Loudoun Now for March 18, 2021

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VOL. 6, NO. 16

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MARCH 18, 2021

From Dump to Destination Burnett Proposes Liberty Lot Overhaul, Partnership

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Protestors opposing the Goose Creek Overlook development proposal wait outside the Loudoun County government center Tuesday night in anticipation of the reconsideration of a previous vote by the county board to approve that development.

Supervisors Reverse Course on Goose Creek Development, Deny Application

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors on Tuesday reversed their earlier decision on a residential development along Goose Creek, turning a narrow approval for the project into a bigger vote to deny.

On March 2, supervisors approved a rezoning request to build 238 new homes on land along Goose Creek at the Sycolin Road bridge by a 5-4 vote. But a week later, Supervisor Michael R. Turner

(D-Ashburn) asked County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) to schedule a vote to reconsider that decision at their next business meeting March 16.

And this time, two supervisors flipped their votes and one abstained, resulting in a 6-2-1 vote to deny the application.

Turner and Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) reversed their earlier votes to approve.

The project has seen public outcry both before and after its approval, with public input sessions packed with people oppos-

LIBERTY LIVE continues on page 33

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For years I have been receiving offers from other companies offering low rates, only to find out you have to enter a contract with them. It never made sense to me that you could drive around town and shop for fuel for your car, but not for your home. It’s nice to see that a business owner understands this and caters to the customer. We received our first delivery this past Saturday and the owner himself brought it out. The service was excellent. Of course, I’m not surprised,

ing the application. The project would have allowed 238 homes on parcels by the river. Goose Creek Overlook, as the project is known, would bring 123 townhouses, 40 two-over-two stacked residential units, and a 75-unit apartment building to the area. The application was controversial both for its environmental impacts— planned near Goose Creek, a state scenic river, and for only coming under density limits because county planners counted a nearby, undeveloped county-owned GOOSE CREEK continues on page 35

He calls it Liberty Live, and a quick look at the current state of the town’s Liberty Street parking lot requires a significant amount of imagination.

But where many see a gravel, somewhat underutilized parking lot, local attorney Peter Burnett sees his next field of dreams. He believes, if he can get the Town of Leesburg and other investors to go in on a public-private partnership, the masses will be there to support the project upon completion.

Burnett points out that the Liberty lot is the site of a former dump, the remnants of which are currently buried under concrete. But back in the day, this area of town was a much more vibrant. It was the site of a popular restaurant called Honey’s, known for its basement billiards room, in the midst of a thriving Black community called Black Bottom. A dump was then put there in the 1920s, and Burnett said the move was not unlike filling in the former town pool with concrete instead of integrating it.

“It’s about getting the right bunch of people together and getting the right things to happen there, getting the dump down where it belongs—to the landfill— and cleaning up after our grandparents or great-grandparents,” he said. “It’s a nice gesture to the Black community that that insult be cleared off.”

didn’t seem to care if you gave them business or not. When I was shopping around for a new company, thankfully I found Hunt Country. The staff is friendly, professional, knowledgeable and genuinely cared that you gave them your business. Hunt Country prices are consistently lower than their competitors. I highly recommend that you call Hunt Country Propane, if you

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PAGE 3

As Supervisors Debate Tax Rate, State Grants School Budget Boost LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Fully funding the Fiscal Year 2022 school budget request got even easier this week as the state allocated more money than expected to the school system.

On Tuesday, the school division announced that the state allocation would be $426.7 million—$15.3 million more than was included in the School Board’s adopted $1.4 billion budget. Some of that money comes with strings, and has to be spent in certain ways—but it still meant that the request for local tax funding from the Board of Supervisors dropped by $6.5 million.

That is enough to drop the next real estate tax rate down a half-cent—each half penny in the real estate tax rate is worth an estimated $4.9 million in the county budget.

Loudoun has historically adjusted that tax rate by half-cent steps.

The announcement adds to what has in some ways been an easy budget year for the county Board of Supervisors, despite the pandemic.

While in most years, there is a lengthy and vociferous debate over how much to trim from the school system’s funding request, this year’s budget deliberations started with the request fully funded. The School Board had passed a budget that came within the guidance offered by county administration. And in February, with tax revenue projections improving, County Administrator Tim Hemstreet proposed a budget three based on a 3-cent real estate tax rate cut, $1.005 per $100 of assessed value, lower than previously expected.

But that proposal was still a half-cent above the overall equalized tax rate, the rate at which the average bill is the same dollar amount despite changing property values.

And it’s a wider gap than that for homeowners—while commercial property values have sagged, residential property values have continued to climb, putting more of the tax burden on those property owners.

And supervisors have tacked another half-cent onto that proposal, by adding more positions and projects to the county budget during their deliberations, bringing the next rate to $1.01 per $100. As of their meeting March 11, supervisors have added $960,186 to Hemstreet’s proposal—and would have to find that much to cut out to get back down to the $1.005 tax rate. For a half-million-dollar property, it is a difference of $25 on the annual tax bill.

The additional state money not only makes up for supervisors’ additions so far, but is enough money to push the tax rate below Hemstreet’s proposal down to $1, the overall equalized rate.

The increased school funding also allows the division to comply with new state standards for specialized support positions.

The state revenue changes include increases to the cost of competing adjustment for basic aid, sales tax, compensation, and lottery allotments. It also provides money to comply with updated Standards of Quality requirements, now mandating at least three specialized student support positions—social workers, school psychologists, school nurses, licensed behavior analysts, licensed assistant behavior analysts and other licensed health and behavioral positions—per 1,000 students. The School Board’s adopted budget provides staffing at approximately two such positions per 1,000 students.

Supervisors continue their budget talks, with a final vote expected in April. n

Goodfriend Warns of COVID Fatigue; Apologizes for Canceling Saturday Vaccinations

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

As Loudoun County surpassed having 75,000 residents receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend on Tuesday warned it’s too soon now to let up on mitigation steps.

Over the past several days, the daily count of new COVID-19 cases has begun to level off and even climb slightly after dropping from a mid-January high. As of March 16, the seven-day rolling average of new cases each day is 67. And other than the initial spike in cases over the summer, that is still higher than any time before Nov. 23, as the holiday spike in cases began.

Goodfriend pointed out that is with vaccinations ongoing, and more than 24,000 people having already had the virus.

“It’s a reflection of, to a large extent, people being tired of following the mitigation factors, and this is the time when we really need to double down,” Goodfriend said during a briefing with the Board of Supervisors. “We have spring break coming up, we have Easter and other holidays, and we have a vaccine here, so I just really encourage folks to follow those mitigation strategies.”

He also encouraged people to avoid travel if possible, or to travel in small groups with family, with infections aris-

Contributed

Senior living community Ashby Ponds celebrated completing its COVID-19 vaccination clinics with fireworks on March 8. Everyone who wanted a vaccine, 98% of the 1,665 residents, had received both doses.

ing from carpools or people traveling together to sports competitions.

“There is concern that there is going to be a third wave related to new variants, and the fewer cases we have, the less likely that those new variants can take hold in Loudoun County,” Goodfriend said.

He also offered a mea culpa for a decision to close the county’s largest vaccination site at the Dulles Town Center mall on Saturdays. He said that decision was made in an attempt to use the site more efficiently amid limited vaccine supplies.

“We weren’t fully utilizing our Dulles Town Center POD, we wanted to see

how we could best utilize it, so I agreed to the decision to go down to five days a week instead of six,” Goodfriend said.

“Unfortunately, that impacted some folks for whom a Saturday appointment time was very important, so I apologize for that.”

He has reversed that decision; however, Saturday appointments will not begin again until March 27, he said. The vaccine doses for March 20 have already been reallocated to other appointments.

“What we’re going to do is take a much more thoughtful approach, if vaccine numbers don’t increase, to see if

five days a week make the most sense,” Goodfriend said. But If the system works best in five days, Saturday will be one of them.

As of March 16, 110,000 doses have been administered to Loudoun residents. Nearly 76,000 people have received at least on shot and 38,932 people in Loudoun have been fully vaccinated.

This week, Loudoun received 4,570 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, not including those intended for second doses.

Goodfriend said that, at this point, every county resident age 65 and older should be scheduled for a vaccine. Those in that age range who have signed up, but have not received an appointment should call the Health Department hotline, 703-737-830—or check their email spam folder to see if there is a misrouted message.

Once the 65+ group and high-risk residents are vaccinated, the Health Department will move on to essential workers in the 1b grouping, including grocery and agricultural workers, mail carriers and cleaning staffs. Goodfriend said those in the 1c group—including utility and transportation workers, those in food service, finance and legal service, among others—can expect to join the line by early April.

The Virginia Department of Health has counted 24,060 COVID-19 cases in Loudoun County. The virus has killed 265 people in Loudoun. n

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MARCH 18, 2021

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MARCH 18, 2021

PAGE 5

Loudoun

ON THE Agenda

Supervisors Add Youth Crisis Center to Budget

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors hope to give young people suffering a mental health crisis help right here in Loudoun, rather than sending them away for help, with a multi-departmental proposal to establish a new 12-bed Crisis Stabilization Center.

Director of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services Margaret Graham said her department’s number one need for youth is a stabilization unit for kids. Currently, children who need that service must be sent to other facilities around the state. The county already owns a suitable property, Graham said; with funding added to the next county budget during the Board of Supervisors meeting March 11, the department would issue a Request for Proposals to operate the facility, as well as hire a contract manager.

While that project is expected to cost $787,453 to get started, most of that— $580,000—will be funded by reallocating money from a number of human services departments, bringing the cost in the first year to $207,453.

“If we have a center in Loudoun, because their families are close by, because they’re’ in the community that they grew up in, because there can be transitions through home visits and still the school where they were going, it can make for shorter-term treatment, with a return home with that connection back to services and supports in their community,” Graham said.

The proposal garnered broad support on the board, with some supervisors lamenting how understaffed and underfunded mental health services have been in the past. Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said, “it sounds like it’s the

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

The Shenandoah Building in Leesburg, which hosts many of the county’s human services agencies.

type of innovative, leading-edge approach that I want to see from staff to try to get at an issue and provide a service that there is a need for.”

Supervisors voted to add that to the Fiscal Year 2022 budget 7-2, with Supervisors Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) opposed.

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Graham said they worry about the mental health problems that will become apparent as people emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For a year, the isolation, the grief, the fear and the transition that everyone in every community at every level has had to go through has to be worked out in the future,” Graham said. “I don’t currently have in my department a demand that exceeds my supply, and my teams are talking about it in their networks, across the networks where I do think some of this will need to come up

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as people venture back out.”

Supervisors also tacked on $149,890 to the budget to hire a public works project manager in the Department of General Services. That person will oversee county facility work like relocations, build-outs, renovations, space and furniture needs.

That kind of work has increased as county buildings have been refitted to handle COVID-19 precautions.

Letourneau said he is concerned there is a backlog in that work, which gets in the way of the county delivering services.

“Maybe I’m extra sensitive because I serve on the Metro board, but I really want to avoid getting behind on maintenance,” Letourneau said. “That is bad, and you pay for it in the end.”

With supervisors’ votes so far, the next county real estate tax rate will be $1.01 per $100 of assessed value. n

Applications Open for Nonprofit Tax Exemptions Commissioner of the Revenue Robert S. Wertz Jr. is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations seeking an exemption from Loudoun County real and personal property taxes for tax year 2022.

Most charitable nonprofit organizations are not automatically exempt from local property taxes in Virginia, even those that may be exempt from federal income taxes.

Filing of an application with the Commissioner of the Revenue is the necessary first step for a local tax exemption.

Organizations that are unsure of their status may contact the Exemptions and Deferrals Division of the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue at 703-737-8557 or at trcor@loudoun.gov for more information. More information, including a link to the application for property tax exemption, is available at loudoun.gov/taxrelief.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, April 1. Any exemption, if granted, would be effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Nonprofit organizations that have already been provided an exemption from Loudoun County property taxes need not file a new application.

Expanded Rent Assistance Program Announced Loudoun County residents who are having difficulty paying

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County Launches Local COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard Loudoun County has launched an online COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboard at loudoun.gov/vaccinedata to help residents follow the ongoing vaccination efforts.

The dashboard includes the date of pre-registration for which the Health Department is currently scheduling appointments, the number of people on the waitlist, the vaccine doses received by Virginia and Loudoun County and the doses administered in Loudoun County.

However, the waitlist only includes people who signed up though the county database by 5 p.m. on Feb. 12, before the state mandated a centralized signup process. According to the county government, the number of Loudoun residents on the state’s waitlist will be added as it becomes available and duplicate signups are scrubbed.

Waitlist and signup date information will be updated weekly.

As of Friday, March 12, there are 10,665 people on the waitlist, down from 24,729 since the previous Friday as the county works through vaccinating the people who signed up through the local process. Loudoun County has started offering appointments to the people who signed up online or by phone on Feb. 2 who are health care workers, frontline essential workers in Phase 1b, and people with underlying health conditions. The Health Department is about a week further along on the waitlist for people age 65 and older.

The county is still required to follow state prioritization for who gets vaccinated first.

When you are contacted by the Health Department for a vaccination appointment will depend on the date and time you registered, your priority category, and the state’s formula for allocating vaccine. It may take several weeks to contact everyone who is on the waitlist for a particular day if registration volume was high.

As of Mach 16, there have been more than 110,000 doses administered in Loudoun and nearly 39,000 Loudouners were fully vaccinated.

This week, the Health Department received 6,170 first doses of vaccine, 1,140 fewer than last Friday. The Loudoun Health Department also received a quantity of doses for those people who need their second dose.

If you are in a qualifying group and have not already registered for a COVID-19 vaccine, you may sign up at vaccinate.virginia. gov. n

MARCH 18, 2021

Resident Curator Program Heads to Public Hearing

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

County supervisors are one step closer to launching a program that would allow people to maintain, live in and curate county-owned historic properties.

County staff members have written a proposed ordinance for a resident curator program, which will now go to a public hearing. The new program would give the county a way to preserve and maintain publicly owned historic properties by leasing them to qualified parties with an agreement to manage, preserve, maintain, and operate those historic properties. That could include allowing people to visit the properties.

Applicants to the program would have to demonstrate their financial ability to meet their responsibilities, as well as submit an acceptable work plan.

ON THE Agenda continued from page 5

rent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for rent payment assistance from two programs: the county’s Limited Rent Assistance program, and the commonwealth’s Rent Relief Program.

Changes to the state program, which allow for a greater range of incomes, mean more residents may now qualify for rent assistance. Those changes in the state program will be reflected in the county’s program.

Both programs include financial assistance for rent payments past due beginning April 1, 2020 and afterward. The state program allows for up to 12 months of payments, while the county’s program offers nine months.

Anyone who has received rent assistance from the county’s program in the past may now be referred to the Virginia program, depending on income and household size. Visit the county’s Limited Rent Assistance webpage at loudoun.gov/limitedrentassistance to determine which program you should apply to, based on your household size and annual income.

The program offers direct pay-

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

The Old Arcola School, one of several publicly owned historic properties in Loudoun.

Supervisor Tony R. Buffington (R-Blue Ridge) first proposed the program in July 2019. Supervisors voted

to send the program to public hearing unanimously. The public hearing is not yet scheduled. n

ments to landlords or property management companies on behalf of residents who qualify for the program.

Residents must be current in their rent payments as of March 31, 2020.

The program will continue as long as the local emergency declaration is in effect and funding is available.

To view an application checklist and to complete an online application, visit loudoun.gov/limitedrentassistance.

To request a paper copy of the application form and checklist, or for assistance in completing the application, contact the county’s Information and Referral program at 703-7770420.

Entries must be a photo of a single tree or group of trees that are in Loudoun County, taken by the entrant. There is a limit of two entries per person.

Only digital pictures will be accepted. JPEGs are acceptable. High resolution photos are encouraged.

Email photos to Loudoun County Urban Forester Kyle Dingus of the Department of Building and Development at kyle.dingus@loudoun.gov.

Include the photographer’s name, phone number and email as well as the approximate location of the tree and tree species, if known, and a brief explanation of why the photographer is thankful for the tree or trees in the photo.

Awards will be distributed to the top three photos. The winners will be notified the week of April 12. Photos will not be returned and will become the property of the Loudoun County Arbor Day Committee.

For more information about the Arbor Day photo contest and the virtual Arbor Day celebration, contact Dingus at 571-252-0678 or kyle.dingus@loudoun.gov.

Day Photo Contest: ‘Trees That Make Me Feel Happy’ The annual Loudoun County Arbor Day tree photo contest is underway.

The theme of this year’s contest is “Trees That Make Me Feel Happy.”

Entries are being accepted through Friday, April 9, in advance of this year’s virtual Loudoun County Arbor Day Celebration, which will be posted on the Loudoun County website at loudoun.gov/trees to coincide with Virginia’s Arbor Day April 30.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 18, 2021

PAGE 7

Leesburg

Rewriting The Vision Town Embarks on Comprehensive Plan Overhaul Liberty Street

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ

Currently the site of a town public parking lot, the Liberty Street area is identified in the plan as an opportunity for a public-private partnership for a downtown infill project. Conveniently, that is not unlike what local attorney Peter Burnett is proposing for the site (See Story, Page X). The plan also calls for engaging the open space along the Town Branch and W&OD Trail as a natural amenity, and also touches on the need for a district-wide parking strategy for the downtown.

krodriguez@loudounnow.com

The eyes of Leesburg are turned to the future, as the county seat will spend much of 2021 ordaining its vision for the next 10 to 20 years of the town’s growth.

While Town Plan updates are a regular part of the staff ’s and the Town Council’s workload, this time it’s different, said Rich Klusek, senior planner with the town who is serving as the Legacy Leesburg project manager.

“The current Town Plan is generally more prescriptive with respect to prescribing specific land uses and intensities, while the proposed Legacy Leesburg Town Plan focuses more on character-defining elements and character designations,” he said.

The word character has been an oft-discussed element as the plan has come together, and it sets the tone for the proposed plan as one reads through it section by section.

To set the table with numbers, the commonwealth’s largest town envisions a market-driven need for an additional almost 10,000 housing units in the next 20 years, along with more than 3 million square feet of non-residential uses. The market needs for those uses is split almost evenly among office, light industrial, and retail uses.

Perhaps one of the most intriguing elements of the plan, however, is how it addresses specific sections of town, some ripe for development or redevelopment. The development community, while certainly paying attention to the plan process, was loath to comment for this article, voicing often-heard concerns and fears that opposing opinions could be met with retribution during the land development process. So, absent their input, Loudoun Now takes a closer look at dissecting some of the properties identified in the Town Plan as opportunity or transformation sites, and how they relate to ongoing developments.

Virginia Village and Crescent District Area The Crescent Design District has for years been envisioned as a key frontier in the town’s redevelopment efforts. Recently, Virginia Village owner Brian Cullen announced his intentions to redevelop the

Meadowbrook

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

The Virginia Village shopping center off Catoctin Circle is one area identified for transformation in the Town Plan. Much of the draft plan eschews traditional big box retail and concrete jungle parking lots for walkable, pedestrian-friendly and connected developments.

Street SE to the east, the plan envisions a series of improvements creating high-quality pedestrian streetscapes; intersections that encourage walkability and improve safety; the creation of common gathering spaces; and capitalizing on existing natural open scenery. Connectivity is a recurring theme throughout the plan and, in this area specifically, it calls for improved gateways and better transitions to the downtown area, as well as better connections between neighborhoods.

This Town Plan graphic envisions a possible future of the area around the South King Street/Catoctin Circle intersection, including the Virginia Village shopping center.

decades-old shopping center into a walkable destination, adding residential and commercial uses, along with a significant amount of green space. His application continues to navigate the land development process via staff review, with a Planning Commission arrival date not yet scheduled.

The Crescent area is identified in the plan as opportunity area #1. In looking at the area bounded by Catoctin Circle to the north, South King Street to the west, Second Street SW to the south, and Harrison

This Town Plan graphic shows possible redevelopment for the area along Georgetown Park west of South King Street, where the town’s Liberty Street parking lot currently is the major use.

One of the town’s newest, and perhaps most controversial, developments in the past 20 years is identified as an opportunity area in the draft plan. The Meadowbrook project was approved for hundreds of single-family homes, but it is the future of its potential commercial property that is perhaps of most interest. The plan recommends the establishment of a commercial center to serve the nearby residential communities on the vacant land off South King Street and Evergreen Mill Road.

The landowner had hoped to build exactly that, but was met with denial by the Town Council in 2018. Council members largely objected to a desire to locate four drive-through restaurants on the site, and said they believed the uses were incompatible with surrounding neighborhoods, and also not a welcoming gateway feature to the town.

After initially filing suit against the town over its denial, the applicant has now submitted a new application that calls for rezoning 24 acres of the property from R-1 to PRN (Planned Residential Neighborhood) and B-3 (Commercial). A special exception seeks permission to host car wash and gas station uses on the site. According to the project page on the town website, the applications as a whole include a “commercial core” of first floor retail and restaurant uses totaling up to 35,000 square feet, including 4,300 square feet of patio and outdoor dining, 20,340 square feet of second floor retail, 55 townhomes, a 5,200-square-foot gas station and a 1,450-square-foot car wash.

Further, the project also includes an 8.2acre “residual parcel” to be undeveloped TOWN PLAN continues on page 8

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PAGE 8

Town Plan continued from page 7 within the proposed PRN area of the proposal.

Edwards Ferry & Leesburg Bypass One of the most auto-oriented areas of the town is one ripe for redevelopment, according to the Town Plan. The Edwards Ferry area is characterized by its volume of residential neighborhoods, lacking connectivity to nearby commercial uses, with many residents still unsafely attempting to cross busy roads. It is also the site of a significant future road project, with interchanges eyed at both Rt. 15’s intersections with Edwards Ferry and Fort Evans roads.

The area in question also includes the site of the former Walmart, which moved to the Compass Creek development in 2019.

The future of that shopping center has been the subject of much speculation, and the plan identifies the land as an opportunity to transform from a traditional big-box retail site to a development that supports a mix of uses. In a proposed scenario laid out in the plan, a six-phase transformation envisions the development of small retail outparcels, along with sidewalks and green spaces; converting surface parking to small retail uses and adding residential uses; the eventual establishment of office and entertainment uses on the site; creating walkable streets and central plazas; and, ultimately, the demolition of the big box store, replaced with additional mixed-use development.

Eastern Gateway District The town staff and council members spent much of the past few years refining the vision for the Eastern Gateway District, which includes land along the East Market gateway outside of the Rt. 15 bypass, so it’s no surprise the plan focuses its own attention on the area.

The “character areas” assigned to the district resemble a spectrum of uses, that include a desire to target major employment centers and innovation areas and redevelop existing retail centers into destinations that promote different experiences, along with business and industrial uses. The plan points out that the district includes some of the almost built out town’s last opportunities to attract a campus-type development for major employers.

The land in question also contains one of the few remaining undeveloped large parcels of land, in the northwest quadrant of Rt. 7 and Battlefield Parkway. Peterson Companies, the owner of said property, has stayed mum on its development plans for the site. The property is identified in the plan as an “innovation center,” which is defined as a mixed-use village that concentrates employment uses in a discernible center. In larger developments, the employment center may be surrounded by one or more residential neighborhoods that support a variety of home densities and choices—including live-work units and upper story residential above office or ancillary retail—in the employment center. The design, scale, character, and intensity of development in the innovation center emphasizes technology, creativity, and innovation,

MARCH 18, 2021

and may support a corporate headquarters, research and development campus, manufacturing center, or other center of excellence and the nearby retail businesses and housing options needed for its employees.

A grid network of walkable streets connects destinations within the employment center and the surrounding neighborhoods. Connected open space throughout the center accommodates recreation facilities, small parks, greenways, or gathering places; preserves tree stands; and helps reduce stormwater runoff, according to the draft plan.

Airport Committee: No to FBO Seats, Yes to Biz Association

Leesburg Executive Airport/ Compass Creek

The special committee formed to review recommended changes to Leesburg’s Airport Commission has decided, for the most part, to maintain the status quo.

The panel was recently formed and tasked with reviewing recommendations first introduced by Mayor Kelly Burk in January that would have changed the commission’s membership makeup, responsibility, mission and oversight. Burk has stated her desire to have the commission have a more business-first, economic development approach, and has particularly pushed for more inclusion of its fixedbased operators, at their behest.

One change supported by the ad hoc committee was Vice Mayor Marty Martinez’s suggestion to create an airport business association. The association would be a separate entity from the commission, possibly a nonprofit, that would have representatives from each airport-based business represented. That would include its current and future fixed-based operators, ProJet Aviation and SK Aviation, respectively, along with Leesburg Executive Airport’s four flight schools. The business association would be permitted to appoint a representative to the Airport Commission that would have voting powers.

The Airport Commission recently had endorsed the formation of an airport business operators subcommittee, which would be composed of representatives from all 11 airport businesses, with a commissioner serving as a liaison. Commission Chairman Dennis Boykin said last week that if the ad hoc committee’s recommendation to form the airport business association was approved by the council and later created, he would approach his fellow commissioners about removing the business operators subcommittee from the commission’s bylaws.

“The ABA in my mind replaces the

This opportunity area currently includes a little more than 500 acres of land eyed by the town in ongoing negotiations with Loudoun County as part of a boundary line adjustment process. That land is defined as the Compass Creek development which, along with a host of retail and commercial uses, includes a forthcoming Microsoft data center campus.

The area is envisioned also as an “innovation village” with numerous economic development possibilities. The plan underscores the incompatibility of residential uses in that area, given its proximity to the municipal airport, but advocates for adding in amenities like pocket parks, gathering areas, and public plazas to make open space a prevalent feature in the area.

The plan calls for continued support of Leesburg Airport’s growth and role as an economic engine for the area, and also promotes the eventual annexation of the Compass Creek land into town.

The public will have its next opportunity to weigh in on the proposed new plan at the Planning Commission’s April 1 public hearing. To access the draft plan, project videos and other materials, go to legacy. leesburgva.gov. n

The shopping center that formally housed a Walmart store is envisioned as mixed-use neighborhood in the draft Town Plan.

The Compass Creek area on the western edge of the Leesburg Executive Airport, which is home to a new Microsoft data center complex, is envisioned as the town’s largest industrial area.

BY KARA CLARK RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

AIRPORT COMMITTEE continues on page 10

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 18, 2021

Education

SCHOOL notebook

Finalists Named for Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition Starting from a field of nearly 50 teams, the top-10 finalists have been selected for this year’s Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition.

The selections were made by judges following virtual presentations to panels of judges March 8-12. In its 11th year, the Loudoun Youth Inc. program is a partnership with the Youth Advisory Council and Loudoun County Public Schools and Loudoun County Public Library. Students are invited to create and implement projects that address issues and improve their community.

This year’s finalists are: Brayden’s Buds, of Woodgrove High School, supporting pediatric patients and siblings.

Gift of Giving, of Eagle Ridge Middle School, helping children from low-income families in Loudoun County through fundraising and a school supply drive.

Hope Spots, a team with Trailside Middle School and homeschooled students, ex-

PAGE 9

ploring ocean restoration efforts by linking neighborhood waterways like The Preserve of Goose Creek.

Kounslr, from Independence High School, addressing the historic shortage of school counselors and the lack of resources available to high school students by helping students with various aspects of the high school experience, including course selection.

Pollution Solution, with students from Mercer Middle School and J. Michael Lunsford Middle School, fighting pollution that is significantly impacting our community.

Scholarly, with students from Independence, Briar Woods and Rock Ridge high schools, addressing the lack of a high school student community during the pandemic, both in a school environment and when studying from home.

STEP UP continues on page 10

State DOE Adds ‘Non-Binary’ as Student ID Option

Spring Break Offered to All School Staff

The Virginia Department of Education has established a new gender code, “non-binary,” as an option that may be used within student’s records and Loudoun’s public schools division is implementing that direction.

The change is a result of legislation sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D33) in the 2020 General Assembly session requiring VDOE to create comprehensive guidelines for how to treat transgender students in public schools.

Also last year, the legislature mandated that non-binary be added to the gender selection in addition to male and female on driver’s licenses.

The School Board was briefed on the new policy last week. To implement the policy, school division’s Department of Digital Innovation has included the gender option of “non-binary” within the Student Information System, allowing parents, guardians, and adult students to request that gender code be used for their official student record.

School Board last week unanimously approved a resolution extending Spring Break, the week of March 29-April 2, as a holiday for all staff members.

The action was proposed as a recognition of the efforts by building administrators, support staffers, and other 12-month employees during the past year as they were called to extra duties in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Naming Study Begins for Alternative High School With plans moving forward to create an alternative high school on the Park View campus next fall, the School Board is soliciting names for the school.

If it survives in the budget review process, the new school will offer an alternative option to support students whose formal education has been interrupted SCHOOL NOTEBOOK continues on page 10

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Airport Committee continued from page 8 existing airport business operators subcommittee,” he said.

One other change supported by the ad hoc committee was the addition of a liaison from the town’s Economic Development Commission as a non-voting member to the commission.

Committee members did not endorse a change first proposed by Burk to add FBO representatives to the commission as ex officio, non-voting members. Burk, who in-

Step Up continued from page 9 Sunshine Program, of Sterling Middle School, raising awareness of and finding ways to help the homeless children in the Loudoun County Public School system.

The Boredom Busterz, of Willard Middle School, addressing the issues of boredom and loneliness (that have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic), which can negatively impact mental health.

troduced a series of Town Code changes to the commission in January, said both FBOs had advocated for better representation on the commission.

The committee also did not endorse the introduction of term limits on the Airport Commission, or changes to how council members make their appointments. Also voted down was changing the commission’s membership makeup to require representation from a town resident with no affiliation with the airport, or a certain number of pilots or business representatives.

The committee’s recommendations are expected to go before the Town Council for discussion at a future meeting. n

Thriving Times, of Brambleton Middle School, addressing teen stress during the COVID 19 pandemic.

TimeTek, with students from Independence and Dominion high schools, combating procrastination among students with creation of a one-of-a-kind time management app that acts as a personal assistant and digital agenda combined in one.

The winners will be selected during a final round of judging on March 25, to be livestreamed on the Loudoun Youth, Inc. Facebook page. n

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by external and life challenging circumstances.

The School Board this week appointed a committee of parents, students community members and school staffers to review and recommended names for the school.

School Board Punts on LCHS Boundary Study With Loudoun County High School continuing to operate in excess of its programed capacity, Beth Barts (Leesburg) had requested the School Board study a realignment of attendance zone boundaries in the Leesburg area, and even stretching west to Hamilton.

For the 2021-22 school year, LCHS is projected to have 187 students more than its 1,432 capacity. By 2026-27, that overage is expected to grow to 319 students, according to a staff report. Heritage High School is expected to be at 93% capacity next year and Tuscarora High School at 77%. The area’s three middle schools—Harper Park, Simpson and Smart’s Mill—are projected at 81-85% capacity. In addition to the schools in those three high school clusters, the study also will consider changes to the attendance zone of Culbert Elementary School, west of Hamilton, which is within the Loudoun Valley High School cluster With few options to expand LCHS, the county’s smallest high school campus, the School Board plans to make attendance zone changes to address current and future student enrollment, including anticipated students from approved but unbuilt residential developments.

However, the School Board last week decided not to take up the initiative. Chairwoman Brenda Sheridan (Sterling) raised concerns about the long list of major undertakings already on the schedule for the board and senior staff this year and other board members pointed out that Loudoun County was not the most overcrowded high school in the division, with other needing similar consideration.

Alexander Wins Nat’l PTA Award National PTA presented the 2021 Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award to Jenna Alexander of Hamilton.

Alexander was selected for her leadership, compassion and determination to make the lives of all children better. As vice president of advocacy for Virginia PTA, she built an advocacy committee that includes representatives for each of Virginia’s active districts. During COVID-19, Alexander engaged the advocacy committee to focus

MARCH 18, 2021 on issues facing the community, organizing a series of webinars, developing a social media toolkit, initiating an email campaign directed toward the Virginia General Assembly to call on legislators to restore funding for education.

“PTA leaders across the country have heard their community’s cry for help during the pandemic and for racial justice, and they have responded. We are advocating every day to safeguard the education, health and safety of our nation’s children and make sure students, families, schools and communities have what they need during this challenging time in our country,” said Leslie Boggs, president of National PTA. “We are pleased to recognize Jenna’s outstanding efforts, and we look forward to celebrating her during our virtual legislative conference.”

The award is named after past National PTA President Shirley Igo, who was recognized as a model of public service and volunteerism.

Corrado Contributes to 250th Anniversary Project Katherine Corrado of Woodgrove High School is one of 15 teachers from across the country to contribute to “Building a More Perfect Union,” a new source book from National History Day Corrado and the National Endowment for the Humanities designed to help teachers engage students with themes of democracy and citizenship in preparation for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

The classroom materials will help middle school and high school social studies teachers engage students with primary sources and themes of democracy and citizenship throughout United States history.

Through two introductory essays and 15 primary source-rich lesson plans, this book explores events, legislative accomplishments, and civic actions across U.S. history—from foreign policy to civil rights to debates surrounding citizenship—that have collectively moved the country toward a more perfect union. The material is available for free download via National History Day’s website at nhd.org/250.

Corrado’s lesson plan is entitled “The Monroe Doctrine: Debating America’s Defense of Independence Abroad,” and challenges students to analyze the debates surrounding the Monroe Doctrine and evaluate the short- and long-term effects of the doctrine on American identity at home and abroad.

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Public Safety

Sterling Man Charged in Coughing Assault Donates $3K to Loudoun NAACP LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Raymond Deskins, the man charged with assault for coughing on a counter-protester outside Trump National Golf Club, saw his case dismissed after he made a $3,000 contribution to the NAACP Loudoun Chapter.

On Nov. 12, 2020, nine days after the Presidential Election, Deskins, who was gathered with other supporters of President Trump, got into an argument with two women protesting outside the golf club. Deskins deliberately coughed on the women, which was caught on video, and was charged with misdemeanor assault.

The incident was caught on video by Reel Political News correspondent Douglas Christian and shared on Twitter, who was covering protests outside Trump

“Instead of a bitter fight over a court case, selected students will get money to further their education.”

— Charles King, Defense council for Ramond Deskins

An image of Raymond Deskins taken from the viral video that resulted in an assault charge against him during a counter protest outside the Trump National Golf Club in Lowes Island last November.

National Golf Club while Trump, inside, golfed rather than attend a G20 Summit meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loudoun County General District Court Judge Lorrie Sinclair Taylor last

Resident Dies After Ashburn House Fire Started by Unattended Candle LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

A Friday morning house fire started by an unattended candle left one resident dead and displaced a family of four.

According to Loudoun County Fire-Rescue, crews from Ashburn, Moorefield, Lansdowne, Sterling, Kincora, Leesburg, and Fairfax County were called to the Keane Court home in Ashburn’s Farmwell Hunt neighborhood at 4:45 a.m. March 12.

County dispatchers received a 911 call from an occupant reporting a fire in the basement with someone believed to be trapped inside.

The first arriving units found a two-story, single-family structure with heavy fire at rear of the structure, extending to the attic and roof. A woman was located in the fire area and removed from the structure. She was transported to a hospital for treatment of critical injuries. Nylsa Clark, 45 later died as a result of her injuries. The other occupants also were transported to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment.

One firefighter received a minor injury

and was transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Two dogs were also found dead inside.

The Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was caused by an unattended candle. The home did have smoke alarms and alerted the occupants. The estimated damages to the structure and contents are $695,000.

The Fire Marshal’s Office issued a reminder that candles should be placed on a sturdy, nonflammable surface, away from children, pets and anything that can burn.

Candles require constant supervision by an adult, and must be extinguished before leaving the area. Flameless candles are recommended.

“Even though smoke alarms were present in this home, this incident is also a prime example of when alerted to a fire, occupants should immediately exit the structure according to their established home escape plan,” stated System Chief Keith Johnson. An escape plan includes a map of the home and two ways out of each room, along with a meeting place at a safe location outside.

Loudoun County Fire-Rescue

The Fire Marshal’s Office estimated that nearly $700,000 in damages resulted to this Farmwell Hunt home from a fire that was started by candle.

The county’s Combined Fire and Rescue System offers home safety inspections and smoke alarms to residents at no charge.

Go to loudoun.gov/smokealarms or call 703-737-8600 for more information. n

week dismissed Deskin’s assault charge pursuant to an accord in which Deskins contributed $3,000 to the Loudoun NAACP’s college scholarship fund. Under Virginia law, courts are allowed to accept civil resolutions of criminal charges for certain misdemeanors.

Deskins made the contribution to the NAACP because one of the complainants, Patricia Razeghi, is a member of the organization and suggested the deal, according to Charles King, Deskins’ defense counsel.

King stated that “given the national and local political rancor, this is a great resolution for the community.”

“The parties and the commonwealth’s attorney were wise to enter into this agreement,” he stated. “Instead of a bitter fight over a court case, selected students will get money to further their education.” n

Dry Weather, High Winds Spark Wildfires Loudoun County imposed an emergency ban on outdoor burning over the weekend as crews scrambled to control several significant brush and woodland fires.

The fire-rescue department reported calls for 36 outside fires or wires down, as well as 11 structure fires and a trail rescue. Most of the fires occurred in western Loudoun on farmland and involved hay or mulch piles.

The high level of activity resulted in increased staffing at companies and stations throughout the county. No injuries were reported. n

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MARCH 18, 2021

Business

Health Care AI Firm to Establish U.S. HQ in Loudoun LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

A global leader in the health care artificial intelligence industry is planting its roots in Ashburn.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced March 11 that Zasti, Inc. will invest $5.9 million to establish its U.S. headquarters and operations in Loudoun County.

The company develops risk screening, predictive analytics, and climate change products for the health care industry.

Loudoun County competed with other area jurisdictions for the project, which is expected to create 60 new jobs. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday night approved spending $150,000 to match a grant awarded to the county from the commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund in support of the project. Also, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program will provide funding and services to support the com-

pany’s employee training activities.

The company initially is leasing 3,177 square feet of office, with plans to expand into 10,000 square feet of office and clean room space along Ashbrook Place in the Ashbrook Commons.

Founded in 2017 and incubated at the Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Zasti developed and validated its AI platform for three years in India and the U.K. The company recently moved its headquarters to the United States.

“Virginia represents a confluence of values, given its workforce diversity, commitment to the environment, and a strong academic research setting,” stated CEO Krish R. Krishnan. “It is a great place for a transformative vision-driven business like ours to thrive. Our AI platform offers valuable health risk screening and early disease detection for commu-

nities in need while creating low-carbon pathways for our stakeholders. With continued support from Loudoun County and Virginia, we hope to grow our workforce well beyond 60 jobs.”

“Healthcare innovation and addressing climate change are two of the defining issues of our day, and I am very pleased to have Zasti, Inc. develop those solutions right here in Loudoun County,” stated County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) in announcing the deal.

“Loudoun’s South Asian community is our fastest-growing international population, and we’re excited to see their contributions to the cultural and economic fabric of our county.”

“Building Loudoun’s international business development strategy has been one of my biggest priorities,” said Supervisor Matt Letourneau (Dulles), who chairs the board’s Finance, Government

Operations and Economic Development Committee. “Given Loudoun’s strong and vibrant Indian community, India in particular represents a tremendous opportunity for growth. I am excited to welcome Zasti, Inc. as the latest company to choose Loudoun as its home, and I look forward to the company thriving and becoming an important part of our diverse business community.”

“This is another great step for economic diversity in Northern Virginia and further evidence of the importance of our international business development efforts. At a time when many international firms have paused their site selection searches overseas, we appreciate the confidence that Zasti Inc. has in a bright #LoudounPossible future,” Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer said. n

BUSINESS announcements JK Moving Services Expands Data Center Services JK Moving Services has hired Tucker Gladhill as director of technology services within its Commercial Services division, part of the company’s efforts to better support that fast-growing industry.

Northern Virginia already is the world’s largest data center market and the inventory is projected to grow by 13.8% this year with most of the growth occurring in this region, according to the Northern Virginia Technology Council.

Gladhill will focus solely on helping JK support its customers that have critical environment needs and will foster JK’s data center platform as data management continues to compound with the surge of virtual environments as companies from all industries pivot through a post-2020 landscape. JK recently expanded into offering office furniture installations and other technology relocation services, all to provide a turnkey experience.

Learn more at JKMoving.com.

Falcons Landing Wins Rare National Award Falcons Landing, a Loudoun military retirement community, was recently named a Holleran’s Choice Community Award winner—one of only 49 in the country and four in the DC area.

The award recognizes organizations with strong cultures of engagement, which cultivate an environment where resident voices are heard and allowing for connection, well-being and personal fulfillment.

Carter Tapped to Lead Lansdown Resort Kevin Carter has been appointed managing director of Lansdowne Resort and Spa. Carter brings close to 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, most recently serving as the president of Guests, Inc., Carter a full-service hotel management company headquartered in Strasburg. He previously served as director of the Airlie Resort Hotel and on the management teams of some of the country’s most notable properties including the U.S. Grant Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel San Diego, Club Corporation of America, Rancho Valencia Resort, Kiawah Island Resort, and Bald Head Island Resort.

Located on 500 acres, the AAA Four Diamond award-winning resort offers a state-of-the-art spa, conference facilities and a myriad of outdoor activities, including 45 holes of golf. For more information,

go to lansdowneresort.com

Barenz to Lead Business Operations for Spirit Pro soccer team the Washington Spirit has added Lindsay Barenz to its front office staff as the new president of business operations.

Barenz joins the team after serving as the vice president of Barenz business development for the National Women’s Soccer League.

In her previous role with the league, Barenz led the sale of the league’s broadcast rights to CBS and Twitch. She also helped secure several league-wide partnership deals with companies including Google, Verizon, Secret Deodorant and Barkbox.

Barenz will officially join the club on March 15.

The Washington Spirit plays in the National Women’s Soccer League and trains at Segra Field near Leesburg.

Security Executive Launches Leadership Coaching Intelligent Leadership Executive Coaching is launching a new virtual franchise with Dirk W. van der Vaart, who will pro-

vide services to solve leadership problems and build strong cultures in businesses of all sizes and types, from Fortune 500 companies to small and medium-sized businesses.

ILEC helps companies grow leaders, build cultures and drive results. Using a proven coaching methodology, Intelligent Leadership executive coaches from around the world make a real difference in solving the global leadership problem.

For more information, contact van der Vaart at 703-389-9964.

Spherion Opens Leesburg Office Spherion Staffing has opened a new office in Leesburg, at 521-C E. Market St. The location will focus on filling temporary and direct-hire staffing needs in clerical, light industrial, professional and IT industries.

Tammy Feaster co-owns Spherion Staffing Loudoun County with Gary Hayes, in addition to five other Spherion offices they oversee together. Feaster and Hayes have been in business together for more than a decade, and both have a passion for building strong client and candidate relationships in each region they support in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia with a Spherion staffing and recruiting office.

For more information, email Feaster at tammyfeaster@spherion.com.

MARCH 18, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Breaux Winery President and General Manager Jennifer Breaux displays two wines selected for inclusion in the 2021 Governor’s Case.

Breaux Vineyards Makes Governor’s Cup Case—Twice LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

Loudoun winery Breaux Vineyards placed two wines in the Virginia Wineries Association’s 2021 Governor’s Cup Case.

Breaux Vineyards’ 2016 Meritage and 2016 Nebbiolo will go into the case alongside 10 other wines from nine Virginia wineries. The wines were two of the three gold medal winners, along with 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, for Breaux this year.

The winery also landed six silvers and a bronze.

The winning Meritage and Nebbiolo were among the first wines created by Josh Gerard as he became Breaux’s winemaker in 2016.

Two other Loudoun wines landed gold.

October One Vineyard’s 2019 Cabernet Franc and Walsh Family Wine’s 2019 Dutchman’s Creek Cabernet Franc.

The Virginia Governor’s Cup, hosted by the Virginia Wineries Association in partnership with the Virginia Wine Board and the Virginia Vineyards Association, is one of the most stringent wine competitions in the United States. A panel of 22 judges, directed by Jay Youmans, one of only 53 Masters of Wine in the United States, reviewed the record-setting 544 wines entered into the competition this year, conducting a blind sampling and scoring the wines in multiple rounds over a four-week period to confirm the winner. Last week, gold medals were awarded to the 96 wines that scored 90 points or higher.

All wines in the Governor’s Cup competition must be made from 100% Virginia fruit.

“The wines in this year’s Governor’s Cup Case are a testament to the passion and pioneering spirit from which Virginia’s wine industry thrives,” stated Gov. Ralph Northam. “As we celebrate these

high-quality and distinctive Virginia wines, we also honor the resilience of the farmers and winemakers who grow and craft them across our Commonwealth.”

The 2021 Governor’s Cup, the top award of the year, went to Barboursville Vineyards for its 2015 Paxxito.

Alongside Barboursville Vineyards’ 2015 Paxxito and the two Breaux Vineyards wines, the case includes Barboursville Vineyards’ 2016 Octagon, Barboursville Vineyards’ 2019 Vermentino Reserve, Bluestone Vineyard’s 2019 Petit Manseng, Carriage House Wineworks’ 2019 Petit Verdot, R.A.H. Wine Company’s 2017 Series 1, King Family Vineyards’ 2017 Mountain Plains, Michael Shaps Wineworks’ 2015 Meritage, Trump Winery’s 2014 Brut Reserve, and Veritas Winery’s 2017 Petit Verdot.

Virginia ciders also are now eligible to enter the Governor’s Cup competition, and this year a new “Best in Show Cider” award was introduced to recognize achievements in the category. That went to Alexandria-based Lost Boy Cider’s “Comeback Kid.” “Wine and cider are an important agricultural product and economic driver in our Commonwealth,” stated Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring.

“In light of all the challenges the industry faced this year, the Governor’s Cup is a welcomed opportunity to celebrate the fantastic wines produced in our region.”

According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, more than 2.2 million tourists visited Virginia wineries in 2015. Today, the Virginia wine industry generates $1.37 billion in economic impact and 8,218 jobs for the Commonwealth. Nationwide, Virginia is in the top six states in number of wineries and wine grape production. n

PAGE 13

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LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 18, 2021

Nonprofit

GIVING back

Habitat Welcomes the Bekeles Home LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

After a long and challenging journey, the Bekele family has found a place to call home.

This week, Loudoun Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 59th home, to Mekdes Bekele and her two children.

The children cut the ribbon on the three-bedroom townhouse that will help the family toward a stable and secure future.

Working as an operating room and emergency room technician, Mekdes has overcome financial and housing hardships, including at one point commuting from Richmond to a job at Reston Hospital. The family was forced to leave Richmond and live in a shelter before they could get space in a transitional housing program. From there, they were able to move into a two-bedroom apartment in Loudoun.

Mekdes came to Loudoun Habitat for

Humanity last year, she said, because she was financially stable enough to realize her dream of homeownership but needed the extra help that Habitat provides through its Homeownership Program.

She took part in the eight-week Home Buyers Club and put in more than 200 hours of “sweat equity” working on a current Loudoun Habitat house and in the Loudoun Habitat ReStore.

“I never thought this would happen for me,” Mekdes said. “This took me more than a decade. This is not just a dream for me, but for my kids. I wish that every single mom had this opportunity, because this is more than a dream for us. Thank you very much. I honestly appreciate everybody for making this possible for us.”

To learn more about how to support families through the Habitat homeownership program, go to loudounhabitat. org or call 703-737-6772, ext. 100. n

Loudoun Habitat

Mekdes Bekele and her two children celebrate their new home in Leesburg.

100WomenStrong Awards $52.5K to 4 Loudoun Nonprofits LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

100WomenStrong is providing more support for Loudoun County nonprofit organizations whose fundraising activities continue to be restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In its first-round of 2021 emergency funding, the philanthropic group on Monday announced donations of $52,500 to four organizations.

“Like the rest of the county, we are encouraged by the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination but realize that it will be some time before nonprofit organizations will be able to hold the large events that they used to rely on to raise funds,” said Stephanie Place, 100WomenStrong grants chairperson. “They have come up with inventive ways to raise the funds they so desperately need to continue to provide services, and we were honored to help many of them to bridge that gap.”

Details of its first round for this year are as follows: ADOPTION-SHARE, $4,500, for “Family-Match” software and personal guidance

to provide caseworkers and family members a platform to find each other.

THE CHRIS ATWOOD FOUNDATION, $8,000, for scholarships for recovery housing for Loudoun residents. (The COVID pandemic has created a 77% increase in overdose deaths in Virginia.)

ST. GABRIEL’S EPISCOPAL, $20,000, for emergency rental assistance; and TREE OF LIFE MINISTRIES, $20,000, for its relief fund for rent and utility payments and its Tutoring at the Tree program.

In 2020, 100WomenStrong disbursed 55 grants to nonprofit organizations that serve Loudoun County, purchased and distributed $25,000 worth of PPE for first responders, and created the “Pay it Forward” Direct Assistance loan program with $50,000, which prompted numerous additional individual and business donations, with Northern Virginia Family Service to help area residents cover basic expenses. In total more than $570,000 was donated last year as part of the COVID-19 response.

Place said the group plans to continue with COVID funding through the first half

of 2021 and will reassess its approach as the vaccine becomes more widely available.

For more information about eligibility requirements and an application for the Pay it Forward Loan Program, go to nvfs.org/payitforwardapp.

Formed in 2008, 100WomenStrong is a group of concerned philanthropists seeking to strategically invest in organizations and programs that enrich the lives of Loudoun County residents. They are committed to improving the quality of life for residents of Loudoun County, Virginia, through strategic grants to nonprofits working in the areas of shelter, health, hunger and education. Members of 100WomenStrong connect and collaborate to leverage their philanthropic resources as a component fund of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.

For more information, go to OneHundredWomenStrong.org or contact Pam Ray at Pam@OneHundredWomenStrong. org. n

Keep Loudoun Beautiful Seeks Cleanup Volunteers Keep Loudoun Beautiful is looking for volunteers to help with its spring cleanup campaign.

Area leaders assist keeping their areas free of debris by coordinating with local volunteers to help clean up litter in their towns, neighborhoods and local roads. The nonprofit will provide supplies to make that happen, including trash bags and more.

In the 2020 cleanup campaign, 87 volunteers donated 267 manhours and collected 58 bags of recycling, 77 bags of trash, five tires and 170 pounds of other debris.

The nonprofit also is seeking volunteers to serve on its board and committees. Those who have a passion for the environment and Loudoun County, contact Alicia Groncki at alicia@ keeploudounbeautiful.org.

For more information on Keep Loudoun Beautiful, go to keeploudounbeautiful.org.

Buzz Butler, MADD Partner for Used Sneaker Drive Mothers Against Drunk Driving Loudoun and alcohol and snack delivery service Buzz Butler have partnered for the MADD Loudoun used sneaker drive.

In the spirit of environmental and economic sustainability, they are working with Gotsneakers, a sneaker-recycling organization and social fundraising platform, which will compensate MADD Loudoun for every pair of sneakers that collected, with no upper limit to the amount of money they can raise.

The more sneakers they collect, the more MADD Loudoun can earn.

They are asking Buzzed Butler customers to clean out their closests of unwanted sneakers and cleats, and leave them out tied in pairs on Buzz Butler delivery day.

After the sneakers are collected, Gotsneakers will process and distribute them around the world in impoverished nations using micro-enterprise partners helping those in need. Damaged sneakers are processed & ground into surfaces for playgrounds, gym floors, tracks, outdoor courts, & synthetic turfs.

REAL ESTATE | HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARCH 18 2021

PAGE 15

Home Sales, Prices Surge in Hot Market The Loudoun real estate market is running hot as homebuyers prepare for the spring season. They’re likely to find fewer choices, have to make quick decisions, and pay higher than the asking price in many cases.

The year opened with the seventh straight month of market growth. January’s 427 sales were a 37% increase over 2020, according to data collected by the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. Sales in the South Riding area more than tripled and Ashburn sales were up more than 50%.

Trends are pointing to a busy spring.

In January, there were 468 pending sales, up nearly 16% from 2020. South Riding, Ashburn and Sterling showed the biggest year-over-year gains in contracts.

The median sales price increased by nearly 11%, to $549,000. The Leesburg area, in the 20176 ZIP code, saw the largest jump—up $235,000 to $650,000 since January 2020. However, sales prices in Ashburn’s 20147 ZIP code are trending flat, marking a $3,000 year-over-year decrease in January.

The low inventory remains the market’s driving force. In January, the number of new listings declined for the first time

Dulles Area Association of Realtors

It’s a seller’s market as low inventory is driving contracts above the asking price in many areas of the county.

since last spring. The 221 active listings at the end of the month represented a 62% decline from 2020’s 595 active listings.

The inventory has been on a steady decline since January 2015, when there were more than 1,500 homes on the market.

The short supply has driven prices up nearly 30% in the past six years and has sharply reduced the length of time homes stay on the market.

In 2016, the median sales price of a home in Loudoun County was $432,200.

In January 2021 it was $549,000.

This year, listings were off the market in just over two weeks. In 2016, it took sellers two months to find buyers. And buyers have been getting their full asking price—maybe a little bit more—for most of the past year.

Those trends hold across the entire region.

“From the city, to the suburbs and exurbs, and out to the traditionally second-home markets in the horse and wine country of Virginia, every area is hot,” Derrick Swaak, the president of the

Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, said about marketing conditions in February.

“The only differentiator is the type of home or price point. Single-family homes and townhouses under $1 million in all parts of Northern Virginia had less than one month of inventory at the end of February,” he said. “Competition for wellpriced, desirable detached homes was fierce in that price point with many buyers waiving contingencies just to get their offers looked at.”n

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MARCH 18, 2021

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REAL ESTATE | HOME IMPROVEMENT

MARCH 18 2021

Should You Buy or Sell a Home in 2021? Here’s What to Know (StatePoint) While the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine has left a lot of question marks about the future of the U.S. economy at-large, analysts expect the housing market to remain strong and stable in the coming year.

“Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, the housing market performed well in the second half of 2020,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Low mortgage rates and the ability to work remotely continued to propel demand for housing, which is reflected in home sales reaching levels not seen in 15 years.”

Whether you’re a potential homebuyer, a current homeowner or considering selling, here are some of the biggest takeaways of Freddie Mac’s Quarterly Forecast: • INTEREST RATES ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN LOW. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) hit a record low over a dozen times in 2020. The low interest rate environment is projected to continue through 2021, with the 30-year FRM expected to average below 3%. Low rates are good news for buyers looking to purchase a home, and homeowners looking to reduce their mortgage payments through refinancing.

• HOME SALES TO REMAIN HIGH. The demand for housing is expected to remain strong in 2021, creating a favorable market for sellers. Last year, low mortgage rates and the ability to work remotely drove up home sales (the measure of the number of homes sold every month). This year, home sales are expected to ride that wave, averaging 6.5 million for the year.

• HOUSE PRICES TO GROW MODERATELY. In the second half of 2020, the high volume of home sales and low supply of housing drove up house prices. In 2021, house price growth is expected to moderate for the full year.

• REFINANCES TO START DECLINING. Low mortgage rates spurred refinance activity in 2020, boosting mortgage originations (the process in which borrowers apply for a home loan) to historic highs. As mortgage rates rise modestly in 2021, refinance activity should start to slow. “While many homeowners took advantage of these low rates in last year, evidence suggests that many lower income homeowners still have the opportunity to strengthen their financial position by refinancing,” says Khater.

For more insights on housing, go to freddiemac.com/research. For homebuying and homeownership resources, go to My Home by Freddie Mac. Many of the trends that shaped the

PAGE 17

Avoid 6 Costly Errors When Moving to a Larger Loudoun Home and Save Thousands Loudoun - A new report has just been released which identifies the 6 most common and costly mistakes that homebuyers make when moving to a larger home.

Unlike the experience of buying a first home, when you’re looking to move-up, and already own a home, there are certain factors that can complicate the situation.

It’s very important for you to understand these issues before you list your home for sale.

market last year, especially historically low mortgage rates, will continue to drive housing activity in 2021. As you embark on your journey towards your home goals, be sure to have a firm understanding of today’s market conditions. n

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PAGE 18

REAL ESTATE | HOME IMPROVEMENT

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MARCH 18, 2021

Renovating Your Home?

Protect Your Investment (StatePoint) The increased time spent at home during the pandemic has resulted in many people deciding to tackle home renovation projects. From creating a new office space or virtual learning area, to larger projects like bathroom renovations, many homeowners are rolling up their sleeves to do the improvements themselves.

And the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down. In fact, the Leading Indicator of remodeling activity projects the remodeling industry will be even stronger in 2021, up 3.8% compared to 2020. During the pandemic, homeowners have fixed up or added on decks, updated landscaping and installed new roofs, among other projects.

According to HomeAdvisor’s latest annual State of Home Spending report, the number one completed project was interior painting—35% of households painted in 2020, making a visual impact with a low investment.

What’s on your to-do list? If you’re considering an upgrade but not sure where to start, check out the results of a national survey by Erie Insurance, conducted prior to the pandemic, which revealed what homeowners don’t have, but wish they did. Here

are the top five: 1. Walk-in pantry: This topped the list with just under a third of respondents (30%) saying they wish they had one.

Kitchen renovations are typically on wish lists, and Houzz reported that demand for kitchen remodelers was up 40% in June 2020 compared to the year prior.

2. Granite countertops: 17.8% 3. Kitchen island: 16.8% 4. Tankless water heater: 16.4% 5. Finished basement: 16.2% Regardless of the new features or upgrades you choose, it’s important to let your insurance agent know so you can make sure you have enough homeowners insurance coverage.

“We understand how important the home is; that’s why we provide coverage to suit every home and budget,” says Bob Buckel, vice president and product manager at Erie Insurance. “Our variety of optional endorsements helps you customize your policy without breaking the bank.”

Making home updates can be as big or small an endeavor as you like. If you do take the plunge, be sure you protect your investment. n

MARCH 18, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 19

TOWN notes

Our Towns

BLUEMONT Dirt Farm Brewing to Host Steaks and Stouts Weekend

Glavé & Holmes Architecture/Creech & Associates

The Town of Middleburg’s $6.5 million new town hall will be built in a “casual civic” style that includes porch-like elements and columns.

Designers Outline ‘Casual Civic’ Town Hall Project

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Town of Middleburg is planning to open its new, more-than-six-times larger town hall in 23 months.

Town leaders and contractors Monday night held a public outreach session at American Legion Post 295’s meeting hall to provide details on the new project. Representatives from the Glavé & Holmes Architecture firm and the Creech & Associates design firm, both of which are designing the project under a $651,800 contract, were on hand to outline those plans.

The new building will be located on the existing town hall site and sprawl a bit onto property Salamander Resort & Spa is expected to sell to the town for $1. It will feature close to 13,000 square feet of space

and include a 16-seat conference room and a Town Council chamber with 50 seats, according to Creech & Associates Partner Brent Green.

Glavé & Holmes Architecture Principal Andrew Moore said the one-story office would be designed in a “casual civic” or “country civic” style that includes porchlike elements with columns. Moore said his team is eager to engage with residents to ensure the building conforms with the town’s “charming character and rich architectural heritage.”

It will also incorporate the town Police Department, which has operated out of a separate space for decades, and will feature outdoor open space and indoor meeting space.

“Having the right facilities for our citizens is important,” said Mayor Bridge Littleton.

Littleton added that the parking lot for the new town hall could be covered with something other than asphalt that’s semi-permeable and environmentally friendly.

The Town Council has budgeted $6.5 million for the project, with $1 million budgeted in Fiscal Year 2020, $3 million in FY 2021 and $2.5 million projected for FY 2022.

Town Manager Danny Davis said the town staff would issue a request for proposals this week to identify prospective banks to obtain financing to pay for the project.

He said the town’s Finance Committee would review those responses and recommend a bank to the Town Council.

TOWN HALL PROJECT continues on page 20

Purcellville Eyes Regulations for 3-Story Buildings Downtown

BY PATRICK SZABO pszabo@loudounnow.com

Builders looking to develop structures taller than two stories in the downtown Purcellville area may be required to get Town Council approval.

The Town Council and Planning Commission convened in a joint meeting March 9 to discuss a proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment that would reduce allowable by-right building heights in the C-4 Central Commercial Zoning District, located in the downtown area, from 45 to 35 feet, or three stories down to two stories. The amendment proposes to require builders to obtain a special use permit from the Town Council to build above 35 feet, but up to only 45 feet.

“It simply requires greater scrutiny

when you [build above 35 feet in the C-4 district]” said Commissioner Nan Forbes.

Mayor Kwasi Fraser noted that under the proposed changes development between 35 and 45 feet in the C-4 zoning district will require community engagement and “citizen buy-in” during the special use permit process.

Fraser said the focus of the amendment is to execute what the town’s newly adopted Comprehensive Plan calls for: maintenance of Purcellville’s small-town character. On page 32 of the document, in the Land Use Plan section, town leaders are encouraged to consider the size and scale of development by following a guideline establishing that “[t]he predominant character of new construction should mimic the height of older buildings ….”

Fraser noted that the last non-residen-

tial building constructed above 35 feet in the C-4 zoning district was built in 1925.

“Heights greater than 35 feet are clearly the exception in the Purcellville C-4 district and should be built with community input in consideration of the character and style of the C-4 district,” he said.

Planning Commission Chairman Nedim Ogelman said during the meeting that the commission proposed the amendment in late August after research that included measuring all 92 buildings in the C-4 zoning district and finding that only eight of them were nonconforming with the language in the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment. The owners of those eight buildings will not be required to take any BUILDING HEIGHTS continues on page 20

Dirt Farm Brewing will host two days of steak-themed dishes paired with stout beers this Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chef Justin will prepare double axe glazed beef ribs with napa slaw to be paired with the Double Axe Handle Imperial Stout; a steak ’n cheese French bread pizza with roast onion and provolone cheese to be paired with the Milk Stout; carne asada tacos with pico, sour cream and pickled jalapenos to be paired with the Toffee Stout; a portabella steak mushroom fondue with crunchy bread to be paired with the White Stout; and Korean beef on a stick with carrot-ginger salad to be paired with the Milk Stout.

No reservations are required.

Learn more at dirtfarmbrewing.com.

LOVETTSVILLE Council Prepares for FY22 Budget Adoption The Lovettsville Town Council is expected to approve the Fiscal Year 2022 budget March 25.

Among the highlights of the proposed town budget are a 3.3% drop in real estate tax rate and 5% water and sewer rate increases. The proposed budget also includes a 6.5% reduction in General Fund expenses, a 1.83% reduction in Utility Fund expenses and money for capital projects including work on South Church Street/Pennsylvania Avenue and phase two upgrades along East Broad Way. Residents seeking to provide input on the proposed budget may do so any time leading up to the March 25 budget adoption.

Cell Carriers Antennas to Move Back to Water Tank Work on the town’s water tower has almost wrapped up and cellular carriers—AT&T, Sprint/T-Mobile and Verizon—are expected to begin TOWN NOTES continues on page 20

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 20

Building heights continued from page 19 action if the council approves the amendment.

Responses to the proposed amendment were mixed during last week’s meeting, with many opposing it.

Via an email read aloud by Vice Mayor Mary Jane Williams, former councilwoman Beverly Chiasson labeled the proposed new regulations as “strangulating restrictions.”

Former Town Council candidate Mary Lynn Hickey wrote that the amendment would make the town seem less business friendly.

Another resident pointed out that many buildings downtown were three stories tall before the November 1914 fire destroyed much of the downtown area.

Around the time the Planning Commission proposed the Zoning Ordinance amendment, a few developers—Casey Chapman, Martinsburg Plaza LC and Loudoun West Investments LLC—proposed to build a three-story, mixed-used building along Hatcher Avenue using the name Trails End, LLC. According to an Oct. 20 staff report, the building would feature commercial uses at

TOWN notes

continued from page 19 moving their antennas back atop the tower before the end of the month.

That process will take six weeks complete, according to Mayor Nate Fontaine’s March 12 email newsletter. Once the antennas are fully relocated, the temporary cell tower will be disassembled and the area will be restored.

The town is discussing with Verizon the relocation of the maintenance road egress off Potterfield Drive onto Lange Drive as an access alternative. If an agreement can be reached, the change will have less impact on the community by redirecting truck traffic away from the existing residences, according to Fontaine. That should be completed by late spring.

Masons to Host Food Drive March 20 The Masons of Freedom Lodge 118 will host a food drive to support the Western Loudoun Food Pantry from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20 at its location at 28 E. Broad Way. Donations of nonperishable food items can be dropped off at the lodge. The food

Trails End, LLC’s proposed three-story, mixed-used building includes plans for 18,095 square feet of space on each level and 34 residential units.

street level and two stories of residential units above, with 18,095 square feet of space on each level. The upper two levels are proposed to accommodate 34 residential units.

“We’re really looking at ‘what are the needs of the community,’” Chapman said, adding that he could put in senior living if the town preferred. “… The downtown is meant to thrive … it’s not meant to sit there idle.”

The Board of Architectural Review voted 3-2 to approve the developers’ certificate of design approval Oct. 20.

Councilman Joel Grewe said he was unsure whether the proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment would affect that development, since the BAR has already given its approval.

pantry has indicated a need for pudding, instant mashed potatoes, soups of all kinds, beef stew cans, chicken broth, maple syrup, grape jelly, mayonnaise, cereals, oatmeal, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit juices, snack crackers, popcorn, hamburger helper, stuffing, canned veggies, pumpkin cans, canned fruit, potatoes, canned cat food, tissues and laundry detergent.

MIDDLEBURG Community Center Seeks Donations for Renovations The Middleburg Community Center plans to renovate its 30-year-old terrace room, and is seeking financial contributions to help complete the project.

The Terrace Room was added onto the 73-year-old community center in 1991 and has barely been touched since then.

The staff is looking to transform the linoleum-floored, fluorescent lit overflow room off the ballroom into something more welcoming, useful and comfortable that will be used as a gathering spot and hub of activity, according to the community center’s website.

A local financial donor has pledged a match donation of $25,000. To donate,

Fraser said “no single project or property owner is driving” the Zoning Ordinance amendment to require greater regulations to build above two stories in the downtown area.

Councilman Tip Stinnette said the proposed amendment is not about prospective building applications, but is more about implementing the Comprehensive Plan policies. He said the Planning Commission proposed the amendment to “ensure that development is consistent with the form and fit within the [C-4 zoning] district, between neighboring structures, and adjacent to the district.”

Still, Chapman said he feels targeted by some town leaders, whom he said have “anti-growth” initiatives. He said he’s also been stalled by a formal complaint against his Hatcher Avenue project. Now, the project is in limbo while the town reviews it.

“I am held up now by a single individual who is controlling my entire project,” he said.

Fraser said the town welcomes development in the C-4 zoning district, so long as it conforms with the district’s character and style. He noted that in the past six years in that zoning district, Nichols Hardware was renovated and a new café, Tree of Life clothing store, bakery and tea shop opened. n

go to middleburgcommunitycenter.com/ renovation.

PURCELLVILLE Council Appoints Dooley As New Zoning Chief The Town Council March 9 voted 4-3 to appoint Don Dooley as the town’s new zoning administrator.

Dooley brings 31 years of city planning experience, having worked with the City of Whittier and the City of Norwalk, both in California. Dooley graduated from the University of California with a bachelor’s degree in economics, from California State University with a master’s degree in public administration and from Goucher College with a master’s degree in historic preservation.

He is a member of the American Planning Association, the California Preservation Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Town Again Named Tree City USA The Arbor Day Foundation has again named the Town of Purcellville a Tree

MARCH 18, 2021

Town Hall project continued from page 19 Littleton said the town has been focused on the project since 2017, when a new town hall was identified as a strategic need. He said the existing 2,100-square-foot town hall lacks ADA-compliant features and has an inadequate amount of space. When it was built in 1964, there were less than four staff positions. Now, the town government features 14.5 staff positions. Littleton also noted that the existing office basically has to shut down during elections, as 1,400 voters walk through the doors in a single day.

Once the design phase of the project is complete, Downey & Scott will assist with construction management under a $417,770 contract. The firm will help the town solicit responses from construction firms interested in building the office. A construction contract could be awarded by Dec. 1 and crews could break ground by Jan. 3, 2022. The entire project could wrap up by February 2023.

Learn more about the project at middleburgva.gov/322/New-Town-HallProject. n

City USA. The town has been given the designation 13 times.

Mayor Kwasi Fraser stated the town remains committed to the planting and caring of trees because “it is an essential part of environmental sustainability and our slow growth strategy.”

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

The town also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating continued environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care. That award was obtained through the work of the Tree and Environmental Sustainability Committee and town staff, according to a town announcement.

“The Town of Purcellville should be rightfully proud of the hard work of its residents and town staff in their work to plant and care for the trees in our community,” stated Councilman Joel Grewe, who serves as the council liaison for the committee. “The investment in our trees will help maintain our town’s natural beauty and health for generations to come.”

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 18, 2021

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HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE Large family practice in Loudoun County with 6 locations and 28 providers looking for FT LPN’s or MA’s with a dedication to excellence. New LPN graduates welcome to apply. Pediatric and or family practice experience preferred. EHR experience highly recommended. We offer competitive pay rates, health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401K and many other benefits. Please send your resume to: lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804 attention Lisa

PAGE 21

Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online.

Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions Position

Department

Accounting Associate III

Finance

Salary Range

Closing Date

$52,446-$89,790 DOQ

Open until filled

Building Technician I or II Business Systems Integrator/Administrator

Public Works & Capital Projects

$41,353-$76,882 DOQ

Open until filled

Town Manager’s Office

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

Capital Projects Manager

Public Works & Capital Projects

$82,999-$141,929 DOQ

Open until filled

Controller

Finance

$79,227-$135,636 DOQ

Open until filled

Police Captain

Police

$83,559-$143,016 DOQ

3/26/2021

Police Officer

Police

$53,233-$89,590 DOQ

Open until filled

Senior Engineer (Capital Projects)

Public Works & Capital Projects

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

Senior Systems Analyst

Information Technology

$70,374-$120,339 DOQ

Open until filled

Traffic Technician I

Public Works & Capital Projects

$48,295-$83,805 DOQ

Open until filled

Utilities Project Manager

Utilities

$76,941-$131,689 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Inspector II

Utilities

$56,956-$97,512 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Operator: Trainee, I, II or Senior

Utilities

$41,353-$89,790 DOQ

Open until filled

Utility Plant Supervisor

Utilities

$61,857-$105,896 DOQ

Open until filled

Summer Internship Position

Department

GIS Intern

Utilities

Hourly Rate

Closing Date

$15.00

Open until filled

Summer Position

HELP WANTED AT FAMILY PRACTICE Experienced Lab Tech Or MA – Busy Family Practice office in Lansdowne, VA looking for an experienced lab tech or MA to collect and process Covid 19, Flu & Strep samples. Must be familiar with manual and automated methods. EMR experience preferred.

We offer health, dental and vision insurance as well as direct deposit, 401k and many other benefits.

Please send your resume to lgray@lmgdoctors.com or fax to 703-726-0804

See the full job listings at

NowHiringLoudoun.com

Position

Department

Maintenance Worker

Utilities

Hourly Rate

Closing Date

$15.00

Open until filled

To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs.

Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.

All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35.

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MARCH 18, 2021

THINGS to do

Loco Living

LOCO LIVE

Courtesy Wim Tapley

Live Music: Wim Tapley

Friday, March 19, 6-9 p.m.

Social House South Riding, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, Chantilly Details: socialhousesouthriding.com 18-year-old Tapley is one of the region’s most ambitious young artists. He’ll serve up an acoustic set with a mix of covers and originals.

Live Music: Bill Rose and Laurie Blue

Friday, March 19, 8 p.m.

King’s Tavern and Wine Bar, 19 S. King St., Leesburg Details: kingstavernandwinebar.com Rocking originals and beloved covers from a legendary local duo.

Live Music: Rock X Band

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Paul Lawrence, Sarah Huntington, Drew Babb, and Lori Keenan McGuinness gather by the Goose Creek Stone Bridge, a 200-foot long stone arch bridge built about 1810, near Marshall.

Celebrating The Goose

Award-Winning Documentary Spotlights Loudoun Treasure

BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com

Generations of Loudouners have canoed, swum and fished in Goose Creek.

And countless commuters drive over the waterway daily on the Dulles Greenway or Rt. 7 without thinking much about its meandering path through Fauquier and western Loudoun.

Now a 2019 documentary about the beloved river is getting fresh attention after taking top honors at a regional film festival.

“Goose Creek Watershed,” produced

by Lincoln Studios for the Goose Creek Association, took the grand prize at the 2021 RVA Environmental Film Festival last month.

For the filmmakers and their nonprofit client, the idea was to promote environmental awareness while also spotlighting the beauty and cultural and historic sig-

nificance of the river.

“I’m very glad it can be a positive force for people to recognize how important it is to take care of [Goose Creek],” said the film’s producer Sarah Huntington.

“There’s a nostalgia to it. So many people have grown up in Loudoun and newcomers too have used it for recreation.”

Huntington, who is now based in Fauquier County, lived for years near a tributary of Goose Creek in Loudoun and remembers canoe trips from her early days in the region in the 1970s.

The Goose Creek Association commissioned the film in 2018 in preparation for its 50th anniversary celebration last year.

Huntington, her husband and artistic collaborator Drew Babb, who wrote the script for the film, and videographer and editor Peter Buck shot footage over a full year to capture all four seasons on the river, wrapping up production in the fall of 2019.

Lovingly known as “The Goose,” the

54-mile state scenic river flows from Linden in Fauquier County runs through some of the most beautiful scenery in both counties before emptying into the Potomac River at Lansdowne.

“I realized we needed a compendium of Goose Creek’s history. ... We have so many new people who come to the area who really don’t know about the significance of Goose Creek and this area,” said GCA co-chair Lori Keenan. “It was really an education mission.”

The association took a bequest from former GCA chairwoman Janet Grayson Whitehouse, who died in 2014, and ran with it.

“It was an idea that had been percolating for a long time. The seed money really gave us a kick start,” Keenan said.

The team of filmmakers made a point of hitting every crossing and capturing GOOSE CREEK FILM continues on page 23

Saturday, March 20, 1-5 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Rock X covers everything from disco to rock to contemporary pop tunes for a fun brewery Saturday.

Live Music: Chris Ellinghaus

Saturday, March 20, 1-5 p.m.

Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville Details: creeksedgewinery.com Enjoy rock, rhythm and blues from the ’60s to the present day from Chris Ellinghaus of Just South of 7.

Live Music: Chris Bone

Saturday, March 20, 1:30 p.m.

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville Details: sunsethillsvineyard.com Great tunes from Western Loudoun singer/ songwriter and one-man band Chris Bone.

Live Music: Todd Brooks

Saturday, March 20, 2-5 p.m.

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: twotwistedposts.com Brooks plays a wide range of covers from Elvis to Oasis and has a knack for getting the crowd involved.

Live Music: Ken Wenzel

Saturday, March 20, 2-5 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Wenzel returns to Breaux with his roots-rock, country-jazz take on love, learning and life in America.

THINGS TO DO continues on page 23

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 18, 2021

Goose Creek film continued from page 22 settings that aren’t visible from the road.

The crew used new footage and interviews, stock footage and included shots of the river from the 2004 feature film “Crazy Like a Fox,” directed by Loudounbased filmmaker Richard Squires that had impressed Huntington with their beauty.

The documentary is narrated by former ABC news correspondent and longtime Loudoun resident Bettina Gregory.

“We tried to cover those areas people knew and remembered,” Huntington said.

“There’s sort of a romance to it. It’s pretty and it’s pastoral. … It’s very lyrical and it goes through lots of different landscapes-open fields and these cliffs and it opens up into the Potomac.”

Keenan and her GCA colleagues worked to find a range of voices to cover the river’s historic, recreational and agricultural significance. The film also tackles development threats including Loudoun’s residential building boom and the True North Data Center approved in 2018.

The documentary includes interviews with Loudoun-based historian Rich Gillespie, Fauquier-based Olympic equestrian medalist Nina Fout and GCA board member Marvin Watts, who organizes the association’s annual canoe flotilla cleanup. The film touches on agricultural best practices and efforts to create riparian

THINGS to do continued from page 22

Live Music: Greg Ward

Saturday, March 20, 2-5 p.m.

Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn Details: lostrhino.com Solo reggae artist Greg Ward returns to the taproom for an afternoon of great tunes.

Live Wire: The Ultimate ACDC Experience

Saturday, March 20, 2:30 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com The evening show is sold out, but you can catch a matinee performance with all your favorites from this noted ACDC tribute band. Tickets are $20-$30.

Live Music: Chris Timbers Band

Saturday, March 20, 5 p.m.

Crooked Run Brewing, 22455 Davis Drive #120, Sterling Details: crookedrunbrewing.com Celebrate spring with smooth, alternative-soul tunes from the Chris Timbers Band.

Live Music: Mark Cullinane

Saturday, March 20, 6 p.m.

American Legion Post 293, 112 N 21st St., Purcellville Details: vapost293.org Cullinane brings his signature acoustic classic rock tunes to Purcellville for an evening of fun.

TO VIEW THE “GOOSE CREEK WATERSHED’’ DOCUMENTARY and to learn more about the Goose Creek Association, go to goosecreek.org.

For more information about the Lincoln Studios, go to thelincolnstudios.com. buffers with interviews from farmer Mike Morency and conservationist Marcia Woolman. Purcellville Mayor Kwasi Fraser also makes an appearance, discussing nitrogen and phosphorus mitigation efforts at the town’s wastewater treatment facility.

“It really knits us together as a community. ... A lot of us live along tributaries, and it’s exciting to see how they end up in the Goose, which ends up in the Potomac. And the history which is so deep is certainly a revelation,” Keenan said. “[The film] has been very good for motivating people in the lower Goose Creek area near Leesburg. We wanted to reach out to that audience of people because that’s the most endangered and imperiled part of Goose Creek because of development.”

The Goose Creek debuted the documentary at an in-person screening in Middleburg in February 2020, just ahead Live Music: Moxie

Saturday, March 20, 7 p.m.

Saigon Outcast, 44921 George Washington Blvd., Ashburn Details: saigonoutcastva.com Moxie is the latest local favorite to hit one of Loudoun’s newest live music venues with acoustic favorites that make your heart happy.

Live Music: Mercy Creek

Sunday, March 21, 1-5 p.m.

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com Mercy Creek returns to Vanish with earthy, edgy, aggressive folk-rock.

Live Music: Josh Sowder

Sunday, March 21, 1 p.m.

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 18294 Blue Ridge Mountain Road, Bluemont Details: bearchasebrew.com Sowder plays tunes from a range of genres from the ’50s through the 2000s.

Live Music: Rowdy Ace Duo

Sunday, March 21, 1-4 p.m.

The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com The Rowdy Ace duo returns to the Barns with country, rock, blues, Americana and pop for a fun Sunday afternoon.

Live Music: Jason Masi

Sunday, March 21, 1-5 p.m.

of COVID shutdowns. But the RVA award and recent discussions about development at the Leesburg end of Goose Creek are reviving interest in the film from both policymakers and residents. The film is making the rounds on social media as debate continues over a rezoning request from True North and the Loudoun Board of Supervisors revisits a controversial vote to approve a new residential development near the river.

“To me the Goose Creek watershed is the prettiest part of both Loudoun and Fauquier counties. That’s what drew me to move here,” said GCA co-chair Paul Lawrence. “It was fortuitous for us that we had it ready to go when this controversy arose, and I think it has had an impact.”

Keenan and Lawrence are embracing renewed attention to the 50-year-old nonprofit. The association has moved its spring canoe flotilla to the fall because of COVID and is also planning a fall festival For Huntington and her colleagues, the film has brought a new focus on environmental filmmaking. Lincoln Studios is working on a new project for the Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains “It’s blossoming into some other environmental projects, which is worthwhile because it’s an important subject,” Huntington said. “Clean water is going to be one of the biggest issues in the world, and this film plays a small part in raising awareness.” n Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsoboro Details: breauxvineyards.com Masi returns to Breaux with his signature acoustic soul and R&B tunes.

LOCO CULTURE ‘The Hamilton Murders’ Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21, 7 p.m.

StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120, Ashburn Details: stagecoachtc.com StageCoach Theatre’s original play explores six possible conspiracies, based on historical facts, surrounding the death of Alexander Hamilton in 1804. Tickets are $25. Performances continue through April 11 with no shows Easter weekend.

COMING UP Ida Lee Park Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 27, noon-3 p.m.

Ida Lee Park, 60 Ida Lee Drive NW, Leesburg Details: leesburgva.gov The annual tradition is back with safety protocols in place as children search for eggs in a modified format. Masks are required for children 5 and up and recommended for children 2-4 years old. Tickets are $5 per person and advance registration is required.

PAGE 23

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LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 24

Politics

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Randall Backs Herring Re-election Bid Meanwhile, incumbent Virginia Attorney General and Leesburg resident Mark Herring, who is going without an endorsement from Gov. Ralph Northam in his re-election bid, this week picked up an endorsement instead from Loudoun County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large).

“We need experienced leadership in the Office of the Attorney General to guarantee that every family in Virginia has the protections necessary to recover from this pandemic, and I can think of no one more qualified than Mark Herring,” Randall stated. “Mark has always fought for the most disadvantaged communities in our commonwealth and I’m proud to endorse him for Attorney General. I know he’ll continue to build on his impressive record over the next four years.”

After backing out of a talked-about run for the governor’s office, Herring is seeking an historic third term. His election to a second term was unusual—he was the first Attorney General to serve two terms since Mary Sue Terry, who served from 1986 to January 1993, when she resigned to run for governor. If elected a third time, he will be the first person to hold the office for three terms since Abram Penn Staples, who was appointed to fill an incomplete term in 1934 after the death of his predecessor, then elected in 1937, 1941, and 1945. Staples left the office in 1947 after the General Assembly elected him to the state Supreme Court.

But first, Herring will have to defeat a primary challenge from Norfolk attorney and state Delegate Jerrauld C. “Jay” Jones (D-98), who Northam endorsed over Herring.

“We have made lasting progressive change over the last four years from Medicaid Expansion to abolishing the death penalty to criminal justice reform, but it is time for a new generation of leaders to take the reins,” Northam stated. “Jay Jones has stood with me every step of the way in our journey to make Virginia a more just and equitable place to live. He has been my partner as we have worked to change our Commonwealth. He also understands the deep scars of racism and will represent the diversity of our Commonwealth.”

After photos surfaced in February 2019 of Northam wearing blackface in his 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook page, Herring was among those who called for Northam’s resignation, saying at the time “it is no longer possible for Governor Northam to lead our Commonwealth and it is time for him to step down.”

Four days after calling for Northam’s

resignation, Herring disclosed that he, too, had worn a costume with what he called “brown makeup,” in 1980, and faced his own calls to resign.

Neither did.

Herring also boasts endorsements from Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk, Vice Mayor Marty Martinez and council members Neil Steinberg, Ara Bagdasarian and Zach Cummings.

Local Dems Split Support in Governor’s Race Five candidates are seeking the the Democratic nomination for governor and the party’s top elected leaders are divided in their support.

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg), Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk and Leesburg Town Council member Zach Cummings have endorsed former Governor Terry McAuliffe in his race for a second, non-consecutive term.

Supervisors Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) and Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) have all endorsed Jennifer Carroll Foy’s bid in that primary.

County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) has endorsed Jennifer McClellan.

Snyder Rolls Out Local Endorsements Ahead of this year’s primaries, candidates in the crowded races for statewide office are rolling out local endorsements in an attempt to attract Loudoun votes.

Tech entrepreneur Pete Snyder, one of seven candidates seeking the GOP nomination for governor, on March 3 announced more than 20 endorsements from local Republicans, including a significant portion of all the Republicans who have held county office in the past few years.

Among current and former elected officials in Loudoun, people endorsing Snyder include Treasurer Roger Zurn, Commissioner of the Revenue Bob Wertz, Loudoun School Board member John Beatty, Leesburg Town Council member Suzanne Fox, Purcellville Town Council member Joel Grewe, former county supervisors Eugene Delgaudio and Ron Meyer, former county chairman Scott York, former Lovettsville Town Council member Michael Dunlap, and former School Board member Debbie Rose. Two more endorsers were appointed to serve in office after the person elected to that position left: former Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney Nicole Wittmann, and former county supervisor Jim POLITICS continues on page 25

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 18, 2021

Politics continued from page 24 Bonfils.

He also announced endorsements from a number of Republican activists.

Snyder sought the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor in 2013 and chaired the gubernatorial campaign for Republican Ed Gillespie in 2017. With campaign co-chairs that include former Virginia Attorney General and Donald Trump appointee Ken Cuccinelli, Heritage Foundation president Kay Coles James, and two current members of the General Assembly, Snyder has sought to paint himself as a “conservative outsider.”

Others seeking the Republican nomination for governor are Amanda Chase, Kirk Cox, Sergio de la Pena, Peter Doran, Octavia Johnson, and Glenn Youngkin.

33rd House Race is Set With the passing of deadlines for challengers to file, the race for the 33rd District seat in the House of Delegates is set.

Republican Ralph LaRock, of Hamilton, is seeking a fifth, two-year term. He is being

challenged by Democrat Paul Siker of Waterford.

LaRock, who has been under fire from Democrats for his participating in the Jan. 6 Washington, DC rally before rioters entered the Capitol, posted a statement this week saying their criticisms—and calls for him to resign—were among the reasons he decided to run again.

“My thanks go to supervisors RANDALL and BRISKMAN, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL, REVEREND MICHELLE THOMAS, and DELEGATE WENDY GOODITIS for making it clear to me that retiring now is not an option to be considered. They enthusiastically abused their power, influence and public resources to attack me with a Cancel Culture mindset, for bringing to light very real and verifiable election irregularities,” he wrote.

Siker has criticized LaRock’s record in Richmond as being ineffective and out of step with the district’s constituents and for countering the advice of public health leaders during the pandemic, including opposition to mask wearing and the promotion of the hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, even though the use of that drug was found to be ineffective and potentially dangerous to some individuals.

Obituaries Penelope “Penny” Barton Paddock

Penelope “Penny” Barton Paddock, age 100, VA, passed away on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at her home at Falcons Landing in Potomac Falls , VA. Born Saturday, June 19, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Albert Edward and Marguerite Norma (Smith) Barton.

Penny, a devoted Navy wife, loved poker and bridge (Life Master), gardening, and reading, and was active in her community.

Penny is survived by her son Richard Paddock and his wife Dana Theus Paddock of Alexandria, VA, son-in-law Greg Schwarz of Leesburg, VA, grandchildren: Melanie, Michelle, Collin, Benjamin and Jeffrey. She was preceded in death by her husband Captain Alton Edwin Paddock, USN (Ret.) and a daughter Jane Paddock Schwarz.

Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery with the date and time to be determined. In leu of flowers contributions can be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com

PAGE 25

Legal Notices School Board Seeks Name Suggestions for New High School The Loudoun County School Board is seeking name suggestions for a new alternative high school.

The alternative high school is anticipated to open in fall 2021, with the start of the 2021-2022 academic year. The school, while located at Park View High School, will operate as a separate and distinct school. The high school will offer an alternative option to support Loudoun County Public Schools students whose formal education has been interrupted by external and life challenging circumstances.

A School Board-appointed naming committee will consider geographic and historic names, as well as names of deceased individuals who significantly contributed to improving life in Loudoun County Public Schools, Loudoun County, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and/or the United States of America.

The School Board will not consider naming a school facility for any individual unless the person has been deceased for at least five (5) years.

School name suggestions should be sent to Loudoun County Public Schools Division of Planning Services, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn VA 20148 or emailed to lcpsplan@lcps.org by no later than March 19, 2021. Persons suggesting a school name are requested to provide background information to aid in the committee’s review process.

Committee meeting dates are scheduled for March 22, 2021 (6:00 p.m.) and April 15, 2021 (6:00 p.m.). The meetings will be held virtually; persons may register for access to the meetings by emailing lcpsplan@lcps.org.

ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS

INCOME AND EXPENSE SURVEYS DUE MAY 31 To facilitate the establishment of accurate real estate assessments for tax year 2022, as authorized by Virginia Code § 58.1-3294, I am requesting that owners of incomeproducing real estate provide a calendar year 2020 certified statement of income and expenses. This information, which shall be kept confidential in accordance with Virginia Code § 58.1-3, will be utilized to determine fair market values for tax assessment purposes.

The survey forms are available online at www. loudoun.gov/income-expense and should be returned to my office by email or regular mail

by May 31, 2021.

Commercial property owners are encouraged to review and verify our record of property characteristics online at www.loudoun.gov/ parceldatabase to assist us in ensuring fair and equitable property valuations.

To protect the safety of taxpayers and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19, we encourage you to connect with us virtually because most transactions with our office can be done online.

For information or filing assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/cor or contact my office at commercialre@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260.

Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov Website: www.loudoun.gov/cor 03/18 & 04/15/21

ATTENTION NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN LOUDOUN COUNTY Nonprofit organizations seeking exemption from Loudoun County real and/or personal property taxes for the 2022 tax year may file an application with the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue by the April 1, 2021 deadline.

Most charitable nonprofit organizations are not automatically exempt from local property taxes in the Commonwealth, even those that may be exempt from federal income taxes. The filing of an application with the Commissioner of the Revenue is the necessary first step to obtaining a local real estate or personal property tax exemption. Completed applications should be returned to the Commissioner of the Revenue with a postmark by April 1, 2021, for consideration this year. Any exemption, if granted, would be effective January 1, 2022.

Applications are available online at www. loudoun.gov/cor. For information or assistance, please contact my office at trcor@loudoun.gov or 703-737-8557 weekdays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov 03/04, 03/11, 03/18 & 03/25/21

ROFIT S IN NTY

exemption or personal may file an mmissioner 21 deadline. ions are not operty taxes that may be . The filing ioner of the to obtaining roperty tax ons should ner of the ril 1, 2021, xemption, if y 1, 2022.

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 26

Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF A NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 8 TLOA-2020-0005 – FUELING STATION WITH CONVENIENCE STORE

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205, and 15.2-2223 and of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, April 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 regarding adoption of a new Comprehensive Plan, or “Town Plan”. The Town Plan will also incorporate other documents under separate cover including the Eastern Gateway District Small Area Plan and Crescent District Master Plan which were previously adopted, and a Streetscape Plan, and Transportation Improvement Plan which will guide potential streetscape and transportation improvements in the Town.

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, March 23, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176.

The purpose of this text amendment is to create a new by-right accessory use called Fueling Station with Convenience Store. The proposed amendments will add use standards for fueling station with convenience store to the following section of the Zoning Ordinance:

The new Town Plan, referred to as “Legacy Leesburg” is intended to guide and shape the Town’s future for the next 20 years and beyond. It is based on a series of guiding principles that will help manage growth and change within the Town Limits and the Joint Land Management Area, which is jointly planned by both Loudoun County and the Town of Leesburg.

Copies and additional information regarding each of these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-771-2765 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2020-0005.

A summary of the public outreach effort and topics that emerged is included in Chapter 1 of the Plan document. The Plan document places particular emphasis on defining the character of Leesburg and growing over time in a manner that preserves and protects that character. Chapter 2 of the Plan document reviews background information including demographic and real estate trends that form the basis for many policy recommendations.

Chapter 3 provides the framework for achieving growth and change in the future. It includes a map and description of Four Land Use Initiatives to guide growth and change (Figure 1), a map and description of Character Areas for Preservation & Change (available in the Town Plan document), and a framework of goals and strategies organized around guiding principles that serve as the foundation for decision making moving forward. This framework represents a shift in the way of planning for the future of Leesburg. The current Town Plan first adopted in 2012 is generally more prescriptive with respect to prescribing specific land uses and intensities while the proposed Legacy Leesburg Town Plan focuses on character defining elements and character designations.

& 03/25/21

Sec. 8.7 PD-CC-SC, Planned Development-Commercial Center-Small Regional Center

At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 771-2733, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

03/11 & 03/18/2021

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) 2021-2025 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND 2021-2022 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

Pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 United States Code §5301, et seq., and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Subtitle A §91.105(c), the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 to consider adopting the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan for Loudoun County. All citizens are encouraged to attend and express their views regarding the proposed CDBG 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan and the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan for Loudoun County.

In 2004, the County became an entitlement community, as defined by HUD, and began receiving CDBG funding. HUD regulations require the adoption of the above referenced Plans which outline the County’s housing and community development needs, priorities and objectives, and proposed use of the federal funds within the 2021-2025 consolidated plan period.

nue

ov

1.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

Loudoun County Office of Housing

e at www. r assistance, oudoun.gov to 5:00 PM.

4

MARCH 18, 2021

Components of the 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan include, without limitation, descriptions of:

Figure 1 – Area Based Land Use Initiatives Chapter 4 provides a series of place based recommendations. The Town Plan will identify “Development Opportunity Areas” and provide a series of recommendations for implementing growth and change in particular areas of the Town. The recommendations also include a series of concept sketches that illustrate the spirit of how recommendations can be implemented to achieve Town’s vision for the future. Chapter 5 will provide an approach for implementing the vision, goals, and strategies described in preceding chapters.

Additional information about the proposed Town Plan and copies of the document are available for review through the project website at https://legacy.leesburgva.gov or at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the 2nd floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling Richard Klusek, Senior Planner, at 703-771-2758 or by emailing rklusek@leesburgva.gov. This comprehensive update to the Town Plan is identified as case number TLTA-2021-0001, “New Town Plan”.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the Planning Commission meeting should contact the Clerk of Commission at (703) 771-2434, three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

03/18 & 03/25/21

• • • • • • •

Executive Summary Housing Needs Assessment Homeless and Special Populations Needs Assessment Five Year Strategic Plan for Housing and Community Development 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan Five Year Fair Housing Plan Citizen Participation Plan

Components of the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan include, without limitation, descriptions of: • • • • •

Federal and other resources expected to be available Leveraging of sources and how match obligations will be met The activities to be undertaken The geographic distribution of investment Planned homeless and other special needs activities

Copies of the proposed Plans will be available and may be examined beginning March 11, 2021 through the date of the Public Hearing, April 14, 2021, 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. Written comments on the Plan may be submitted to the attention of the CDBG Program Manager, Eileen Barnhard at the Loudoun County Office of Housing, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177 through April 12, 2021.

3/11 & 3/18/21

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

MARCH 18, 2021

PAGE 27

Legal Notices TOWN OF HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Proposed Operating & Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2022 Notice is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of Hillsboro, Virginia (the “Town Council”) will hold a VIRTUAL public hearing to receive public comment and to consider adoption of the proposed Operating and Capital Budget for FY2022. A summary of the Budget is provided below. Copies of the Proposed FY2022 Budgets are available for review on the Town website at: www.hillsborova.gov and also by appointment at the Town office at 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, Virginia 20132, between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

The public hearing, which may be continued or adjourned, will be held on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 5:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, via Zoom at the link listed on the Town’s website or by telephone, Dial: (301) 715 8592, Meeting ID: 891 4202 9285. Any person interested in the Budget may appear electro nically via Zoom at the public hearing and present his or her views. The Town Council may set time limits on speakers and other rules and procedures for the conduct of this public hearing.

Written comments regarding the Budget may be delivered prior to the public hearing in care of the Mayor at 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, Virginia 20132, or e-mailed to cmaple@hillsborova.gov.

All comments received will be presented to the Town Council during the public hearing.

TOWN OF HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA Roger L. Vance, Mayor

PROPOSED BUDGET AND RATES/FEES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR GENERAL FUND-OPERATING BUDGET

INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL BUDGET

Revenue FY2022

Expenses

FY2021

FY2022

Real Estate Tax

$40,000

$34,250

Contractual Services

Other Local Taxes and Fees

$37,000

$34,750

$5,500

$1,500

Donation Interest Income Miscellaneous Bond

$65,000

$100,000

$1,500

$1,500

$355,000.00

$0.00

$30,000

$36,000

Utilities, repairs, maintenance

$5,000

$2,000

Insurance

$5,000

$5,000

Town Stipend & activities support

$15,000

$500

Supplies & Advertising

$15,000

$20,000

Miscellaneous Reserve Contributions & Misc.

Loan Payments

Total Operating Revenue

$504,000

$172,000

Revenue

FY2021

Total Operating Expenses

$5,000

$3,000

$400,000

$105,500

$29,000

$0

$504,000

$172,000

FY2022

Expenses

FY2021

FY2022

FY2021

Water Income

$35,000

$35,000

Water Contractual Services

$20,000

$25,100

Trash Income

$12,000

$10,000

Water Operations, repairs/maintenance

$20,000

$12,000

Grants Litter

$1,100

$1,100

$8,100

$9,000

Subtotal Operating Revenue

$48,100

$46,100

Utility Reserve

$75,500

Trash Contractual Services

$4,500,000

$16,000,000

$4,000,000

$16,000,000

Infrastructure Bond Proceeds

$800,000

$300,000

Infrastructure Bond Repayment

$300,000

$300,000

Total CIP Revenue

$4,800,000

$16,300,000

Total CIP Expenses

$4,800,000

$16,300,000

TOWN OF HILLSBORO TAX RATES AND FEES, VA. CODE AUTHORITY PROPOSED FY 2022 TAXES AND FEES Description

FY2022

FY2021

Real Estate and Pub. Serv. Corp. P. Property

$0.17*

$0.17*

Drinking Water Rates No FY2022 increases to drinking water rates are proposed; future years may have an inflation adjustment.

Fixed charge $38.20 per month includes 2000 gallons; monthly consumption 2,001-3000 gallons $5.50 per 1000 gallons, 3001-4000 gallons $8.60 per 1000 gallons, over 4,000 gallons $13.00 per 1000 gallons. (Virginia Code §15.2-2111, 15.2-2143) Business License (Virginia Code, Title 58.1, Chapter 37)

$30

$30

Cigarette Tax (Virginia Code §58.1-3840)

$0.05 per pack

$0.05 per pack

Zoning & Sign Permits No FY2022 adjustments (Virginia Code §15.2-2286)

Based on type of application

Based on type of application

$46,100

$66,100

Utility Reserve

$75,500

$66,100

Subtotal Utility Reserves & Debt

$75,500

$66,100

Motor Vehicle License (Virginia Code §46.2-752)

$25.00 per vehicle

$25.00 per vehicle

$123,600

$112,200

Meals Tax (Virginia Code §58.1-3840)

4% of meals purchased

4% of meals purchased

Transient Occupancy Tax (Virginia Code §58.1-3840)

5% of revenues

5% of revenues

Trash Rates Per Month (Virginia Code §15.2-928)

$24

$27

$66,100

Total Utility Funds Revenues

$123,600

$112,200

Total Utility Funds Expenses

OSS/LG FUND-OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET Revenue

Expenses

FY2021

FY2022

Events

$35,000

$15,000

Grants

$57,000

$292,000

Rentals

$48,000

$15,000

Renovation & Preservation

Donations

$25,000

$40,000

$165,000

FY2021

$48,100

$75,500

Total Revenues

CIP Expenses: Infrastructure Outlays

FY2022

Subtotal Operating Expenses

Subtotal Utility Reserves & Debt

FY2022

CIP Revenue: Infrastructure: Road, Water/Sewer Capital Fund

Expenses

FY2021

(Virginia Code Title 58.1, Ch.32 and §58.1-2606) *$0.17 per $100 of assessed value

UTILITY FUND Revenue

FY2022

$362,000

Event Expense Insurance

$27,000

FY2021 $12,000

$2,000

$5,000

$57,000

$292,000

Furniture, Fixtures & Electronics

$2,500

$7,500

Repairs & Maintenance

$33,000

$55,000

OSS reserves

$43,500

$34,500

$165,000

$406,000

Total Expenses

03/11 & 03/18/21

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PAGE 28

MARCH 18, 2021

Legal Notices A message to elderly and disabled Loudoun County residents from Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Residents 65 and older or totally and permanently disabled who are required to complete a 2021 Renewal Application or Renewal Certification, must submit their renewal to my office by the April 1, 2021 filing deadline.

Please visit our website or contact my office for information or filing assistance.

Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Internet: www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Phone: 703-737-8557 Email: trcor@loudoun.gov Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 03/04, 03/11, 03/18 & 03/25/21

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:

JJ044218-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Isabella S. Montenegro Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Jeffrey Wayne McGowan, putative father hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Isabella S. Montenegro.

NOTICE OF ABANDONED BICYCLES Notice is hereby given that the bicycles described below were found and delivered to the Office of the Sheriff of Loudoun County; if the owners of the listed bicycles are not identified within sixty (60) days following the final publication of this notice, the individuals who found said bicycles shall be entitled to them if he/she desires.

All unclaimed bicycles will be handled according to Chapter 228.04 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

Description

Case Number

Recovery Date

Recovery Location

Phone Number

Green Kensington Free Spirit mountain bike 500

SO200013199

08/15/2020

46164 Westlake Dr. Sterling, VA

703-777-0610

Huffy bike with Frozen characters

SO200016406

10/08/2020

Charles Town Pike/Dry Mill Rd, VA

703-777-0610

Red and silver Raleigh Venture bike

SO200016630

10/12/2020

Algonkian Pkwy/Middlefield Dr, VA

703-777-0610

Blue Mt. Fury road master bike

SO200019131

11/22/2020

20403 Rosemallow Ct. Sterling, VA

703-777-0610

Burgundy Mongoose Crossway 250 bike

SO210002139

02/08/2021

43180 Edgewater St. Chantilly, VA

703-777-0610

Yellow Diamondback Wildwood bike

SO210002776

02/19/2021

22031 Auction Barn Dr. Ashburn, VA

703-777-0610

BCA SC29” Model No. BCA72954

SO210002889

02/22/2021

23392 Bymes Mill Terr. Ashburn, VA

703-777-0610 03/18 & 03/25/21

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316 Case No.:

JJ044669-02-00

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 Iztep, putative father, unknown father hold a foster care review hearing and review of foster care plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282 and 16.1-281 for Lucas Eduardo Ixcotoyac Castro.

It is ORDERED that the defendants Catarina Castro Chiroy, mother, Lucas Ixcotoyac Iztep, putative father, unknown father appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before April 13, 2021 at 2:00 pm.

03/11, 03/18, 03/25 & 04/01/21

It is ORDERED that the defendant Jeffrey Wayne McGowan, putative father appear at the above-named Court to protect their interests on or before April 27, 2021 at 10:00 am.

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SETTING TAX RATES ON REAL PROPERTY AND CERTAIN PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR TAX YEAR 2021 AND AMENDING LEESBURG TOWN CODE, APPENDIX B – FEE SCHEDULE (SECTION 20-22) In accordance with the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended §§ 15.2-1427, 58.1-3000, 58.1-3007, 58.13200, et seq., and 58.1-3500 et seq., the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on: Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA. at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on the following proposed amendments to the Leesburg Town Code: • A one cent increase to tax rates for all real property for tax year 2021 ($0.194 per $100 of assessed value) • Appendix B – Fee Schedule, Sec. 20-22(a): o Real estate; manufactured or mobile homes = $0.194 per $100 of assessed value o Real estate; tangible personal property for public service corporations (excluding aircraft and motor vehicles) = $0.194 per $100 of assessed value The Town Manager’s proposed budget assumes a tax rate of $0.184 per $100 of assessed value in each of the foregoing categories, for current services and proposed enhancements.

Copies of the proposed ordinance are available for public examination prior to the public hearing in the office of the Clerk of Council at Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA, during normal business hours. For more information about the ordinance, please contact Clark G. Case, Director of Finance and Administrative Services at 703-771-2720.

03/11, 03/18, 03/25 & 04/01/21

Persons requiring reasonable accommodations are requested to contact Eileen Boeing, Clerk of Council at 703-771-2733, three days in advance of the public hearing. For TTY/TTD services, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

3/11 & 3/18/21

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR: CONSULTING SERVICES COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION FEASIBILITY STUDY, RFP No. 378783 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, April 8, 2021.

Solicitation forms may be obtained 24 hours a day by visiting our web site at www.loudoun.gov/ procurement. If you do not have access to the Internet, call (703) 777-0403, M - F, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHEN CALLING, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCUREMENT.

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GetOutLoudoun.com

03/18/21

MARCH 18, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 29

Legal Notices NOTICE OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE TOWN OF HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA Notice is hereby given that the Planning Commission and Town Council of the Town of Hillsboro, Virginia (the “Planning Commission” and “Town Council”) will hold a VIRTUAL joint public hearing to receive public comment and to consider adoption of a resolution approving proposed amendments to the Hillsboro Comprehensive Plan and an ordinance amending the Hillsboro Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map (together, the “Amendments”). A summary of these amendments is provided below. Complete copies of the Amendments are available for review on the Town website at: www.hillsborova.gov and also by appointment at the Town office at 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA, 20132 between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

A. Comprehensive Plan Amendments. The 2020 Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Hillsboro (the “Plan”) is proposed to be amended to add after the Existing Zoning District Map (after page 57 of the Plan) a Future Land Use section with a Future Land Use Map that divides the Town into future land use categories and adds corresponding text that describes these future land use categories as summarized below: Future Land Use Hillsboro’s land use vision is illustrated in the Future Land Use Map (Figure 7). This map is a guide for the Town, its residents and its property owners in how land within the Town can best be used to implement the Town’s land use goals, including through its Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances. The Future Land Use Map is divided into five land use categories: 1. Agricultural Conservancy. This category includes areas intended to be used in a manner that supports continued agricultural, horticultural and agritourism use and open space within Town and promotes the vision of the Town for the Agricultural Conservancy designated areas (detailed further later in this chapter). Existing farmland, forest, and floodplain areas are designated in this category, This category encompasses most of the properties zoned AC Agricultural Conservancy Zoning District when they were brought into the Town limits by the most recent Town boundary line adjustment.

2. Civic. The Civic land use includes existing and proposed areas for public and semi-public uses. The category encompasses the Hillsboro Charter Academy, the Hillsboro United Methodist Church, and areas currently in Town ownership such as the Old Stone School, as well as public utility facility sites. The latter includes the proposed location of the planned wastewater treatment package plant on the west side of Hillsboro Road south of Stoneybrook Farm Market.

3. Commercial. The Commercial land use category includes areas currently zoned to the C-1 Commercial Zoning District, as well as areas deemed appropriate to consider for rezoning to this district to allow compatible commercial development that supports the Town’s vision for commercial uses. This vision is detailed further in a later section of this chapter.

4. Mixed Use. The Mixed Use land use category is a new land use designation for the areas immediately adjacent to Charles Town Pike. These areas include the core of Hillsboro’s historic structures. Their location along the new pedestrian and streetscape improvements makes them appropriate for consideration for a mix of residential, commercial and civic uses that reflect the historic uses of these structures. A new zoning district, the Traditional Main Street District, is proposed in order to promote the goals of this Plan for the preservation of existing historic properties while providing opportunities for commercial development compatible with the historic character of the town’s main street and existing residential uses.

5. Residential. The Residential land use category includes areas currently zoned to the R-1 Residential Zoning District that are planned to continue in that district in order to help achieve the residential vision within Hillsboro as described in the next section.

B. Zoning Ordinance Amendments. Multiple amendments are proposed to the text of the Town of Hillsboro Zoning Ordinance to help implement the Comprehensive Plan as it is proposed to be amended. These amendments are summarized below: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Article II, Basic Definitions, Section 2-1: Definitions of Basic Terms, is amended to revise some existing definitions and add some new definitions. The intent of these amendments is to ensure that all of the major uses and terms included in the revised ordinance are properly defined.

Section 10-5: Home Occupations is amended to better ensure that businesses operating within a residential dwelling are compatible with nearby residential uses.

Section 10-6: Accessory Dwelling Units. This proposed new section would permit accessory dwellings on residential properties with certain conditions, including that the property owner must live in either the main dwelling or the accessory dwelling.

Section 10-7: Short-Term Residential Rentals. This proposed new section would regulate the rental of guest rooms or a whole house by a residential property owner for less than 30 days for a fee and would require the owner to obtain an annual permit and Town business license in order to operate this use.

Article X, Part 1. Residential Zoning District (R-1). Proposed amendments to the R-1 District would make use names consistent with uses in other districts and would add Accessory Dwelling Units and Short-term Residential Rentals as permissible accessory uses.

Article X, Part 2. Commercial Zoning District (C-1). Proposed amendments to this district would add promotion of tourism-oriented uses to the Purpose statement to conform to the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments and would add more uses that support tourism and the rural agricultural economy to the uses permitted by-right, as accessory uses, or as special exception uses with appropriate use limitations.

Article X, Part 3. Agricultural Conservancy District (AC). Proposed amendments to this district would add a purpose statement in conformance with the corresponding land use category in the Comprehensive Plan and would add some uses that were permitted in the County AC District in which AC properties were located prior to the Town/County boundary line adjustment, modified to be compatible with Hillsboro and including appropriate use limitations. A new cluster subdivision option is also added.

Article X, Part 4. Traditional Main Street District (TMS). This proposed new district would implement the Mixed Use land use category in the proposed Future Land Use section of the Comprehensive Plan, intended to be located on properties not zoned C-1 that are located in the center of Town adjacent to Charles Town Pike. The new district would permit a mix of residential, commercial and public/institutional uses including appropriate use limitations.

C. Zoning Map. The current Zoning Map is proposed to be replaced with the following Zoning Map:

In addition, a number of clarifying amendments are proposed to the Residential, Commercial, and Agricultural Conservancy, and Surrounding Area Vision sections following the Future Land Use section. Redundant maps for each zoning district are also proposed for deletion, since the Plan already includes a complete Zoning District Map. The following Future Land Use Map is proposed to be added as the new Figure 7:

The public hearing, which may be continued or adjourned, will be held before the Planning Commission and Town Council on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, via Zoom at the link listed on the Town’s website or by telephone, Dial: (301) 715-8592, Meeting ID: 862 6900 7753, Passcode: 634364. Any person interested in the Amendments may appear electronically via Zoom at the public hearing and present his or her views. The Town Council may set time limits on speakers and other rules and procedures for the conduct of this public hearing.

Written comments regarding the Amendments may be delivered prior to the public hearing in care of the Mayor at 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, Virginia 20132, or e-mailed to cmaple@hillsborova. gov. All comments received will be presented to the Town Council and Planning Commission during the public hearing.

TOWN OF HILLSBORO, VIRGINIA Roger L. Vance, Mayor 3/11 & 3/18/21

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MARCH 18, 2021

Legal Notices NOTICE

NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

TOWN OF LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL MEETING Remote Public Participation Available Members of the public who wish to speak during the petitioners’ section and Public Hearings of the March 23, 2021, Leesburg Town Council Meeting can do so remotely.

Information on how to participate remotely can be found on the Town of Leesburg’s website www.leesburgva.gov/agendas or on the agenda that will be posted outside of the Clerk’s Office and in the lobby of Town Hall (25 West Market Street) by close of business on March 17, 2021.

If you need more information, contact the Clerk of Council at eboeing@leesburgva.gov or 703-771-2733.

03/18/2021

ABC LICENSE

Draksha LLC, trading as Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Rd., Purcellville, VA 20132.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Farm Winery - Class A license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Draksha LLC Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

03/18 & 03/25/21

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.

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ABC LICENSE

Rasnake Holway LLC, trading as The Corner Store, 40183 Main St Waterford, Loudoun, VA 20197 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine and Beer Off Premises license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Sarah Holway, Owner Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

03/18 & 03/25/21

ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.:

JJ044816-01-00

, Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Alexander Beers Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

John Beers, putative father

The object of this suit is to hold a hearing to find child in need of services pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-228 and 16.1-241 for Alexander Beers.

It is ORDERED that John Beers, appear at the above-named Court and protect her interests on or before April 6, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.

3/11, 3/18, 3/25, & 4/1/21

ABC LICENSE

AshBourbon LLC, trading as Bourbon Bayou Kitchen, 44184 Ashbrook Marketplace Plz Ashburn, VA 20147 The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine & Beer On & Off Premises/Delivery Permit/ Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Artin Safarian Note: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices.

Objections should be registered at www.abc.virginia.gov or 800-552-3200.

03/11 & 03/18/21

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MARCH 18, 2021

Opinion The Legacy County Chair Phyllis Randall took time Tuesday night to highlight the contributions of the 21 women who have served as elected representatives on the Board of Supervisors, starting with Gerry Gardner in 1976; to Betty Tatum, the first female chair in the 1980s; to Dale Polen Myers, the first women elected as the county’s chairwoman at-large; to today’s board with four female members. The recognition was part of Women’s History Month.

However, the tradition of strong civic leadership in Loudoun began long before those elections. In fact, many attributes today’s residents love about our county exist only because of their unwavering determination. Vinton Liddell Pickens, who was spotlighted in the board’s resolution, was the driving force— not just against allowing roadside billboards—behind the foundations of the county’s storied planning and zoning traditions. But she wasn’t alone in the ’50s and ’60s and ’70s and ’80s as the county wrestled with its transition from an agricultural community to be absorbed into the metropolitan area. There was Agnes Harrison, Mac Brownell, Jean Brown, and many others.

Ironically during the same board meeting, supervisors wrestled with the appropriateness of the Goose Creek Overlook development project. If this application had come through the review process in earlier times, it wouldn’t reach the board’s table without ample negotiations and a stamp of approval from another roster of woman leaders. Through their role on the Goose Creek Scenic River Advisory Board, leaders including Margaret Fisher, Jane T. Norman, and Helen Casey put their stamp on every development proposed in the corridor. From the Luck family’s quarry operations to the design of the Lansdowne on the Potomac community, they fought to ensure the creek would be protected. Their goal wasn’t to stop growth, but to make sure developers didn’t stretch the rules or take shortcuts that would destroy the staterecognized treasure.

The impact on Goose Creek was just one factor resulting in Tuesday’s vote for a rare denial of a rezoning application. History tells us the concerns can be addressed, although not likely with the project’s current scale. If this is to be a place for affordable housing or other amenities championed by county supervisors, the talks should start with protecting the scenic river and work out the rest from there.

The legacy of a long line of Loudoun’s women leaders would demand nothing less. n

Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com

Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Now is delivered by mail to more than 44,000 Loudoun homes and businesses, with a total weekly distribution of 47,000.

ADVERTISING Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

LETTERS to the Editor Leave Them Alone Editor: When I first moved to Loudoun six years ago, I was driving down a street in Leesburg and came upon a circle of huge birds in the road, seemingly having a conference but in fact feasting on a raccoon that had been hit by a car. I waited, as one waits for a freight train at a crossing.

Their work was done, they flew away and I moved along. Describing this event to a friend, I learned they were turkey vultures, birds uniquely designed to eat dead and decaying matter without getting sick. They protect people from diseases present in the carcasses of dead animals. I was impressed with their thorough clean up and life-saving contribution to our community.

Since that time I have watched in awe as they circle high above, catching the wind just right, soaring solo and in groups in what looks like a choreographed dance.

Best of all, in my neighborhood of tall trees, turkey vultures congregate, sometimes filling the branches of an ancient maple in my yard, or the tip top of the decaying tree in my neighbor’s yard that conveniently offers a view of route 7 and possibly their next meal. Perched in the tree, shoulders hunched like the Burghers of Calais (see the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/ virtual-tour/hirshhorn-museum-sculpture-garden) they seem to be in a tribal meeting. I admire their communal nature, especially in this time of quarantine. They are very content to be together. After days

of rain, I’ve watched them spread their wings wide, holding a cross-like pose, perhaps to dry off or simply enjoy the warmth of the sun. It is a magnificent sight.

Seems like every couple of years, a group of people in Loudoun get upset about turkey vultures and vow to chase them off. In one community, townspeople installed inflatable killer whales on the water tower to scare them away. These affable birds just sidled up to the fish and included them in their daily chat.

Development, overdevelopment, drives Loudoun’s native and migrating creatures out of their natural habitat. As they attempt to maintain their way of life, some newcomers demand eviction, a rather disrespectful habit many of us developed from the moment we arrived on this continent. Native American tradition centers on a reverence for nature and a way of life that seeks to maintain a balance that enhances the earth and all living things. Maybe one simple step toward resolving the climate crisis is to leave the turkey vultures alone to do their important work—and maybe even say thank you.

— Nancy Morgan, Leesburg

Which Is It? Editor: By now, we are all aware of how a Loudoun man received national attention for screaming at the Loudoun County LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continues on page 35

MARCH 18, 2021

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 33

Readers’ Poll

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: The General Assembly passed legislation allowing Loudoun’s School Board to switch to staggered terms. Is that a good idea?

What is the best way to provide the most “affordable housing” in Loudoun?

Yes, let’s do it for the Board of Supervisors, too.

Liberty Live continued from page 1 Burnett believes, however, the entire community stands to benefit from his proposed public-private partnership.

The town-owned Liberty Street lot is around two-and-ahalf acres. His project envisions more than 100 units of age-restricted, affordable senior apartments on the majority of the lot, with each apartment around 900 square feet. An additional 20,000 square feet would be dedicated to a conference center, theater and restaurant. The property would be served by a 150-space parking structure.

The performing arts center has been a sought after amenity in Leesburg for many years, with a concerted effort in the early 2000s to form a stakeholder group to move forward on a project. Some had even envisioned the Liberty Street lot to be the perfect location. Burnett references in his report a 2009 ArtsMarket study commissioned by the Town Council. That study recommended two theaters in one phase, and a third in a second phase. Burnett’s project is less ambitious in that regard, envisioning a 300-seat theater co-located within the conference center, with a restaurant serving that property as well.

The property would be linked with a pedestrian bridge across the nearby Town Branch, providing access to the W&OD Trail, and would also be served by an ample outdoor gathering space.

The first step on the project would be removing the remaining dump remnants buried under the concrete. That alone is an ambitious, and expensive, project. In a report he has shared with the Town Council, Burnett estimated that the volume needed to be removed below the surface stands around 35,000 cubic feet. The cost of moving the dump materials to the Loudoun County landfill is estimated at $800,000 in excavating and trucking fees, and a whopping $2.2 million in tipping fees. He is hoping the county government would waive the tipping fees, as it historically has done for Leesburg and other incorporated towns.

All told, Burnett is staring down an almost $50 million project. He is hoping for some financial help from several parties to get it off the ground. In a proposed cost summary analysis, he has proposed that the Town of Leesburg contribute $11.8 million, or 24% of the project’s costs, along with $3 million from Loudoun County. The county’s contribution would include waiving the $2 million in landfill

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Leesburg attorney Peter Burnett has proposed perhaps his most ambitious project yet—transforming the town-owned Liberty Street parking lot, the site of a former dump, into a vibrant economic center, featuring affordable senior housing, a theater, restaurant, and conference center.

tipping fees, and a $1 million contribution from the county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, given the project’ s commitment to providing senior affordable housing. But the brunt of the costs would be borne by private investors and donors, to the tune of $34 million.

So why embark on such an ambitious project in the midst of economic recovery from COVID-19? Burnett admits he’s a project junkie. He points to his previous projects and challenges, like moving the John Tolbert Building now at 108 Church St. SE from its original spot next to Robinson’s Barber Shop to make way for the Town Hall alley and garage in 1990. He was also a founder of the former Downtown Improvement Association, which called for a series of downtown improvements, including wider sidewalks on King Street, that eventually came to fruition.

But it is opportunity that has attracted Burnett to the Liberty lot.

“In my four-plus decades of practicing law and spending the majority of my waking hours in Leesburg, I have never seen an opportunity more packed with potential

Share your views at loudounnow.com/polls

short- and long-term benefits to downtown Leesburg and the town overall. It is simply the right project, in the right place, at the right time,” he said.

The timing is also right with the ongoing review of the new Town Plan, which calls for many of the elements envisioned in Burnett’s project.

“Our objective was to get as many of the Town Plan features onto that site,” he said.

While winning financial commitment from Leesburg will be its own obstacle to overcome, Burnett said he is hopeful the Town Council will be amenable to entering a public-private partnership, something the council has discussed previously for other projects but has not moved forward with, to get the project up and running.

“It would be nice to see this project be a shining example of the town’s commitment to and competence with executing public-private partnerships,” he said. “If they want to do those, they need to get good at it and show some appeal.”

The council is expected to discuss Burnett’s project at an upcoming meeting.

Councilman Ara Bagdasarian said he was looking forward to the Town Council’s upcoming discussion on the Liberty Street lot area along with other development opportunities for the site. Bagdasarian was a vocal leader in the early effort to bring a performing arts center to Leesburg, and said he believes it could be a good use for the area.

“A performing arts center was identified as one of those areas residents in Leesburg do have a strong desire for today, as well as 10 and 20 years ago. It’s been a recurring theme in the town for residents and businesses alike. I think his proposal is a creative approach to that desire,” he said.

Bagdasarian emphasized that any action the council takes now and in the coming years needs to align with the Town Plan. He also added that arts have been a proven economic driver that could be a critical component of aiding the town as it navigates the recovery from COVID-19. Burnett’s project, if the council decides to move forward with it, is a years-long undertaking, he noted, and he said he is looking forward to the results of a soil study of the Liberty Street lot, which will important to understanding how any development on that land can move forward. n

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 34

MARCH 18, 2021

PARENTING WITH A PURPOSE

In Search of Family Happiness

BY NEIL MCNERNEY

Family happiness: It is something we all want, but it can be difficult to acquire. We want to see smiles from each other and create memories of happy times. But so often our best laid plans end up in tears, resentment, and sulking. I believe there is a way to achieve happiness, but it requires doing something that might seem counterintuitive.

Family Leadership For me, one of the most difficult parts of being a parent was coming to terms with the fact that I am a leader in the family. Even though I have ended up in many leadership positions professionally, I have always been uncomfortable being a leader. It doesn’t come natural to me. So, when I had children, I had to figure out how I wanted to lead my children.

Some aspects of family leadership are obvious. Parents set limits, punish, and reward. We give advice and guide our children’s choices. We praise them quite a bit, especially when they are very little. But there is another aspect that can powerfully affect a family’s happiness: The tone we set.

By “tone,” I don’t necessarily mean just the volume or

pitch. I mean our demeanor and the mood that we communicate to our family. We all know that moods are contagious. Parental mood can be one of the biggest factors that determine our children’s mood. If we are showing happiness, it increases the chances that our kids will feel happy.

Our mood can affect our children at the neurological level. If your child senses that you are calm and happy by seeing your smile, hearing your tone of voice, etc., their brain assumes that all is right with the world. The vigilant part of the brain relaxes and their brain releases more endorphins that create calm and connectedness. If, on the other hand, they sense unhappiness, anger, or agitation, the vigilant part of the brain activates. All is not right with the world, and they must be on guard. Instead of positive endorphins being released, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol, both enormously powerful stress hormones that stay in the system for hours.

Fake It ‘Til You Make It We have established that our mood can have a strong effect on our children, and it is easy to show happiness when you are feeling happy, but what should you do when you are stressed, unhappy, or cranky? Fake it. I know that this seems counter-intuitive. So much of our

advancements in psychotherapy is based on trying to be congruent and showing our real selves, especially to those close to us. However, when it comes to parenting, I think we need to remember our powerful role in setting the tone. This means putting on a happier face than we might be feeling at the time.

The research on this approach is compelling. We have found that “acting as if ” you are happy will actually increase the likelihood of feeling happy. It also spreads happiness to those around you.

Does that mean you should always act happy? No. Showing sadness when appropriate is normal and models for our children the way to express emotions. This approach isn’t about trying to just be happy all the time. It is about being aware of the power of our mood. If you want more happiness in your family, start by being aware of the power of your own happiness. n Neil McNerney is a licensed professional counselor and author of Homework – A Parent’s Guide To Helping Out Without Freaking Out! and The Don’t Freak Out Guide for Parenting Kids with Asperger’s.

He can be reached at neil@neilmcnerney. com.

Summer School is Not Just for Remediation Anymore

BY CHRIS CROLL

Summer school is being embraced this year by parents and students across the country as an opportunity to augment K-12 education. Many parents of elementary age students are looking for opportunities to help their children fill in learning gaps, reinforce concepts and stay on pace with state standards. Middle and high school students are taking classes during the summer so they can accelerate their coursework, meet graduation requirements, and expand their options for in-school electives. There are more education programs available this summer for Loudoun students than ever before.

Loudoun County Public Schools Summer 2021 Program (Free) LCPS Elementary School - In recent School Board meetings, LCPS leadership has indicated they are prepared to offer five (5) weeks of summer classes designed to engage students in language arts and math instruction. This allows our youngest learners to continue to develop skills over the summer. These programs will be held at Title I and regional sites. Students attending regional sites will be provided transportation from their home school. Eligible students include those in grades K-5 who have not mastered the standards or did not meet growth goals in English and/or math for their current grade level.

LCPS Middle School - Each public middle school will host a 5-week virtual or concurrent summer school program

to meet the needs of students who require reinforcement in math and language arts. The focus will be on reinforcing key concepts in preparation for the next level of learning.

LCPS High School – Students can attend credit recovery programs between June 16 and August 6 in all subjects required for graduation. Eligibility will be determined by school counselors.

Registration for all LCPS summer programs closes on May 28. Parents of English Language Learners and students with IEP’s should contact their child’s school counselor to learn about additional LCPS summer programs that may be available.

Virtual Loudoun ($375 for most 1 credit courses) Middle and high school students can enroll in LCPS’s online program for a single one-credit course over the summer.

Spots are limited in many courses. Parents should plan to register their children early to secure a space. Registration opens on Monday, April 19 and self-driven classes run from May 31 to Aug. 6.

Virtual Virginia ($375 for most 1 credit courses) Virtual Virginia is offering 72 online courses for Summer Session 2021, including core, world language, and elective courses. Available to students in grades 6-12, these courses are designed for students who want to complete courses during the summer to meet graduation requirements or to

free up time in their schedules for the upcoming academic year. Before registering, public school students must receive prior approval from their local school and parents should contact their child’s school counselor to enroll them. These virtual courses run June 15 to July 28.

Northern Virginia Community College Dual Enrollment Program ($185.50 per credit) Dual Enrollment is an enrichment opportunity that allows high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits for courses taken through NOVA while still being enrolled in high school. These classes are offered on NOVA campuses and online. Interested students must apply to, and be accepted by, NOVA and follow a specific dual enrollment registration process. Summer school enrollment opens March 29.

Many colleges and college-prep programs are also offering high school students access to virtual courses this summer including William & Mary, JMU and Virginia Tech.

Parents and students can search college websites for specific program details. . n Chris Croll is a writer, empathy activist and communications consultant. She serves on the board of the Ryan Bartel Foundation, a youth suicide prevention nonprofit. Croll lives in Leesburg with her husband and two teenage boys.

MARCH 18, 2021

LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 32 School Board. But what seems to have been missed by this discussion is the sheer incomprehensibility of his main argument.

For anyone who managed to miss the nine visceral sentences this man ejaculated before being escorted out by the deputy, let me summarize. First sentence: insult. Second: multi-tasking complaint. Third and fourth: COVID is not really dangerous.

Fifth: COVID is so dangerous that people could die while working outside from contact with trash. Sixth through ninth: safely educating students in a pandemic is easy.

I could do it. People out there could do it.

Anyone could do it.

Afterward, this screaming man was held up as a “frustrated parent” in the national discourse. What privilege.

Sandwiched between the insults and taunts, lies the meat of Screaming Man’s point. “The statistics do not lie that the vast majority of the population is not at risk from this virus. The garbage workers, who pick up my freaking trash, risk their lives – every day – more than anyone in this school system!”

Throughout the pandemic, I have seen many versions of Screaming Man. I have seen him screaming at Costco employees for enforcing posted purchase limits on

Goose Creek continued from page 1 parcel that is under a conservation easement—and for its impacts on crowded schools and straining road infrastructure.

Turner started by apologizing to the applicant and county staff who have worked on the application.

“I believed then the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. What caught me completely off guard and ultimately led me to this final decision here tonight was my unexpected emotional reaction to my vote,” Turner said. “Put simply, it just didn’t sit well, and I was surprised by the intensity of my misgivings. Some second thoughts are not uncommon with close votes, but my discomfort with my vote not only didn’t go away, it intensified over the course of the next few days.”

He said that stemmed from Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau’s (R-Dulles) comments during the earlier meeting arguing the project didn’t fit with the county’s planning for the area. Turner noted that the county’s 2019 General Plan calls for protecting the Goose Creek, a state scenic river, and other waterways.

“It really wasn’t a question of what else

LOUDOUNNOW.COM

PAGE 35

canned tuna. I have seen him follow a woman out to the Home Depot parking lot and threaten her for asking him to wear a mask during checkout. I have seen him boast that no one can stop him from visiting his extended families for the holidays.

I have seen him smash his way into the Capitol.

Given that some may balk at the through line of these comparisons—namely a man mistaken about reality, impotent to affect change, attempting to enforce his will through intimidation— let’s focus on the main argument at hand. There is no need to contest the rationale that “the vast majority of the population is not at risk,” because these points have been made and disputed (ad nauseum).

Instead, I wonder how the national discourse missed Screaming Man’s transition to “garbage workers…risk their lives every day.” Is he saying COVID is so dangerous that touching trash poses a mortal risk?

Even though garbage workers predominantly work outside? If handling trash outside is so dangerous, what of kindergarten teachers working inside all day handling tiny, lovable virus-Petri-dishes?

So, Incoherent Screaming Man, which is it? Is COVID dangerous or not? Do you want to turn wearing a mask into a partisan issue? Or do you want your kid to go to school? Do you want to have holiday gatherings with all your extended family,

or do you want your kid to go to school?

Do you want to gather cheek to jowl in a maskless hoard on the steps of the Capitol, or do you want your kid to go to school?

Well, which is it?

— Henry Svennow, Leesburg

Editor: I applaud the courage and righteous stand that Loudoun County Board of Supervisors took in passing a special resolution on March 3.

This resolution is about supporting the Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice involving meditative exercises centered on the values of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, and condemning the Chinese Communist Party persecution of Falun Gong since 1999. It also included condemnation of the killing of religious or political prisoners for the purpose of selling their organs for transplant business. The non-consent organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners was first reported in 2006 and continues to this day.

With the ever-growing economic power and the massive influence campaign worldwide by the CCP in the past two decades, Western governments, mainstream media and global corporations have been largely keeping silent on issues like religious suppression, and unethical

forced organ harvesting committed by the CCP. They all fear of losing their economic interests if they offend the communist regime. In contrast, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors led its way and called it out, “When you harm people anywhere, it harms all of us. Anywhere someone is harmed, humanity as a whole is harmed,” Phyllis J. Randall, chairwoman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, said in an interview after the resolution voting. Really commendable.

Why should this resolution matter to our residents in Loudoun County?

It may save innocent lives in mainland China while meeting the standard that our conscience demands.

Without knowing this state-run forced organ harvesting crime by the CCP, and the true source of organs, our residents with transplant needs may travel to mainland China for the surgery due to the extremely short waiting times for the matched organ, and much cheaper cost. They would unknowingly become complicit of this heinous crime. Moreover, when they eventually find out the truth, not only their health recovery would likely be impaired, but the sense of guilt may accompany them the rest of their lives.

I am really grateful to Loudoun County Board of Supervisors for passing this resolution.

— Alex (Yu) Wang, Fairfax

the applicant could do […] but really it was a fundamental issue with the place type itself, and that remains my analysis,” Letourneau said Tuesday.

“The applicant has proposed strong mitigation measures that arguably address possible damage to Goose Creek, but even if every mitigation feature of the applicant’s plan works perfectly and forever, the very best we as a community could hope for is that we would do no further harm to an already impaired stream,” Turner said.

“And if something didn’t work as planned, the damage could be significant and permanent.”

He also pointed out that the Goose Creek defines the western boundary of the Ashburn electoral district, which ends at the centerline of the creek—”surely, its protection must sit as one of the Ashburn district supervisor’s very highest public service priorities.”

“Over the course of the past year, I think I lost sight of the forest for the trees, literally,” Turner said. “I’ve certainly done a disservice to the applicant, but refusing to admit my mistake would have done a far greater disservice to my constituents and the citizens of Loudoun County.”

Sycolin Road is also part of the district boundary, putting roughly half the proposal in the Ashburn District.

Buffington said he reversed his stance after public outcry and further discussion with people concerned about the creek.

And he and Letourneau both said county planners overstepped the lines by bending the comprehensive plan’s guidance to accommodate a project with an affordable housing component, a Board of Supervisors strategic priority.

“In my opinion, those decisions from staff and what’s in those packets, should be based on the comp plan, not other board priorities—it should be based on place type,” Buffington said. “Let us decide on our own if we want to go against that.”

“Looking at the letter of the comprehensive plan, this application really didn’t meet the place type, but there was some extra consideration given because of affordability by staff,” Letourneau said.

“I would just simply say, I think that is frankly not what the role of staff is, it’s to evaluate this solely on land use.”

“I’ll just say this as well to any applicant coming before us moving forward: put your best foot forward from the beginning,” said Vice Chairman Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling). “This application possibly could win a different way if they had done that.”

Saines indicated he had had some last-minute comments from the applicant.

The application changed right up until the board’s first vote March 2.

Supervisors Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) and Sylvia R. Glass (D-Broad Run) stuck by their earlier decision.

“When I hear, ‘I’m in support of affordable housing but not here,’ all I can think is that it’s NIMBYism wrapped in environmentalism,” Briskman said.

“This is frustrating, because this is why I came here,” Glass said. “I came here to make sure that we have affordable housing for those who want to live here, who want to live by their jobs, who want to send their children to good schools. We have to think about that.”

And Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) switched his vote to approve to an abstention, criticizing the process.

He expressed sympathy for developers and their representatives.

“My biggest concern in this whole process is really how not only this applicant, but how other applicants who come to this county and develop, are going to perceive what our actions are going to be here tonight,” Kershner said. “They’ve put millions of dollars into an application like this. They have worked very closely with staff, put in hundreds and thousands of hours not only their selves, but hundreds of thousands of hours of [county] staff.” n

Grateful

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MARCH 18, 2021

After the past 12 months we would like to thank the Loudoun community for supporting us. With your continued patronage we have been able to save over 100 jobs in our county.

Aaron B Abigail S Aimee R Allan P Allison C Anthony V Benjamin S Brenda J Caroline C Christopher G Christopher W Claire F Cosmen V Donal A Donna R

Edilberto O Edilcer N Elizabeth L Elizabeth R Elizabeth S Elmer M Emma D Ernesto G Esbin O Esmar S Faris A Felix H Floridalma G Francisco G Gabriella H

Giovana S Gladis P Gloria H Gloria M Haroldo M Ignacio F Ingrid L Izamar P Jaden B Jean L Jeff S Jeffery W Jennifer Z Jeremias R Joe F

Jorge C Jorge L Jose A Jose P Jose V Josue Z Juan D Karen R Khosrow T Kristen K Kyle F Kyra B Lauren A Leticia S Lilly C

Lorena M Lourdes B Lucia V Luis V Lydia A Madison E Maria E Maria H Mariam S Marino M Mario M Mark U Marta P Marvin P Mary H

Matt K Matthew F Melany S Miguel B Mike G Nazire M Nina J Oceane A Omar A Oscar A Raquel V Reina F Richard C Rob H Rodolfo G

Romeo C Roxana R Santos O Sarah N Silvia A Valerie W Varinni G Vladimir B Wael J Walter C Wuilian M Yareni L Zachary D

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