sunday school and the three-yearold class up until a few years ago.

She stepped away from that when she started experiencing health issues just before COVID-19 hit, but by this time Flo was well into her 90s.

Today, Conklin lives with her daughter, Shari, but keeps busy painting and

gardening-tending to about a dozen large container gardens growing tomatoes, peppers and watermelons.

She said the thing she got the most excited about when Loudoun County started to get developed, was the addition of craft stores. She has also learned to use her cell phone to listen to podcasts and enjoys reading from her large-print edition Bible.

Asked what her secret is to longevity, she said her faith in God.

“God has a plan for everyone,” she said.

She also said to never stop moving

and to “try to help people as much as you can.”

She said her only regret in life was not going to college and getting more of an education.

On Christmas Day, about 100 people from her church showed up outside of her home to sing “Happy Birthday” and to wish her well.

She celebrated turning 100 a few days later with her family near and far and watching a slide show of her 100 years on Earth. n

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Education

Serotkin, Mahedavi Elected to Lead School Board for 2023

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) and Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) are the new chair and vice chair of the Loudoun County School Board for 2023.

The appointments were made during the annual organizational meeting on Tuesday night.

Serotkin was nominated by former chair Jeff Morse (Dulles) and was the only nominee for the position. He was elected on 6-3 vote, with Tiffany Polifko (Broad Run), John Beatty (Catoctin) and Denise Corbo (At-large) voting no. Serotkin served as vice chair during 2022.

Serotkin took a minute to thank Morse for his leadership “over the past year during extremely challenging circumstances.”

He said he treasured the working relationship they had for the past three years and “especially over the last year working in board leadership together to implement a strategic plan and put the focus on our

students and academic excellence,” Serotkin said. “Being chair of this board at this time is a public service and I want to take a moment to thank you for yours,” he said to applause.

Corbo said she initially planned on

nominating Morse to serve another term, but said in a conversation with him earlier in the day he made it clear he would decline the nomination. She thanked Morse for his service.

“He’s a team player whose motivation

is making the school system better for our entire community,” she said. “It is my hope that the incoming chair will work to cultivate a strong working relationship with every member of the School Board and that the newly elected chair will be responsive to communication, be publicly supportive of fellow board members and work collaboratively with developing solutions.”

Serotkin then nominated Mahedavi as vice chair. With no other nominations for the position, he was elected on an 8-1 vote with Polifko opposed.

Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) was elected to serve as the Virginia School Board Association delegate, 8-1 with Polifko voting opposed. Sertokin was elected to serve as the VSBA alternate 7-1-1 with Polifko voting opposed and Corbo abstaining. Sertokin nominated Reaser to the position and Reaser nominated Serotkin.

After the organizational meeting, the board met in a special closed session to discuss the performance and potential disciplining of a teacher, who was not publicly identified. n

School Board Delays Elementary Language Arts Textbook Vote

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

On Dec. 13 the School Board voted to wait for the Virginia Department of Education to release its approved list of English Language Arts primary textbooks and instructional materials before approving new textbooks.

Deputy Superintendent Ashley Ellis had recommended extending the window for public comment on their first choice of vendor, Wonders, which had been recommended by a committee of school administrators and staff called Access to Literacy for All, and to expand the review to include the top two vendors.

The public review period for Wonders closed Dec. 12.

Ellis said 614 people visited the Wonders review information page. Fifty comments were left, according to Ellis, including 16 in support of Wonders and 34 comments expressing concern over it. She said other comments expressed concern over the adoption process.

She recommended extending the comment period rather than voting on

Wonders because she believed it would give staff more time to get as much feedback as possible, including feedback from staff, families and other stakeholders, and it would potentially give the board more time to get the VDOE’s recommendations so the board could make a more informed decision.

The School Board directed staff to come up with a contingency plan, which essentially paused the current adoption process while the school district waits for the VDOE to release its list.

School Board member Tiffany Polifko (Broad Run) expressed a long list of concerns over the Wonders program, such as a lack of explicit instruction and time spent on phonemic awareness, insufficient practice time to develop fluency, and a lack of opportunities for repeated reading of text.

“The big things for me are phonemic awareness, fluency practice, and without fluency there is no comprehension,” she said. Phonemic awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words. She said as a former special education teacher who spent a lot

of time in the classroom with children focusing on direct instructional reading, she couldn’t support the program.

Chair Jeff Morse (Dulles) said he supported waiting and suggested reaching out to the recommended vendor to find out which school divisions are using their products and then getting feedback from those divisions.

School Board member Erika Ogedegbe (Leesburg) also supported waiting, saying there were a number of reasons, but one was she had spoken with literacy specialists who had expressed concerns over the Wonders curriculum. She also said there were other vendors that hadn’t submitted to the school division, and she wanted to see what other options were out there. She supported Morse’s suggestion to reach out to divisions using the vendor.

Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) said staff brought the list before the VDOE released its recommendations because the School Board “gave them [staff] strong direction to do so over the last two years or so.” But he also said many education experts are recommending school boards wait to see the VDOE’s recommendations

before taking action.

He said he supported waiting on the VDOE, which he pointed out has taken much longer to come out with its curriculum than in the past.

The VDOE handles the textbook review process for the state Board of Education and makes recommendations on approval to the Board, according to the Department of Education website. Statewide review committees compare proposed materials to the state’s Standards of Learning and report back on the correlation between the two. Publishers are expected to ensure the accuracy of their textbooks as part of the review process. The committee’s findings along with the publisher’s certification are what make up the VDOE’s recommendations, according to its website.

Primary texts and instructional resources are reviewed and adopted every seven years in accordance with the VDOE guidance and schedule.

The board voted 7-0-2 to wait for the state’s recommendations, with Denise Corbo (At-large) and Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian) absent. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Harris Mahedavi (Ashburn) and Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) stand near the dais after being selected to be the vice chair and chair of the School Board for 2023.

Elaine Thompson Continues to Inspire

New Jersey Woman Finds Strength in Shared Experience with Rare Illness

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com

What do an elementary school in Northern Virginia and a woman from New Jersey have in common?

It might sound like the beginnings of a riddle, but the reality is, it’s a special connection to the school’s namesake.

Elaine Thompson Elementary School was named in honor of a longtime educator and historian and one of the most influential leaders and voices in Loudoun’s Black history. Thompson was a lifelong Loudoun resident, with family roots dating back to at least the Revolutionary War, according to her nephew, Brian Nichols. He said his aunt was incredibly committed to Loudoun County and had a great love for it.

Thompson was born in Purcellville and grew up in Hamilton. She attended Frederick Douglass High School, a segregated school, and was the second person in her family to attend college where she earned a master’s degree in education.

She became a prolific lecturer, writer and leader in Loudoun.

Among her achievements locally, she was a member of the Loudoun Museum Board of Directors from 1997 to 2000, a 1998 recipient of the library Advisory Commission’s History Award, and in 2000 helped found the library’s Black History Committee which continues that work today.

She led the successful effort to get a Virginia Department of Historic Resources highway marker in 2000, was a guest speaker at the 250th anniversary of Loudoun County in 2007, and in 2008 chaired Purcellville’s 2008 Emancipation Day celebration and received the Loudoun County Chapter’s Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Legacy Award. And was an active member of her church, Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Hamilton, the NAACP Loudoun Chapter, and was a Gold Life member of the national NAACP.

She was also a prolific writer on Black History, including “In the Watchfires: The Loudoun County Emancipation Association, 1890-1971” and contributions to the two-volume book “The Essence of a People.”

Nichols, a senior U.S. Department of State official and former U.S. Ambassador to Peru and later Zimbabwe, said

she grew up in a very different Loudoun where there weren’t a lot of opportunities for African Americans, but he said she didn’t let segregation stop her.

“In all of her efforts she always focused on hard work and discipline and doing the best you can whatever your circumstances,” Nichols said.

Thompson was diagnosed with paroxysmal hemoglobinuria, or PNH—a rare blood disorder that causes red blood cells to break apart prematurely—when she retired from teaching in Talbot County, MD at about the age of 60, according to Nichols. She died from the disorder at the age of 84 on Oct. 9, 2016.

PNH is such a rare condition that only about 500 people are diagnosed with it every year, with most being diagnosed in their 30s and early 40s. Often those diagnosed with it feel isolated and alone.

Sonia Owchariw, a journalist and native of New Jersey, was diagnosed with the blood disorder in 2012.

She said at first, she looked up everything she could about the disease; what it

meant, what her chances of survival were and how many others were like her. She learned pretty quickly that it likely meant a death sentence—people diagnosed then with PNH could expect to live 10 to 22 years after a diagnosis.

She said she was scared but determined to beat those odds.

Owchariw said she came across Elaine Thompson’s online obituary six years ago and learned she had also been diagnosed with PNH. She said it’s such a rare disease that you don’t hear much about it, let alone see it in an obituary.

“It’s such a small community, it’s rare when you find someone with it, but when you do you have an instant connection,” Owchariw said.

She said she wants to bring attention to the blood disorder to make more people aware and to lessen the feeling of loneliness for those who are diagnosed with it. Owchariw found hope and strength in Thompson’s life story and her contributions to history.

To Nichols, his aunt was “unstoppa-

ble.” He said her contributions to history, both in writing and in everyday objects that were put in the Smithsonian Museum, showed her commitment to the culture and history of Loudoun County.

He said besides her faith in God, some things about his aunt always stood out to him: her focus on and value of education, working hard and treating others with respect.

“She was committed to service and helping others. That as something she was very focused on and whatever challenges she was facing she was very committed to service and helping others. I think that helped her very much deal with what she was going through,” Nichols said.

Symptoms of PNH include weakness, fatigue, headaches and bruising among others. But in her retirement, she did anything but rest, and didn’t let her diagnosis slow her down. It was in that time she became most active leading in

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Sonia Owchariw stands in front of Elaine Thompson Elementary School on Dec. 9 after touring the Loudoun County school. Owchariw feels a strong connection to the school’s namesake because of a rare blood disorder they share. Inset: A photo of Elaine Thompson, courtesy Town of Leesburg.

Board Wants a Say in Thomas Jefferson Leadership

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounow.com

As Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday called for Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate the leadership of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Loudoun School Board members are continuing a push to have a hand in running the top-rated magnet school.

In recent years, Loudoun’s School Board has pressed to establish a regional governing body for the school. Currently, about 380 students from Loudoun attend TJ, which comes first in U.S. News and World Report’s national rankings.

One of 19 governor’s schools in the commonwealth, Thomas Jefferson focuses on science and technology and accepts eligible students from Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties and from the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

The school is run by Fairfax

County Public Schools. Each cooperating school division signs an annual agreement agreeing to the $18,823 per pupil tuition rate and other terms set forth by Fairfax County Public Schools, according to the cooperative agreement for the 2021-2022 school year.

School Board Chair Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge) noted the Loudoun board added an item to its 2023 Legislative Agenda calling for the General Assembly to create a regional governing body to oversee policy, admissions, practices, and operations at the high school.

According to the policy, TJ is the only governor’s school without a regional governing board. The proposal would include School Board members from each of the participating school divisions in “proportion to the student population of the divisions.”

It isn’t the first time a regional governing board has been requested. In 2020, school boards in Loudoun and Prince William County sent letters to

the Fairfax School Board recommending the school be governed by a regional board with all participating jurisdictions having a seat on the board.

Youngkin’s action followed criticism from parents that information about National Merit Scholarships was withheld from students at the school until after important scholarship deadlines had passed. The allegations first arose from activists who said school administrators intentionally withheld those notifications as part of what they called the school’s “war on merit.”

Administrators at Thomas Jefferson issued a statement saying the delayed notification was a mistake, caused by human error. After the problem was discovered, staff members worked to notify students who were named semifinalists and their parents and also sent emails and made follow-up calls to each college where the students had applied to inform them of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation commendations, according

to the statement.

“We need to get to the bottom of what appears to be an egregious, deliberate attempt to disadvantage high-performing students at one of the best schools in the country,” Youngkin stated in the announcement of the investigation. “Parents and students deserve answers and Attorney General Miyares will initiate a full investigation. I believe this failure may have caused material harm to those students and their parents, and that this failure may have violated the Virginia Human Rights Act.”

School Board member Denise Corbo (At-large) noted the lack of control Loudoun County has over policies and procedures at TJ but said because of the recent situation at the school she would be reaching out to the administration to see what policies are in place to make sure students are made aware of awards like the National Merit Scholarship in a timely manner and hoped other districts do the same. n

Meet Courtney.

Courtney is a manager of a hotel in Ashburn. Though Courtney and her husband tried to buy a home in Loudoun, the market forced her out of Loudoun. She now has a 60 minute commute adding to local road congestion.

She’s not alone. 61.2% of Loudoun’s workforce lives outside the county. More housing options for Loudoun’s workforce is essential to the future of Loudoun.

Shape Loudoun’s Future. Join Us. workforcehousingnow.org

Workforce Housing Now is an initiative of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

PEOPLE WHO WORK IN LOUDOUN SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE IN LOUDOUN

Nonprofits

DryHome Provides Free Roof to Mental Health Nonprofit

STAFF REPORT

A nonprofit that provides housing for adults with mental illness is this year’s beneficiary of DryHome Roofing and Siding’s annual free roof holiday program.

Pathway Homes was selected from among the nominations of homeowners and charities to receive a new roof for free this month as part of DryHome’s program, which is now in its 20th year.

During 2022, Pathway Homes provided non-time-limited housing and supportive services to 1,578 adults with serious mental illness and other co-occurring disabilities in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. The nonprofit was founded in 1980 by a coalition of mental health professionals and family members seeking better support for their loved ones.

Pathways received a new roof for

Working for You: INMED

BY NANCY BAKER INMED Partnership for Children

Eight-year-old Angel is one of untold numbers of children whose lives have been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic—and who will forever feel the aftershock.

Over the past year at school, Angel became a constant troublemaker, disrupting class and fighting with other students. His teacher regularly sent notes to his mother about his bad behavior, but because Angel’s mother struggled with the English language, she was at a loss for how to engage with the teacher. Angel’s grades plummeted.

When the new school year began, Angel was referred to INMED USA’s after-school program for tutoring and mentoring by INMED’s bilingual staff. One day, he confided in INMED’s youth mentor that he did not have a father. When asked what happened, Angel replied, “He died of COVID and he left me.”

The youth mentor spoke with Angel’s mother and learned that the entire family had experienced a deep depression after the loss of Angel’s father. He arranged for the family to participate in INMED’s mental health and wellness program. Angel and his mother both

blossomed with virtual and in-person dance therapy classes.

“With the dance, the sadness went away,” Angel’s mom said.

Angel started learning traditional and hip hop dancing with INMED’s after-school dance club, performing as the lead dancer at the annual Latino Festival in Leesburg. He was very excited that his entire family came to see his performance.

“Since Angel began attending the INMED activities, he has changed a lot,” his mother said. “He behaves better at school and I see that he is happy.”

It could have been a very different story for Angel. “All this time I have been very sad and angry,” he said. “I like to come to the little school (INMED’s Opportunity Center), because it is a lot of fun and I have friends and I feel happy.”

There are thousands of Angels among us in Loudoun County—children, teens and families struggling to piece their fragile lives back together after COVID and grappling with the impacts of skyrocketing inflation. The need is great, but Loudoun’s nonprofits are struggling as well to keep up. Perhaps you could be an angel to our neighbors in need.

Learn more about INMED at inmed.org. n

one of its houses in Fairfax County, near Mount Vernon.

“Pathway Homes is an outstanding nonprofit that provides homes and mental health services to many people in our Northern Virginia community,” DryHome CEO Steve Gotschi stated. “We are happy to help Pathways and their clients by providing a new roof on one of its homes. We are excited that Pathways can use the savings to support their residents in other ways.”

Throughout November, the Sterling-based company accepted nominations from customers and the community to identify a Northern Virginia individual, family, or nonprofit in need. Since the program’s inception, the company has donated 21 roofs valued at more than $200,000. n

Nonprofit Distributes Toys to Families

STAFF REPORT

Community Empowerment of Northern Virginia on Dec. 20 distributed more than 4,000 toys and hundreds of gift cards to families in need of holiday assistance.

The Sterling-based nonprofit is dedicated to serving low-income families, single mothers and at-risk youth.

The Pohanka Group-Chantilly and Toys for Tots sponsored the items provided to the families. Over 75 volunteers, including employees of The Pohanka Group helped hand each family a bag of toys and a holiday stocking that included gift cards. Daily basic items included as laundry detergent and baby diapers were also distributed. Each family received an estimated $300 or more in value. As a health safety precaution, families were given their gifts via a curbside car line from Herndon United Methodist Church to Herndon High School.

“The vast majority of low-income parents are working but still struggling to make ends meet. While they seek to balance work and family life, they face much greater risk and vulnerability to financial hardship and crisis,” Founder and Executive Director Jackie Phan stated. “CENV empathizes with their reality and wants to assist them during the holidays and help lift some of their burden.”

1-800 Got Junk donated its services to deliver and unload the toys at Herndon

Contributed

High School. Several area restaurants provided food to volunteers during the twoday sorting and distribution effort. They include Chuy’s-Sterling, Chili’s-Sterling, Miller’s Ale House-Sterling, Jersey Mike’s-Sterling, Joe’s Pizzaria-Sterling, Sheetz-Dulles, Guapo’s-Herndon, Outback-Herndon, Papa John’s-Herndon, and Pot-Belly’s-Herndon.

After the holidays, CENV will prepare for its Spring Outreach event and Summer Camp.

For more information, go to communityenv.org. n

Contributed

A nonprofit that provides housing for adults with mental illness is this year’s beneficiary of DryHome Roofing and Siding’s annual free roof holiday program.

Community Empowerment of Northern Virginia gift packages are lined up at Herndon High for the Dec. 20 distribution to area families.

Business BUSINESS briefs

Luck Stone to Roll Out Autonomous Haulers

STAFF REPORT

Luck Stone’s Bull Plant in southeastern Loudoun will be a testing ground for Caterpillar’s rollout of its expanded autonomous truck fleet to include the 100ton Cat 777 haulers.

The program, slated to be implemented next year, is intended to allow Caterpillar to gain greater insights on quarry operations as it tailors the next generation of autonomous systems to quarry and aggregate applications. It builds on a longstanding relationship between the world’s largest construction equipment manufacturer and nation’s largest family-owned producer of crushed stone, sand and gravel.

The autonomous haulers onsite will be controlled by the Cat MineStar Command for Hauling system. The expanded use of autonomous technology is expected to allow the quarry to operate with fewer mobile assets while improving safety and productivity.

“Luck Stone and Caterpillar’s partnership has been grounded in shared values for many years,” stated Charlie Luck, president and CEO of Luck Companies. “Together we believe that safety, innovation and a commitment to people are critical, not only to propelling important projects like this, but to ensuring our focus on the future and all of the exciting

possibilities technology affords our industry. Our collaboration will provide opportunities for associates to learn and grow, improve safety and result in production efficiencies. We are thrilled to partner with Caterpillar to achieve this ‘first’ for our industry.”

“Caterpillar has a long-standing relationship with Luck Stone, and we look

forward to working together to bring the demonstrated benefits of increased safety and productivity to the quarry industry. We’re excited to get in the dirt and work alongside Luck Stone’s innovative team, so we can learn how to scale our already proven mining solution for another industry,” stated Denise Johnson, Caterpillar group president of Resource Industries. n

Loudoun Real Estate Market Continues to Slow

STAFF REPORT

Home sales in November dropped by nearly half compared to last year, according to the latest market report from the Dulles Area Association of Realtors.

“While it’s not out of the ordinary to see less market activity at this time of year, Loudoun County continued its slowdown in home sales last month due in part to higher mortgage rates and other economic factors. At this point, many may be wondering how long these conditions will last,” DAAR Pres-

ident Allan Marteney stated. “We’ve already begun to see interest rates fall in recent weeks, and if that trend continues as forecasted, I believe we’ll see more buyers taking advantage of higher inventory levels in the coming months.

During November there were 329 home sales, 304 fewer than the previous year. Pending sales also were down, 288 in 2022 compared with 467 in the same month last year.

Meanwhile, both prices and inventory continued to rise.

The median sales price in Loudoun County was $637,500 in November,

Up 6.3% from 2021. The biggest price jump took place in Leesburg’s 20175 ZIP code where the median sales price increased by $238,725, 42.9% higher.

There were 504 active listings in the Loudoun market at the end of November, 237 more listings than a year ago. The largest increase in listings was in Sterling’s 20164 ZIP code 20164 with 53 more active listings than last November and Leesburg’s 20176 ZIP code 20176 which had 51 additional listings.

See the full market report at dullesarea.com. n

Platinum Group Joins Real Brokerage

Real Brokerage Inc. continued its quest to be the fastest-growing publicly traded real estate brokerage with the addition of Loudoun-based Platinum Group Real Estate to its network of more than 8,000 agents serving the U.S. and Canada.

Platinum Group was founded in 2015 by Karen Cooper and Vicky Noufal and has closed more than $1 billion in real estate transactions. With nearly 40 years of combined real estate experience serving Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, Cooper and Noufal sought to build a team that emphasized the strengths of more experienced agents. The team’s 26 agents—almost exclusively women—average over nine years in the industry and closed approximately $250 million in real estate transactions within the past year.

“The real estate industry is shifting. Today’s agents work so hard to serve their clients and communities, but many find it difficult to plan for their financial futures,” Cooper stated in the announcement. “Real’s compensation model rewards all agents—not solely the most elite producers. Real offers something that’s accessible to everyone, and that’s what we wanted to provide for our team.”

Learn more at goplatinumgroup.com.

Dulles to Add Direct Flights to Rome

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced ITA Airways will commence nonstop service between Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport and Dulles Airport on June 2.

Flights, using Airbus A330neo aircraft, will initially operate five times a week—Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays—before shifting to daily service on Aug. 1.

ITA Airways’ new route to Washington, DC, will become one of five U.S. gateways for the Italian carrier.

Flights can be purchased now at ita-airways.com. n

Luck Stone

Luck Stone Bull Run Plant Manager Craig Wiant, left, and Assistant Plant Manager Johnny Palmer stand in front of a Caterpillar 777G at the Bull Run quarry.

Carlos Martinez

Carlos Martinez, age 77 died in Leesburg, VA on December 14th, 2022. Carlos was born on November 4th, 1945 in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico and attended school in El Paso, Texas. Mr. Martinez was a dedicated father to his two children Tommy and Linda whom he raised in Los Angeles, CA. Carlos moved to Leesburg, VA in 1999 with his wife Helen where his children and grandchildren soon followed him. Carlos was a social, active man who was deeply and proudly involved in his community. He was a good, caring neighbor who wanted to always ensure that those around him both family and friends were well and he was always willing and excited to help in any way that he could even if only to offer company and laughter. His friends and family will always remember him as someone who could light up a room with his great sense of humor. He is survived by his wife Helen, his daughter Linda, his grandchildren Saad and Jasmin and four great grandchildren, William, Rowyn, Aliyah, Zahir and siblings, Jose, Esperanza and Robert plus many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Julia and Tomas, his son Tommy, and his sister Eva. A memorial is scheduled on January 6th 2023 at Loudoun Funeral Chapel in Leesburg, VA at 3PM with a Catholic Priest officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Carlos and share stories about his wonderful life.

Joseph Fasceski

Of Sterling VA, passed away on Saturday, November 12, 2022. A visitation was held on January 5, 2023, at Loudoun Funeral Chapel, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be held at a later date. Please share condolences with the family www.LoudounFuneralChapel.com

Obituaries

Kenneth Martin Kirkpatrick 1955-2022

Kenneth Martin Kirkpatrick, known as Kenny, 67 of Middleburg, Virginia, died Tuesday, December 27, 2022, in Reston Hospital. He was born May 23, 1955, to William Mason and Mary L. Kirkpatrick. Kenny loved his Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Orioles, horse racing, and spending time with his friends. He is survived by his daughter Melissa Basurto of Tucson, Arizona; siblings William “Chubby” Kirkpatrick of Warrenton, Virginia (Linda), Carrol Kirkpatrick of Laurel, Maryland, Steven “Stevie” Kirkpatrick of Lovettsville, Virginia (Tina), granddaughters Audrey Basurto and Nevaeh Basurto of Tucson, Arizona; special nieces Julie Angelo, April Counselman and Jennifer Frye. His parents and brother Lynn Dodson preceded him in death. A celebration of Kenny’s life will be held at Middleburg American Legion 111 The Plains Road Middleburg, Virginia 20117 on Sunday, January 8th at 2PM.

Nicholas (Nick) Ryan Harman

It is with tremendous sadness that we share that Nicholas (Nick) Ryan Harman of Leesburg passed away peacefully in the early hours of December 20, 2022, surrounded by his immediate family. He was 27. Nick was born in Centreville but spent most of his life in Leesburg. A 2013 graduate of Heritage High School, Nick went on to earn dual Bachelor of Science degrees in History and Creative Writing (with honors) from George Mason University in 2020. In a cruel twist of fate, Nick was diagnosed at a young age with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a truly horrible disease. Although it affected many aspects of his life, Nick never let it get the better of him. He endured more doctors’ appointments, treatments, and indignities than anyone should, but always faced them

head on. In the end, as his disease moved to its final stages, Nick was the one finally in control. Although we are all devastated to lose him, we are extremely proud of the dignity and grace with which he faced it. He is without a doubt the bravest, strongest person any of us have ever met. Nick loved exploring life and brought joy to everyone around him. He was smart, witty, thoughtful, and experienced life through the most amazing green eyes. He traveled extensively with his family to the Caribbean (his favorite), Europe, the Outer Banks, Smith Mountain Lake, and various cities in the US. An avid Stars Wars, Game of Thrones, Marvel Productions, and science fiction/fantasy fan, he was always ready to discuss the latest episode, or skillfully debate the insanity of current politics. He was passionate about equal rights for all humans and regularly donated to these causes. Nick was an avid reader and could always be found with a new book in his hands. He was also a talented writer. In a critique from a college professor on one of his submissions, he wrote “I am genuinely blown away by the incredible quality of this piece of writing. I’ve read work from doctoral candidates that was less well-written.” It goes without saying that neither of his parents or sister ever received such praise. Nick loved cooking and food in general, and like Anthony Bourdain whom he admired, always wanted to discover new cuisines. And we could not write this without mentioning his truly unique love of hot sauces. Like really hot, hot sauces. Like so hot that most of us could not even smell what he would eat so casually. Over the years he amassed quite the collection, but Tabasco was always the flavor he liked the most. They will power our homes over the winter. But most of all, he loved being with friends and family. He was an inspiration to every one of us, and words cannot describe how much we love and are going to miss him. Nick is survived by his mother Leslie Harman of Leesburg, father Jon Harman and stepmother Donnalee of Lovettsville, twin sister Rachel Harman of Pittsburgh, grandmother Barbara Harman of Roanoke, grandfather John Driver of Winchester, uncle William Harman of Roanoke, aunt Ann Hinchee (Jeff) of Elliston, step-sisters Emilee Kudla of New York City, Kelly Kudla and Jayne Kudla of Clarks Summit, PA, and cousins Paige Harman, Taylor Anderson, and Ally Hinchee. He is predeceased by

grandmother Carol Driver and grandfather Henry Harman. A celebration of this very special young man will be held on January 13, 2023, with visitation beginning at 1:00, and a service at 2:00 at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road in Leesburg, VA. A casual gathering (the way Nick would have wanted) at 8 Chains North Winery in Hamilton will follow for those who can attend. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the organizations that Nick supported: NAACP, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood, and Moms Demand Action. Donations may also be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, or your favorite charity in his honor.

William Francis McDonald

William Francis Mcdonald, 88, of Leesburg, Virginia, died on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at Falcons Landing in Potomac Falls, Virginia. Born Tuesday, April 17, 1934, in Queens, New York, he was the son of the late Frank McDonald and Mary (Gray) McDonald. William is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Dorothy L. McDonald; children Francine & Dr. Brant Vitek, Drs. Tara & Buddy Morrison, and Kevin & Rhonda McDonald; grandchildren, Kirby, Bailey, Taylor, Riley, Matthew, and Natalie; brothers, John and Michael; sisters, Mary and Patricia. He is predeceased by brothers Frank, Thomas, and Lawrence. A funeral service will be held at Saint John the Apostle Catholic Church located at 101 Oak Crest Manor Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, with Father Edouard Guillox officiating. Interment will be on a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Boulder Crest Foundation (https://bouldercrest.org/), a Veterans charity important to William. For the complete obituary, service details, and to share online condolences, please visit: www.loudounfuneralchapel.com.

To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or email sstyer@loudounnow.com

Towns

Purcellville Council Appoints Ron Rise Jr. to Open Seat

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounow.com

The new Purcellville Town Council on Tuesday appointed Ron Rise Jr. to the vacant council seat as well as three new Planning Commission members.

Mayor Stanley Milan nominated Rise Jr. saying he was the logical choice since he garnered the fourth most votes in the November election, behind now council members Carol Luke, Mary “Boo” Bennett and Rayner. Rise campaigned on a slate of candidates with Milan, Luke and Bennett.

Council member Erin Rayner questioned why the council was not following the traditional practices of interviewing applicants for the vacancy and objected that Milan did not inform her or Williams who he would be nominating for the appointment prior to the meeting, calling his nomination “a surprise.” She said she had emailed Milan on Dec. 21 asking about the issue but got no response.

“I just don’t think that is fair and transparent government,” she said. “And it kind of disturbs me that it went down this way. It didn’t have to be.”

Milan said because the vacancy occurred just weeks after the council election, it made sense to pick the next highest vote getter—Rise Jr.—for the seat.

“My logic, as I explained to you, the citizens have voted,” Milan said. “If we were to do an interview it would slap in the face of the citizens that voted for

the six candidates that ran for the town council.”

The motion to appoint Rise Jr. the council vacancy passed 4-2 with Rayner and Mary Jane Williams opposed.

He isn’t the only member of the Rise family to take on a new town responsibility.

The council also interviewed six candidates to fill four seats on the town’s

Planning Commission. In a round of straw votes, all council members supported the reappointment of Ed Neham and Brian Green to take one of the open seats. Rise Jr.’s father Ron Rise Sr. and Jason Dengler received support from Milan, Bennett, Luke, and Christopher Bertaut who was elected to another term as vice may-

continues on page 19

Taking the Plunge into 2023

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A New Year’s Day tradition returned to Hillsboro on Sunday as residents gathered at the Stonehedge Pond for the 2023 polar plunge.

In relatively balmy 58-degree weather and with a crew from the Round Hill Fire-Rescue Department standing by, seven hearty souls jumped from the pond’s dock into water that one participant confirmed was both “wet and cold.”

Two dozen others watched from the shoreline, warmed by a bonfire and libations.

It was the first time the New Year’s Day event has been held since the onset of the pandemic. n

AROUND towns

MIDDLEBURG

Town Hall Work Continues

This was to be the week Middleburg’s government staffers were expected to be settling into their new office space. At least that was the plan when construction on the new Town Hall began Jan. 24, 2022.

Town leaders acknowledged last fall that the schedule would slide and have been working to limit the length of the delay. The Town Council has held several closed session meetings to explore legal elements related to the fixed-price construction contract.

The town has established a webcam feed allowing residents to watch the construction process. That can be viewed at middleburgva.gov/322/ New-Town-Hall-Project.

PURCELLVILLE

HOAs Offered Grants for Tree Plantings

Homeowner Associations in Purcellville are invited to apply for funding to help plant native trees in their common areas.

The Purcellville Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee and the Virginia Department of Forestry are working together on the new “Purcellville NeighborWoods Program.”

Details and the application from are available on the Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee page of the town website. Applications are due March 1.

Earlier this year, the Purcellville was awarded $3,834 by the VDOF as part of its Virginia Trees for Clean Water grant program. The grant funds, which are matched by the town, are being used to establish the Purcellville NeighborWoods Program. Town staff and volunteers on the Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee have established procedures, timeline, online application, and a prohibited species list as part of the new program. n

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Ron Rise Jr. poses for a photo after being appointed by the Purcellville Town Council to fill Mayor Stanley Milan’s vacant council seat during special meeting Tuesday night.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

RISE

Lovettsville Celebrates New Year with Annual Berserkle

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.com

Lovettsville residents of all ages gathered on Jan. 1 to celebrate the new year with the town’s annual Berserkle on the Squirkle 5K race.

Emceed by former Mayor Nathaniel Fontaine, the race began at 11 a.m. and included a re-gifted gift exchange and themed laps around the town square known as the squirkle. Some themes in-

cluded finding a new friend to walk a lap with as Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” played, the contestants’ best dad joke, performing the best horse gallop for a lap, and shaking it off to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.”

Many of the 78 participants also wore costumes, including one dressed as a leprechaun who also danced an Irish jig on the hay wagon during the race.

Prizes were awarded to the first contestant to complete all 27 laps as well as the top three contestants in the youth and adult categories. n

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

or. Rayner and Williams supported Brian Dean and Kacey Young for the other two seats. In the end, the council voted unanimously to appoint Neham, Green, Rise Sr., and Dengler.

Green, Rise and Dengler will serve four-year terms, but Neham, who will be filling a vacancy left by Bennett, will only serve on the commission for the remaining two years.

Milan’s proposed commission and committee appointments also spurred push back from Rayner. The Town Code gives the mayor the authority to appoint members of special committees of the council. He proposed that Rayner serve on the Arts Council and the currently dormant Community Policing Advisory Board. Rayner questioned those choices, noting that she has little expertise in art, but a greater interest in serving on the Economic Development Advisory Committee.

Williams said she preferred to retain

her seat on the Arts Council, rather than be appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, as Milan proposed. Milan initially raised a concern about switching those appointments, claiming that Rayner’s services as president of the Purcellville Business and Professional Association could present a conflict of interest as the town prepared to solicit a new contract for the operations of the Bush Tabernacle.

Rayner dismissed that claim, noting that the current operator and likely bidder, Phil Message, was not a PBA member and that role of the organization is to promote business interests throughout town.

Milan agreed to appoint Rayner to the parks board, but reserved the economic development seat for Rise Jr., once he is sworn in. Williams was named to the arts panel.

Other appointments were Bertaut to serve on the Planning Commission, Bennett to serve on the Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee, Luke to serve on the Board of Architectural Review, and Milan to the Train Station Advisory Board and other regional bodies. n

fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov www.fairhousing.vipnet.org for

Designed to Serve Your Charitable Vision

funds, we can help you make a difference that never ends.

A Community Foundation Fund in the Spotlight

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Lovettsville Berserkle on the Squirkle participants start the race at the town’s annual 5K race on New Year’s Day.

LoCo Living

Purging with Purpose

Buy Nothing Groups Create Community in Loudoun

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

A lot of us feel the urge to purge after the holidays. We feel overwhelmed by stuff and the need to declutter. We also want to keep our no-longer-needed items out of landfills and make sure our stuff is going to someone who can really use it.

The desire to purge with purpose is one reason Buy Nothing Facebook groups are popping up around Loudoun. These local groups go beyond the typical giveaway pages. They spring from a national movement focused on creating community and embracing sustainability through the gift economy.

“It’s not like a typical yard sale group where it’s about the stuff. We have a lot of friendships that have been created and the community that’s come from it. … It’s not just offloading junk—it’s meeting a need,” said Lauren Thompson, an admin for one of Loudoun’s longest running and most active Buy Nothing groups. Thomp-

son said the Leesburg/Lansdowne group has not only reduced her family’s consumption, it’s also been a source of joy in helping others and building community. In the four years the group has been running, Thompson has built friendships, forged connections, and helped her neighbors move through major life events.

Loudoun’s Buy Nothing trend is part of a national movement launched by two Seattle area women. The Buy Nothing Project’s founders were initially distressed by the amount of plastics washing up on local beaches. Their efforts to reduce consumption led groups around the country focused on what’s known as the “gift economy” and the connections it creates. The focus in Buy Nothing groups is on giving, receiving, lending and expressing gratitude–with no buying, selling or bartering allowed.

The original Leesburg/Lansdowne group, which Thompson moderates with fellow admins Katherin Stupi and Quan Garcia, launched in 2019. The

current 2,500-member group grew out of a 40-member baby gear giveaway group launched by Moira Flèche to help new moms in the Leesburg area. The Leesburg/Lansdowne group has since split into two groups, each with more than 2,000 members.

For many Buy Nothing members, the groups combine the excitement and usefulness of great finds with the satisfaction of decluttering and helping others. The groups have also become community hubs and resources for neighbors to support each other.

Thompson says most of her 3-year-old daughter’s clothing and many of her baby accessories are from the group. When she’s done, she passes them on again, and she often sees the same items making their way through several families, reducing the financial burden for families and extending the life of items that might

NOTHING

THINGS to do

LOCO LIVE

Live Music: Evan Ross

Friday, Jan. 6, 5 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg

Details: spankyspub.com

Sterling-based Evan Ross serves up eclectic covers from U2 to Def Leppard.

Live Music: Elements of Kindred Friday, Jan. 6, 5:30 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com

This high-energy acoustic duo performs an eclectic mix of favorites.

Live Music: Robert Mabe

Friday, Jan. 6, 6 p.m.

Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com

Mabe is a stellar banjo player and singer/ songwriter from the hills of North Carolina. His unique style covers a wide range of music from bluegrass to jazz, Irish and roots tunes.

Live Music: Melissa Quinn Fox

Friday, Jan. 6, 6 p.m.

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 18294 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont Details: bearchasebrew.com

Country/Americana songstress Melissa Quinn Fox is known for her story-driven songs, unique vocal tone and captivating live performances.

Live Music: Foreplay ’70s Rock Tribute Friday, Jan. 6, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg  Details: tallyhotheater.com

It’s a 70s rock party with covers from Boston, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Heart, Kansas, Led Zeppelin and other favorites. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $35 for VIP seats.

Live Music: Kevin Griffith

Saturday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m.

50 West Vineyards, 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg

Details: facebook.com/50westvineyards

Kick back with solo acoustic tunes from Kevin Griffith.

Live Music: Chris Bone

Saturday, Jan. 7, 1:30 p.m.

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville

Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com

Kick back with great tunes from Western Loudoun singer/songwriter and one-man band Chris Bowen of the Bone Show.

Live Music: Dave Mininberg

Saturday, Jan. 7, 2 p.m.

Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn

Details: lostrhino.com

Well known for his work with the band

7th Son of WV, Mininberg brings a unique blend of originals, classic rock, blues and country.

THINGS TO DO continues on page

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

From left, Quan Carcia, Lauren Thompson and Katherine Stupi are admins for the Leesburg/Lansdowne Buy Nothing Facebook group. BUY

BEST BETS

THINGS to do

continued from page 20

Live Music: Jim Steele

Saturday, Jan. 7, 2-5 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

Join local favorite Jim Steele for an afternoon of fun covers and originals.

Live Music: Laura Cashman

Saturday, Jan. 7, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

Details: breauxvineyards.com

Cashman is a local favorite who plays a wide range of genres. Hits from the 70s and 80s are sure to be part of her playlist, but her favorite decade is the 90s.

Live Music: Freddie Long Saturday, Jan. 7, 3 p.m.

Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com

Long is part introspective singer/songwriter, part bluesy classic rocker and serves up an afternoon of great tunes.

Live Music: Bobby G and the Heavies Saturday, Jan. 7, 5 p.m.

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway,

Saturday, Jan 7, 7-10 p.m.

Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com

Enjoy authentic rhythm and blues from Bobby G and the Heavies.

Live Music: Jules Jam Saturday, January 7, 7-11 p.m.

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: macsbeach.com

THINGS TO DO continues on page 22

MELISSA QUINN FOX

Friday, Jan. 6, 6-9 p.m. Bear Chase Brewing Company bearchasebrew.com

U2TOPIA

Saturday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

JULES JAM

MacDowell’s macsbeach.com

LO VE Loudoun Why we

Amy and Brooks Brinson

In 2004, Amy and Brooks Brinson were living in Dallas, TX, when Brooks bought a flotation tank to ease stress. “Floating” on water in a dark, closed container was an emerging mediative practice at the time. Fast forward 18 years and the Brinson’s are the owners of OmFLOAT in Ashburn, a wellness facility that uses saunas and water-based flotation therapy to ease stress and anxiety and aid sleep.

How did you end up in Loudoun?

Brooks is from Texas and I’m from Louisiana. We didn’t seek out Loudoun. We knew we wanted our business to be in NoVA, and Loudoun was the only place receptive to it at the time. OmFLOAT opened in 2016 and we’ve grown to love the area and the people here.

What should people know about OmFLOAT?

We are not just a spa or one-time experience. We offer services that can make a difference in someone’s life, be it physical, mental or spiritual. We are committed to supporting our community by providing a safe space for anyone who is suffering.

Aside from OmFLOAT, where in Loudoun would you recommend people go to de-stress?

Anywhere outside, such as Franklin Park, Broadlands Nature Preserve, the Appalachian Trail in the Blue Ridge, or Beaverdam Reservoir.

Favorite place to eat in Loudoun?

We love driving west on Rt. 7 and often find ourselves sitting on the patio with our dog at the Purcellville Pub.

Favorite place for a craft beverage?

We don’t really drink alcohol but for something different and cozy we enjoy The Chocolate Palette in Purcellville. Great hot chocolate and treats through the winter, plus it reverts to Gruto’s Soft Serve in the summer.

Best secret place to go in Loudoun?

Wisdom Spaces in Round Hill. It’s a 32-acre private retreat with horses, art, journaling and time in nature to help you heal, awaken and find your way.

THINGS to do

continued from page 21

Juliana MacDowell leads a rocking, fun-filled collective jam to shake off the mid-winter blues. Special guest appearances will spice up the musical artistry on stage.

Live Music: Bottle Shock Saturday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m.

Leesburg Moose Lodge, 43 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg facebook.com/leesburgmooselodge

This Winchester-based band plays classic rock, funk, blues and disco from the 70s and beyond.

Live Music: All Jammed Up Saturday, Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m.

Crooked Run Fermentation, 22455 Davis Drive #120, Sterling

Details: crookedrunbrewing.com

All Jammed Up serves up fresh and familiar rock and pop hits with a focus on upbeat, high-energy tunes.

Live Music: No Laughing Matter Saturday, Jan. 7, 8 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg

Details: spankyspub.com

Regional favorite NLM is back at Spanky’s with an evening of fun covers.

Live Music: Liberty Street Saturday, Jan. 7, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com

Enjoy soft rock favorites from Eric Stanley and Doug Wall.

Live Music: U2Topia Saturday, Jan. 7, 8 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg  Details: tallyhotheater.com

This up-and-coming DMV tribute band is made up of seasoned musicians and lifelong U2 fans for an authentic concert experience. Tickets are $15,

Live Music: Coldstream Sunday, Jan. 8, 1 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts

Details: vanishbeer.com

These Maryland-based newcomers serve up classic rock, R&B and blues, bringing flair and style to old favorites.

Brooks and Amy Brinson are the owners of OmFLOAT in Ashburn.

What’s a must-see place for an out-of-town visitor?

Bears Den Overlook in the Blue Ridge above Bluemont and any of the many amazing wineries in Loudoun.

Favorite event in Loudoun to go to?

The July 4th Fireworks in Leesburg.

What’s a fun fact to share about Loudoun?

Eastern Loudoun is known as Data Center Alley, home to 70% of the world’s Internet traffic.

You are in the wellness field, but tell us about Olympic shooting?

Before we ever tried flotation, Brooks was competing in precision Olympic

Live Music: Acoustic Moose Sunday, Jan. 8, 1 p.m.

Maggie Malick Wine Caves, 12138 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville

Details: maggiemalickwinecaves.com

This south-central PA duo with acoustic guitar and dynamic vocal harmonies plays a range of folk rock, blues and classic rock favorites.

Live Music: Jason Masi

Sunday, Jan. 8, 1:30 p.m.

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville

Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com

Enjoy a mellow afternoon of acoustic soul and R&B from local favorite Jason Masi.

Live Music: Shane Gamble

Sunday, Jan.8, 2 p.m.

Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville

Details: flyingacefarm.com

Rising country music star Shane Gamble returns to Flying Ace with an eclectic mix of fun covers.

Live Music: Shane Hines

Sunday, Jan.8, 2 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro

shooting. We bought a tank for our own personal use at home and Brooks realized improvements in his shooting performance. We helped start a nonprofit shooting club that Brooks coached, and even some of those athletes used our tank to improve their performance. Floating became a part of our lives and led us to where we are now. n

Visit Loudoun strives to bring tourists to the county, but locals can be tourists, too. In this series we ask Loudoun residents to tell us about the joys, secrets and delights of their own backyard. Discover something new and share your local adventure with Visit Loudoun using #loveloudoun.

Details: breauxvineyards.com

Hines returns to Breaux with his unique brand of indie pop.

Live Music: Janine WIlson Sunday, Jan. 8, 2-5 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton

Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

Wilson serves up blues and Americana with a big voice and a stage presence to match.

COMING UP

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration Monday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m.

Loudoun County Courthouse, 18 E. Market St., Leesburg

Details: facebook.com/mlkmarchleesburg

Now in its 32nd year, Loudoun’s MLK march moves from the Loudoun County Courthouse to Frederick Douglass Elementary School. This year’s postmarch celebration takes place online via YouTube and features Emmy-award winning television host and producer Robin Hamilton and Janet Ford, president of the Northern Virginia Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc.

Visit Loudoun

Buy nothing

wind up in a landfill.

But the groups’ purpose goes way beyond giving away unneeded items, Thompson said. There’s a true spirit of community that’s a joy to witness.

“It’s a lot of making things happen for other families, which is awesome to see,” she said.

Members can post specific asks when they need something, and neighbors go out of their way to make it happen— from little things that can mean so much (Thompson describes the joy she felt when she was able to supply a missing dog from a Melissa and Doug toy set to another family) to grand gestures that bring the entire community together.

When a member’s daughter was experiencing domestic violence and had left her home, Leesburg group members rallied to help her set up in her new space. By the end of the day, the post had around 100 comments offering different items and other support, Thompson said.

“Our group came together,” Thompson said. They got them beds for the kids and the mom, couches, lamps. They did the entire kitchen. … It was a huge coming together.”

Among Thompson’s favorite stories include a member who DIYed a standard play kitchen into a gingerbread house, which has since made the rounds to families around the community,

“It’s been circulating for two holiday seasons,” Thompson said. “I think about 15 different families have had a chance to enjoy it.”

When a local mom shared that her toddler had an interest in horses and asked if anyone had a calm horse they could visit, a fellow member invited them out to their farm the next day for an equine meet and greet. When a member asked for a practice space for an improv group, a neighbor offered a space, and the group put on a free community show. A local photographer provided free headshots to neighbors looking to update résumés and websites. A Leesburg group member provides free appearances at parties in inflatable dinosaur or unicorn costume. And the list goes on, Thompson said.

At its heart, she adds, the group really is about creating community.

“Whenever someone in our community has a new baby, new pup, wedding, etc., everyone is always more than generous and supportive and wanting to help. We’ve built relationships in the group so

you can watch others’ journeys through pregnancy, birth, toddlerhood, and beyond. Personally, I’ve made connections with other moms who have kids that are one size in clothing behind me, and we’re always in touch with each other as our kids grow out of things.”

Loudoun now boasts two Leesburg/ Lansdowne Buy Nothing groups, multiple Ashburn groups based on location and a Sterling/Dulles group. The Buy Nothing Loudoun County West group serves western Loudoun. Residents can also work with the national group to create local pages if their communities don’t yet have one.

Buy Nothing groups have their own vocabulary, rules and etiquette, promoting a spirit of civility, fairness and neighborliness. For new members, it can take a few posts to get the hang of the process, but most members come in with a spirit of generosity, Thompson said. One rule is that residents can only join one group, and it must correspond with their geographic location.

For many members, getting a super special find can be life-changing. But there’s so much satisfaction in decluttering and helping others. Buy Nothing makes it easy and rewarding to declutter, and creative and crafty neighbors can often find uses for items that might have otherwise been trashed.

“You’re not just throwing it out. You know it’s going to be used and there’s still purpose for it,” Thompson said. “It makes me feel better that this sentimental item I have is going to a family who’s going to use it and appreciate it.”

Gratitude is another key element of the national Buy Nothing Project, and members in local groups are encouraged to share “gratitude posts” when they receive a meaningful gift that meets a need or brings joy. It’s another way that the groups create connections and go beyond the traditional yard sale page.

“Loudoun is growing, it’s expanding. People are moving here from all over and they haven’t had a chance to build that community,” Thompson said. “People don’t always have family here and find each other through the group. Life is hard enough. If you can find neighbors close to you, how awesome is that?” n

To find a Buy Nothing group in your community, search “buy nothing” on Facebook and answer the local membership questions. For more information about the national Buy Nothing Project, go buynothingproject.org.

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Town of Leesburg

Employment Opportunities

Position Department

Assistant Director of Public Works and Capital Projects Public Works & Capital Projects

Salary Range Closing Date

$86,040-$156,137 DOQ Open until filled

Assistant Director of Utilities, Engineering Programs Utilities $86,040-$156,137 DOQ Open until filled Billing and Collections Coordinator Finance & Administrative Services Department $52,446-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled

Communications Technician (Police Dispatcher) Police $50,000-$88,774 DOQ Open until filled

Deputy Director of Public Works and Capital Projects Public Works & Capital Projects $93,438-$169,567 DOQ Open until filled

Groundskeeper Parks & Recreation $50,000-$81,495 DOQ Open until filled

Head Lifeguard (Full Time)

Parks & Recreation $50,000-$63,626 DOQ Open until filled

Land Acquisition Manager Town Attorney $72,952-$132,387 DOQ Open until filled

Maintenance Worker I Public Works & Capital Projects $50,000-$75,040 DOQ Open until filled

Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled Police $62,000-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled Police $68,356-$109,934 DOQ Open until filled

Plan Review $70,374-$127,560 DOQ Open until filled

Public Works & Capital Projects $82,999-$150,445 DOQ Open until filled Planning and Zoning $72,952-$132,387 DOQ Open until filled Utilities $56,956-$103,363 DOQ Open until filled Utilities $50,000-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled Utilities $61,857-$112,250 DOQ Open until filled

EDUCATION OR EQUIVALENT experience in agriculture, natural resources, environmental science, or other relevant fields is required. Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license. Requirements for the position include proficient computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel, the ability to work independently and in a team environment, multitask, prioritize, be a self-starter, and communicate effectively both orally and in writing. The ideal applicant will also have knowledge of non-point source pollution control activities, agricultural operations, soil and water conservation issues, and agricultural best management practices. Employment is conditional upon successful completion of a federal background check.

STARTING SALARY: FROM $53,347.00; COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES. Excellent benefits package including health insurance, retirement, as well as paid leave available for full time, 37.5 hr/wk position. A detailed job description can be found at http://www.loudounsoilandwater. com/now-hiring/ Send a completed Commonwealth of VA (DPT Form 10-012) application, resume, and references to Loudoun SWCD, 30 Catoctin Circle, SE, Suite 218, Leesburg, VA 20175. A fillable Commonwealth of VA application can be found at https://virginia-job-application.pdffiller.com/ . The position is open until filled.

For more information, contact Jay Frankenfield, at 571.439.1147 or by email jay.frankenfield@lswcd.org. LSWCD is an EOE.

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

CMPT-2022-0008 & SPEX-2022-0043

GOOSE CREEK SUBSTATION EXPANSION (Commission Permit & Special Exception for a Utility Substation, Transmission)

Dominion Energy Virginia, of Glen Allen, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) Commission approval to permit the expansion of a Utility Substation, Transmission in the JLMA-20 (Joint Land Management Area – 20) zoning district; and 2) a Special Exception to permit the expansion of a Utility Substation, Transmission in the JLMA-20 zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The proposed use requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101 and is listed as a Special Exception use in the JLMA-20 zoning district under Section 2-1303. The subject property is located within the QN (Quarry Notification) Overlay District (Luck Note Area), partially within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 noise contour and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District) (minor floodplain). The subject property is approximately 34.32 acres in size and is located north of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653) and south of Crosstrail Boulevard in the Leesburg Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 151-45-9554. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Leesburg Joint Land Management Area (Leesburg JLMA Employment Place Type)) which designate this area for light and general industry employment uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

ZRTD-2022-0001 & ZMOD-2022-0011

PACIFIC CORPORATE PARK (Zoning Conversion in the Route 28 Taxing District and Zoning Modification)

Pacific-Ashburn Campus LLC, of McLean, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 43.28 acres from the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit all principal and accessory uses permitted in the PD-IP zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, at maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0. The subject property is located within the Route 28 Taxing District and within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60, airport noise contours. The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification:

Zoning Ordinance Section

§4-506(B), PD-IP Planned Development – Industrial Park, Building Requirements, Building Height.

Proposed Modification

Permit building heights up to 100 feet without additional setbacks from streets or lot lines.

The subject property is approximately 43.28 acres in size and is located south of Waxpool Road (Route 625), west of Pacific Boulevard (Route 1036), east of Broderick Drive (Route 1070), and north of Prentice Drive (Route 1071) in the Broad Run Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:

(12-5-2022 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: https://www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

WITHDRAWAL (EARLY)

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO MORTON AND CHRISTINE ADAMS FROM THE NEW OAK HILL AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Oak Hill Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Morton and Christine Adams, of 21990 Oatlands Road, Aldie, Virginia, have submitted an application to withdraw a 35-acre parcel from the New Oak Hill Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located west of Tail Race Road (Route 612) and on the south side of, Oatlands Road (Route 650), in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 393-10-1697. The New Oak Hill Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 4-year period that will expire on April 14, 2026, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 40 acres.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac (12-5-2022 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: https://www.loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

SPEX-2022-0026 & ZMOD-2022-0035

ENCOMPASS HEALTH EXPANSION (Special Exception & Zoning Ordinance Modification)

Encompass Health Corporation of Birmingham, Alabama, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to expand a Medical Facility use in the PD-IP (Planning Development-Industrial Park) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 4-504(D). The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION §5-1102(F), Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements, Number of Parking and Loading Spaces Required, Adjustments to Parking Requirements.

To permit a parking reduction due to the nature of the facility.

PIN

PROPERTY ADDRESS 044-36-2194 22040 Broderick Drive 044-46-1959 22020 Broderick Drive 044-35-9342 44900 Prentice Drive

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which designate this area for Office, Production, Flex Space, and Warehousing uses at up to 1.0 FAR.

WITHDRAWAL (EARLY)

REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF LAND BELONGING TO SURVIVORS TRUST OF MARSH REVOCABLE TRUST

(TRUST), TOM BOLANDER, TRUSTEE, FROM THE NEW HILLSBORO

AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-4314 and the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District Ordinance, Survivors Trust of Marsh Revocable Trust (Trust), Tom Bolander, Trustee, of 16483 Hillsboro Road, Purcellville, Virginia, has submitted an application to withdraw a 20.51-acre parcel from the New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District. The subject property is located north of Allder School Road (Route 711) and on the east side of Short Hill Road (Route 718), in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 520-28-0478. The New Hillsboro Agricultural and Forestal District currently has a 4-year period that will expire on April 10, 2026, and is subject to a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https://www.loudoun.gov/adac

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, between the Ldn 60-65, outside of but within one (1) mile of the Ldn 60 aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 9.16 acres in size and is located on the north side of Millstream Drive (Route 2626), and west of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 2625), at 24430 Millstream Drive, Stone Ridge, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 247-20-1488. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)), which designate this area for Residential, Commercial, Entertainment, Cultural, and Recreational uses at a recommended Floor Area Ration (FAR) of up to 1.0.

ZMAP-2021-0018 & ZMOD-2022-0081

FIREFOX DULLES (Zoning Map Amendment, Zoning Modification)

Firefox Dulles LLC of Herndon, Virginia has submitted an application to rezone approximately 24.6 acres from the MR-HI (Mineral Resource – Heavy Industry) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to permit data center; utility substation, distribution; utility substation transmission; and accessory uses under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance at a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 0.6 (up to 1.0 by Special Exception). The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-1403(B), Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscaping Plans, Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, Road Corridor Buffer and Setbacks Matrix, Table 5-1403(B).

Reduce the building and parking setbacks along the future Tall Cedars Parkway/Route 50 Alternate Road from 100 feet and 75 feet respectively to 50 feet.

Legal Notices

The subject property is located within the AI (Airport Impact) Overlay District, within the Ldn 65 or higher aircraft noise contours, and partially within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District). The subject property is approximately 24.6 acres in size and is located north of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), west of Pleasant Valley Road (Route 609) and on the south side of South Perimeter Road in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 097-40-9598. The area is governed by the policies of the 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Industrial/Mineral Extraction Place Type) which designates this area for large manufacturing, contractor with outdoor storage, and other productive uses at a recommended FAR of up to 0.6.

ZOAM-2020-0001 ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE (Zoning

Ordinance Amendments)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286, the Planning Commission gives notice of its intent to consider and recommend a proposed ordinance that will repeal the existing Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (commonly known as the “Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance”), amending, replacing, renumbering, and re-ordaining it as the new Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance Amendments” or “Zoning Ordinance”).

New Format and Numbering for the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance

The proposed new Zoning Ordinance has been reorganized and renumbered into Chapters 1-13. When appropriate, cross-references (CR) to corresponding provisions of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance (R93ZO) are provided in this notice, as applicable. Proposed amendments may establish new regulations; revise or delete existing regulations; or incorporate provisions from R93ZO with revisions necessary to clarify the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, to implement and maintain internal consistency, to correct typographical and grammatical errors, and to update formatting and cross-references.

Public Hearings

The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on August 30, 2022, concerning Chapters 8, 10, and 12 and the Appendices and portions of Chapters 7, 11 and 13 of the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments. The following is a descriptive summary of the remaining portions of the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments that will be considered at the public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. This descriptive summary covers the main points of the proposed amendments but does not explain every detail of the text. The Planning Commission may recommend additional amendments to the proposed text as a result of its hearings and deliberations.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Section

1.01 Title, Purpose, and Intent

CR R93ZO Sections 1-101 & 1-102

• Incorporate existing Title, Purpose, and Intent of the Zoning Ordinance.

• Clarify that the term “Zoning Ordinance”, as used in the text, refers to the ordinance in effect at any given time unless otherwise stated.

Section 1.02 Application of Zoning Ordinance

CR R93ZO Section 1-103

• Incorporate existing regulations regarding Territorial Application, General Application, General Prohibition, Private Agreements, Zoning Permits Issued Prior to Effective Date, Pending Applications, Provisions Declared Invalid, Conflicting Provisions, Proffered Conditions, Approved Subdivisions and Site Plans, and Effective Date.

• Revise text to clarify that development in accordance with existing special exception or variance approval must comply with the Zoning Ordinance, except in the event of conflict between the Zoning Ordinance and the existing approval.

• Revise text to clarify that commercial and industrial property within the Route 28 Transportation Improvement District (Route 28 Tax District) that is currently administered under the “1972 Zoning Ordinance” will continue to be administered under that ordinance unless property owner obtains approval of a ZMAP or ZRTD application; commercial or industrial property in Route 28 Tax District that has a prior approved ZMAP or ZRTD or that previously elected to waive Route 28 Tax District protections may develop in accordance with applicable vested rights under Code of Virginia and will otherwise be administered under the current Zoning Ordinance.

• Revise text to confirm that Zoning Ordinance is not intended to impair vested rights accruing under Code of Virginia Sections 15.2-2307 or 15.2-2303(B) or legal protections in the Route 28 Tax District secured by 15.2-4903(C).

• Add provision confirming that single-family detached and attached dwelling condominium projects are subject to the same District Dimensional Standards and Transportation regulations as physically identical projects under a different form of ownership.

Section 1.03 Interpretation of Official Zoning Map and 1.04 Interpretation of Map and District Boundaries

CR R93ZO Sections 1-201 through 1-202, 1-300, 6-407

• Incorporate existing rules of interpretation for terms used in the Zoning Ordinance with some updates (e.g., use of the terms “must”, “day”, and “such as”).

• Incorporate existing provisions regarding Zoning Map and District Boundaries.

• Revise regulations identifying the official Zoning Map; add provision identifying authoritative data source for locations and district boundaries.

• Incorporate existing provisions regarding Zoning Administrator’s authority to make cartographic interpretations of environmental resource maps and areas, including Mountainside Overlay District, Floodplain Overlay District, Steep Slopes Areas, and Limestone Overlay District; add River and Stream Corridor Resources to the existing list of environmental resources.

CHAPTER 2: ZONING DISTRICTS

CR R93ZO Articles 2 & 3 and Article 4, Divisions A & D

• Consolidate regulations for all Zoning Districts into one chapter, organized into the following categories: Urban Policy Area, Suburban Policy Area, Transition Policy Area, Rural Policy Area, Joint Land Management Area, and Countywide Zoning Districts, and a Planned Development Zoning District.

• Revise text regarding the purpose of, and regulations regarding the location of future rezonings to, non-Legacy Zoning Districts to be more consistent with the associated Place Types, Housing, Quality Development, and other applicable policies under the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (2019 GP).

• Relocate certain requirements from individual Zoning District regulations to other chapters/sections as follows:

• Use and accessory uses to Chapter 3: Uses.

• Use limitations for specific uses to Chapter 4: Use-Specific Standards.

• Regulations regarding site development; open space; tree planting, replacement, and preservation; landscaping, buffers and screening; streets tree; light, noise, and vibration; parking; transportation; utilities; and owners associations to Chapter 7: Development Standards.

• Signs to Chapter 8: Signs.

• Regulations regarding Unmet Housing Needs Units applicable to the Planned Development-Mixed Use Business (PD-MUB) Zoning District to Section 9.02, Unmet Housing Needs Program.

• Regulations regarding rezonings and concept plan amendments specifically applicable to the PDMUB, Planned Development–Transit Related Employment Center (PD-TREC), and Planned Development–Transit Related Center (PD-TRC) Zoning Districts to Section 11.10, Zoning Amendments.

• Regulations regarding special exceptions applicable to certain quarrying operations in the Mineral Resource-Heavy Industrial (MR-HI) Zoning District to Section 11.11, Special Exception Review.

• Establish new regulations for rezoning requests for incremental additions to existing zoning districts.

• Rename certain Zoning Districts by deleting “Planned Development” (“PD”) from the name.

• Delete the Planned Development-Countryside Village (PD-CV) Zoning District (R93ZO Section 4-900) and Route 28 Corridor Optional Overlay Districts (R93ZO Article 4, Division D).

• No property currently is mapped to PD-CV.

• Property that currently is mapped to a Route 28 Corridor Optional Overlay District will retain its designation on the Zoning Map.

Section 2.01 Urban Policy Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.01.01 Transit Related Center (TRC) Zoning District (currently Planned Development–Transit Related Center (PD-TRC))

CR R93ZO Section 4-1100

• Rename the PD-TRC Zoning District to TRC.

• Decrease minimum TRC size from 40 acres to 20 acres.

• Delete the 25-acre minimum size for incremental additions to the TRC.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and:

• Delete minimum lot size requirements applicable to single-family dwellings.

• Establish new maximum front yard requirements for the Inner and Outer Cores and TDSA.

• Delete maximum building height requirements in the Inner Core and Outer Core.

• Decrease maximum building height from 100 feet to 95 feet for multifamily and nonresidential uses and 50 feet for single-family dwelling units in the Transit-Designed Supportive (TDSA).

• Increase minimum permitted building height from 35 feet to 95 feet in the Inner Core subarea, and 25 feet to 70 feet in the Outer Core.

• Establish new minimum building heights of 50 feet for multifamily and nonresidential uses and 25 feet for single-family dwelling units in the TDSA.

• Establish new minimum floor area ratio (FAR) of 2.0 for the Inner Core and 1.4 for the Outer Core.

• Increase maximum FAR from 0.4 to 1.5 in the TDSA and establish new incentive elements to increase TDSA maximum FAR to 2.0.

• Amendments to TDSA maximum building height, TRC minimum building heights, and minimum FAR in the Inner and Outer Cores will apply to future rezonings to TRC and will not apply to properties currently mapped PD-TRC.

• Revise mix of uses requirements as follows:

• For the residential land-use category, revise Inner and Outer Core requirements from a minimum of 20% of gross land area to 40% to 60% of approved square feet (SF) within the Inner Core and 60% to 80% of approved SF within the Outer Core, and establish new TDSA requirements of 70% to 90% of approved SF for multifamily attached dwelling units, maximum 50% of land area for single-family attached and multifamily stacked dwelling units, and 5% of land area for single-family detached dwelling units.

• For the nonresidential land-use category, revise Inner and Outer Core requirements from minimums of 20% and 10% of gross land area for Office and Commercial Retail and Services, respectively, to a combined 40% to 60% of approved SF within the Inner Core and 20% to 40% of approved SF within the Outer Core, and establish new TDSA requirement of 10% to 30% of approved SF.

• For the Public/Civic land-use category, revise Inner and Outer Core requirements from a minimum of 20% of gross land area for Parks, Civic and Open Space to a minimum of 5% of approved SF within the Inner Core and 5% of approved SF within the Outer Core, and establish new TDSA requirement of a minimum 5% of approved SF.

• Require concept development plans associated with incremental additions to tabulate and show how proposed uses will maintain required mix of uses.

• Establish new vertical mix requirements for buildings to require that 70% of all buildings in the Inner Core, 50% of all buildings in the Outer Core, and 30% of all buildings (excluding single-family and multifamily stacked buildings) in the TDSA have a vertical mix of uses.

• Revise requirements regarding minimum percentage of block frontage that must contain pedestrian-oriented uses to specify use categories.

Legal Notices

• Revise road network requirements that apply in addition to road network requirements under Section 7.07.02 to provide requirements for vehicular connections to transit stations that used to apply only to the TDSA subarea to the entire TRC.

• Revise requirements for sidewalks and shared use paths that apply in addition to pedestrian and bicycle network requirements under Section 7.07.03 to provide requirements for connections to transit stations that used to apply only to the TDSA subarea to the entire TRC.

• Delete multifamily stacked, single-family attached, and single-family detached dwelling units as permitted uses in the Inner and Outer Cores.

• Delete use limitations for Ambulatory Retail/Food and Beverage Sales.

• Delete requirements for Final Development Plans (“FDP” or “FIDP”).

Section 2.01.02 Urban Employment (UE) Zoning District (currently Planned Development–Transit Related Employment Center (PD-TREC))

CR R93ZO Section 4-1000

• Rename the PD-TREC Zoning District to UE.

• No decrease to this Zoning District’s current permitted maximum FAR will result from these amendments.

• No property currently is mapped to PD-TREC.

• Delete the Inner Core and Outer Core subareas of PD-TREC.

• Decrease minimum district size from 40 acres to 20 acres.

• Revise requirements regarding incremental additions to the UE, including deleting the 25-acre minimum size.

•

Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and:

• Decrease maximum building height from no maximum to 100 feet.

• Decrease minimum permitted building height from 35 feet to 30 feet.

• Establish a minimum FAR of 1.0.

• Increase maximum FAR from 2.0 to no maximum FAR.

• Establish mix of uses requirements to permit up to 100% of the approved square footage to be for general nonresidential uses and/or public/civic uses.

• Revise open space requirements to provide requirements regarding the Broad Run Floodplain’s use to provide pedestrian connections and on-site amenities that apply in addition to open space requirements under Section 7.02.

• Revise requirements regarding minimum percentage of block frontage that must contain pedestrian-oriented uses to specify use categories.

• Revise road network requirements that apply in addition to road network requirements under Section 7.07.02 to provide requirements for vehicular, connections to transit stations that used to apply only to the Outer Core subarea to the entire UE.

• Revise pedestrian-oriented building orientation, placement, and uses requirements regarding organization of buildings regarding open space and the Broad Run Floodplain, minimum percentages of lot width that must be occupied by building walls and other features.

• Revise pedestrian and bicycle network requirements to provide requirements for sidewalks and shared use paths that apply in addition to pedestrian and bicycle network requirements under Section 7.07.03.

• Delete requirements regarding no maximum FAR on individual building lots, vertical mixes of uses in buildings, use limitations regarding Ambulatory Retail/Food and Beverage Sales; exemption from tree canopy requirements under Section 7.03 that previously would have applied to inner core subarea; and requirements for Final Development Plans (“FDP” or “FIDP”).

Section 2.02 Suburban Policy Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.02.01 Suburban Neighborhood-4, -6 (SN-4, SN-6) Zoning Districts

• Establish the new SN-4 and SN-6 Zoning Districts including a purpose statement and regulations regarding applicability of the SN-4 and SN-6 to the Suburban Neighborhood Place Type under the 2019 GP; dimensional standards, including lot, yard, building, and density requirements; mix of uses; dwelling unit type mix; lot access; garage design; and infill development.

Section 2.02.02 Suburban Compact Neighborhood-8, -16, -24 (SCN-8, SCN-16, SCN-24) Zoning Districts

• Establish the new SCN-8, SCN-16, and SCN-24 Zoning Districts including a purpose statement and regulations regarding applicability of the SCN-8, SCN-16, and SCN-24 to the Suburban Compact Neighborhood Place Type, or Suburban Neighborhood and Suburban Mixed Use Place Types if certain criteria are met, under the 2019 GP; dimensional standards, including lot, yard, building, and density requirements; mix of uses; dwelling unit type mix; lot access; garage design; and alternative location criteria for the SCN-8, SCN-16, and SCN-24 to be applicable to the Suburban Neighborhood and Suburban Mixed Use Place Types.

Section 2.02.03 Town Center (TC) Zoning District (currently Planned Development-Town Center (PD-TC))

CR R93ZO Section 4-800

• Rename the PD-TC Zoning District to TC.

• This amendment does not propose any decrease in permitted maximum FAR for property currently mapped PD-TC.

• Prohibit modification of permitted maximum size of TC.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into one table, and:

• Replace the minimum 10-foot yard for off-street surface parking within the Town Center Core with a requirement to provide a yard pursuant to Section 7.06.10.D and increase the minimum yard for off-street surface parking within the Town Center Fringe from 10 feet to 15 feet.

• Decrease maximum building height from 120 feet to 60 feet, and minimum building height from 24 feet to 15 feet for buildings 2,000 square feet or less.

• Decrease maximum FAR from no maximum to 1.0 and establish new incentive elements that may be used to increase maximum FAR to 1.5.

• Amendments to maximum and minimum building height and maximum FAR will only apply to future rezonings to TC and will not apply to properties currently mapped PD-TC.

• Consolidate mix of uses requirements into one table, and revise requirements for residential, nonresidential, and public/civic uses.

• Establish tabulation requirements to track mix of uses applicable to concept development plans and subdivision and site plan applications.

• Establish new vertical mix requirements including requiring ground floor pedestrian-oriented uses and incorporating drive-through facilities into mixed use buildings.

• Establish new open space requirements for incremental additions to the TC that apply in addition to open space requirements under Section 7.02.

• Establish new requirement for the Town Center Core regarding location of buildings and uses, orientation of primary facades, and access to principal entrances.

• Revise requirements regarding minimum percentage of block frontage that must contain pedestrian-oriented uses to specify use categories.

Section 2.02.04 Commercial Center-Neighborhood Center (CC-NC) and Commercial Center-Community Center (CC-CC) Zoning Districts (currently Planned Development-Commercial Center (Neighborhood Center) (PD-CC(NC) and Planned Development-Commercial Center (Community Center) (PD-CC(CC))

CR R93ZO Section 4-200

• Rename the PD-CC(NC) and PD-CC(CC) Zoning Districts to CC-NC and CC-CC, respectively.

• This amendment does not propose any decrease in permitted maximum FAR for property currently mapped PD-CC(NC) or PD-CC(CC).

• Separate existing PD-CC provisions into 1 section covering both CC-NC and CC-CC (described here) and 1 section covering both PD-CC(SC) and PD-CC(RC) (described later).

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and:

• Decrease minimum required yards adjacent to certain residential zoning districts and uses to 50 feet and establish minimum percentages of buildings required to along the minimum front yard.

• Establish new requirement for certain accessory uses in CC-NC to not be visible from the road.

• Establish new maximum size of individual uses, and special exception to increase maximum building height from 45 feet to 60 feet, for CC-CC.

• Increase maximum FAR to 0.6, with further increases up to 1.0 if a parking structure is provided.

• Establish new table for mix of uses requirements with requirements for nonresidential and public/civic uses.

• Establish transitions requirements for vehicular and pedestrian linkages that apply in addition to transitions requirements under Section 7.01.06.

Section

2.02.05

Legacy Suburban Policy Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.02.05.01 Single-Family Residential-1, -2, -3 (R-1, R-2, R-3) Zoning Districts

CR R93ZO Sections 3-100, 3-200, 3-300, 6-1400, 7-500 & 7-600

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of R-1, R-2, and R-3 beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate existing R-1, R-2, and R-3 regulations into one section.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, building, and density requirements into 1 table.

• Rename the cluster development options for reducing lot size up to 20% and reducing lot sizes 20% to 50% to Cluster and Compact Cluster, respectively.

• Incorporate existing cluster, suburban, or traditional design subdivision option requirements from R93ZO Section 6-1400, and R93ZO R-2 and R-3 Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) development zoning district regulations.

Section 2.02.05.02 Single-Family Residential-4 (R-4) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 3-400, 6-1400 & 7-700

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of R-4 beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Rename the cluster development options for reducing lot size up to 20% and reducing lot sizes 20% to 50% to Cluster and Compact Cluster, respectively.

• Incorporate existing cluster, suburban, or traditional design subdivision option requirements from existing Section 6-1400, and R93ZO R-4 ADU development zoning district regulations.

Section 2.02.05.03 Single-Family Residential-8 (R-8) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Sections 3-500 & 7-800

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of R-8 beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and establish new maximum height for multifamily dwelling units.

• Incorporate existing R-8 ADU development zoning district regulations.

• Delete size and location requirements for R-8.

Section 2.02.05.04 Townhouse/Multifamily Residential (R-16) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Sections 3-600 & 7-900

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of R-16 beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and establish new minimum width for single-family attached quadruplex dwelling units and maximum height for SFD manufactured dwelling units.

• Incorporate existing R-16 ADU development zoning district regulations.

• Delete size and location requirements for R-16, and the traditional design option for single-family attached dwelling units.

Legal Notices

Section 2.02.05.05

Multifamily Residential (R-24) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Sections 3-700 & 7-1000

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of R-24 beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Incorporate existing R-24 ADU development zoning district regulations.

• Delete size and location requirements for R-24.

Section 2.02.05.06 Planned Development-Housing (PD-H) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 4-100

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of PD-H beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Revise certain use names for those uses that are be permitted by-right if identified on the Concept Development Plan and delete “Non-commercial recreation facilities” from this list.

• Revise Timing of Development provisions.

Section 2.02.05.07 Planned Development-Commercial Center (Small Regional Center) and (Regional Center) (PD-CC(SC) and PD-CC(RC)) Zoning Districts

CR R93ZO Section 4-200

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of PD-CC(SC) and PD-CC(RC) beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Separate existing PD-CC provisions into 1 section covering both PD-CC(SC) and PD-CC(RC)CC (described here) and 1 section covering both CC-NC and CC-CC (described previously).

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

Section 2.02.05.08

Planned Development-Research and Development Park (PD-RDP)

CR R93ZO Section 4-400

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of PD-RDP beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Establish new exemption for data center uses from certain road network requirements under Section 7.07.02.

• Delete size and location requirements.

Section 2.02.05.09 Planned Development-Special Activity (PD-SA)

CR R93ZO Section 4-700

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of PD-SA beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Delete size and location requirements.

Section

2.02.05.10

Planned Development-Active Adult/Age Restricted (PD-AAAR)

CR R93ZO Section 4-1300

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of PD-AAAR beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Delete size and location requirements.

Section 2.02.05.11 Planned Development-Mixed Use Business (PD-MUB)

CR R93ZO Section 4-1350

• Revise regulations to prohibit the expansion of PD-MUB beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Consolidate minimum use percentages into 1 table.

• Revise minimum public plaza size for PD-MUB zoning districts greater than 100 acres to exclude major floodplain from calculation of total land area.

• Delete size and location requirements.

Section 2. 02.05.12 General Business (GB)

CR R93ZO Section 3-800

• Revise regulations to prohibit the expansion of GB beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

•

Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

Section 2. 02.05.13 Commercial Light Industrial (CLI)

CR R93ZO Section 3-900

• Revise regulations to prohibit the expansion of CLI beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

•

Delete auxiliary uses requirements (uses previously listed as auxiliary uses have been reclassified as permitted principal uses in CLI).

Section 2.03 Transition Policy Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.03.01 Transitional Residential-10, -3, -1 (TR-10, TR-3, TR-1) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Sections 2-1400, 2-1500, 2-1700 & 5-701

• Consolidate existing TR-10, TR-3, and TR-1 regulations into one section, and incorporate existing Transition (TR) Districts Lot Standards from R93ZO Section 5-701.

• This amendment does not propose any decrease in permitted or approved maximum density/FAR for property currently mapped TR-10, TR-3, or TR-1.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and clarify 40-foot maximum building height.

• Revise siting of the open space and building lot requirements to permit subdivisions creating 4 or fewer

lots to locate open space on lots if subject to an appropriate easement.

• Delete language specifying site layout of lot areas and open space is to occur during review of the preliminary plat of subdivision.

• Delete requirements to locate building lots to reduce visibility from public rights of way and other groups of building lots.

Section 2.03.02 Transition Small Lot Neighborhood (TSN) Zoning District

• Establish the new TSN Zoning District including a purpose statement and regulations regarding applicability of the TSN to the Transition Small Lot Neighborhood Place Type under the 2019 GP; minimum district size; incremental additions; dimensional standards, including lot, yard, building, FAR, and density requirements; mix of uses; lot standards, including lot yield and grouping; open space and building lot siting; and recognizing protections of the Right to Farm Act.

Section 2.03.03 Transition Compact Neighborhood (TCN) Zoning District

• Establish the new TCN Zoning District including a purpose statement and regulations regarding applicability of the TCN to the Transition Small Lot Neighborhood Place Type under the 2019 GP; minimum district size; incremental additions; dimensional standards, including lot, yard, building, FAR, and density requirements; mix of uses; lot yield; open space and building lot siting; and lot access that apply in addition to lot access requirements under Section 7.07.01.

Section 2.03.04 Transition Community Center (TCC) Zoning District

• Establish the new TCC zoning district including a purpose statement and regulations regarding applicability of the TCC to the Transition Community Center Place Type under the 2019 GP; minimum district size; incremental additions; dimensional standards, including lot, yard, building, FAR, and density requirements; mix of uses; district vehicular access that apply in in addition to lot access requirements under Section 7.07.01; transition standards that apply in in addition to transitions requirements under Section 7.01.06; and open space and building lot siting.

Section 2.03.05 Legacy Transition Policy Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.03.05.01 Transitional Residential-2 (TR-2) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 2-1600 & 5-701

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of TR-2 beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Incorporate and consolidate existing Transition (TR-2) Districts Lot Standards from R93ZO Section 5-701.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and clarify 40-foot maximum building height.

• Revise siting of the open space and building lots requirements to permit subdivisions creating less than 5 lots to locate open space on lots if subject to an appropriate easement.

• Delete requirement for site layout of lot areas and open space to occur during review of the preliminary plat of subdivision.

Section 2.04 Rural Policy Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.04.01 Agricultural Rural-1 (AR-1) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 2-100

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, building, and density requirements into 1 table

• Upon adoption by the Board of Supervisors, incorporate provisions of Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOAM)-2020-0002, Prime Agricultural Soil and Cluster Subdivisions.

Section 2.03.02 Agricultural Rural-2 (AR-2) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 2-200

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, building, and density requirements into 1 table.

• Upon adoption by the Board of Supervisors, incorporate provisions of ZOAM-2020-0002, Prime Agricultural Soil and Cluster Subdivisions.

Section 2.04.03 Legacy Rural Policy Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.04.03.01 Agricultural-10 (A-10) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 2-300

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, building, and density requirements into 1 table and reduce minimum lot width for standard and cluster developments.

Section 2.04.03.02 Agricultural Residential (A-3) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 2-400

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, building, and density requirements into 1 table, and reduce minimum lot width.

Section 2.04.03.03 Countryside Residential-1, -2, -3, -4 (CR-1, CR-2, CR-3, CR-4) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Sections 2-500, 2-600, 2-700 & 2-800

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of CR beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate existing R93ZO CR-1, CR-2, CR-3, and CR-4 provisions into 1 section.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Incorporate existing CR-2, CR-3, and CR-4 ADU development zoning district regulations.

• Establish new road network requirements that apply in addition to road network requirements under Section 7.07.02.

Legal Notices

Section 2.04.03.04 Rural Commercial (RC) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 2-900

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of RC beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Revise requirement for roads and blocks to have a general rectilinear pattern to apply only to RC that also is in a Village Conservation Overlay District (VCOD) with roads and blocks that have a general rectilinear pattern.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

Section 2.04.03.05 Planned Development-Rural Village (PD-RV) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 4-1200

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of PD-RV beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Delete size and location requirements and use limitation that prohibits dangerous or noxious workplace uses.

Section 2.04.03.06 Rural Hamlet

CR R93ZO Section 5-702

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table.

• Delete provisions governing the application of rural hamlet regulations where there are conflicts with general zoning, subdivision, or other regulations and requirements.

Section 2.05 Joint Land Management Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.05.01 Joint Land Management Area-1, -2, -3 (JLMA-1, JLMA-2, JLMA-3) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Sections 2-1000, 2-1100 & 2-1200

• Consolidate existing JLMA-1, JLMA-2, and JLMA-3 provisions into 1 section.

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of JLMA-1, JLMA-2, and JLMA-3 beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, building, and density requirements into 1 table, and establish new maximum lot coverage requirements and density increases if affordable dwelling units are provided.

• Revise Compatibility Standards to prohibit areas for loading, delivery, and collection of refuse for nonresidential uses between the nonresidential use and an adjoining residential use.

• Establish new road network requirements that apply in addition to road network requirements under Section 7.07.02.

• Delete provisions regarding Alternate Neighborhood Development Standards and providing public street connections to adjacent developable land every 660 feet.

Section 2.05.02 Legacy Joint Land Management Area Zoning Districts

Section 2.05.02.01 Joint Land Management Area-20 (JLMA-20) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 2-1300

• Revise regulations to prohibit expansion of JLMA-20 beyond currently mapped zoning district boundaries.

Section 2.06 Countywide Zoning Districts

Section 2.06.01 Office Park (OP) Zoning District (currently Planned Development-Office Park (PDOP))

CR R93ZO Section 4-300

• Rename the PD-OP Zoning District to OP.

• This amendment does not propose any decrease in permitted maximum FAR for property currently mapped PD-OP.

• Delete the 1-acre minimum size for incremental additions to the OP.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and decrease the yard for buildings adjacent to roads from 35 feet to 30 feet and increase the yard for parking adjacent to roads from 25 feet to 30 feet.

• Establish new table for mix of uses requirements with requirements for nonresidential and public/civic uses.

• Establish a new exemption for data center uses from the road network requirements under Section 7.07.02.

Section 2.06.02 Industrial Park (IP) Zoning District (currently Planned Development-Industrial Park (PD-IP))

CR R93ZO Section 4-500

• Rename the PD-IP Zoning District to IP.

• This amendment does not propose any decrease in permitted maximum FAR for property currently mapped PD-IP.

• Decrease minimum district size from 20 acres to 10 acres.

• Delete the 1-acre minimum size for incremental additions to the IP.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and decrease the yard for buildings adjacent to roads from 35 feet to 30 feet and increase the yard for parking adjacent to roads from 25 feet to 30 feet.

• Establish new table for mix of uses with requirements for nonresidential and public/civic uses.

• Establish a new exemption for data center uses from the road network requirements under Section 7.07.02.

• Rename the PD-GI Zoning District to GI.

• This amendment does not propose any decrease in permitted maximum FAR for property currently mapped PD-GI.

• Delete the 1-acre minimum size for incremental additions to the GI.

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and:

• Revise minimum 1 acre lot size to be exclusive of major floodplain.

• Decrease the yard for buildings adjacent to roads from 35 feet to 30 feet and increase the yard for parking adjacent to roads from 25 feet to 30 feet.

• Increase maximum building height from 45 feet to 50 feet.

• Establish new table for mix of uses with requirements for nonresidential and public/civic uses.

• Establish a new exemption for data center uses from road network requirements under Section 7.07.02.

Section 2.06.04 Mineral Resource-Heavy Industry (MR-HI) Zoning District

CR R93ZO Section 3-1000

• Consolidate dimensional standards for lots, yards, and building requirements into 1 table, and increase the minimum yard adjacent to agricultural and residential zoning district or residential uses from 50 feet to 100 feet.

• Establish new table for mix of uses with requirements for nonresidential and public/civic uses.

• Establish a new exemption for extractive industry uses from the road network requirements under Section 7.07.02.

Section 2.07 Planned Unit Development (PUD) Zoning District

• Establish the new PUD zoning district that allows planned developments that implement the policies of the 2019 GP and could not otherwise develop under another zoning district, including a purpose statement and regulations regarding creation of the PUD through a rezoning in accordance with Sections 11.10.01 and 11.10.09; authorization to impose associated conditions, safeguards, and restrictions; and size, composition, building type, lot, yard, use, density or FAR, and open space requirements for the PUD.

CHAPTER 3: USES

• Consolidate use tables and general regulations for Principal Uses, Accessory Uses, and Temporary Uses for all zoning districts into a single chapter.

Section 3.01

Uses Generally

• Explain the organization of principal Use Tables to include Use Classifications, Use Categories and specific Uses.

• Clarify the number of principal uses permitted on each lot and the minimum lot size requirements when multiple principal uses are located on the same lot.

• Clarify process for Zoning Administrator to determine whether a use not specifically identified in Chapter 3 may be permitted.

• Incorporate existing provision exempting Stream Restoration and Wetland Mitigation from zoning district regulations (R93ZO Section 1-103(D)(3)); clarify that Floodplain Overlay District, Mountainside Overlay District, Limestone Overlay District, and Natural and Environmental Resources regulations in Chapters 5 and 6 do apply.

Section 3.02

•

Use Tables

Establish five use tables for all principal uses, organized as follows:

• 3.02.01 Urban and Suburban Policy Area Zoning Districts

• 3.02.02 Legacy Suburban Policy Area Zoning Districts

• 3.02.03 Transition, Rural, and JLMA Policy Area Zoning Districts

• 3.02.04 Legacy Transition, Rural, and JLMA Policy Area Zoning Districts

• 3.02.05 Countywide Zoning Districts

• Consolidate and/or rename existing uses. A spreadsheet identifying the uses included in the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments with cross-references to the prior use name under the R93ZO (“Uses Crosswalk”) will be available for public inspection along with the proposed Zoning Ordinance text.

• Revise permissibility of certain land uses, as follows:

• Reclassify auxiliary uses in the PD-OP, PD-IP, PD-GI, and CLI zoning districts to principal uses.

• Reclassify listed accessory uses in the MR-HI, RC, GB, PD-CC(NC), PD-CC(CC), PD-CC(SC), PD-CC(RC), PD-RDP, PD-GI, PD-RV, and PD-TRC zoning districts to principal uses.

• Remove “Cohousing” as a permitted use in the AR-1 and AR-2 zoning districts.

• Remove Magazine contained explosives facility as a use permitted by Special Exception in the A-3 zoning district.

• Remove Stockpiling of dirt as a use permitted by Special Exception in the AR-1 and AR-2 zoning districts.

• Remove Dwelling, single-family detached, and Dwelling, single-family attached, as uses permitted in the PD-TRC Outer Core Subarea.

• Remove Car wash, accessory to convenience store, in the TRC and RDP zoning districts.

• Remove retail sales accessory to residential in the PD-RV zoning district and address this use as a Home Occupation.

• Add Dwelling, single-family attached as a use permitted in the R-2, R-3, and R-4 zoning districts, not to exceed 35% of the total number of dwelling units in a development.

• Add Dwelling, multifamily as a use permitted in the R-8 zoning district, not to exceed 50% of the total number of dwelling units in a development.

• Add Continuing care facility as a use permitted in CC (NC) and CC (CC).

• Add Contractor as a use permitted in TRC, UE, TC, CC (NC), PD-CC (SC), PD-CC (RC), PDMUB, GB, TCC.

General Industry (GI) Zoning District (currently Planned Development-General Industry (PD-GI))

Section 2.06.03

CR R93ZO Section 4-600

Legal Notices

• Add Building and landscaping materials supplier as a use permitted in MR-HI and permitted by Special Exception in GI.

• Add Energy storage as a use permitted by Special Exception in MR-HI and GI.

• Add Maintenance and repair services as a use permitted in IP and GI.

• Add Ground passenger transportation (e.g., taxi, charter bus) as a use permitted by Special Exception in TRC Outer Core and GI.

• Add Auction facility, livestock as a use permitted by Special Exception in AR-1 and AR-2.

• Add Convenience store (with gasoline sales) as a use permitted by Special Exception in OP, IP, and MR-HI.

• Add School, technical/trade as a use permitted by Special Exception in IP and GI.

• Add Entertainment facility as a use permitted by Special Exception in PD-CC (SC), PD-CC (RC), TC Core, and TC Fringe.

• Add Dog park as a use permitted by Special Exception in TC Fringe.

• Change Nursery, production from a Special Exception use to a permitted use in TR-10, TR-3, TSN, JLMA-1, JLMA-2, JLMA-3, A-10, A-3, and CR-1.

• Change Hotel/Motel from a Special Exception use to a permitted use in PD-CC (SC) and PD-CC (RC).

• Change Child day care from a Special Exception use to a permitted use in IP, R-1, R-2, R-4, R-8, R-16, R-24, and GB.

• Change Community center from a Special Exception use to a permitted use in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-8, R-16, R-24.

• Change Library from a Special Exception use to a permitted use in R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-8, R-16, R-24, CLI.

Section 3.03 Accessory Uses

CR R93ZO Sections 5-100 & 5-400

• Identify all permitted accessory uses and structures in a single table.

• Incorporate and relocate existing Use Limitations for accessory uses into one section.

• Establish new regulations regarding Donation Drop-off Boxes, retail sales accessory to industrial uses, vehicle parking, accessory vehicle service, mobile vendors, and outdoor sales.

Section 3.04 Temporary Uses

CR R93ZO Section 5-500

• Incorporate existing provisions regarding Temporary Uses with revisions:

• Revise criteria for temporary special event permits, including to clarify permissible locations.

• Relocate procedures and approval criteria for temporary zoning/special event permits to Section 11.04.

• Remove the sketch plan requirement for Temporary/Fire Rescue Stations and only require a zoning permit exhibit to show satisfaction of setback criteria.

• Establish a new exemption from the requirement to obtain a temporary zoning permit for temporary special events held in required publicly accessible gathering spaces in the TRC, TC, and PD-MUB Zoning Districts.

CHAPTER 4: USE SPECIFIC STANDARDS

• Establish new chapter prescribing standards and regulations for specific Uses; organized by Use Classifications.

• Incorporate standards for specific Uses from R93ZO Section 5-600 with revisions to some standards as described below and otherwise to reflect consolidation of uses or change in use names.

• Remove standards for uses no longer allowed in the Zoning Ordinance or for which Use Specific Standards no longer apply, including Magazine Contained Explosive Facilities, Airport/Landing Strip, Cross-Country Ski Business and Eco-Tourism, and Business Service Establishment (R93ZO Sections 5-622, 5-633, 5-647, 5-661).

• Establish use-specific standards for the following uses:

• Live/Work Dwelling (Section 4.02.04)

• Multifamily Dwelling Units (Section 4.02.10)

• Guest Farm or Ranch (Section 4.03.04)

• Automobile Car Sharing (Section 4.04.04)

• Business Support Services (Section 4.04.07)

• Feed and Farm Supply Center (Section 4.04.15)

• Personal Services (Section 4.04.18)

• Vehicle Repair, Light (Section 4.04.23)

• Recreation (Section 4.05.16)

• Outdoor Storage (Section 4.06.07)

• Research and Development (Section 4.06.08)

• Parking Facility (Section 4.07.01)

• Solar Facilities (Section 4.07.04)

• Agriculture, Bona Fide (Section 4.08.01)

• Stable or Livery (Section 4.08.06)

• Stable, Private (Section 4.08.07)

• Delete requirements for Landscaping/Buffering/Screening, Exterior Lighting, Noise, Parking, and Road Access that are located in Chapter 7: Development Standards; certain unique standards have been retained in Chapter 4.

• Delete requirements for signs that have been relocated to Chapter 8: Signs.

Section 4.01 Purpose and Applicability

CR R93ZO Section 5-600

• Confirm that Use-Specific Standards apply in addition to all other applicable standards, may be modified by minor special exception unless otherwise specified, and are subject to any applicable proffers or conditions of approval.

Section 4.02.01 Accessory Dwellings

CR R93ZO Section 5-613

• Establish that accessory dwellings are not included in density calculations, attached accessory dwelling are subject to yard requirements for principal structure, and accessory dwellings in PD-RV Village Center Commercial Workplace Areas must be above ground-floor.

Section 4.02.02 Continuing Care Facility

CR R93ZO Section 3-907(P)

• Relocate existing regulations from CLI Zoning District regulations for standards applicable to continuing care facilities within that zoning district.

Section 4.02.05 Manufactured Homes

CR R93ZO Section 5-620

• Delete standard for RV storage area on a separate lot.

Section 4.02.08 Dormitory, Seasonal Labor

CR R93ZO Section 5-632

• Reduce setback from offsite single family detached dwellings from 300 feet to 100 feet.

Section 4.02.09

Single-Family Dwelling Units

CR R93ZO Sections 4-809(G), 4-1111(G) & 4-1358(I)

• Limit single-family attached townhouse structures to no more than 8 units in a row.

• Revise standards for single family dwelling units located in the TRC, TC, and PD-MUB Zoning Districts.

• Establish new regulation limiting the types of single-family attached dwellings in the TCN Zoning District to duplex, triplex and quadraplex units.

Section 4.02.11 Tenant Dwellings

CR R93ZO Section 5-602

• Revise regulations to add AR-1 and AR-2 to the list of zoning districts in which tenant dwellings may be located on an open space parcel

Section 4.03.01 Bed and Breakfast Homestay, Bed and Breakfast Inn, Country Inn and Rural Resorts

CR R93ZO Section 5-601

• Clarify that owner or manager of Bed and Breakfast Inn or Country Inn must be onsite at all times when premises is occupied by overnight guests or private party attendees.

• Clarify that only one Bed and Breakfast Inn or Country Inn use type is permitted on a lot in the AR-1, AR-2 and A-3 Zoning Districts.

Section 4.03.02 Camp, Day and Boarding

CR R93ZO Section 5-645

• Delete separate standard for minimum lot area standard for camps with less than 15 campers. This requirement is included within the standard for camps with up to 30 campers.

Section 4.03.03 Campgrounds

CR R93ZO Section 5-646

• Revise communication standard to reflect current forms of communication.

Section 4.03.05 Hotel/Motel

CR R93ZO Section 5-611

• Establish exception standard for direct access in TRC, TC and PD-MUB Zoning Districts.

• Revise separation standards to require Buffer Type B and minimum width of 100 feet between Hotel/ Motel and zoning districts allowing residential use, except in TRC, TC, PD-AAAR, and PD-MUB Zoning Districts; delete separation standards for agricultural and institutional uses.

• Revise standards that apply to Hotels/Motels in the OP and IP districts to apply to the TC and RDP districts also.

• Revise regulation to allow use by Special Exception when Hotel/Motel does not meet standards for certain amenities in TC, RDP, OP and IP Zoning Districts.

• Establish standards for Hotel/Motel uses located in the TRC, UE, TC, and PD-MUB Zoning Districts.

Section 4.04.01 Animal Hospital

CR R93ZO Section 5-631

• Revise standards to apply to the animal hospitals in the UE and RC Zoning Districts and exclude the animal hospitals in the GI district.

• Establish standards for animal hospitals in the UE district.

Section 4.04.02 Antique Shop, Art Gallery, Studio or Craft Shop

CR R93ZO Section 5-650

• Revise standards to apply to antique shop, art gallery, studio or craft shop uses in the CLI Zoning District.

Section 4.04.03 Auction House

CR R93ZO Section 5-651 & 4-1358(E)

• Relocate standards for auction house use in the PD-MUB district to Chapter 4 and establish such standards for the TC and TRC districts.

Legal Notices

Section 4.04.05

Banquet/Event Facility

CR R93ZO Section 5-642, 3-903 & 3-904

• Revise standards to exclude use-specific standards for banquet/events facility use within the TC Zoning District

• Relocate standards to Chapter 4 for the CLI district.

Section 4.04.08.

Child Day Care and Child Day Home

CR R93ZO Section 5-609

• Revise minimum lot size standard for child day homes of more than 9 children.

• Delete requirement for site plan submittal.

• Establish maximum number of children for child day care in the TSN, TCN, and TCC Zoning Districts.

Section 4.04.09

Nursery, Commercial and Production

CR R93ZO Section 5-605

• Revise standard for area dedicated to production for production nurseries.

Section 4.04.11

Craft Beverage Manufacturing

CR R93ZO Section 5-668

• Establish standards for small-scale brewery manufacturing and small-scale distillery manufacturing.

• Establish standard for hours of operation.

Section 4.04.12

Drive-through Facilities

CR R93ZO Section 5-659

• Revise standards to include drive-through facilities associated with restaurants and other retail uses.

• Establish standard requiring a special exception in the TRC, TC, and PD-MUB Zoning Districts.

Section 4.04.14. Farm Markets

CR R93ZO Section 5-603

• Revise standard for minimum percentage of products made in Loudoun County.

• Revise standard method for calculating parking.

Section 4.04.16

Kennels/Indoor Kennels

CR R93ZO Section 5-606 & 4-607(H)

• Delete general standards for kennels and indoor kennels and relocated to definitions.

• Consolidate standard for setback of buildings adjacent to residentially zoned property within the GI Zoning District.

Section 4.04.19 Restaurant

CR R93ZO Section 5-643

• Revise standard requiring approval of a minor special exception.

Section 4.04.20

Small Business, Agricultural, and Rural

CR R93ZO Section 5-614

• Revise the minimum setback for all structures or storage yards used for the storage of heavy equipment from all lot lines adjacent to existing residential dwellings.

• Delete standard requiring submittal of a sketch plan.

Section 4.04.22

Vehicle Repair, Heavy

CR R93ZO Section 4-607(J)

• Relocate standards to Chapter 4 and establish for all zoning districts.

Section 4.05.01

Amphitheater

CR R93ZO Section 5-649

• Revise standards to apply to the Amphitheater use in the PD-MUB, TSN, TCN, TCC, and TC Zoning Districts.

• Permit capacity to exceed 2,000 by Special Exception in the PD-MUB and TC districts.

Section 4.05.03

Agricultural Education or Research

CR R93ZO Section 5-644

• Revise standards to apply to use in the AR-1, AR-2, and JLMA-20 Zoning Districts.

Section 4.05.04 Assembly

CR R93ZO Section 5-639

• Revise standards to apply to use in all zoning districts.

• Establish standard for when to require special exception approval in the AR, JLMA, TR-10, TRC, UE, GI, PD-RDP, GB, and RC Zoning Districts.

• Establish limit of maximum area for storage yards.

• Revise minimum setback standards for parking from 50 feet to 100 feet.

Section 4.05.08 Death Care Services

CR R93ZO Sections 5-637 & 5-658

• Revise standards for general setbacks and setbacks from residences.

• Establish standard for providing sufficient car stacking on-site to form funeral processions.

• Consolidate standards for cemetery, mausoleum, crematorium and funeral home uses.

Section 4.05.10

Farm Based Tourism

CR R93ZO Section 5-628

• Revise standard for hours of operation.

Section 4.05.12 Health and Fitness Centers

CR R93ZO Section 4-607(K)

• Relocate standards to Chapter 4 and establish for all zoning districts.

• Establish standards for massage services as an accessory use.

Section 4.05.14 Private Schools

CR R93ZO Sections 5-623 and 5-655

• Revise and consolidate standards for permitted zoning districts and notification.

Section 4.05.17 Rural Retreat

CR R93ZO Section 5-619

• Establish standards for hours or operation, adaptive reuse, and sewer and water.

• Delete standard for requirement of a sketch plan.

Section 4.05.18 Schools, Public (Elementary, Middle or High)

CR R93ZO Section 5-666

• Revise standards for by-right and special exception approval.

• Establish standard for trails in the GI Zoning District.

• Revise standards for setbacks for principal buildings from Agricultural or Residential zoning districts and from Industrial/Commercial/Office zoning districts.

• Revise standards for secondary access and traffic impact analysis.

• Establish standards for principal vehicular and emergency access within the GI Zoning District.

Section 4.06.01 Contractor

CR R93ZO Section 5-662

• Revise contractor allowance in the RC Zoning District from lawn and landscape contractors to all contractors, subject to a prohibition on outdoor storage.

• Establish standards for outdoor storage and parking for contractor vehicles.

Section 4.06.02 Data Center

CR R93ZO Section 5-664

• Revise regulations for Data Center uses, including provisions regarding architectural design standards, principal building facades, mechanical equipment screening, site design elements, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, landscaping, lighting, noise, environmental considerations, setbacks, step-backs, variation in height, and additional requirements. Amendments include new regulations and revisions to and deletions of existing regulations. Additional amendments to the proposed text regarding data center uses as a result of Planning Commission hearings and deliberations are anticipated.

Section 4.06.03 Extractive Industries

CR R93ZO Section 3-1005 through 3-1008 & 5-1506

• Consolidate, relocate, and revise standards for Stone Quarrying, Extraction, and Mining and standards for Mineral Resource Extraction and Processing.

Section 4.06.04

Flex Buildings

CR R93ZO Section 5-608

• Revise standard for gross floor area of each building dedicated for Industrial/Production uses.

• Delete standards for maximum height requirement.

• Establish standards for uses permitted within flex buildings.

Section 4.06.05 Manufacturing, General

CR R93ZO Sections 4-809(E) and 4-1358(J)

• Relocate and consolidate standards for Manufacturing, General applicable to the TC and PD-MUB Zoning Districts.

Section 4.06.06 Mini-Warehouse

CR R93ZO Sections 4-507(K) PD-IP, 4-809(C), 4-1111(F), 4-1358(G) and 5-665

• Consolidate and relocate the standards for mini-warehouse uses.

• Revise standards to apply to mini-warehouses in TRC, IP, TC, PD-MUB, GB, and PD-RV Zoning Districts.

Section 4.06.09 Sawmills

CR R93ZO Section 5-629

• Revise minimum lot sizes based on level of use.

• Revise maximum permitted size of storage yards.

• Establish standard for setback of buildings adjacent to residential zoned property within the GI zoning district.

Section 4.06.10 Wholesale Distribution, Warehousing, and Storage

CR R93ZO Section 5-663

• Revise standard to reference the wholesale distribution, warehousing, and storage use.

Section 4.07.02 Public Utilities

CR R93ZO Sections 5-621 and 4-607(H)

• Consolidate standard for setback of buildings adjacent to residentially zoned property within the GI Zoning District.

Section 4.07.05

Stockpiling

Legal Notices

CR R93ZO Section 5-657

• Revise standards for siting in environmentally sensitive areas.

Section 4.07.06 Telecommunications Facility

CR R93ZO Section 5-618

• Delete standard for commercial advertising on structures.

Section 4.07.07 Utility Substations

CR R93ZO Section 5-616

• Consolidate the standards for minimum lot size of utility substation, transmission, and distribution uses.

Section 4.08.05 Brewery, Limited

CR R93ZO Section 5-667

• Delete standard requiring submittal of a sketch plan.

• Establish standards for permitted location of limited brewery uses.

• Establish standards for intensity and character of limited brewery uses.

Section 4.08.09 Winery, Commercial

CR R93ZO Section 5-625

• Establish standards for associated uses

• Establish standard for special exception approval for facilities over 20,000 square feet.

Section 4.09

Adaptive Reuse

• Relocated from Chapter 10 as advertised in the notice for the August 30, 2022, public hearing

• Revise standards for eligibility.

CHAPTER 5: OVERLAY DISTRICTS

Section 5.01

General Provisions of Overlay Districts

• Consolidate regulations for all Overlay Districts into a single chapter.

• Relocate provisions regarding interpretation of Overlay District map features and Overlay District boundaries to Chapter 1, and additional procedures and submission requirements applicable to Overlay Districts to Chapter 11.

• Relocate all definitions applicable to Overlay Districts to Chapter 13, except for definitions specific to Floodplain Overlay District under Section 5.03.

• Clarify that uses in underlying zoning districts are subject to the additional regulations, restrictions, and prohibitions of Overlay Districts.

Section 5.02 Airport Impact Overlay District (AIOD) (currently abbreviated as AI)

CR R93ZO Section 4-1400

• Incorporate existing AIOD provisions.

• Upon adoption by the Board of Supervisors, incorporate amendments to AIOD reflected in ZOAM2021-0002, Airport Impact Overlay District.

Section 5.03 Floodplain Overlay District (FOD)

CR R93ZO Section 4-1500

• Incorporate existing FOD provisions.

Section 5.04 Mountainside Overlay District (MOD) (currently Mountainside Development Overlay District (MDOD))

CR R93ZO Section 4-1600

• Establish new mountainside resource protection provisions including setback requirements applicable to ridgelines and springs within which uses are not permitted, requirements regarding submission of exhibits depicting of such setbacks and buildable areas with subdivision applications, and certain exemptions from setback requirements for fences, trails and passive recreation facilities, restoration and revegetation, and construction of single family dwellings on lots in existence as of the adoption date of this Zoning Ordinance.

• Replace exemption from MOD for certain agricultural, horticultural, forestry, or silvicultural uses with an exemption for Bona Fide Agriculture.

• Revise Performance Standards in Somewhat Sensitive and Sensitive Areas and in Highly Sensitive Areas to require special exception approval for the subdivision of land into 3 or more lots and decrease maximum centerline grade for private roads and driveways to 14%.

• Prohibit extractive industry uses within the MOD.

Section 5.05 Limestone Overlay District (LOD)

CR R93ZO Section 4-1900

• Replace exemption from LOD for certain agricultural operations and forestry and silviculture with an exemption for Bona Fide Agriculture.

• Revise Karst/Sensitive Environmental Feature Setback requirements to be provided as 1 table and establish a new 50-foot setback for certain underground solution channels.

Section 5.06 Quarry Notification Overlay District (QNOD) (currently abbreviated as QN)

CR R93ZO Section 4-1800

• Incorporate existing QN provisions.

Section 5.07 Village Conservation Overlay District (VCOD)

CR R93ZO Section 4-2100

• Revise regulations regarding district boundaries to replace the reference to “Aldie Mountain” with a reference to “Bowmantown (also known as Aldie Mountain)”, and expansion of VCOD boundaries to

permit such expansion only in areas designated as the Rural Historic Village Place Type of the 2019 GP.

• Revise VCOD development standards as follows:

• Reduce existing maximum building height from 50% to 25% of the average height of principal buildings within a certain distance of the lot(s) being developed.

• Establish new buildings features requirements regarding consistency of certain building design elements with existing buildings within a certain distance of the lot(s) being developed.

• Establish new building area requirements for size of proposed buildings to be within 50% of the average size of existing buildings within a certain distance of the lot(s) being developed.

• Replace existing front yard requirement with requirement for buildings to be set back from front lot lines a distance within 25% of the distance that existing buildings are set back from front lot lines within a certain distance of the lot(s) being developed.

• Establish new side and rear yard requirements for buildings to be set back from side and rear lot lines a distance within 50% of the distance that existing buildings are set back from front lot lines within a certain distance of the lot(s) being developed.

• Establish new 25% increase of maximum lot coverage for existing nonconforming lots for the purpose of constructing an addition to an existing principal building or an accessory building.

• Establish new maximum lot size requirement that does not permit the size of a new lot to be greater than the largest existing lot along the same road as and within a certain distance of the new lot.

• Establish new variation of lot sizes and dimensions requirements regarding lot widths for new lots.

• Establish new garage standards regarding requirement for garages to be detached from the principal building and maximum width and height of garage door openings.

• Establish new connections to existing roads requirements regarding road design to avoid dead ends and culs-de-sac and regulated natural resources, and road network and block lengths for certain new developments.

Section 5.08 Historic Overlay District (HOD) (currently Historic Districts (HD))

CR R93ZO Sections 6-1800 and 6-1900

• Consolidate Historic District procedures and regulations into one section.

• Revise provisions as follows:

• Permit demolition of non-contributing site elements as a minor action that may receive Certificate of Appropriateness-Administrative for Minor Actions (CAPA) approval.

• Delete requirement regarding recordation of resolutions approving zoning map amendments related to HOD boundary changes in the Circuit Court land records.

CHAPTER 6: NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES (NER)

• Establish a new Chapter that incorporates existing Steep Slopes Standards and establishes new regulations regarding river and stream corridor resources.

Section 6.01 River and Stream Corridor Resources (RSCR)

CR R93ZO Section 5-1000

• Replace existing regulations regarding the Scenic Creek Valley Buffer with new regulations regarding River and Stream Corridor Resources (RSCR) including:

• Purpose and applicability of RSCR regulations to all land located within a minimum 300 feet of the bankfull along either side of Scenic Rivers and the Potomac River, Bull Run, and Broad Run, and within a minimum 100 feet of the bankfull along either side of all other rivers and streams and other waterbodies, which minimum distances may be increased by up to 50 feet and are composed of the Resource Area (e.g., floodplain, very steep slopes) and a RSCR Buffer Area.

• Exemptions from RSCR regulations for Bona Fide Agriculture, single-family dwellings, and certain accessory uses on existing lots of record, and additions to existing buildings and structures that do not exceed a certain size.

• Regulations regarding calculation of minimum width of RSCR.

• Prohibition on diversion of any Scenic River, with exception for road crossings identified by the 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan.

Section 6.02 Steep Slope Areas

CR R93ZO Section 5-1508

• Replace existing exemption from Steep Slope Areas regulations for agricultural operations and timber harvesting with an exemption for Bona Fide Agriculture.

• Delete regulations regarding modification of development standards, administration of performance standards, and enforcement of performance standards.

Section 6.03 NER (Natural and Environmental Resources) Use Table

CR R93ZO Section 5-1508

• Incorporate and revise existing permitted and special exception uses and activities for Moderately Steep Slope Areas and Very Steep Slope Areas, establish new permitted and special exception uses and activities for RSCR Buffer Areas, and consolidate all uses and activities into a new NER use table.

• Revise regulations governing how the NER use table and other regulations regarding the permitted, minor special exception, and special exception uses of underlying zoning districts and overlay districts are to be interpreted together.

Section 6.04

Development, Land Disturbance, and Additional Use Specific Standards

CR R93ZO Section 5-1508

• Incorporate existing development standards applicable to very steep slope areas and moderately steep slope areas and apply such development standards to the RSCR Buffer Area.

• Establish new development standards applicable to very steep slope areas, moderately steep slope

Legal Notices

areas, and the RSCR Buffer Area regarding permeable surfaces, Virginia Natural Heritage Resources, Virginia Wildlife and Habitat, preservation of existing vegetation, and siting and disturbance.

• Consolidate all development standards into a new NER development and land disturbance standards table.

• Establish new additional use specific standards applicable to very steep slope areas and moderately steep slope areas regarding shared-use paths, and applicable to RSCR regarding trails.

CHAPTER 7: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

Section 7.02 Open Space

CR R93ZO Sections 2-103(C), 2-203(C), 2-305, 2-500, 2-607(E), 2-707(E), 2-1005, 2-1105, 2-1200, 2-1501, 2-1601, 3-100, 3-200, 3-300, 3-400, 3-507(F), 3-907, 4-100, 4-207(B), 4-307(C), 4-407(A), 4-507(B), 4-607(B), 4-707(B), 4-808, 4-1100, 4-1300, 4-1350, 5-700, & 6-1404, and Article 8, Definitions.

• Consolidate existing provisions regarding open space from individual zoning district regulations, into one section applicable to all zoning districts.

• Revise existing and establish new regulations regarding:

• Open space requirements for zoning districts.

• Additional open space may be required pursuant to Chapter 3: Uses and Chapter 4: Use-Specific Standards.

• Location of open space.

• Method for calculating open space provided, including increases and reductions for certain open space areas.

• Active recreation open space for residential development.

• Ownership and maintenance of open space.

• Require all open space to be within an easement acceptable to the Board of Supervisors.

CHAPTER 9: ATTAINABLE HOUSING

• Consolidate provisions regarding Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs), Unmet Housing Needs Units (UHNUs), and Affordable Housing Units (AHUs) into 1 chapter.

9.01 Affordable Dwelling Unit (ADU) Program

CR R93ZO Articles 7 & 8

• Revise existing and establish new provisions regarding:

• Administration and Enforcement, including the Zoning Administrator’s administration and enforcement the ADU Program and ADUs compliance with Chapter 1450 of the Codified Ordinances.

• The required number of ADUs for different dwelling unit types.

• Application types that are required to provide ADUs, and corresponding density increases for different dwelling unit types and zoning districts.

• Calculation of required number, dwelling unit type, and dwelling unit size of ADUs.

• Depiction of ADU calculations and locations on plats and plans.

• Compatibility and interspersion of ADUs with market rate dwelling units in the development.

• Modifications to ADU Program requirements.

• Delete existing provisions regarding:

• Permitted non-participation in the ADU Program for developments with densities equal to or less than 1 unit per 40,000 square feet.

• Exemptions from ADU Program for certain types of applications, and exemption for certain zoning districts (R-1, CR-1, TR-1, and JLMA-1).

• 90-day review period for site plans or subdivision plats proposing ADUs.

• Waived fees and 180-day review period for amending a concept development plan to only provide ADUs.

9.02 Unmet Housing Needs Unit (UHNU) Program

CR R93ZO Sections 4-1356, 4-1357, 4-2405, 4-2409, 4-2410 & 4-2703

• Establish new provisions regarding the UHNU Program, including purpose and applicability to TRC, TC, SCN, and PD-MUB zoning districts and adaptive reuse; administration and enforcement of the UHNU Program; substitution of UHNUs with AHUs; income range requirements for purchase and for rental UHNUs; calculation of required number of UHNUs; depiction of UHNU calculations and locations on plats and plans; compatibility and interspersion of UHNUs with market rate dwelling units; timing of construction and availability of UHNUs in relation to market rate dwelling units in the development; covenant requirements applicable to UHNUs, and modifications to UHNU Program requirements.

• Incorporate existing provisions regarding UHNUs in the PD-MUB Zoning District.

9.03 Affordable Housing Unit (AHU) Program

CR R93ZO Articled 7 & 8

• Incorporate existing provisions regarding the AHU Program.

• Revise AHU Program requirements to permit AHUs to be substituted for UHNUs if certain requirements are met.

• Establish new requirements regarding timing of construction for multifamily attached structures and documentation options for demonstrating conformance with building material and architectural design requirements.

CHAPTER 11: PROCEDURES

Subsection 11.10.06,

Urban Policy Area Zoning Districts – Additional Requirements

CR R93ZO Section 4-1103(B)

• Incorporate existing and establish new regulations regarding concept development plans associated with Zoning Map Amendments and Zoning Concept Plan Amendments for the TRC and UE Zoning Districts, including location of subareas if applicable, type and scale of proposed buildings and uses, site and building designs, and development schedule if phasing is proposed.

Subsection 11.10.07, Planned Development–Mixed Use Business (PD-MUB) Zoning District – Additional Requirements

CR R93ZO Section 4-1354(I) & (J)

• Incorporate existing regulations regarding concept development plans associated with Zoning Concept Plan Amendments for the PD-MUB Zoning District, including development design, mix of uses, and building design guidelines.

Subsection 11.10.09, Planned Unit Development (PUD) – Additional Requirements

CR R93ZO Section 6-1500

• Establish new regulations regarding Zoning Map Amendments and Zoning Concept Plan Amendments for the new PUD zoning district, including PUD master plans, statement of justification, use of private roads, administrative and non-administrative amendments to PUD master plans, and authority for Zoning Administrator to grant a single one-year extension for proffers associated with the approval of a PUD.

CHAPTER 13: DEFINITIONS

CR R93ZO Article 8

• Add, delete, and revise definitions as appropriate, including for example:

• Include as a defined term all principal and accessory uses identified in Chapter 3.

• Delete uses and other defined terms that are no longer used in the Zoning Ordinance.

• Revise definitions, as needed, for clarity or for consistency with other amendments in the Zoning Ordinance text.

• Definitions will continue to be updated as the Planning Commission considers and recommends revisions to the proposed Zoning Ordinance text through its hearings and deliberations

• Delete the following definitions:

• A: Abattoir; Active Recreational Uses; Adult Entertainment; Air Conditioner Condenser; Automobile Service Station/Automotive Service Station; Automobile Sales Lots; Aviary.

• B: Base Flood; Basement; Building Coverage; Building Footprint; Building Inspector; Business Service Establishment.

• C: Cellar; Central Farm Distribution Hub for Agricultural Products; Channel Scarline; Code; Church, Synagogue, Temple or Mosque; Coffeehouse or teahouse; Co-housing; Commercial Repair Garage; Convent; Corporate Training Center; Cross-Country Ski Business; Cross Section.

• D: Density, Net Residential; Direct Business Market; Distribution Facility; Downstream Bedload Movement; Dwelling, Ancillary.

• F: Facility for Lessons in Dance, gymnastics, judo and sports training; Farm Machinery Repair; Flood Insurance Rate Map; Flood Insurance Study; Floodplain; Floodplain 100-year; Floodplain Alteration; Floodplain, Major; Floodplain, Minor.

• G: General Business Service.

• H: Home Service Establishment.

• I: Industrial, Scientific or Technical Exposition.

• M: Maneuvering Space; Market Study; Minimum Stream Buffer; Minor Utilities; Motor Vehicle Sales Limited to Racecars; Motor Vehicle Service and Repair, Heavy; Motor Vehicle Service and Repair, Light.

• P: Park and Open Space; Park, Countryside Village Community; Park, Countryside Village Neighborhood; Passive Recreational Uses; Pedestrian Way; Perennial Way; Pet Farm.

• R: Racecars; Recreation Space, Active; Recycling Drop-Off Center, Private; Recycling Drop-Off Center, Public; Road, Village Neighborhood; Road, Village Through.

• S: Sign, Farm; Sign, Informational; Sign, Non-PD District Project Directional; Sign, PD-H Community Directional; Sign, Project Identification; Sign, Public/Quasi-Public; Sign, Real Estate; Sign, Residential Name; Sign, Wayside Stand; Sign, Window or Display (Business); Sign, Window or Display (Non-Business); Solid Waste Vehicle; Studio Space-Artist, Craftsperson, Writer, etc.

• T: Training Facility; Transitional Use; Transportation System Management Plan; Tree, Flowering.

• U: Use, Auxiliary; Utility Lines in the Floodplain; Utility Substation, Distribution.

• W: Wholesale Trade Establishment.

• Establish the following new definitions:

• A: Abutting; Adaptive Reuse; Adjacent; Adjacent Steep Slopes; Affordable Dwelling Unit Program; Agricultural Structure; Agriculture, Bona Fide; Agriculture Supportive Business; Alley; Amphitheater; Animated Sign; Archery; Area Median Income (AMI); Auction Facility, Livestock; A-Weighted Sound Level.

• B: Bank or Financial Institution; Building and Landscaping Materials Supplier; Business Support Services.

• C: Channel Letter; Civic Use; Commercial; Commercial Strip Development; Communications Facility; Community Garden; Companion Animal; Composting Facility; Congregate Housing; Contributing; Convenience Store (with Gasoline Sales); Covered Activities; Conversion Condominium; Crest; Cultural Tourism.

• D: Decommission, Solar Facility; Dinner Theatre; Donation Center; Donation Drop-off Box; Dry Cleaning Plant; Dwelling, Live/Work; Dwelling, Tenant.

• E: Emergency; Energy Storage; Entertainment Facility; Establishment; Extractive Industries.

• F: Façade; Facility; Farm; Farm Distribution Hub; Fenestration; Flex Building; Focal Point; Food Preparation; Freight; Functionally or Economically Obsolete.

• G: Government (General); Green; Ground Passenger Transportation (e.g. Taxi, Charter Bus); Groundwater Extraction, Commercial.

• H: Halo Lit; Heliport or Helistop; Historic Resource; Historic Setting.

• I: Illumination, External; Industrial Storage; Intensity.

• L: Legacy Zoning District; Ldn; 45 db(A) Ldn; Library; Live/Work Dwelling.

• M: Machinery and Equipment Sales and Services; Maintenance and Repair Services; Manufacturing, General; Manufacturing, Intensive; Marina; Market Rate Dwelling Unit; Mechanical Equip-

Legal Notices

ment; Media Production; Micro-Grid Energy System; Micromobility Devices; Mixed-Use Residential; Mobile Vendor.

• N: Native Plant; Natural Heritage Resources; National Historic Landmark; Neon; Natural, Environmental, and Heritage Resources; Net Metering/Net Energy Metering; Non-Contributing; Nonresidential.

• O: Official Notice; Oil and Gas Storage; Open Space, Agricultural; Open Space, Community; Original Art Display.

• P: Parcel; Park, Regional; Parking Facility; Pedestrian and Bicycle Network; Perennial Headwaters; Perennial Sinking Stream; Permeable; Personal Instructional Services; Pet Shop; Photovoltaic (PV).

• R: Rainwater Harvesting; Receiving Property; Recreation, Active; Recreation, Passive; Recycling Collection Center; Religious Housing; Residential; Resource Area Width; Restaurant, Fast Food with Drive-Through Facility; Restaurant, Fast Food Excluding Drive-Through Facilities; Restaurant, Sit-Down; Retail, General; Riparian Forest; Riparian Protection Buffer; Rivers and Streams; River and Stream Corridor Resources (RSCR); Road, Centerline of; Road, Local; Road, Public; Roofline; Rural Retreat.

• S: School, Business/Technical; Setback, Perimeter; Sewer Pumping Station; Shared-Use Path; Shooting Range, Indoor; Sign, Animated; Sign, Backlight; Sign, Development Entry; Sign, Entry; Sign, Digital; Sign, Feather; Sign, Incidental; Sign, Light Post Banner; Sign, Monument; Sign, Mural; Sign, Pylon; Sign, Subdivision Entry; Sign, Window; Sign Face; Slaughterhouse; Small Business, Agricultural and Rural; Snack or Beverage Bars; Solar Energy Equipment, Facilities or Devices; Solar Facility; Solar Facility, Site Specific; Solar Facility, Utility Scale; Solid Waste Facility; Sound; Specimen Tree; Steep Slopes; Stream Restoration; Substantial Conformance.

• T: Trails; Transit Facilities; Travelway.

• U: Unmet Housing Needs Unit (UHNU); Use, Interim; Use, Temporary; Utility, Major; Utility, Minor.

• V: Variable Riparian Preservation Buffer; Vehicle Charging Station; Vehicle Repair, Heavy; Vehicle Repair, Light; Vehicle Sales; Vehicle Service Station; Vehicle Storage and Impoundment; Vehicular Access; Vertical Cost; Virginia Landmark Register.

• W: Water Extraction; Wholesale Distribution, Warehousing and Storage; Wood, Metal and Stone Crafts.

• Z: Zoning Map, Official.

• Revise the following definitions (brackets indicate a replacement term):

• A: Adult Day Care Center [Adult Day Care]; Affordable Dwelling Unit; Affordable Housing Unit; Agricultural Research Facility [Agricultural Education or Research]; Agriculture; Airport; Animal Husbandry; Arboretum; Auction.

• B: Botanical Garden.

• C: Campground; Caretaker’s Residence [Caretaker or Guard Residence]; Car Wash; Child Care Center [Child Day Care]; Civic Uses; Child Care Home [Child Day Home]; Civic, Social, or Fraternal Association Meeting Place [Civic, Social, or Fraternal Meeting Place]; Comprehensive Plan; College or University; Conference and Training Centers [Conference and Training Facilities]; Congregate Housing Facility [Congregate Housing]: Contiguous; Continuing Care Facility; Contractor Service Establishment [Contractor]; Convenience Food Store [Convenience Store]; Cultural Center [Cultural Facility].

• D: Data Center; Director of Planning [Director]; Dwelling, Accessory; Dwelling, Single-Family Attached; Dwelling, Single-Family Detached; Dwelling, Townhouse; Dwelling, Triplex; Dwelling Unit.

• E: Electric Generating Plant and Transmission Facility.

• F: Farm Based Tourism; Farm machinery sales, rental and service [Farm Machinery]; Farm Market; Feed and Farm Supply Center; Frontage; Funeral Home [Funeral Services].

• G: Guest House.

• H: Health and Fitness Center.

• I: Impervious Surface [Impermeable Surface]: Industrial Use [Industrial/Production Use]; Inner Core Subarea.

• J: Junkyard.

• K: Kennel; Kennel, Indoor.

• L: Lodging Unit.

• M: Manufactured Housing [Manufactured Home]; Maximum Extent Feasible; Medical Care Facility, Outpatient Only [Medical Care Facility]; Motor Vehicle Sales and Accessory Service; MDOD Mountainside Development Overlay District [MOD (Mountainside Overlay District)].

• N: Nature Study Area.

• O: Open Space; Outdoor Storage, Vehicles; Outer Core Subarea; Overlay District.

• P: Park, Neighborhood [Park, Community]; Pedestrian-Oriented Uses; Pedestrian Walkway; Personal Service Establishment [Personal Service]; Pet; Playground [Playground/Play Space]; Play Space [Playground/Play Space]; Plaza; Public Safety.

• R: Recreation Establishment, Indoor [Recreation, Indoor]; Recreation Establishment, Outdoor [Recreation, Outdoor or Major]; Recreational Vehicle Park; Religious Assembly; Research and Development Use [Research and Development]; Residential Use; Ridgeline; Rooming House [Rooming and Boarding].

• S: Setback; Sign; Sign, Banner; Sign, Building Mounted [Sign, Building]; Sign, Directional, On-Site [Sign, On-Site]; Sign, Government/Official Notices [Sign, Government]; Sign, Ground Mounted [Sign, Ground]; Sign, Historical Markers [Sign, Historical Marker]; Sign, Illuminated; Sign, Pole Mounted [Sign, Pole]; Sign, Temporary; Silviculture; Stream Bank; Stable; Stockpiling of dirt [Stockpiling]; Stockpiling of dirt, Temporary [Stockpiling, Temporary]; Street, Centerline of; Street Tree; Structure.

• T: Telecommunications Use and/or Structure [Telecommunications Facility]; Tenant Dwelling [Dwelling, Tenant]; Theater, Indoor [Theater]; Town Green; Training Facility; Transit-Designed Supportive Subarea [Transit-Designed Supportive Area (TDSA)]; Tree Canopy or Tree Cover [Tree Canopy; Tree Cover]; Tree, Large Deciduous.

• U: Utility Substation, Dedicated [Utility Substation]; Utility Transmission Line, Underground.

• V: Very Steep Slopes Area [Very Steep Slopes].

• W: Water, Public; Water Storage Tank; Water Well, Municipal; Winery, Commercial.

• Z: Zoo.

INCORPORATION OF EXISTING STANDALONE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS (ZOAMs)

The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors are currently considering four independent ZOAMs— as described below—which have been advertised for public hearing separately from the proposed new Zoning Ordinance. Upon adoption by the Board of Supervisors, the provisions of each approved ZOAM will be incorporated into the applicable sections of the new Zoning Ordinance. Information regarding each ZOAM may be found at www.loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite.

ZOAM-2020-0002,

Prime Agricultural Soil and Cluster Subdivisions

Proposes to amend the regulations for the Cluster Subdivision Option in the AR-1 and AR-2 Zoning Districts to protect and conserve agriculturally productive Prime Farmland Soils and further implement the clustered rural residential development policies of the 2019 GP. Prime Farmland Soils are defined by reference to soil mapping units identified in the County’s Geographical Information System (WebLOGIS). The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on ZOAM-2020-0002 on November 14, 2022. The Planning Commission will continue its deliberations on this ZOAM at a future work session.

ZOAM-2018-0001,

Short Term Residential Rentals

Proposes to establish two new short-term residential rental uses (STRR): (1) Short-Term Rental – Residential Accessory (STR-RA), which is an accessory use to a principal dwelling unit; and (2) Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House (STR-CWH), which is a principal use located in a single family detached dwelling unit that is solely used as a STRR. This ZOAM would specify the zoning districts in which STR-CWH is allowed (either by right or with approval of a special exception or minor special exception), and it would establish additional regulations for STR-RA and STR-CWH to mitigate or otherwise address the impacts of these new uses. The Planning Commission has completed its deliberation of ZOAM 2018-0001, forwarding the proposed amendments to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval. The ZOAM is currently scheduled for the Board of Supervisors public hearing on January 11, 2023.

ZOAM-2021-0002, Airport Impact Overlay District Proposes to amend regulations and definitions pertaining to the Airport Impact Overlay District (AIOD) The ZOAM is being considered along with corresponding comprehensive plan (CPAM) and zoning map (ZMAP) amendments, to implement the 2019 Washington Dulles International Airport Aircraft Noise Contour Map Update. The proposed ZOAM would update references to the noise study for Washington Dulles International Airport in the Zoning Ordinance text, revise and clarify notice and disclosure requirements for property sales within the AIOD, and clarify protections for previously approved residential rezonings within the AIOD. The Planning Commission has completed its deliberation of ZOAM2021-0002, forwarding the proposed amendments to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval. The Board of Supervisors conducted a public hearing on this ZOAM on November 9, 2022. ZOAM-2021-0002 is currently scheduled for further consideration and possible action by the Board of Supervisors on January 17, 2023.

ZOAM-2022-0002, Amendment to Add “Ground-Mounted Solar Energy Generation Facility” as a Permitted Use in the PD-GI Zoning District Amends the PD-GI zoning district regulations to add “Utility generating plant and transmission facility, ground-mounted solar energy generation facility only” as a permitted use subject to new use limitations. (R93ZO Sections 4-603(BBB) & 4-607(L)) The use limitations include, among others, a 500-acre minimum lot size. A proposed facility in the PD-GI zoning district that does not satisfy the use limitations will be required to seek special exception approval. The Board of Supervisors approved ZOAM-2022-0002 on December 6, 2022. The provisions of this approved ZOAM will be incorporated into applicable sections of the new Zoning Ordinance.

The public purposes of the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments are to implement the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan; to implement applicable provisions of the Virginia Code; and to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2200 and 15.2-2283, including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare, and good zoning practice and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community.

Copies of the above-referenced sections from the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments and the Uses Crosswalk may be examined at the Office of the County Administrator, First Floor Information Desk, County Government Center, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call (703) 777-0246, or email zorw@loudoun.gov Copies may also be examined electronically at www.loudoun.gov/zoningordinancerewrite

Unless otherwise noted above, full and complete copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances and/or plans, and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 2nd Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-7770220, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246.

Legal Notices

Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-7770246 prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 3rd Floor, MSC #62, Leesburg, Virginia 20175, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and the Clerk’s records. All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing if special arrangements for additional speaking time and/or audio-visual equipment will be requested. Such an organization representative will be allotted 6 minutes to speak, and the Chairman may grant additional time if the request is made prior to the date of the hearing and the need for additional time is reasonably justified.

Citizens are encouraged to call the Department of Planning and Zoning on the day of the public hearing to confirm that an item is on the agenda, or, the most current agenda may be viewed on the Planning Commission’s website at www.loudoun.gov/pc. Regularly-scheduled Planning

Commission public hearings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. In the event the public hearing cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing will be continued to the next day (Wednesday). In the event the public hearing may not be held on that Wednesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing may be continued to the first Thursday of the next month

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings at all other locations. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246. Please provide three days’ notice.

BY ORDER OF: FOREST HAYES, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

1/5

NOTICE OF SEIZURE AND INTENT TO FORFEIT

Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of the Interior is hereby commencing a forfeiture proceeding against the following items of wildlife or wildlife products, which were seized in the Eastern District of Virginia on the dates indicated because they were involved in one or more violations of any of the following laws: Endangered Species Act, Title 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1538, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 11 U.S.C. Sec. 1371-1372, the Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 3372, Wild Bird Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 4901-4916, or the African Elephant Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 4221-4245. These items are subject to forfeiture to the United States under Title 16, U.S.C. Sec. 1540(e), 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1377, or 16 U.S.C. Sec. 3374 and Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 12.23. Any person with an ownership or financial interest in said items who desires to claim them must file a claim with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 23703-C Air Freight Lane, Suite 200, Dulles, VA 20166; telephone (703) 661-8560. Such claim must be received by the above office by 02/08/2023. The claim will be transmitted to the U.S. Attorney for institution of a forfeiture action in U.S. District Court. If a proper claim is not received by the above office by such date, the items will be declared forfeited to the United States and disposed of according to law. Any person who has an interest in the items may also file with the above office a petition for remission of forfeiture in accordance with Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 12.24, which petition must be received in such office before disposition of the items. Storage costs may also be assessed.

INV # SEIZURE DATE VALUE ITEMS SEIZED

2022505651 12/09/2022 $50,000 Twenty-Three (23) Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) leather products

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Virginia Electric and Power Company (VMRC #2022-2424) is requesting a permit from Virginia Marine Resources Commission to install one (1) aerial fiber optic cable to existing utility poles across a 50-foot and 52-foot section of North Fork Catoctin Creek adjacent to Gaver Mill Road in Loudoun County.

You may provide comments on this application (VMRC #2022-2424) at https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/habitat/comments/. We will accept comments by the USPS provided they are received within 15 days of this notice to: Marine Resources Commission, Habitat Management Division, 380 Fenwick Road, Bldg 96, Hampton, VA 23651. 1/5/23

TOWN OF HAMILTON TOWN COUNCIL VACANCY

The Town of Hamilton has a vacancy on the Town Council. All interested qualified Town residents are encouraged to submit a letter of interest or a resume to the Town Office, 130 E. Colonial Highway, PO Box 130, Hamilton, VA 20159, or e-mail to hamiltonva@hamiltonva.gov by the close of business, January 4, 2023. The Town Council will appoint a qualified candidate who will serve until a special election in 2023. Candidates must be residents of Virginia for at least one year immediately preceding the appointment, a Town resident and registered to vote in the Town of Hamilton.

Hamilton Town Council

& 1/12/23

ATTENTION

LOUDOUN COUNTY VEHICLE OWNERS

FILING DUE FEBRUARY 1

Notification of 2023 personal property filing requirements has recently been mailed to all automobile, truck, motorcycle, camper, trailer, boat, motorhome, aircraft, or mobile homeowners on the county’s tax rolls. In order to assist us in establishing accurate assessment information for the 2023 tax year

Changes should be reported online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile

A filing notification with instructions about online filing has been mailed to each household of record. The notification will indicate whether a filing is required or is optional for any vehicle owned in Loudoun County based on the vehicle type, the date the vehicle was located in Loudoun, and whether a filing was previously made on the vehicle.

Unless otherwise instructed, please report corrections, unusually high mileage, unrepaired body damage, serious mechanical defect, address changes or the sale, move or disposal of any vehicle by February 1, 2023, online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile

Beginning this year, motorcycles may be eligible for an assessment reduction for high mileage. Filing forms are being mailed to motorcycle owners currently on Loudoun County’s tax rolls so that they may report the motorcycle’s mileage as of January 1, 2023. A high mileage chart is available online at www.loudoun.gov/vehicle-mileage

Newly acquired vehicles or vehicles recently entering Loudoun County must be reported to my office within 60 days of purchase or move to Loudoun County or one of its incorporated towns to avoid a 10% late filing penalty. Owners of vehicles in the County are subject to taxes beginning on the date the vehicle came to Loudoun regardless of when it is registered with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or displays out of state license plates.

Owners of vehicles displaying out-of-state license plates not otherwise exempt from obtaining Virginia license plates will be charged an additional annual license fee of $100. A $250 penalty may also be imposed on owners of vehicles that are not registered with DMV within 60 days of the owner’s having established residency in Virginia.

Military service members residing in Loudoun County who have separated from military service and were receiving a tax exemption due to claiming a domicile outside of Virginia should contact the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office to report their change in active-duty status so their exemption can be removed.

Loudoun County now bills for and collects personal property taxes and vehicle license fees for vehicle owners in most of Loudoun’s incorporated towns, including Hamilton, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, and Round Hill. Owners of vehicles within an incorporated town will receive a consolidated tax bill that includes both County and town taxes.

We encourage you to connect with us virtually since most transactions with our office can be completed online. For more information or filing assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/cor or contact the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue at cartax@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260.

Regular office hours are weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County

Leesburg Office

1 Harrison St. SE, First Floor

Sterling Office

46000 Center Oak Plaza

Mailing Address

PO Box 8000

Leesburg, VA 20177-9804

Phone: 703-777-0260

12/22 & 12/29/22

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, January 11, 2023, in order to consider:

PROPOSED CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY Conveyance of County Easements to Loudoun County Sanitation Authority d/b/a Loudoun Water

The existing Madison’s Trust Precinct will be renamed Independence Precinct and the polling place will be Independence High School.

B. The boundary of the existing John Champe Precinct will be modified to create the new Hovatter Precinct. The polling place for the new Hovatter Precinct will be Hovatter Elementary School.

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1800 et seq., the Board of Supervisors shall consider conveying County easements over PIN 045-17-3780, legally described as Concorde Industrial Park Outlot A, to Loudoun County Sanitation Authority d/b/a Loudon Water. The County easements are located between Executive Drive and Relocation Drive, near Old Ox Road, in the Sterling Election District.

DEFERRED

Copies of exhibits showing the location(s) of the above-listed conveyance(s) and associated documents are available for review and may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 209 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Revisions of Precinct Boundaries and Polling Places (To be Effective for the 2023 Elections)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-1427 and 24.2-305 et seq., the Board of Supervisors gives notice of intent to propose for passage amendments to Chapter 209, Voting Precincts and Polling Places, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The purpose of the amendments is to revise certain precinct boundaries and polling places. Some existing precincts will be divided, and others will be reconfigured. Eleven (11) new precincts will be created, and polling places established for each newly created precinct. Two precincts will be eliminated and merged into another precinct. As needed, corrections will be made to the written boundary descriptions of the reconfigured and existing precincts.

The changes are proposed to assist in the efficient administration of elections. In December 2021, the Commonwealth of Virginia established new districts for the Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates. The local precincts will be reconfigured to coincide with new state district lines as closely as possible. Several existing precincts with large numbers of registered voters are being divided. One precinct is being eliminated and merged into another following the change in a House of Delegates’ district line.

The proposed amendments are described, below, by reference to eight of the local election districts adopted under the Loudoun County 2022 Redistricting Plan: Algonkian, Ashburn, Broad Run, Catoctin, Dulles, Leesburg, Little River, and Sterling.

Division of Precincts

The following summarizes the division of existing precincts, along with the polling places for the new precincts.

1. In the Ashburn Election District:

A. Portions of the existing Stone Bridge and Sanders Corner Precincts, now within the new Virginia Senate District 31, will be combined to create the new Goose Creek Precinct. The polling place for the new Goose Creek Precinct will be Sanders Corner Elementary School.

B. The boundary of the existing Briar Woods Precinct will be drawn along the new Virginia Senate District 31 and new House District 29 to create the new Waxpool Precinct. The polling place for the new Waxpool Precinct will be the Waxpool Elementary School.

2. In the Broad Run Election District:

A. The boundaries of the existing Russell Branch, Ashbrook and Weller Precincts will be modified to create the new Marblehead Precinct. The polling place for the new Marblehead Precinct will be Ashburn Senior Center.

3. In the Catoctin Election District:

A. The boundaries of the existing Hamilton and Waterford Precincts will be modified to create the new Harmony Precinct. The polling place for the new Harmony Precinct will be Harmony Middle School.

B. The boundary of the existing Evergreen Precinct will be drawn along the new Catoctin/Leesburg Election District boundary to create the new Simpson Precinct. The polling place for the new Simpson Precinct will be J. L. Simpson Middle School.

4. In the Little River Election District (formerly Blue Ridge):

A. The boundary of the existing Madison’s Trust Precinct will be modified to create the new Willard Precinct. The polling place for the new Willard Precinct will be Willard Middle School.

C. The boundarry of the existing John Champe and Pinebrook Precincts will be modified to create the new Lightridge Precinct. The polling place for the new Lightridge Precinct will be Lightridge High School.

D. The boundary of the existing Precincts: Briar Woods, Creighton’s Corner, Brambleton Middle, Stone Hill, and John Champe will be reconfigured. Brambleton Middle and Briar Woods Precincts will retain their current polling places. A new Madison Precinct will be created, and the polling place will be Madison’s Trust Elementary School. A new Creighton Precinct will be created, and the polling place will be Creighton’s Corner Elementary School.

5. In the Sterling Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing Sterling, Forest Grove, Claude Moore, Discovery, and Farmwell Station Precincts will be reconfigured to add the new Guilford Precinct. The polling place for the new Guilford Precinct will be Guilford Elementary School.

Reconfiguration of Precincts

In addition to the divisions listed above, several precinct boundaries will be reconfigured, resulting in the elimination of two precincts, and establishing new boundaries for existing precincts.

1. In the Algonkian Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing Potomac Falls and Sugarland North Precincts will be reconfigured to adhere to a clearly definable boundary. The Potomac Falls and Sugarland North Precincts will retain their current polling places.

2. In the Ashburn Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing Heritage Church Precinct will be reconfigured along the Ashburn/ Broad Run Election District boundary and along its boundary with the existing Broad Run Precinct.

B. The boundary of the existing Broad Run Precinct will be reconfigured along the Ashburn/ Broad Run Election District boundary and along its boundary with the existing Heritage Church Precinct.

C. The boundary of the existing Harper Park Precinct will be reconfigured along the new Ashburn/Leesburg Election District boundary.

3. In the Broad Run Election District:

A. The existing Precincts will be reconfigured: Eagle Ridge, Hillside, Mill Run, Moorefield Station, Moorefield, and Discovery. The Eagle Ridge, Hillside, Mill Run, Moorefield Station, and Discovery Precincts will retain their current polling places. The polling place for Moorefield will be Moorefield Station Elementary School.

B. The existing Farmwell Station Precinct will be reconfigured along the Broad Run/Sterling Election District boundary.

4. In the Catoctin Election District:

A. The boundaries of the Lucketts and Tuscarora Precincts will be reconfigured. Both precincts will retain their current polling place.

B. The Firehouse Precinct will be eliminated and merged into the Philomont Precinct. The polling place for the Philomont Precinct will remain at the Philomont Firehouse.

C. The boundaries of the Waterford and Lucketts Precincts will be reconfigured to adhere to a clearly definable boundary. The Waterford and Lucketts Precincts will retain their current polling places.

D. The boundary of the existing Mountain View Precinct will be reconfigured to follow the eastern corporate line of the Town of Purcellville.

E. The boundary of the existing West Lovettsville and East Lovettsville Precincts will be reconfigured to follow the new eastern corporate line of the Town of Lovettsville.

5. In the Dulles Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing Arcola Precinct will be reconfigured to include the portion of the existing John Champe Precinct in the new Virginia Senate District 32 and the new Dulles Election District. The Arcola Precinct will retain its existing polling place.

B. The boundary of the existing Dulles South Precinct will be reconfigured along the new Dulles/ Sterling Election District boundary. The Dulles South Precinct will retain its existing polling place.

6. In the Leesburg Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing River Creek Precinct will be reconfigured along the new Leesburg/Ashburn Election District boundary.

B. The boundary of the existing Evergreen Precinct will be reconfigured along the new Leesburg/ Catoctin/Little River (formerly Blue Ridge)/Ashburn Election District boundary. The Evergreen Precinct will retain its existing polling place.

7. In the Little River Election District (formerly Blue Ridge):

A. The existing Creighton’s Corner Precinct will be eliminated.

8. In the Sterling Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing Rock Ridge Precinct will be reconfigured along the Dulles/Sterling Election District boundary.

B. The boundary of the existing Rock Ridge and Carter Precincts will be reconfigured along the new House District boundary to an un-named stream off Broad Run that connects with the Loudoun County Parkway. The Rock Ridge and Carter Precinct will retain their current polling places.

C. The boundary of the existing Discovery Precinct will be reconfigured along the new Sterling/ Broad Run Election District boundary.

Corrections to Existing Boundary Lines

1. In the Ashburn Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing Seldens Landing and Belmont Ridge Precincts will be corrected to accurately reflect the existing boundary.

2. In the Algonkian Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing University Center Precinct will be corrected to accurately reflect the existing boundary.

3. In the Catoctin Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing Clarkes Gap Precinct will be corrected to accurately reflect the existing boundary.

B. The boundary of the existing Round Hill Precinct will be corrected to accurately reflect the existing boundary.

4. In the Leesburg Election District:

A. The boundary of the existing Dry Mill Precinct will be corrected to accurately reflect the existing boundary.

5. In the Little River Election District (formerly Blue Ridge):

A. The boundary of the existing Buffalo Trail Precinct will be corrected to accurately reflect the existing boundary.

B. The boundary of the existing St. Louis l Precinct will be corrected to accurately reflect the existing boundary.

Election District – Precinct Changes

1. Into the Ashburn Election District:

A. Harper Park Precinct (formerly Catoctin Election District)

B. Part of Briar Woods Precinct- new Waxpool Precinct (formerly Blue Ridge Election District)

2. Into the Algonkian Election District:

A. Seneca and Mirror Ridge Precincts (formerly Sterling Election District)

3. Into the Catoctin Election District:

A. Hillsboro, Mountain View, Round Hill, Round Hill Elementary, Philomont, and Purcellville Precincts (formerly Blue Ridge Election District)

4. Into the Leesburg Election District:

A. Red Rock Precinct (formerly Catoctin Election District)

B. River Creek Precinct (formerly Catoctin Election District)

C. Part of Evergreen Precinct (formerly Catoctin District)

5. Into the Little River Election District (formerly Blue Ridge):

A. Aldie, Brambleton Middle, Buffalo Trail, Creighton’s Corner, Legacy, Madison’s Trust, Middleburg, Pinebrook and St. Louis Precincts (formerly Blue Ridge Election District)

B. Part of Briar Woods, John Champe, and Stone Hill Precincts (formerly Blue Ridge Election District)

C. Sycolin Creek Precinct (formerly Catoctin Election District)

6. Into the Sterling Election District:

A. Part of Stone Hill Precinct (formerly Blue Ridge Election District)

B. Ridgetop and Oak Grove Precincts (formerly Broad Run Election District)

C. Part of Farmwell Station and Discovery Precincts (formerly Broad Run Election District)

D. Rock Ridge and Carter Precincts (formerly Dulles Election District)

Polling Place Changes

The polling place for the West Lovettsville Precinct will move to the Lovettsville Community Center. The polling place for Ashby Ponds will move to Farmwell Hall. The polling place for the Brandon Park Precinct will move to the Frederick Douglass Elementary School and the precinct name will be changed to Douglass Precinct. The boundaries of these precincts will not be changed. The polling place for the Hamilton Precinct will move to Hamilton Elementary School. The polling place for Moorefield Precinct will move to Moorefield Station Middle School and the precinct name will be changed to Croson Precinct. The name of the Heritage Church Precinct will be changed to the West Broad Run Precinct. The name of the Broad Run Precinct will be changed to the East Broad Run Precinct.

Central Absentee Voter Election Precinct - Satellite Absentee Location Changes

The Ridgetop Office Building (21641 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, Virginia 2016) will be relocated to Claude Moore Recreation Center (46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, Virginia 20164).

The Dulles South Senior Center (24950 Riding Center Drive, South Riding, Virginia 20152) will be relocated to the Dulles South Recreation Center (24950 Riding Center Drive, South Riding, Virginia 20152).

A complete copy of the full text of the above referenced amendments to Chapter 209 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County and maps showing precinct boundaries and polling places are on file and available for inspection at the Office of the County Administrator, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or call (703) 777-0200. Maps showing precinct boundaries and polling places are also viewable at www.loudoun.gov/redistricting Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, this information is available for inspection at the Loudoun County’s Office of Elections website at www.loudoun.gov/vote.

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION, OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW LUCKETTS AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

The current period of the New Lucketts Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on April 12, 2023. The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of Lost Corner Road (Route 662) and Lucketts Road (Route 662), west and north of Hibler Road (Route 656), and south and east of Spinks Ferry Road (Route 657) and Lucketts Road (Route 662), in the Catoctin Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met:

1. Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3. Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4. Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board of Supervisors acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the New Lucketts Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

Parcel Listings:

PIN Tax Map Number Acres Enrolled

PIN Tax Map Number Acres Enrolled

073-17-7117 /21/////////23A 24.91 105-20-2250 /31/////////6G 30 074-18-0740 /21////////20A 11.45 105-35-1481 /30///9////33/ 10.64 074-47-1437 /21/////////23/ 2.88 105-39-0209 /31///1/////2/ 50.52 075-45-5417 /21//12/////2C 5.78 105-48-1603 /31///1/////1/ 55.8 102-19-1992 /21////////29A 12.25 105-49-4257 /31///////6B1/ 17.89

103-15-9047 /20////////47C 39.41 106-25-1260 /30///3///3A2 13.7 103-20-1242 /21////////35/ 26.19 106-45-0312 /30///9////46/ 10.05 103-30-4672 /21////////32/ 14.29 106-48-6662 /31/////////6A 26.51 104-18-4159 /31///////6H1/ 20 137-10-6593 /20////////51B 23.94 104-18-8965 /31///////6H2/ 10 137-10-7148 /20////////47B 10.37 104-19-5046 /31/////////6H 25 137-38-8078 /20//17/////1/ 22.02 104-25-2785 /20//10/////1/ 13 137-47-8749 /20//17/////5/ 21.55 104-26-3555 /20///2/////5/ 10 139-10-8901 /30///9////43/ 10.12 104-27-0585 /20///2/////6/ 10 139-38-6386 /30//11/////1/ 10.01 104-27-2816 /20///2/////2/ 10 139-49-8870 /30///9////29/ 10.03 104-37-0190 /20////////45B 66.69 140-40-3241 /30///9////47/ 11.63 104-45-2967 /20////////47/ 15.1 *074-379155 /21////////22B 10 105-10-1882 /31/////////6K 51.51

* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District.

The ADAC held a public meeting on September 19, 2022, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Lucketts Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE OATLANDS AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

The current period of the Oatlands Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on April 5, 2023. The District has a four-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of Shreve Mill Road (Route 653) and Diggins Court (Route 3047), east of James Monroe Highway (Route 15), southwest of the Dulles Greenway (Route 267), west of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), and north of Oatlands Mill Road (Route 650) in the Catoctin Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met:

1. Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3. Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4. Wetlands, flood plains, streams, and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board of Supervisors acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the Oatlands Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

Parcel Listings:

PIN Tax Map Number Acres Enrolled

PIN Tax Map Number

Acres Enrolled 276-35-1494 /59////////59E 10 316-38-8826 /59////////28A 2.87 276-45-1343 /59////////59D 10.99 316-48-0176 /59////////26A 8 315-18-0319 /59////////26B 10.31 *236-15-4010 /60///9/////2/ 5.13 315-18-7612 /59///2/////4/ 11.13 *236-15-4867 /60//10/////3/ 12.92 315-20-8147 /59////////58C 10 *236-16-2145 /60//10/////4/ 30.16 315-27-0588 /59//19//CON1/ 10.02 *236-17-9638 /60////////67A 31.31 315-29-6584 /59//12/////1/ 14.13 *236-27-7526 /60////////56A 37.79 315-30-7732 /59////////59/ 12.11 *236-38-7331 /60////////56B 107.92 315-39-2788 /59//18//B2-3/ 4.9 *236-46-5707 /60////////53A 122.75 315-49-6721 /59////////69A 22.59 *237-45-3679 /60///9/////1/ 6.63 316-16-3498 /76/////////5/ 250 *237-47-4657 /60////////67B 21.13 316-37-2474 /59////////22/ 3.08 **315-30-1366 /59///4/////A/ 10 316-37-2749 /59////////23/ 1.97

* Indicates a parcel whose owner is withdrawing it from the District.

** Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

The ADAC held a public meeting on September 19, 2022, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the Oatlands Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

CMPT-2021-0012, SPEX-2021-0047, & SPMI-2021-0007 NOVEC NORTHSTAR SUBSTATION (Commission Permit, Special Exception, & Minor Special Exception)

Curt Crouch of Northern Virginia Electric Company of Gainesville, Virginia, has submitted applications for the following: 1) Commission approval to permit a Utility Substation, Distribution in the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district and 2) a Special Exception to permit an ingress/ egress easement for a Utility Substation, Distribution in the R-1 (Single Family Residential) zoning district. These applications are subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The proposed use requires a Commission Permit in accordance with Section 6-1101 and is listed as a Special Exception use in the R-1 zoning district under Section 3-103(P). The modification of the Additional Regulations applicable to the proposed use is authorized by Minor Special Exception under Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following modification(s):

ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION PROPOSED MODIFICATION

§5-616(D), Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Utility Substations AND

§5-1404(B) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Buffer Yards, Use Buffer Yard Matrix, Table 5-1404(B) Use Buffer Yard Matrix AND

§5-1404(D) Landscaping, Buffer Yards, Screening, and Landscape Plans, Buffer Yards, Buffer Yard Widths and Plant Requirements, Table 5-1404(D) Buffer Yard Width and Plant Requirements

Eliminate the Buffer Yard Type C landscape requirement on the western side and a portion of the southern side of the perimeter of the Utility Substation, Distribution use.

AND

Increase the Buffer Yard Type C width from 25 feet to 30 feet and increase the minimum plant units from 120 to 144 plant units per 100 linear feet of buffer yard along the northern side of the perimeter of the Utility Substation, Distribution use.

The subject property is located within the Airport Impact (AI) Overlay District, primarily within the LDN 65 or higher noise contour and partially within the LDN 60-65 noise contour. The subject property is approximately 9.43 acres in size and is located north of Racefield Lane (Route 877) and west of Youngwood Lane in the Blue Ridge Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as follows:

PIN TAX MAP NUMBER ADDRESS

203-35-4208 (portion) 100/Z/1/////1/ 41840 Growth Mindset Lane, Aldie, VA 20105 202-15-9451 (portion) 101/D/3////16/ 24365 Racefield Lane, Aldie, VA 20105 203-37-1445 (portion) 101/T/1/////A/ 24359 Racefield Lane, Aldie, VA 20105 202-16-1713 101/D/3////17/ 24369 Racefield Lane, Aldie, VA 20105

Legal Notices

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Employment Place Type)), which designate this area for employment uses at a recommended Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 1.0.

SPEX-2021-0041

POLAND ROAD DATA CENTER YARD EXPANSION (Special Exception)

Amazon Data Services, Inc, of Seattle, Washington, has submitted an application for a Special Exception to permit a Data Center use in the CLI (Commercial Light Industry) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Special Exception use under Section 3-904(CC). The subject property is located within the Quarry Notification (QN) Overlay District – Chantilly Crush Stone Note Area, partially within the Airport Impact (AI) Overlay District between the Ldn 60-65 and partially within the Ldn 65 or higher of the aircraft noise contours. The subject property is approximately 48.47 acres in size and is located on the south side of John Mosby Highway (Route 50), east of Poland Road (Route 742), and north and west of Tall Cedars Parkway (Route 2200) at 25316 Prediction Lane, Chantilly, VA and 43743 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly, VA in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 097-35-4183. The area is governed by the policies of the Revised General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Commercial Place Type)), which designate this area for a broad array of Employment uses within an environment that provides gathering spaces and opportunities for synergies among businesses.

CPAM 2020-0002 RED HILL COMMUNITY (Comprehensive Plan Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2225 and 15.2-2229, and a motion adopted by the Board of Supervisors on December 1, 2020, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) to amend the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (2019 GP) to amend the policy area and planned land use designations of the Red Hill Community. The proposed amendments would: 1) move the Red Hill Community from the Rural Policy Area (RPA) to the Transition Policy Area (TPA); 2) change the Red Hill Community’s designation from Rural North Place Type to Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place type; and 3) designate the Red Hill Community as a new TPA subarea, with a planned residential density of one dwelling unit per three acres. The Red Hill Community area is located southeast of Green Mill Preserve, west of Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), and north of the watershed boundary of Goose Creek, which serves as the present boundary between the RPA and the TPA.

The CPAM proposes revisions to the land use policies in Chapter 2 of the 2019 GP and the existing maps of the 2019 GP and the Loudoun County 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan (2019 CTP), as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments, or as otherwise necessary to correct geographic boundaries, typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, and further clarify the policies and maps of the above-mentioned section(s). The proposed CPAM would apply within the Red Hill Community of the Rural Policy Area. The proposed text and map amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following:

Amendments to the

2019

General Plan - Chapter 2 – Transition Policy Area:

Ø Establish new and/or revise certain existing policy language in moving the Red Hill Community from the RPA to TPA, establish a new Red Hill Community subarea within the TPA, and designate the Red Hill Community as a subarea of the Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place Type with a planned residential density of one dwelling unit per three acres.

Amendments to 2019 General Plan – Maps:

Ø Revise existing Policy Area and Place Types maps to move Red Hill Community from the RPA to TPA, designate it: as a Transition Large Lot Neighborhood Place Type, within the Dulles Small Area Plan, and within the Loudoun Water Central System Service Area.

Amendments to 2019 Countywide Transpiration Plan - Maps:

Ø Revise the 2019 CTP maps to amend the existing Policy Area boundaries to reflect the move of Red Hill Community from the RPA to TPA.

SPMI-2022-0004 Route 7 Brewing Co (Minor Special Exception)

Basabi Virmani of SB Breweries, LLC of Leesburg, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Minor Special Exception to permit Craft Beverage Manufacturing in the PD-IP (Planned Development – Industrial Park) zoning district. The application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and the proposed use is listed as a Minor Special Exception use under Section 4-504 (NN) and subject to the Additional Regulations for Craft Beverage Manufacturing pursuant to Section 5-668. The Property is also subject to the proffers and concept development plan associated with ZMAP-2015-0001. It is located west of Lexington Drive, south of Riverside Parkway (Route 2401), north of Route 7, and east of Riverside Commons Plaza and Ashburn Village Boulevard. The Property is comprised of an existing commercial condominium unit totaling approximately 4,753 square feet with an assigned address of 20051 Riverside Commons Plaza, Unit 148, Ashburn, Virginia in the Algonkian Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 056-18-1692-006. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area (Suburban Mixed Use Place Type)) which designates this area for a vertical mix of residential, commercial, entertainment, cultural, and recreational uses with core uses including retail and service commercial.

ZOAM-2018-0001

SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL RENTALS

(Zoning Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286, and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors on October 17, 2019, the Board of Supervisors hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance”) in order to establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations and definitions to establish “Short-Term Rental – Residential Accessory” as a new accessory use to certain residential uses and to establish “Short-Term Rental –Commercial Whole House” as a new principal use that will be a new Permitted, Minor Special Exception, or Special Exception use in certain zoning districts that permit residential uses. In addition, the amendments propose establishing new additional use regulations; definitions; and process requirements for the Short-Term Residential Rental uses. The amendment proposes revisions to Article 2, Non-Suburban District Regulations, Article 3, Suburban District Regulations, Article 4, Special and Overlay Districts, Section 5-100, Accessory Uses and Structures, Section 5-600, Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, Section 6-700, Site Plan Review, Article 8, Definitions, and such other Articles, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the Zoning Ordinance as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned section(s) of the Zoning Ordinance. The proposed text amendments under consideration include, without limitation, the following:

Amendments to Article 2, Non-Suburban District Regulations: Establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations to:

• Establish “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” as a new principal use and add this use as a new Permitted use, subject to Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, in the following zoning districts: AR-1 (Agricultural Rural – 1) (Section 2-100 et seq.), AR-2 (Agricultural Rural – 2) (Section

Legal Notices

2-200 et seq.), A-10 (Agriculture) (Section 2-300 et seq.), A-3 (Agricultural Residential) (Section 2-400 et seq.), RC (Rural Commercial) (Section 2-900 et seq.), JLMA-20 (Joint Land Management Area –20) (Section 2-1300 et seq.), TR-10 (Transitional Residential – 10) (Section 2-1400 et seq.), and TR-3 (Transitional Residential – 3) (Section 2-1500 et seq.).

• Establish “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” as a new principal use and add this use as a new Minor Special Exception use, subject to Additional Regulations for Specific Uses, in the following zoning districts: CR-1 (Countryside Residential – 1) (Section 2-500 et seq.), CR-2 (Countryside Residential – 2) (Section 2-600 et seq.), CR-3 (Countryside Residential – 3) (Section 2-700 et seq.), CR-4 (Countryside Residential – 4) (Section 2-800 et seq.), JLMA-1 (Joint Land Management Area – 1) (Section 2-1000 et seq.), JLMA-2 (Joint Land Management Area – 2) (Section 2-1100 et seq.), JLMA-3 (Joint Land Management Area – 3) (Section 2-1200 et seq.), TR-2 (Transitional Residential – 2) (Section 2-1600 et seq.), and TR-1 (Transitional Residential – 1) (Section 2-1700 et seq.).

Amendments to Article 3, Suburban District Regulations: Establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations to:

• Add “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” as a new Minor Special Exception use, subject to Additional Regulations, in the following zoning districts: R-1 (Single Family Residential) (Section 3-100 et seq.) and R-2 (Single Family Residential) (Section 3-200 et seq.).

• Add “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” as a new Special Exception use, subject to Additional Regulations, in the following zoning districts: R-3 (Single Family Residential) (Section 3-300 et seq.), R-4 (Single Family Residential) (Section 3-400 et seq.), and R-8 (Single Family Residential) (Section 3-500 et seq.).

Amendments to Article 4, Special & Overlay Districts: Establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations to:

• Add “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” as a new Permitted use, subject to Additional Use Regulations, in the PD-RV (Planned Development – Rural Village) (Section 4-1200 et seq.).

• Add “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” as a new Minor Special Exception use, subject to Additional Regulations, in the PD-CV (Planned Development – Countryside Village) (Section 4-900 et seq.).

• Add “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” as a new Special Exception use, subject to Additional Regulations, in the following zoning districts: PD-TC (Planned Development – Town Center) (Section 4-800 et seq.) and the PD-MUB (Planned Development – Mixed Use Business District) (Section 4-1350 et seq.).

Amendments to Section 5-101(A), Permitted Accessory Uses and Structures, Residential: Establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations to:

• Add “Short-Term Rental – Residential Accessory” to the list of permitted accessory uses and structures for residential uses.

Amendments to Section 5-600 et seq., Additional Regulations for Specific Uses: Establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations to:

• Establish new additional regulations for the “Short-Term Rental – Residential Accessory” accessory use and the new “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” principal use, including:

o Prohibition on modification of certain additional regulations by Minor Special Exception.

o Registration in accordance with Chapter 1470 of the Codified Ordinances and display of such registration.

o Management requirements, maximum numbers of rooms and guests for different types of dwellings, minimum lot area and yards, maximum rental period per year, prohibition on food service and private parties and temporary special events, permitted types of dwellings, and operator residency requirements.

o Zoning permit requirements that apply in addition to Zoning Ordinance Section 6-1000, requirement to display the zoning permit, restrictions on the transfer of and changes to zoning permits, limitation on number of zoning permits per parcel, and prohibition of use for parcels subject to

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No: JJ044669-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Itzep, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold an Annual Foster Care Review hearing and Review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code 16.1-282.2 and 16.1-281 for Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro.

It is ORDERED that the defendants, Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Itzep, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before February 14, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

1/5, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26

an approved zoning permit for Bed and Breakfast Homestay, Bed and Breakfast Inn, Country Inn, Rural Retreats and Resorts, Campground, or Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House uses.

o Requirement for all guests staying within the same dwelling unit to be under the same rental agreement.

o Parking, fire safety, adjacent property owner notice, exterior lighting, and access requirements.

o Prohibition of use for Affordable Dwelling Units, Affordable Housing Units, and Unmet Needs Housing Units.

o Exemption from lot area requirements for uses located within certain structures within a Historic Site District or Historic and Cultural Conservation District, and limitations on the expansion or enlargement of such structures.

Amendments to Article 8, Definitions: Establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations to:

• Establish new definitions for the new “Short-Term Rental – Residential Accessory” accessory use and the new “Short-Term Rental – Commercial Whole House” principal use.

The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§15.2-2200 and 15.2-2283, including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare and good zoning practice and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community.

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, copies of the above-referenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans and related documents may be examined by request at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies, or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”). In addition, for detailed instructions on how to access documents using LOLA, to request that documents be emailed to you, to receive physical copies of documents, or to arrange a time to view the file at the Loudoun County Government Center, please email DPZ@loudoun.gov or call 703-777-0246 (option 5).

Board of Supervisors public hearings are available for live viewing on television on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings. All members of the public who desire to speak will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Public input may be provided by electronic means at Board public hearings. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, will be accommodated without advanced sign-up during the hearing, however, members of the public are strongly encouraged to sign-up in advance. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on December 30, 2022, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on January 11, 2023. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up during the public hearing. Citizens may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members and made part of the minutes for the public hearing.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

12/22 , 12/29/22 & 01/05/23

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.

This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice.

YR. MAKE MODEL VIN STORAGE PHONE#

2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER JTEEP21A870214521 ROADRUNNER 703-450-7555

2002 HONDA CIVIC 1HGEM22942L053045 AL’S TOWING 703-435-8888

2011 ACURA MDX 2HNYD2H25BH531499 AL’S TOWING 703-435-8888

2021 JEEP RENEGADE ZACNJDAB6MPN15379 AL’S TOWING 703-435-8888

2010 FORD TRANSIT NM0LS7AN3AT010660 BODYWORKS 703-777-5727

Legal Notices

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY FOR APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES: 230 KV ALTAIR LOOP AND ALTAIR SWITCHING STATION CASE NO. PUR-2022-00197

On November 17, 2022, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or the “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) an application (“Application”) for approval and certification of electric facilities in Loudoun County, Virginia. Dominion filed its Application pursuant to § 56-46.1 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”), and the Utility Facilities Act, Code § 56-265.1 et seq.

Through its Application, the Company proposes to complete the following which is collectively referred to as the “Project:”

• Construct two new approximately 1.66-mile 230 kilovolt (“kV”) single circuit lines on new rightof-way by cutting 230 kV Belmont-Brambleton Line #201 between Structure #201/52 and #201/53 south of Belmont Switching Station (“Belmont Station”), resulting in (i) 230 kV Altair-Brambleton Line #201, and (ii) 230 kV Altair-Belmont Line #2263 (“Altair Loop”). From the cut-in location, the Altair Loop will extend to the Company’s proposed new 230 kV Altair Switching Station adjacent to Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative’s (“NOVEC”) future Altair Delivery Point (“DP”). While the cut-in location is within existing right-of-way, the proposed Altair Loop will be constructed on new 120footwide right-of-way for the majority of the 1.66-mile route (approximately 1.55 miles) supported primarily by two sidebyside single circuit weathering steel monopoles. Approximately 0.06 mile of the Altair Loop will be constructed on new 200-foot-wide right-of-way, supported by single circuit weathering steel H-frame structures The remaining 0.05 mile of the route will be located either within the Altair Switching Station or within the Company’s existing Line #201 right-of-way.

• Construct a new 230 kV delivery point switching station in Loudoun County, Virginia (the “Altair Switching Station” or “Altair Station”), which will provide interconnection to NOVEC’s future Altair DP; and

• Perform minor related work at the Belmont Station and Brambleton Substation.

According to the Application, Dominion asserts the proposed Project is necessary to assure that it can provide requested service to NOVEC’s Altair DP for its data center customer in Loudoun County, Virginia, maintain reliable electric service for overall load growth in the Project area, and comply with mandatory North American Electric Reliability Corporation Reliability Standards for transmission facilities and the Company’s mandatory planning criteria. The Company states that the DP request from NOVEC projected a summer peak of 80 megawatts (“MW”) in 2024 to 225 MW in 2034, a peak kilovolt amp DP transformer capacity of 300 MW, and an in-service date of September 1, 2024.

The Company identified an approximately 1.66-mile proposed overhead route for the Altair Loop (“Route 1” or the “Proposed Route”) and one approximately 1.52-mile overhead alternative route (“Alternative Route 2”). Dominion states that Route 1 was identified as the Proposed Route for four primary reasons when compared with Alternative Route 2. First, Route 1 would not impact the developable land associated with the JK Land Holdings II, LLC (or “JKLH”) Southern Future Development and would allow adequate space for a future third circuit in the right-of-way to serve that development. Second, the construction of the Proposed Route would require approximately half the amount of clearing of forested land than Alternative Route 2 (5.64 acres compared with 11.12 acres). The Company states that forested land is at a premium in Loudoun County due to the amount of development in the area. Third, the Proposed Route would maximize collocation opportunities; approximately 69 percent of the total route length would be collocated with existing infrastructure. Conversely, Alternative Route 2 only would be collocated for approximately 51 percent of the total route length. Finally, while the Proposed Route is longer than Alternative Route 2 (by approximately 0.14 mile), the Proposed Route is less costly. Therefore, based on this analysis, the Company states that Route 1 was selected as the Proposed Route for the Project as it would reasonably minimize adverse impacts on scenic assets, historic districts, and the environment of the area concerned. The Company further states that the Proposed Route is the only route that would not conflict with the development of JKLH’s proposed data center campus on the north side of the Dulles Greenway.

The Company states that the proposed Altair Station initially will be constructed with four 230 kV breakers in a ring bus arrangement and other associated equipment. In total, it will be designed to accommodate future growth in the area with a buildout of six 230 kV breakers in a ring bus arrangement. The Company’s proposed Altair Station will serve NOVEC’s Altair DP.

The Company states the desired in-service date for the proposed Project is September 1, 2024. The Company represents the estimated conceptual cost of the proposed Project is approximately $48.9 million, which includes approximately $40.4 million for transmission-related work, and approximately $8.5 million for substation-related work.

Description of Routes for the proposed Project

230 kV Altair Loop

Proposed Route (Route 1)

The Proposed Route (Route 1) of the Altair Loop is approximately 1.66 miles in length. Beginning from the cut-in of existing 230 kV Belmont-Brambleton Line #201 between Structure #201/52 and Structure #201/53, the route extends northwest from Line #201 for about 1.04 mile, paralleling the southern side of the Dulles Greenway and crossing Sycolin Creek. The route then turns north, and continues for approximately 0.62 mile, crossing the Dulles Greenway, Sycolin Creek, Shreve Mill Road, Sycolin Creek in a third location, and the future Crosstrail Boulevard Extension, and terminates at the proposed Altair Switching Station.

The Proposed Route will be constructed on new right-of-way supported by primarily single circuit weathering steel monopoles. For the entire route, the minimum structure height is approximately 60 feet, the maximum structure height is approximately 140 feet, and the average proposed structure height is approximately 105 feet. These heights are based on preliminary conceptual design, do not include foundation reveal, and are subject to change based on final engineering design.

Alternative Route 2

Alternative Route 2 of the Altair Loop is approximately 1.52 miles in length. Beginning from the cut-in of existing 230 kV Belmont-Brambleton Line #201 between Structure #201/52 and Structure #201/53, the route extends northwest from Line #201 for about 0.25 mile, crosses Sycolin Road, and then continues northwest for another 0.75 mile, continuing to parallel the northern side of the Dulles Greenway and crossing Sycolin Creek. The route then turns to the north for approximately 0.52 mile, crossing Sycolin Creek, Shreve Mill Road, Sycolin Creek in a third location, and the future Crosstrail Boulevard Extension, and terminates at the proposed Altair Switching Station.

Alternative Route 2 would be constructed on new right-of-way supported by primarily single circuit weathering steel monopoles. For the entire route, the minimum structure height is approximately 70 feet, the maximum structure height is approximately 125 feet, and the average proposed structure height is approximately 98 feet. These heights are based on preliminary conceptual design, do not include foundation reveal, and are subject to change based on final engineering design.

All distances, heights, and directions are approximate. A sketch map of the proposal accompanies this notice. A more detailed map may be viewed on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Transmission-Line-Projects. A more complete description of the Project also may be found in the Company’s Application.

The Commission may consider a route not significantly different from the route described in this notice without additional notice to the public.

The Commission has taken judicial notice of the ongoing public health issues related to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. In accordance therewith, all pleadings, briefs, or other documents required to be served in this matter shall be submitted electronically to the extent authorized by 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”). Confidential and Extraordinarily Sensitive Information shall not be submitted electronically and should comply with 5 VAC 5-20-170, Confidential information, of the Rules of Practice. Any person seeking to hand deliver and physically file or submit any pleading or other document shall contact the Clerk’s Office Document Control Center at (804) 3719838 to arrange the delivery.

Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, of the Rules of Practice, the Commission has directed that service on parties and the Commission’s Staff in this matter shall be accomplished by electronic means. Please refer to the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing or subsequent Hearing Examiner’s Ruling for further instructions concerning Confidential or Extraordinarily Sensitive Information.

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled public hearings on Dominion’s Application. On March 14, 2023, at 10 a.m., the Hearing Examiner assigned will hold a telephonic hearing, with no witness present in the Commission’s courtroom, for the purpose of receiving the testimony of public witnesses. On or before March 9, 2023, any person desiring to offer testimony as a public witness shall provide to the Commission (a) your name, and (b) the telephone number that you wish the Commission to call during the hearing to receive your testimony. This information may be provided to the Commission in three ways: (i) by filling out a form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or (iii) by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting

Beginning at 10 a.m. on March 14, 2023, the Hearing Examiner assigned will telephone sequentially each person who has signed up to testify as provided above.

On March 15, 2023, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, the Hearing Examiner will convene a hearing to receive testimony and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission Staff.

Electronic copies of the Application and other supporting materials may be inspected at: www. dominionenergy.com/Altair. An electronic copy of the Company’s Application also may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company: Vishwa B. Link, Esquire, McGuireWoods

Legal Notices

LLP, Gateway Plaza, 800 East Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or vlink@mcguirewoods.com

On or before March 9, 2023, any interested person may submit comments on the Application by following the instructions found on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit comments electronically may file such comments with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR-202200197.

On or before January 23, 2023, any person or entity wishing to participate as a respondent in this proceeding may do so by filing a notice of participation at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as a practical matter, to file a notice of participation electronically may file such notice by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Such notice of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. Any organization, corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel, of the Rules of Practice. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2022-00197.

On or before January 30, 2023, each respondent may file with the Clerk of the Commission, at scc. virginia.gov/clk/efiling, any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent expects to establish its case. Any respondent unable, as a practical matter, to file testimony and exhibits electronically may file such by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above. Each witness’s testimony shall include a summary not to exceed one page. All testimony and exhibits shall be served on the Commission’s Staff, the Company, and all other respondents simultaneous with its filing. In all filings, respondents shall comply with the Commission’s Rules of Practice, as modified herein, including, but not limited to: 5 VAC 5-20-140, Filing and service, and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibits. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2022-00197.

Any documents filed in paper form with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, except as modified by the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.

The Company’s Application and other documents filed in this case, the Commission’s Rules of Practice, and the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing may be viewed on the Commission’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ041604-06-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Diana Gissel Medina Lainez

POLICE STATION EXPANSION

The Town of Leesburg will accept Applications for Construction Pre-Qualification electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, for the following:

RFQ NO. 20001-FY23-37

POLICE STATION EXPANSION

The Town of Leesburg (the “Town”) is soliciting Applications for Construction PreQualification from contractors interested in pre-qualifying to submit construction bids on the above-referenced construction project.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard 1/5/23

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Jose Medina, Putative Father

The object of this suit is to hold a hearing on placement in a qualified residential treatment program pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1281(E) for Diana Gissel Medina Lainez.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jose Medina, putative father, appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 10, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. 12/15, 12/22, 12/29 & 1/05/23

Opinion

A Low Bar

When it comes to the challenges facing Loudoun’s Board of Supervisors, running an effective meeting should be pretty low on the list of concerns. Yet, that was a featured element in Tuesday’s annual organizational meeting.

It resulted in an unfortunate “solution.”

Already under criticism for its unwieldy meetings that regularly require the county staff, the public, and even its own members essentially to work a double shift to keep up with their exploits, the board adopted policies to start its meetings an hour earlier, at 4 p.m., and then established a midnight deadline for when they should think about wrapping up the session. That effectively establishes an eighthour window for its meetings, with the option to continue into the morning if a majority wishes to keep going.

That very same night the Purcellville Town

Council also agreed to start its meetings earlier this year, at 6 p.m., and also to add a cutoff time when the members would have to vote to allow the meeting to run later. Their deadline is 9:30 p.m. The county’s Planning Commission requires a 10:30 wrap up with a hard stop at 11 p.m.

The board’s midnight curfew does little to promote efficiency or improve the quality of decision making and is a disservice to the staff members supporting their work and to the public trying to participate in their local government.

If the policy is an attempt to instill some welcome self-discipline, the bar is set far too low.

It might be enlightening—and helpful—for supervisors to know that the public doesn’t much care about what they say during their rambling meetings; it’s the actions that count. n

LETTERS to the Editor

Policy 5055 - A Hedge Against Activist Educators

Editor:

On Dec 23, Ms. Berg, an English Teacher in Loudoun County schools, provided an object lesson on why parents needed Policy 5055.

While parents already have the right to review materials and get substitute texts for their children, Policy 5055 will allow at least 30 days written notice that materials deemed explicit are to be used in lessons. Parents can then review the materials and opt-out.

This is a better policy prescription for parents, given that it provides a notice prompting already very busy parents to review sexually explicit materials in their children’s curriculum. If the material is as innocent, as Ms. Berg claims, then she shouldn’t worry about parents choosing for themselves.

Ms. Berg’s letter asserts that Policy 5055 will undermine “the expertise and professionalism of English teachers …” This is as laughable as it is arrogant. A reasonable amount of censorship is proper in every facet

of our society, particularly where our activist educators cannot resist the urge to litter our school libraries with garbage literature like “Lawn Boy,” “Gender Queer,” and more.

Perhaps Loudoun County educators should take their medicine and recognize in the wake of the special grand jury the public has lost faith in the judgment of leaders in our schools. Policy prescriptions are necessary where their professional judgment fails.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 45

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LETTERS

Ms. Berg’s letter also highlights another challenge Loudoun’s parents face. The activist educators in Loudoun County view everything about their jobs through a progressive political lens. According to Ms. Berg, her colleagues cry with outrage at the mere idea parents require better reporting criteria. These grieving, activist educators are convinced parents concerned with strengthening sexually explicit material reporting procedures are, in her words, just a “fringe subset of parents and political groups”. As if the concern of Loudoun County parents isn’t genuine and is just all politically motivated. Ms. Berg’s paranoia here betrays her own motives.

Loudoun County has quite a chore to get these partisan activists out of our classrooms. We are paying for our children to be educated in core subjects to prepare them to be great citizens and contributors to civil society. Instead, Ms. Berg and her ilk have proven themselves to be stubborn, overly political, and activist-driven indoctrinators who demand we pay their salaries without accepting any parental influence on education policy in the very county where we live. These partisan indoctrinators behave like spoiled brats who have enjoyed doing as they wish in our classrooms for far too long.

I’m confident parents in Loudoun County will keep fighting to focus education on core subjects to help our children earn their portion of our American dream.

— Scott Goodspeed, Leesburg

Listen to Us

Editor:

I am extremely offended that the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors intends to build a new sprawling one level 18,500-square-foot fire station on the Philomont Horse show grounds which are located on Snickersville Turnpike.

We do not need a new fire station as the current fire station can be easily renovated with an additional 12,000-squarefoot addition (no need for temporary housing) with substantial savings to Loudoun County taxpayers. A rendition of the proposed new station was presented at a “community meeting” Dec. 8 at Franklin Park. The architects took great pride in illustrating how they have incorporated building features to allow this

station to “blend in” with the historically rural architecture of the surrounding community. How this huge facility is deemed “compatible” with a rural historic village per the 2019 Comprehensive Plan, is an insult to Philomont residents.

I have lived in Loudoun County all my life. My husband and I moved next door to the Philomont Horse show grounds in 1966. Our water supply has always come from a spring on our property. With the construction of this mammoth new building, coupled with the thousands of square feet of asphalt, we are scared to death of the contamination and ultimate demise of our water supply, and the certain noise and light pollution. The architects have proposed to decontaminate vehicles and equipment on site. How will this impact my neighbors, my family and the creek that feeds the pond and beyond? No one knows, because an environmental or traffic study has yet to be completed. Loudoun County Fire and Rescue seems more concerned with building their Taj Mahal than the quality of life of the Philomont residents. How can this callous disregard of the Philomont community be warranted?

The seven current active members of the Philomont Volunteer Fire Department have betrayed the community and the former members of the PVFD by supporting the relocation of the fire station and threatening to donate their cash balances ($1.8M), generated by the community, to the Keep Loudoun Beautiful program. I served in the PVFD ladies auxiliary for over 30 years. My husband and brother were PVFD members. Prior to eventual county funding, we worked hard to build up the assets of the PVFD so we could buy new equipment required to protect our community, which included thousands of servings of my sausage gravy and biscuits at our many fundraisers. Since 2021, the PVFD refuses to accept new volunteers, enabling the current seven members, with no community oversight, to control the land, buildings, and cash, which we built up over 60 years.

A petition was recently circulated calling for renovation, not replacement, of the current fire station that was signed by over 450 county residents, many who live in our first due area. This included 35 former members of the PVFD, board and ladies auxiliary. There has never been an acknowledgment by LCBOS or PVFD of the wishes of these 450 people.

My family and my neighbors do not want this new fire station built on the horse show grounds. We want the current

fire station to remain in the core of our village, save county taxpayers over $10 million and preserve our only green space as a community park. Very interesting to note that one of the PVFD’s seven members, who owns an historic property adjacent to the horse show grounds, has recently sold it in a private sale and will move to a new home in Round Hill. I guess he does not want a large new fire station in his backyard, even though he has been the strongest advocate of this effort for many years.

Listen to the voices of the community and county taxpayers, “Renovate the current fire station.”

— William and Marjorie Baker, Philomont

Clean House

Editor:

In 2007, Pastor John Caldwell published a widely read book called “Raising “G” Rated Kids in an “R” Rated World.”

My wife and I never felt a need to read it because we were pretty much raising our kids “G” rated, and with help from the Loudoun County Public Schools, where they attended from first grade to high school.

Until the current School Board came to power in January 2020, there was no tolerance for sexually explicit stuff in the schools—homosexual or heterosexual. I never feared for my kids’ safety at school, nor sexual predators (be they students or teachers).

We had an excellent superintendent, Edgar Hatrick, who was educated in the system and had been a principal at Loudoun County High School.

Today, however, this rogue School Board seems to want to make kids “X-rated” to acquiesce to an X-rated world.

I read, cover to cover, the recent grand jury report on the sexual assaults in 2021 and while it kind of acquits the School Board, the reality is that the tone set by changes in policy to allow dirty books in libraries and boys to use girls bathrooms and vice versa, was probably paramount in the mind of school administrators and staff in coddling a then 14-year-old sexual predator, who raped one girl at Stone Bridge, was foolishly transferred to Broad Run High School, where he tried to rape another girl.

A former employee of one school who I spoke with said schools staff were probably afraid to expel this kid or put him into the program for at-risk troubled youth (currently at the North Star School

in Leesburg) because the School Board’s direction was to go light on LGBTQ students, and this boy was apparently in that protected category, despite committing heterosexual rape. In addition, it should be noted that Virginia’s Democrat-controlled General Assembly in 2020 relieved principals from reporting sexual assaults of a certain degree (bill repealed in 2022) and so, laxity has prevailed.

And, it’s important to remember Loudoun School Board and Board of Supervisors is Democrat-controlled, and they have spent much of the past year denouncing the grand jury probe led by Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares. In fact, the School Board went to court several times to quash the grand jury.

But when the grand jury findings came out, it became trouble for these Democrats, who could no longer defend the indefensible. One by one at the Dec. 6 meeting, I watched supervisors denounce what occurred, urged the firing of Superintendent Scott Ziegler (which happened at the School Board that evening), and showed pity for the two girls who were assaulted.

County supervisors need to put their money where their big mouths are. If they feel the girls need counseling, then pay for it. Offer more than just words of sympathy in the media.

Better yet, the board can do what Ana Quijano, a candidate for Ashburn supervisor suggested at the School Board’s Dec. 6 public comment period, and order an audit of LCPS.

For one, this independent audit can obtain the secret report on the assaults LCPS refused to release to the public and find out why the assailant was never put in North Star for help. It can look at the LCPS Title IX program, too. The county funds the schools so has the power under state law to audit LCPS for anything it wants to. We cannot depend solely on the grand jury, which is looking solely at criminality.

The new superintendent needs to clean house and if he doesn’t, I suggest seeing if Dr. Hatrick is willing to come back on an interim basis and restore integrity to LCPS, even as a paid consultant. It’s vital the parents of Loudoun also elect a new School Board in 2023 that will seek to keep children G-rated; even if they come out PG-rated would be a blessing.

— Ken Reid, McLean

[The writer previously served on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Leesburg Town Council.]

Inova cares

then they tell their friends who might be struggling with the same thing.”

Now those therapists’ schedules are filling up, and the clinic is looking to hire more. The clinic tries to hire therapists who understand the community, such as local therapists or those from immigrant families. It addresses an acute need—demand for therapists is high, and even people with health insurance can struggle to find appointments other places. And that lower-income population is under a lot of stress.

“When you’re feeling that stress around ‘where’s my next meal going to come from?’ or ‘do I pay for a behavioral health therapy the session or do I buy my family food?’ it’s a very different stress point that we’re talking about,” she said. “You’re always going to go for the food and the basic needs versus taking care of yourself.”

Berube recalled one person in particular the clinic has helped—someone who was being treated next door at the Inova Ewing Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team, or FACT, which serves victims of sexual assault and abuse. The patient was, understandably, struggling emotionally.

“It was the end of the day, and they

Inspiration

Loudoun County.

Nichols said his aunt was reserved in talking about her health and didn’t share her diagnosis with the family until it began to significantly affect her life and ability to do things. He said she got treatment for her disease at the National Institutes of Health and participated in a rare disease program, getting frequent blood transfusions and eventually infusions.

Nichols, who now serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said by this time he was an adult and living overseas for his job. He said she visited him while he lived in Mexico in 1999 and then again in Peru in 2014 as he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Peru, getting treatments before leaving the U.S. He said she marched all over Peru and saw all the sites and enjoyed her vacation, “always committed to living her life to the fullest.”

She died two years later.

weren’t sure where to refer or to send the patient. So they literally walked the patient across the parking lot to come over here, and the therapist here was able to see the patient and provide that immediate care,” Berube said. “…That’s probably one of the most vulnerable times you’ll ever experience, and to be able to get immediate help, it’s pretty profound in this day and age of lack of services for behavioral health. I think that spoke to us immediately about the need.”

Others have their own struggles and victories as they work to improve their lives, or to come back out of their homes after COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and social distancing. Berube said one patient was so anxious she didn’t feel comfortable getting a driver’s license.

“Since being in therapy, she has now gone to get her driver’s license, so to me that’s a success. It helps her to be able to get a job and to get back out into the community. This is my own worry about everybody being so isolated during the pandemic that it’s a struggle to get back in, and to get out from behind the computers and to interact with people again.”

For Berube, who grew up with a single mother in a poorer neighborhood in North Carolina, bringing those services to the most vulnerable and disenfranchised is a lifelong mission. From starting as a behav-

ioral health therapist at Inova, she has risen through the ranks, carrying that mission with her.

“I joke and say I’m an old-school HIV social worker,” she said. “I started before we had protease inhibitors [a drug used to treat HIV], so I’ve been doing this work a long time, and it became very apparent to me early on that certain communities experienced extreme disparities in the care that they received. Health equity is real. There are differences in your socioeconomic and insurance status in the care that you receive. And so it’s been a 25-year crusade of mine to try to reduce those disparities and to fill the gaps.”

Sometimes that means a little extra help alongside the regular therapy session, like making sure a patient has a ride to get to their appointment.

“A lot of people think equity in healthcare means everybody gets a doctor’s appointment. No, that’s equality—we all get the same thing,” she said. “Equity is about creating programs like this that give the extra services that community members might need to get the care they need.”

Like HIV, Berube said she’s seen people become more willing to talk about mental health.

“I don’t want to say the stigma’s gone away, because I don’t think it has, but I do think that with social media, people have

gotten more comfortable talking about it and sharing about their struggles with mental health,” she said. “And I think having more and more celebrity endorsements around mental health has helped people to open up.”

And as preventative health care, the earlier intervention at the clinic can help avoid a more serious and costly intervention later.

“We don’t think about preventative mental health care, right? So if you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, and you’re able to get help with those diagnoses more readily, then you don’t move to crisis state hopefully, where you have to go to an inpatient setting or the emergency department,” she said. “You get that care in your community. As a behavioral health therapist by training, I think that’s much better care because we’re addressing the needs as they arise.”

The clinic is funded by Inova and with a community effort, including support from The O’Shaughnessy-Hurst Memorial Foundation, Mike and Teresa Wheeler, and Patti and John Sinnen.

“I find Loudoun to be one of my favorite places, because I do find the Loudoun community steps up when there’s a need,” Berube said.

For more information, go to inova.org or call 703-779-5480. n

Owchariw has battled the disease for the past 10 years and said to see that Thompson lived to be 84 with the disease gave her hope. She said it’s been difficult as she looks to find the best treatment plan and doctor for her. She’s currently getting blood transfusions every three months, but has been told she can’t do that for life and she needs a bone marrow transplant.

“Knock on wood, I haven’t died yet,” she said.

Owchariw isn’t currently taking one of the main drugs for the disorder because she said it made her feel worse and increased her fatigue.

She said when she feels discouraged, she thinks about Thompson and feels hope for the future and her life.

“You’ve got one woman, who is an activist for justice, a member of the NAACP, someone who donated her great grandfather’s freedom papers to preserve history, that is my saving grace and what I hold onto despite what happens,” she said. “She’s a woman who lived to 84 years of age and coped with it. Finding her was a godsend.”

When she learned there was a school named after Thompson, she wanted to see it. To Owchariw, the building became the connection to a woman who, in her mind, defined strength and tenacity not only in life, but in facing a rare disorder. A visit to the school one December afternoon brought tears to her eyes and renewed strength.

“Other people in our community maybe want to see her story. There is a school, we can now say jointly, ‘there is a school named after a woman who died from PNH.’ Where in the world is there a school named after someone who had my blood disorder?” she said.

Not only will those in the PNH community have someone to look for as a source of strength, but school Principal Tim Sparbanie said students in Loudoun County who walk the halls of Elaine Thompson Elementary School will know her name and her story. Sparbanie said he was inspired by her story and wanted to share it with the students and community.

“Had the school not been named after her, then hundreds of thousands of people

living here would not have known her story,” he said. “Her legacy will now thrive and live on and that’s what I love about her story.”

Students at the school have been doing project-based learning, or PBLs, that delve into Thompson’s life and what life in Loudoun County was like for her. Some of the fifth-grade students have even been given the opportunity to go to the Thomas Balch Library to dig into research. They’ve created a display at the entrance of the school highlighting some of the things they’ve learned.

Asked about what he thought about his aunt inspiring others today, Nichols said, “She is an incredible person, and I still think of her in the present tense. I’m very much pleased and proud that she is able to be recognized for the incredible accomplishments she’s achieved. While she didn’t have children of her own, all of the kids she educated in eastern Maryland and now the kids at Elaine Thompson Elementary School, those are her children, her legacy.” n

White’s Ferry

continued from page 1

restaurant owners in the town have told him they’ve lost “probably 20%” of their business since the ferry closed.

“Everyone talks about Poolesville being the heart of the agriculture reserve, the heart of western Montgomery County. Well, if you think about Poolesville as the heart, one of our arteries has been shut down,” he said.

Several expressed frustration at the ferry impasse—as a private land dispute in another state, the government and residents in Maryland have no power to force a resolution. Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass told the crowd the council has been doing everything it can to fix the problem. Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe said, “we know how important the ferry is to you, and we will do everything in our power—the little power that we have in this situation.”

“It’s very difficult to work when the other side doesn’t really have a lot of interest in working with you,” Maryland General Assembly Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo said. But he pledged “we're going to keep on pushing.”

Some Poolesville locals in the crowd seemed tired of hearing that.

“I will say, David, it has been two years,” Brown said. “It has been two years. We’ve all got a job to do.”

Poolesville’s Hosanna Community Church Pastor Chuck Copeland said “there’s no way on God’s green Earth that they would shut down a main artery in any other neighborhood like this and not have it fixed within at least two years.”

“Everybody keeps saying ‘well the problem’s on the other side of the river.’ Well, somebody go over there and fix it,” he said.

At just shy of 6,000 residents, Poolesville is between Lovettsville and Purcellville in size. It is in rural western Montgomery County, surrounded by

Tax rate cut

continued from page 1

for new programs, new positions or new initiatives from the Board of Supervisors. And already this board has sent a list of initiatives to that budget for possible funding, including administering collective bargaining for county employees, a new composting program, glass recycling, the Environment and Energy Work Plan, and the ongoing Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan. Meanwhile, several county of-

the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, a land use zone comparable to Loudoun’s western Rural Policy Area.

The town is governed by an elected, unpaid five-member commission, who elect a president from among their members—currently, Brown, a real estate agent. He said he hasn’t seen much urgency from the southern side of the river, where he said Marylanders have been told they’re interlopers if they try to push Virginia officials.

“We have found that on the Loudoun County side, there’s just not interest, there really isn’t,” he said after the rally. “They want to talk about a bridge. A bridge is a billion-dollar situation, and there’s no infrastructure on this side for a bridge. It’s actually really short-sighted and a distraction to talk about a bridge.”

He pushed Maryland elected officials to help work as intermediaries and help make a deal to get the ferry running.

“You have two parties, this side and the other side, that do want the ferry to operate, so it’s really more about negotiating and figuring out how to get those two parties to come together,” he said. “I don’t believe Maryland could ever force Virginia to put eminent domain on this, I

fices are expected to request funding for critical needs, such as new field deputies for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and crisis intervention staffing for the Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services.

Supervisors also instructed Hemstreet to come back with options for funding with a tax rate up to 1.5 cents higher, or a half-penny higher than the current rate.

The new policy of dedicating 60% of new local tax revenues dedicated to the schools would provide a $66.1 million boost to the school budget.

just don’t see it happening.”

While in operation, the ferry carried 600-800 cars a day, along with cyclists and pedestrians, across the Potomac. With Maryland’s longstanding opposition to allowing a new bridge, the ferry was the only way to cross the river between the Point of Rocks bridge and the American Legion Memorial Bridge.

A study commissioned by Loudoun County and Montgomery County, MD, and released in November 2021 estimated White’s Ferry carried 80% of the trips between western Montgomery County and northeast Loudoun County, traffic that is otherwise forced onto Rt. 15 and the Point of Rocks bridge. The study also estimated that if open for a full year in 2023, the ferry would have a $9 million positive economic impact through jobs, travel time savings, and other savings for travelers.

Brown estimated drivers have driven an additional 9 million miles on the longer alternate route since the ferry closed, eight trips to the moon and back, pointing also to the additional carbon emissions. A costumed Grinch celebrated the figure while attendees held up signs saying, “Don’t let the Grinch steal our ferry!”

In November 2020 Circuit Court Judge Stephen E. Sincavage ruled in favor of Rockland Farm, who sued after the ferry operators expanded the Virginia landing in 2004 without consulting with the landowners, awarding $102,175 in damages for trespassing, property damage and breach of contract. The cable snapped in December, and on Dec. 27, 2020, the ferry’s owners announced it would stay closed.

Elizabeth Devlin, one of Rockland’s owners and the daughter of former county supervisor Betsey Brown, said at the time it was “huge shock” to hear the ferry would close, saying evidence in the court case indicated the ferry netted around a half-million dollars a year plus a management fee, and attempts to stand up an interim agreement to keep the ferry running went unanswered. The previous

In a Nov. 4 letter, then-Superintendent Scott Ziegler estimated the school district would need more than that to cover the growth in employee compensation and benefits alone, which he forecast at $73.7 million. He also predicted another $26.3 million in base budget increases, enrollment growth and new facilities, all just to accommodate the growth of the school district before funding any new programs.

Supervisors Caleb E. Kershner (R-Catoctin) highlighted the estimated $361 tax bill increase for the average home at the 88-cent rate. And, he pointed

agreement, which let the ferry operator use the landing for $5 a year, had been in place since 1952.

Since the ferry closed, negotiations between Rockland and the ferry’s owner at the time, and then its new owner Chuck Kuhn, have remained stalled. Rockland’s owners have asked for a 50-cent fee per vehicle for the use of the land; both Kuhn and the previous owners have refused, offering instead to buy the land or a permanent easement.

In anticipation of the two-year anniversary, Rockland’s owners released a new statement on the stalled negotiations. They recapped some of the offers they have made to reopen the ferry, such as the 50-cent fee, purchasing the Maryland landing and bringing in an outside company, or buying the Maryland landing and the ferry. They said they have another operator willing to pay more than that 50cent fee.

“Rockland has been part of our family for seven generations, and we do not want to sell our land. But we will allow a ferry to use our landing in return for a small, volume-based fee, and we are willing to commit to a long-term contract to keep the ferry open for the foreseeable future,” Devlin wrote. “We only ask for just compensation for the ferry traffic that will traverse our land. The fact that a different, independently owned, ferry company is willing to step in and pay both Rockland and the Maryland landing owners more than 50 cents each per vehicle shows that our offers are very reasonable.”

Kuhn, who bought the ferry in February 2021, has pushed for the county to take the Virginia landing by eminent domain, saying his attempts to negotiation a reasonable agreement with the landowners have failed. Some county supervisors have weighed the possibility, but others have been skeptical or outright opposed.

The ferry was first established in 1786, making it almost as old as the United States. n

out, the current board has voted for a tax rate above the equalized rate every year of its term, meaning tax bills increased for the average home every year.

“That doesn’t sound like a lot, but when we do this year over year over year, I don’t know what that average will end up, but I bet it’s close to a thousand bucks […] since I first started this process four years ago,” Kershner said. “So that’s real money out of real families’ pockets.”

Supervisors approved that budget guidance unanimously. n

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Poolesville, MD commission president Jim Brown leads a rally on the second anniversary of White’s Ferry’s closing at the ferry’s Maryland landing Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022.