Loudoun Now for July 11, 2024

PJM Considers Alternate Route for Western Power Line

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Regional power coordinators on Tuesday considered an alternate route for a controversial transmission line previously approved to run through western Loudoun.

Because of increasing demands for power in the region, PJM Interconnection, the organization responsible for coordinating power across 13 states, including Virginia, opened a request for transmission line projects to meet the growing demand. As part of that open window, the organization approved a proposal by Florida-based NextEra Energy collaborating with other energy providers, to build a line known as the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link. A portion of that line is planned to cut south from Harpers Ferry through western Loudoun via new rightsof-way to a substation near Leesburg.

Residents, organized by the Piedmont Environmental Council and Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance, have opposed the line and last month, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution calling for any new transmission lines to be built on existing rights-of-way.

During the July 9 Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee meeting, PJM staff members presented an alternative route following existing rights-of-way east from West Virginia, through the northern tip of Loudoun County to Maryland and then south toward Leesburg. Projects to improve the lines along Rt. 15 are also planned.

“The originally proposed [new right-of

way] route will be rerouted to an alternate route within existing transmission line rights-of-way along the [existing] Dobbs corridor, containing that rebuilt Dobbs to Goose Creek line and the new Dobbs to Aspen 500 kilovolt lines, resulting in three 500 kV transmission lines within that corridor,” PJM Transmission Coordination and Analysis Manager Augustine Caven said.

He said the proposed change is the result of “successful collaboration” between NextEra and the power providers who own the rights of way, stakeholders and community members.

“There’s been a lot of great conversations that have been going on, on a weekly basis between PJM, NextEra, First Energy,

ALTERNATE ROUTE continues on page 31

Alliance Releases MARL Impact Study

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance last week released an impact study showing how a proposed transmission line project by NextEra Energy planned to travel across western Loudoun would affect county residents.

The 137-page report compiles impact statements from organizations and individuals who testify to the “very likely damage” a line through new

rights-of-way would inflict if it passes through rural Loudoun. Those statements are supplemented by a series of maps to illustrate the density of historical, economic and natural resources in Loudoun that would “suffer irreparable damage.”

“The impact that we have been able to chronicle in this report shows that the [State Corporation Commission] standards could not possibly be met, because the proposal from NextEra fails to minimize or avoid negative impact,”

LTLA Founder Sue Manch said.

The study states that proposal fails to avoid or minimize effects on economic development in Loudoun County and Virginia; fails to avoid or reasonably minimize adverse impacts on scenic assets, historic resources and the environment; and fails to give adequate consideration to the existing rights-of-way.

“Those are three tenants of the

IMPACT STUDY continues on page 31

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance founder and Waterford Foundation President Sue Manch stands on the property known as Phillips Farm. The property is owned by the foundation and preserved through a conservation easement, however, a transmission line proposal by NextEra Energy is expected to cross through the property.

The Arc Fears for its Future as Paxton Lease Talks Falter

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org

The future of the Paxton campus in Leesburg again is in question amid an apparent lease battle with the Arc of Loudoun, which has operated there since 2008.

On Friday, board president Malcolm Cooke released a six-page open letter to the trustees of the Margaret Paxton Memorial for Convalescent Children raising concerns that The Arc’s operations serving children with disabilities could be threatened by a refusal to negotiate a new long-term lease.

“To be absolutely clear: as we have warned throughout these discussions, the terms upon which the Trustees are insisting would force The Arc of Loudoun to close. That would end critical service for the more than 5,000 people across the region that we serve each year,” Cooke wrote.

According to the letter, the current lease expires Aug. 31. Negotiations for a renewal started in 2021. Cooke wrote that the most recent lease proposal is an amendment “that would push The Arc off campus after two years” and seeks acknowledgment that the deadline would provide “sufficient time for Tenant to identify and relocate to a new location.”

The Arc claims that is an unreasonable expectation. “Even if there were a new

campus site available today, it is not feasible to fundraise for a relocation and relocate an organization of The Arc’s size and complexity in that time,” Cooke wrote. The nonprofit asks for a new five-year lease—or, better yet, have the trustees donate or sell the land for The Arc to expand community services provided on the 16acre campus.

Today, The Arc has a staff of more than 100 and operates the Aurora School, the Open Door Learning Center supported by the Claude Moore Center for Early Intervention, the Aurora Behavioral Clinic, the Ability Fitness Center and the ALLY Advocacy Center on the property.

The dispute comes three years after the Trust’s leaders explored making room for other nonprofits on the campus. The 2021 effort involved a proposal to build an 11,500-square-foot Nexus School and 27,000-square-foot greenhouse and classroom on seven acres for the children-serving INMED nonprofit. At the time, INMED was led by Jennifer Lassiter Smith, who played a critical role in establishing The Arc and the Aurora School on property and became The Arc’s executive director.

The idea of building a broader nonprofit service center appears to continue to be a goal of the Paxton trustees. However, the trustees declined to comment on The Arc’s objections in the days after Cooke’s letter was circulated and garnered support

from others in the nonprofit community.

On Tuesday, a brief statement was issued: “The Margaret Paxton Memorial Trust is a 100-year-old non-profit organization with a commitment to serving children in need in Loudoun. We remain focused on the planning and funding required to ensure a future for the Paxton Trust Campus to support our tenants and our ability to continue serving children in need in perpetuity.”

The stewardship of the property is complicated, with three appointed trust-

ees, the Board of Visitors from St. James’ Episcopal Church, and an advisory team all playing roles in carrying out the terms of a century-old will.

Rachel Paxton bequeathed the land to a foundation to run the Margaret Paxton Memorial for Convalescent Children, named for her daughter Margaret, who predeceased her. Following Rachel Paxton’s death in 1921, her former residence, the Carlheim manor, was used from 1924

continues on page 7

Drought Conditions Worsen; Water Restrictions Eyed

According to the U.S. Drought Monitoring program, most of Loudoun County has entered a stage of severe drought. That’s a change from last week when the entire county was rated as experiencing moderate drought conditions.

In the latest data released July 3, only the northern tip of the county, which has benefited from a few passing storms, remained in the moderate category.

Statewide, much of the Shenandoah Valley is now considered to be in a severe drought.

The region experienced drought conditions during much of 2023, with drought reaching a severe level in September. That continued through December. That was the most significant drought since 2002 when the county experienced an extreme drought from February until April, according to the U.S. Drought Monitoring program database.

A relatively wet spring brought relief early in the year, but the county returned to drought conditions starting in early June.

According to an outlook report issued by the Climate Prediction Center on June 30, drought conditions are expected to persist in most of Virginia through July.

The Town of Middleburg weathered last year’s drought without much concern about its water system. This week, the council will be asked to consider imposing water use restrictions.

According to a staff report prepared for the council’s July 11 meeting, the town has seen significant declines in water levels in two town wells while also seeing an increase in water use during the prolonged heat wave. The town has restarted a third well to relieve pressure on the other two and its storage tanks are full. ”[T]here is no concern about the overall water supply

at this time,” Town Manager Danny Davis wrote.

The staff is recommending the implementation of “Level B” conservation measures starting July 18. That would prohibit outdoor water use except for watering plants from a hand-held container. Under the town policies, less restrictive “Level A” conservation measures would permit outdoor water use between 6 and 9 p.m. Residents also will be encouraged to conserve water by not washing cars, taking showers instead of baths, turning off facets during teeth brushing, and not filling pools or outdoor fountains.

Hamilton Town Council members on Monday decided to start placing messages on the town’s electronic board encouraging residents to voluntarily conserve water.

Lovettsville has also been encouraging residents via Facebook posts to conserve

water where possible by taking shorter showers, avoiding watering lawns and only using washing machines and dishwashers when completely full.

The Town of Purcellville has not taken any official action on the drought conditions yet, but during Tuesday night’s council meeting, member Kevin Wright encouraged residents to use water wisely.

“Everybody just needs to keep in mind where we were this time last year with drought conditions.” he said. “It’s pretty likely that we’re going to end up in the same space that we were at last year. Luckily, staff has done a few things to increase our water supply possibilities throughout our wells and stuff, but I think we need to start looking at that as much as possible and encouraging people to conserve water now so we can maybe not hit that severe drought conditions later.” n

PAXTON

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Carlheim manor is the centerpiece of the 16-acre Paxton campus in Leesburg where The Arc of Loudoun has operationed since 2008.

Supervisors Approve 307 Homes in Brambleton

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

County supervisors last week approved an application to rezone 80 acres of land in Brambleton near Ryan Road and Evergreen Mills Road allowing 307 single family detached homes to be built.

Thirty-nine of the homes are planned to be “cottage lots” at 35 feet wide and are designed to be affordable housing units. The applicant will also widen part of Ryan Road, add turn lanes and provide additional landscape buffering along the road.

The Planning Commission in February voted to recommend the proposal, but the

Eickelberg Appointed to State Treasury Board

Six months into his term as the new Loudoun County treasurer, Henry C. Eickelberg is getting a promotion of sorts.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin last week appointed him to join the Virginia Treasury Board.

The Treasury Board was

created to exercises general supervision over all investments of state funds, administer the Security for Public Deposits Act and the State Non-Arbitrage Program, make recommendations to the governor on proposed

financing arrangements, approve the terms and structure of certain bonds or other financing arrangements paid from state appropriations, establish guidelines for bonds or financing arrangements and approve the financial terms of lease purchases for state agencies. n

New Houses Coming to South Riding Instead of a Data Center

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

County leaders last week approved a zoning application to permit 161 homes on land where a data center is a by-right use.

The rezoning converted nearly 14 acres from the Planned Development-Housing 4 and Countryside Residential-1 districts to Residential 16 – Affordable Dwelling Unit district. Twenty-one of the 161 homes will be designated as affordable dwelling units.

The Planning Commission recommended approval of the application, however, the county planning staff said the proposal was inconsistent with the Suburban Commercial Place Type and Suburban Neighborhood Place Types outlined in the county’s comprehensive plan. The staff also raised concerns that the proposal did not adequately address the transportation impacts it will have on the surrounding area and recommended the applicant provide a “fair share contribution” to support a planned interchange at the nearby South Riding Boulevard and Rt. 50 intersection.

Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) said he was glad to see a residential development be built rather than a data center, which is a by-right use for the parcel.

“I think the board has been motivated to go the residential route instead,” he said. “I worked with the applicant for a long period of time on this. We came to agreement on the overall density and on design which I think is appropriate for what’s around it.”

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) and Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) agreed they were happy to see homes, rather than a data center, built.

“This is the second time that this has happened, and we appreciate it very much,” Randall said.

Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) cast the lone vote against the proposal citing concerns about the cost a new development will have on the county’s public school system.

“It’s 2.7 million additional dollars per year on the school operating costs and $8.2 million on capital improvements needed to accommodate those students,” she said. n

Eickelberg

BRAMBLETON HOMES continues on page 6

County of Loudoun

A rendering of what "cottage units" or smaller, affordable housing units could look like in rezoning application approved by the Board of Supervisors July 2.

County of Loudoun

An overhead depiction of the proposed location of varying unit sizes in a rezoning application approved by the Board of Supervisors July 2.

Staycation Style

Obituaries

Joe “HokieJoe” Gibson Stowers

Joe “HokieJoe” Gibson Stowers died Saturday June 22, 2024. He was born February 5, 1954 to the late Claude & Ellen “Granny” Stowers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Claude “Buck” Jr, John, & Greg as well as brother in law Robert “Bobby” McComb. As he entered the pearly gates, Enter Sandman was playing and he joins friends

Bill & Doris Johnson, Jeff McCoy, & Stan Tucker as they have the best view of Hokie Football games.

Joe grew up on a dairy farm outside Waterford, VA. He was active in 4-H throughout his youth. While at Virginia Tech, he was a member of the Dairy Club & Dairy Judging team. Despite almost getting kicked out before classes began his freshman year, Joe successfully graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Dairy Science in 1976.

Whether it was helping a farmer milk cows or shoveling snow from a neighbor’s driveway, he was always willing to lend a helping hand to those that he cared about. Dairy farmers & Virginia Tech sports were two of his biggest passions that he carried for the rest of his life.

HokieJoe is survived by his wife of 46 years Candice “Candy” (Phillips),

William Lee Loy

daughter Amanda, sister Carol McComb, as well as many nieces, nephews, & friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 14 at 2:00pm at the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Hall 1500 Volunteer Drive Brunswick MD 21716. A meal will be provided & a cash bar will be open. Those present are encouraged to wear Burnt Orange & Chicago Maroon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company at the address above or to the “Dr. Michael Barnes Dairy Judging Endowment,” checks can be made out to the “Virginia Tech Foundation” and please include “Barnes Endowment (861671)” on the memo line & mailed to Virginia Tech Advancement Division, Office of Gift Accounting, University Gateway Center (0336), 902 Prices Fork Road Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Brambleton homes

continued from page 4

application did not receive a recommendation from planning staff amid concerns that the development does not match the vision for the Transition Small Lot Neighborhood Place Type or the transportation policies directed in the 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan.

Planning staff found that the proposal did not provide enough buffering to maintain the area’s rural appearance, that it would not sufficiently mitigate the impacts to capital facilities and transit services and that the zoning modifications would affect density in the district.

During the July 2 meeting, Supervisor Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) reiterated some of those concerns specifically citing the development’s impact on school costs.

“This is another application that I think eats away at the transition policy area,” she said. “I think we’re just seeing application after application that is doing that and we haven’t really had a full discussion on whether that’s what we really want to see.”

County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said that school and capital facility costs did not take into account other benefits that residents moving into new homes might contribute to the community.

“I think people are more than numbers. I think there is a human capital,” she said.

Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) asked if duplexes are allowed in the Transition Policy Area.

William Lee Loy, a lifelong resident of Loudoun County, VA., passed away peacefully after a long gallant battle with cancer and cellulitis at Heritage Hall, Leesburg, on June 22, 2024. He is the son of the late Jesse Fenton Loy and Ruth Lee Costello Loy and was born on April 22, 1951, in Leesburg, VA. William grew up on a family farm in Lucketts, VA and graduated from Loudoun County High School in 1969 and the University of Richmond in 1973. He started to work in the Loudoun County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in 1974. He was one of seven people in the office

led by Joseph “Buddy” Martz, who served as clerk from 19521979. The office has now grown to over 50 employees and many departments. He arose to become head of the Probate Department in 2002 (after working his way up from land records), a position he held until his retirement on September 29, 2020, after 49 and half years of excellent public service. He leaves behind him to mourn and miss him, his loving two younger sisters, Margaret R. Loy of Lucketts, VA., and Barbara A. Loy of Leesburg, VA., as well as many cousins and friends including his long-time coworker

in the Probate Department, Michele Timmons, past and present coworkers in the Clerk’s Office and members of the legal community. The family received friends on Thursday, June 27th at Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg and the funeral service was held on Friday, June 28th with interment followng at Union Cemetery, Leesburg, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company or to Furnace Mountain Presbyterian Church, 12946 James Madison Highway, Leesburg, VA 20176-5341.

Director of Planning and Zoning Daniel Galindo said when the Transition Policy Area was created, duplexes and other higher density units were not envisioned for it but that the board would be able to change that if they wanted.

“But if we were to make a change, could we not have duplexes without changing density? That would make for less expensive units, no?” she asked.

Galindo said it would.

Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony (D-Little River) said she felt like the application fit the Transition Policy Area.

“It is single family detached and it does have 50% open space,” she said adding that the Ryan Road improvements would save taxpayer dollars from being spent on the project.

The motion to approve the application passed 7-1-1 with Umstattd opposed and Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) absent. n

Paxton

continued from page 3

to 1954 as a center for children recovering from illness or injury. It then shifted to an orphanage, which operated until 1980, when it became a childcare center. It continued in that use until 2004 when it closed, and the trustees sought to sell the property to a developer citing the high costs of operating the facility and the value of the land. A demolition permit was sought to raze Carlheim.

Local, state and federal elected leaders rallied to block the effort and the Leesburg Town Council ultimately placed the campus into the town’s Old & Historic District, preserving the property and ultimately preventing its sale for development.

The manor house later would pay a critical role in The Arc’s fundraising, housing

the Shoctober haunted house event that raised more than $4 million over its 11year run. As part of a lease amendment in 2021, the Paxton trustees, citing concerns about the condition of the building, halted The Arc’s use of it and ending that fundraiser.

Lisa Max took over as The Arc’s executive director in 2018. She expressed exasperation with the drawn-out negotiations that have grown more acrimonious, with a recent proposal for a non-disparagement clause to be imposed to prevent public criticism of the Trust.

“It is absolutely surprising to me because the three trustees are volunteers. These are people that are doing this out of the goodness of their heart,” Max said. “My engineer brain has not been able compute a reason for this. Together we can do—we could have already been doing— such wonderful stuff.” n

Angie Tanner Lands Patriot Cup Parade Prize

Real estate agent Angie Tanner won the “Best in Show” Patriot’s Cup trophy in the Town of Leesburg’s Independence Day Parade.

Her entry, selected for the award by members of the Leesburg Daybreak Rotary Club, was a bright red ice cream trailer used to pass out popsicles and fans to spectators during the parade. It also displayed a QR code inviting residents to enter a chance to win up to $500 in gift cards donated by area businesses. The ice cream trailer was one of 95 floats that pre-registered to be in the parade.

Tanner will attend an upcoming Leesburg Town Council meeting where she will be recognized as the 17th annual Patriot Cup trophy winner. The trophy, sponsored by Loudoun Now, will be engraved with her name and placed on display at Town Hall. n

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now

Angie Tanner’s ice cream trailer provided Independence Day parade spectators with popsicles and fans to keep cool and was selected as this year’s Patriot Cup winner.

Leesburg

Downtown Parking Lots Proposed for Development

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

The Board of Architectural Review next week will begin its detailed assessment of the latest downtown redevelopment proposal—construction of two four-story, mixed-use building on land used as parking lots along North King and West Market streets.

The property owner, Fianna Investments led by Carl Gustavson, has tapped builder Keven Ash to lead the project.

Gustavson has spent nearly a decade exploring concepts for use of the land, located behind the Lightfoot Restaurant, which Fianna converted from the Peoples Bank 25 years ago, and behind buildings at 15 and 19 N. King St., which Fianna owns.

For Ash, it will be his fifth downtown redevelopment project, with construction of the Burg Hotel on South King Street underway and redevelopment of the adjacent Black Walnut Brewery property next on the list.

While neighbors already are raising

AROUND town

Town Establishes Data Center Tax Category

As part of the agreement governing the Leesburg’s annexation of the Compass Creek property, the Town Council on Tuesday established a new tax rate for computer equipment.

At a rate of 75 cents per $100 of assessed value, the tax is expected to generate $10-12 million annually after data centers approved or planned in town are constructed. The Compass Creek property includes two data center campuses. Under the terms of the annexation agreement, the tax rate will remain the same for at least five years.

Other business tangible property is taxed at a $1 rate.

Council Adopts Display Policy for Town Hall

After last month’s rising of a Pride flag at Town Hall sparked controversy on social media, the Town Council on Tuesday adopted a formal policy governing how “awareness displays” will be conducted.

concerns about the scale of the proposal, Ash said the project can be built by-right under the town’s Zoning Ordinance, including the proposed four-story building heights. The property has been zoned for

commercial development for more than 30 years, he noted.

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT continues on page 9

‘Corporal Henry’ Gets New Life at VFW

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

A new memorial to the sacrifices of members of the American military will stand outside the Leesburg VWF Post thanks to the work of an Eagle scout candidate from Sterling.

Garin Vecchio on July 4 led a dedication ceremony for the monument, a refurbished a statue of soldier that had fallen into disrepair during years of serving as a furniture store mascot in Maryland.

Vecchio, a member of Troop 572 in Potomac Falls, was looking for an Eagle Scout project when he spotted the statue in front of a store in Frederick last December.

“We came across this by pure chance. It was in Maryland, and we happened to drive by,” Vecchio recalled. “We saw it, and I said, ‘Stop, that’s it!’”

He and his mother pitched the idea to its owner, Chad McDaniel, of Barrell & Stone Interiors/Tuscany Designs. He

ago. It served as an eye-catching mascot in front of his store. Over the years, it deteriorated, with several holes and missing limbs.

“This thing had stayed in the front of the shop for 15 years and his arm was falling off, his face was falling off and destroyed. He had a bird’s nest all the way up in his torso that had to be removed,” Vecchio recalled.

After agreeing to sell the statue for the project, McDaniel went to work on the restoration, using the talents he developed in his business of restoring furniture into custom-painted works.

Such displays include flag raisings, ribbon placements, and the use of colored light illuminating buildings. In addition to the Pride flag, previous Town Hall displays have included a Juneteenth flag, ribbons for childhood cancer, and awareness illuminations for ovarian cancer, international overdose day, sexual assault, suicide prevention and gun violence.

The formal policy is intended to eliminate vagueness in the procedure and to ensure the council approves the messaging affiliated with each display. The process would require display requests to be made at least 60 days in advance, with the town’s Department of Parks and Recreation’s event staff coordinating the council review and the execution of approved displays.

Civil War Items Displayed at Balch Library

agreed and Vecchio set to work designing his project, which also included enhancements to the grounds around the VFW Post and involved more than $5,000 in community contributions.

McDaniel said he brought the statue, which he called “Henry,” with him during a move from New Jersey nearly two decades

“It was something that actually got very personal to because he’s been my mascot for like 17 years,” McDaniel said of the work. On evenings after the shop closed, he would get a glass of wine, turn on some music and go to work. “It was just me and him.”

CORPORAL HENRY continues on page 9

A Civil War exhibit with more than 300 artifacts, collected by area resident John Creamer, is on display at Thomas Balch Library through August.

Items include belt buckles, rifles, artillery, and currency, most of which have been found throughout Leesburg and Loudoun County, including items associated with the Battle of Ball’s Bluff. n

Fianna Investments

A rendering of the proposed development of parking lots behind North King and West Market streets as viewed from the intersection of King and Market streets.

Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Eagle Scout candidate Garin Vecchio speaks during the July 4 dedication ceremony of the Corporal Henry monument at VFW Post 1177 in Leesburg.

Downtown development

continued from page 8

At this stage, the mix of uses in the buildings hasn’t been finalized, Ash said. The town review process through the BAR will focus on architectural elements and is intended to advance the goals of the town’s downtown historic district.

Two retail storefronts are planned along the Market Street frontage, designed to fill a gap in that streetscape, with the project’s entrance through an archway between them. The small office on the property at 10 W. Market St., a non-historic former drive-up bank built in the 1970s, will be removed as part of the plan. The new buildings are proposed to have ground floor parking with offices or residences on the upper three floors.

Under the town’s zoning, residential uses require a minor special exception, but Ash said there are benefits to having homes in the mix, especially for those concerned about traffic.

“I would say the more residential you

Corporal Henry

continued from page 8

After rebuilding parts, closing holes, and getting uniform colors just right, Corp. Henry started to come to life.

“I started working on his face because that is what I really wanted—to really make him who he was with his face. I did like three different things to him, and I finally changed that at the last minute. Once I got his eyes in there, to me he became alive and became someone,” McDaniel said.

“I’m grateful and I’m privileged that he is able to be here, and he has a new home,” he said.

Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk said the monument reminded her of the vigilance needed to project democracy and provided hope for a better future.

“I thought about our democracy, and I thought about all the suffering and all of the sacrifice that the men and women who have served this country. To have our democracy be so fragile is very disappointing. The lack of civility, the lack of respect, the rhetoric that goes back and forth, the inability to work together to get things done. It is so discouraging,” Burk said. “You made it work. You made it work with veterans [and] to work with the people that helped you. You made the community excited to have this here today. So, I want to say thank you. I hope it reminds us that our democracy is important and

have, the less impactful it’s going to be. Right now, there’s office, retail and residential. The more residential we have, the less traffic there’s going to be because with retail and with office there’s multiple trips a day per space,” he said.

The BAR will hold a public hearing on the project on July 17. That will be the start of a months-long process to hammer out the details of the project—starting with big topics including the size, scale and mass and then working more in depth on items like building materials, windows, and cornices and other decorative elements.

Especially over the past year, Ash has been a frequent participant in BAR meetings for the months of review for his hotel and brewery projects. He said he enjoys the process that results in better designs.

“I try not to be controversial. I want to do good work. Going through the BAR is that push and pull to find out how do you get something really to work well,” Ash said. “I think everything that I’ve done has been successful. I’ve gotten awards for everything I’ve done downtown.” n

our democracy is fragile, and we need to protect it. The sacrifices that these men and women have made should not be forgotten that we need to make sure that we remember them and that we value what we have more to keep it.”

Vecchio also hoped his work would inspire reflection on military service.

“Today is not about me. We’re here to honor and remember those who made countless sacrifices for the freedom that we have celebrated every Independence Day up until this point. I continue to celebrate,” he said. “It stands before us a visible reminder of something I learned personally: War, to put it simply, is a very ugly thing. The sons, fathers, cousins, uncles, that leave home to fight did not come back shiny new. Some return scarred, broken and traumatized. The statue may have been left to the whims of the weather for over a decade, but it was mended with great time, care and attention. It is up to us, the American people, to pick up the pieces and help to repair soldiers as this statue was. Here at the VFW, they have done just that for countless veterans in need.

“As you go about the rest of today, I asked you to think of someone you know who has served, I take a moment to thank them in any way possible. It is a little act of kindness goes further than you can imagine,” Vecchio said.

This week the statue was being prepared for its permanent placement later this month in front of VWF Post 1177 at 401 Old Waterford Road in Leesburg. n

Education

Governor Moves to Limit Cell Phone Use in Schools

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

Citing increased evidence of the impact cell phone and social media use has on education and mental health, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday issued an executive order directing the Virginia Department of Education to establish guidelines for cell phone use in public schools by Aug. 15.

The action comes just weeks after the Loudoun County School Board adopted a new policy that restricts the use of student personal devices like cell phones, earbuds and other electronics in school. According

to the new policy, “students may not use devices in classrooms except when explicitly allowed by their classroom teacher.”

Executive Order 33 instructs the VDOE to work with parents, students, teachers and local school leaders to develop policies that establish age-appropriate restrictions or the elimination of cell phone use during instructional time, while also developing protocols that allow parents to contact their children in an emergency or other important situations.

Over the next six weeks, the VDOE will hold listening sessions to gather public input on best practices currently used in Virginia schools and to get input for a

draft policy. VDOE is expected to issue final guidance in September so school divisions can adopt cell phone free education policies by Jan. 1. However, divisions may adopt policies that are more comprehensive than the VDOE’s ahead of the September date, according to the announcement.

“This essential action will promote a healthier and more focused educational environment where every child is free to learn. Creating cell phone and social media-free educational environments in Virginia’s K-12 education system will benefit students, parents, and educators,” Youngkin stated in an annoucement. “Today’s

Executive Order both establishes the clear goal to protect the health and safety of our students by limiting the amount of time they are exposed to addictive cell phones and social media and eliminates clear distractions in the classroom. It also kicks off the robust conversations among parents, students, teachers, and school and community leaders necessary to design and implement these policies and procedures at the local level.”

Youngkin’s announcement highlighted studies on how social media has impacted

Aldie Student Wins Top Prize in George Mason Pitch Competition

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

John Champe High School graduate Zach Suh has always enjoyed cooking. He said he watched cooking shows like Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchens growing up and learned the art of cooking hands on from his parents.

At age 17, he took a job as a dishwasher at a bar to get his foot in the door. That eventually led him to becoming a line cook, then running the restaurant side of the business, then working with a chef at 18 running private dinners.

“The chef was a nice guy. He guided me through fine dining course menus and a better cooking knowledge,” Suh said.

He said that is where he really learned how to cook well found a love for it.

So as a freshman at George Mason University, when he learned in the 11th hour about an entrepreneur pitch competition, he decided to enter a project that revolved around cooking.

Suh quickly wrote up a pitch around a meal delivery service geared toward providing highly nutritious and culturally familiar meal plans to elderly clients. He submitted it an hour before the application deadline.

His idea, called ElderlyEats, came to him after watching his grandmother struggle with Alzheimer’s and seeing

general entrepreneurship.

Suh said since it was a last-minute decision to enter he didn’t expect to advance in the competition. However, the judges thought differently, and his idea went from being one of 16 semi-finalists to one of eight finalists to eventually wining the top prize—$6,000— for the General Entrepreneurship Track.

Suh won an additional $1,000 because he was voted as the Mason’s Choice Award winner in his track.

He said he caught some flak from the judges for the name of his pitc,h but said he was going to stick with it should he move forward and develop the company after he graduates.

“Calling someone an ‘elder’ in my culture is a sign of respect. They are considered to be very mature and wise and are respected,” he said.

how difficult it was for her to chew and swallow food and get the proper nutrition she needed.

Suh said he would often prepare nutritious dishes she could eat and that she seemed to enjoy.

His meal plan pitch, similar to others on the market, would be subscription-based and home-delivered. Currently, it is geared to a Korean palate

and consists of a lot of pureed foods and soups.

The Patriot Pitch Competition is led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Costello College of Business at George Mason University. It supports early-stage business ventures for students and recent alumni. There are four competition tracks—STEM, public engagement, social impact and

The rising sophomore and marketing major is continuing to improve his cooking skills as well as his camera skills as he shoots and edits videos for his social media pages. He said for now, ElderlyEats is still an idea on paper, but said one day he may do more with it and bring it to fruition by hiring dieticians.

“I’m excited to develop my cooking skills and put the business on the backburner. I don’t want it to die out, but I also don’t want to burn out. It needs to be the right stage for me to do it,” he said. n

John Boal/Contributed by Zach Suh

Aldie resident Zach Suh is presented a check for $1,000 for winning the Mason’s Choice Award for the General Entrepreneurship Track in the Patriot Pitch Competition in April.

CELL PHONES continues on page 12

How to demystify

Cell phones

continued from page 10

children, including links to higher rates of suicide and depression. Also cited was a November 2023 study from the Thomas Fordham Institute that found students who use their phones during class learn less, achieve lower grades, and can face a cumulative, lasting, and detrimental impact on their ability to focus and engage in their studies.

“Cell phones and digital media have caused pre-teens and teens to disconnect from the real world, have increased mental health challenges, and have caused significant disruption in the important daily learning opportunities in their classrooms,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons stated. “Parents and teachers understand the importance of creating cell phone-free education in our schools so that students can focus on instruction and learning during the school day. We look forward to facilitating conversations around the danger to our children of cell phones, social media, and the impact of screen time and will focus on creating guidance that protects the health

and safety of our students.”

The program earmarks $500,000 f from the VDOE and the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services to support state and local efforts to develop and implement best practices within their communities. Also planned are a series of Commonwealth Conversations programs across the state this fall to discuss how schools and communities can build new norms around phone usage.

Under Loudoun’s new policy, cell phones and earbuds must be silenced and put away during instructional time unless a special circumstance exists. Students may be asked to remove their smartwatches as well.

Elementary aged students are not allowed to have personal electronic devices while in school. Middle and high school students are not allowed to have them during class time and middle school students are required to keep them in their locker and high school students must put them in classroom storage that does not allow them access to the device, according to the policy. The policy only applies to student personal devices and not division-issued computers. n

Hospital Ladies Board Fulfills $1.2M Pledge

The Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun on June 4 fulfilled its historic $1.2 million pledge to Inova Loudoun Hospital with a final payment of $175,825, marking the single largest gift in the Board’s 112-year history.

The mission of the nonprofit is to promote goodwill between the community and the hospital and to raise funds to support patient services, nursing education and hospital projects. Members organize the annual rummage sale and Lights of Love tree program, staff the hospital gift shop and the Twice as Nice thrift store,

and raise money for nursing scholarships, patient services and other special projects. Over the years, funds from the Ladies Board have supported a variety of needs throughout the hospital, including patient programs and services, staff education, and clinical equipment. The latest round of funding will provide support for Life with Cancer’s Loudoun Pediatric Program, OB/GYN equipment, and midwife training for the Inova Cares for Women-Lansdowne, a simulation model for

PLEDGE continues on page 15

Claude Moore Opportunities to Receive Funding Boost from Virginia Ready

Claude Moore Opportunities, a nonprofit launched to address Virginia's healthcare workforce shortage, will receive a major gift from Virginia Ready to support its statewide programs.

Virginia Ready, which was founded during the COVID response, announced it would donate its remaining $1.3 million among five recipients, including Claude Moore Opportunities, as it wraps up its operations by the end of the year.

“Claude Moore Opportunities is grateful to receive this extraordinary gift from Virginia Ready as we launch our new initiative to address Virginia's healthcare workforce shortage and to provide increased and improved career

opportunities for Virginians,” stated Dr. William Hazel, Jr., CEO of Claude Moore Opportunities and former Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources.

“Claude Moore Opportunities will use this gift to build on the important work done by Virginia Ready to help Virginians receive in-demand credentials and career readiness skills, as well as the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation’s 20-year record of success in supporting collaborative efforts to expand opportunity and meet the needs of communities around the Commonwealth.”

CLAUDE MOORE continues on page 15

Contributed Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun

Ladies Board Treasurer Pauline Clark, presents a check to Inova Health Foundation Assistant Vice President Suzy Quinn.

Pledge

continued from page 14

clinical training and support in other critical areas, according to an announcement.

“This significant contribution reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the hospital and enhancing the quality of care for our community,” Ladies Board President Ro Robinson-Berner, said. “I am grateful for all of The Ladies Board mem-

Claude Moore

continued from page 14

Founded in 2020 as a COVID-19 initiative, Virginia Ready invested more than $6.4 million to help over 6,400 scholars receive credentials, obtain career readiness skills, and connect them to family-sustaining career opportunities, according to an announcement. To date, over 6,300 scholars have received their credentials and another 135 scholars are in the pipeline to obtain it by Sept. 15. Over 68% of Virginia Ready scholars have been hired, the announcement stated.

Launched in June, Claude Moore Opportunities is building on the Claude

bers, associates and our wonderful community supporters who donate, volunteer and shop with us. Together we were able to achieve this significant pledge.”

Inova Loudoun Hospital President Susan Carroll said the board’s work has played a crucial role in supporting the hospitals work to provide healthcare for the community for over a century.

“They are a shining example of the profound difference we can make when we come together to support one another.” n

Moore Charitable Foundation's 20-year record of supporting healthcare workforce development efforts. CMCF has invested more than $24 million in workforce programs and initiatives, allowing thousands of Virginians to receive healthcare workforce training and credentials, according to the announcement.

“Virginia Ready was built on a conviction that every Virginian should have a chance to build the skills they need to help them get to where they want to go. This belief has guided our work and it’s this conviction that led us to channel our resources into the impact of other great organizations doing it well”, Virginia Ready Executive Director Natalie Foster said. n

Inc.’s

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

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

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

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

Towns AROUND towns

Purcellville Council Continues Talks on Kuhn Property Annexation

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Purcellville Town Council still has a lot to learn about an application by JK Land Holdings to annex 117 acres into the town, before deciding whether to move forward with negotiations, according to Mayor Stanley J. Milan.

The application to have the property annexed was submitted in March but the company held an initial meeting on the proposal in 2022 and briefed the council on the preliminary plans last June. The project, known as Valley Commerce Center, envisions 1.3 million square feet of business park/flex industrial space with two entrances into the property. Both would be on Purcellville Road with the northern entrance across from Mayfair Crown Drive.

Town Planner Jordan Andrews said there three key issues to take into consideration— infrastructure, fiscal impact and compatibility.

“These areas are not just anecdotally selected,” he said. “The 2030 comprehensive plan states and asserts that the town does not wish to annex additional land. This 2030 plan was approved in 2020. However, the plan describes that should an annexation appear prudent or necessary several considerations should be taken into account—community input, infrastructure, and costs and benefits.”

Andrews said the biggest issue from an infrastructure standpoint is water usage.

According to preliminary reports, the project could use between 70,000 and 255,000 gallons per day, while the town’s current major users in the town consume 8,000 to 9,000 gallons per day.

“In response to staff ’s concerns about that range, the applicant has indicated that that was based on industry standards. They don’t think it will be that high, but bringing that number to something reduced in writing is something that could be part of future negotiations,” Andrews said.

The site does have a private well and the applicant said it was possible to bring another well, known as Bles Well, online also. That would be detailed in future negotiations.

The project is expected to add 3,500 vehicle trips a day and would involve adding a traffic signal at the development’s primary entrance on Purcellville Road and turning lanes at its secondary entrance across from Mayfair Crown Drive.

Walsh Colucci Senior Land Use Planner Michael Romeo said a rezoning application also has been filed with the county. Annexing the property would give the town control over what happens to the property, he said.

The Northern Collector Road is planned to run through that parcel. The town removed that portion of the road from its comprehensive plan, but it still remains within the county’s plans. If the

KUHN ANNEXATION continues on page 17

Hamilton Council Hears Conceptual Streetscape Plans

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Hamilton Town Council on Monday heard conceptual plans for a streetscape project designed to address community concerns about pedestrian safety and speeding along East Colonial Highway.

The plans were presented by Kimley-Horn engineers Mark Phillips and Hunter Streb and were based off ideas town residents presented during a design charrette last August.

“The emphasis as Earl and I talked with them, which was made very clear to us in the design charrette where the ideas came from, was let’s keep it simple,” Zoning Administrator Martha Mason Semmes said. “We don’t want anything too fancy, but we do want to improve the safety of the corridor. We want it to be comfortable for everyone whether they’re walking or riding their bike and we want to slow people down.”

Conceptual plans include narrowing the road to 11 feet per lane, adding a four-foot grass buffer on either side of the road, including a five-foot sidewalk on both sides, constructing ADA-compliant curb ramps,

streetlights and putting several cross walks at intersections, the Town Office, and the Hamilton Mercantile.

“[Eleven-foot lanes] is a little bit more narrow than typical. Usually, it is about 12 feet. This will help slow down drivers as it would give the impression that there’s less space,” Streb said.

The project would also include storm management and driveway entrance improvements along the corridor to create continuity. Finer details can be edited by the council as the designs advance further along in the process, Streb said.

“Ultimately, this is the next step from the design charrette—creating a safe, comfortable environment for all the users,” Town Project Planner Earl Dubin said.

Preliminary cost estimates show the project estimated at $6.5 to $7 million.

Dubin said the town could pursue local, state and federal funding assistance.

One possibility is county government grant funding which has application deadlines this fall and next spring. “If we miss it, that pushes it off by two years,” Dubin said.

Other options include SMARTSCALE and revenue sharing grants through the Virginia Department of Transportation

HAMILTON

Council Increases Park Pavilion Fees

Fees to reserve the pavilion at Hamilton Community Park are set to increase to $120 for a four-hour time block after a July 8 vote by the Town Council.

The change will go into effect Oct. 1. Currently, it costs $75 to reserve the pavilion for four hours.

The council also voted to establish two rental time blocks—10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m.—a change from residents selecting their own start time.

Council Member Cathy Salter, who chairs the town’s Parks and Recreation Committee, said the changes are prompted by heavy use of the park and excessive trash, which is maintained by town staff. She said implementing set time blocks allows the town to benefit from two reservations per day rather than having someone rent the pavilion in the middle of the day, such as 12 to 4 p.m.

Mayor Ken Wine said the change also left an hour buffer between the reservation times to allow for cleanup without impeding on the second party’s time.

and grants from the Federal Highway Administration.

The council voted 6-0-1, with Vice Mayor Rebecca Jones absent, to move forward with the project and have Dubin, Semmes and Mayor Ken Wine work with the county to apply for grant funding.

The window for the county’s grant application closes in November. n

Motions by Salter to make the changes passed 6-0-1, with Vice Mayor Rebecca Jones absent.

MIDDLEBURG

Asbury Church Planning Outreach Begins

Representatives of Commonwealth Preservation have launched an effort to collect community input on the future of the historic Asbury Church.

The group was hired by the town to help develop plans for the restoration of the town-owned building. Last month, representatives met with neighbors to the Jay Street property, church trustees, preservation advocates, and history groups.

The next step is conducting an online survey to collect broader community input, an effort expected to continue through mid-September.

AROUND TOWNS continues on page 17

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Kimley Horn Engineer Mark Phillips speaks with the Hamilton Town Council about improvements to the town’s main road.

AROUND towns

continued from page 16

A community meeting is tentatively planned Sept. 11. The consultants are expected to present their recommendations to the town staff in November and Town Council in December.

The 2,660-square-foot Asbury Church was established in 1829 and has been used as a Methodist Episcopal church, a storehouse, a Civil War government depot and hospital, and a Methodist Episcopal church for the town’s Black residents. The building has been vacant since 1994. It was donated to the town in 2014.

PURCELLVILLE

Swearing In Ceremony for Dufek Set for Friday

Barry Dufek will be sworn in as the town’s next Chief of Police during a ceremony held at Purcellville Baptist Church Friday at 4 p.m.

Dufek has worked for the department for 12 years and replaces Cynthia McAlister who retired in May after serving in the position for nearly nine years.

He was selected to fill the position after a search in coordination with the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Cookies and Crafts with Cops to be Held Tuesday

The Police Department is hosting a Cookies & Crafts with Cops event on Tuesday, July 16th from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Purcellville Train Station located at 200 North 21st Street.

Community members of all ages are invited to attend for free cookies, to partake in making a fun craft, and get to know members of the police department.

This program originated from the national Coffee with a Cop initiative supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, which aims to break down barriers between police officers and the citizens they serve. Coffee with a Cop brings law enforcement officers and community members together over coffee (or cookies) to discuss issues and learn more about each other. n

Supervisors Consider Eminent Domain for Rt. 7/Rt. 690 Interchange Easements

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

The Board of Supervisors was expected hold a public hearing Wednesday on whether to authorize the use of eminent domain to acquire the remaining land needed to construct the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange near Purcellville.

County leaders have planned to build an interchange there for years, with the project first appearing in the county’s 2008 Capital Improvement Program. County staff members have been developing plans and acquiring land for the project, including a parcel in 2018, known as Lot 74, from homeowners within the Catoctin Meadows neighborhood.

However, in fall 2022, they ran into opposition from residents and Purcellville Town Council members over the impact an interchange could have on a nearby floodplain. Catoctin Homeowners Association board member Ron Rise Sr. raised concerns that the property no longer appeared in the county’s land records or online mapping system.

The property was dedicated for a right-of-way for the project in a July 2022 deed and plat of dedication signed by the town. The property was encumbered by a floodplain easement and HOA covenants, making it unacceptable to the Virginia Department of Transportation, which is contributing $9.6 million to the interchange project.

Project engineers have said construction should not affect the floodplain.

County officials requested that the Town Council hold a public hearing and vacate the floodplain. Catoctin Meadows’ residents opposed that action and the council initially declined to do. The town

Kuhn annexation

continued from page 16

development moves forward as county land, the road will be developed with it, Romeo said.

“We’re kind of at a point now where we can only do so much more before we need some sort of authorization to proceed to actually begin that voluntary settlement process with the county and with your body as well,” he said.

The council would not need to approve

Planning Commission also voted to recommend denying the vacation.

During a January public hearing on the issue, HOA President Tip Stinnette, who said he was not speaking on behalf of the organization, raised concerns that if the town vacated the easement it would result in the county using eminent domain.

“I can see the argument of serving the greater good through eminent domain, but I am hard pressed to see the greater good being served by clearing a path for eminent domain for something that is clearly documented, and on the record, as not being warranted,” he said.

The Town Council voted to vacate the

“I am hard pressed to see the greater good being served ... ”

— Tip Stinnette (Catoctin Meadows HOA President)

easement later that month citing the need for transportation improvements that would positively affect the entire town.

“Community commitment above all,”

Mayor Stanley J. Milan said after the vote.

Now the county must still acquire the land rights of a second parcel owned by the Catoctin Meadows HOA, while Lot 74 is still encumbered by the association.

According to a staff report, the county sent an offer via mail to the HOA for the second parcel known as 007. The offer was not picked up and was returned to the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure. The county staff then hand delivered the offer to the HOA on May 3

the annexation, but to move forward with further research and detailing, the council must vote to continue pursuing the matter.

However, council members said there is still a lot of information they want to know before giving their preliminary approval—specifically citing water usage, traffic concerns, and business types planned for the area.

“What benefit will the town acquire if the county builds it or the county doesn’t? We don’t know. We have no idea what the water supply potential is for these wells.

and an updated offer to the association’s legal representative May 10.

“No agreement has been reached and condemnation is required because outside of the condemnation process, the HOA cannot legally agree to convey the property interests without two thirds of the property owners in the HOA,” according to the staff report.

County staff members also recommended using eminent domain to condemn the remaining covenants on Lot 74 to avoid delaying the project or interfering with street acceptance by VDOT.

Under Virginia Code, the county may acquire property interests necessary for a project via “quick take” condemnation proceedings, by filing a certificate of take with the Circuit Court and depositing the appraised value of the property in escrow. The county may take possession of the property and continue with construction efforts without waiting for the final resolution of the condemnation case.

In total, the county offered $20,646 to the HOA for property interests that include 50,913 square feet of right-of-way easements, 967 square feet of drainage easements, 10,644 square feet of slope easements, 659 square feet of runoff easements, and 8,343 square feet of temporary construction easements.

The third-party appraisal for Lot 74 is estimated to be completed soon and will determine if the county owes compensation to the HOA for the condemnation of the covenants.

Over the last year, approximately 27% of the land acquired by the county for transportation projects used the eminent domain process.

The $52.7 million project is estimated to be completed in 2028. n

We don’t know the condition of the wells, or how much treatment they need. I want to know more data points on anything before we make a rash decision in any direction,” Milan said.

Council Member Kevin Wright said he was concerned about the traffic combined with increased traffic from the planned Western Loudoun Recreation Complex on the west side of town since the traffic studies for each project did not take the other into account.

The council did not take any action on the application Tuesday night. n

Domaine Fortier–Loudoun’s Newest Winery Opens Near Lovettsville

BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.org

LIVE MUSIC

RICKY SCHUBERT

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

MELISSA QUINN FOX DUO

5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 11

MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 Harrison St., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

JUSTIN SUEDE

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 11

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

DOMINICA KNAPP

2 to 5 p.m. Friday, July 12 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillsboro. old690.com

DAN BARRY

4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 12

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

LUKE JOHNSON

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 12

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

BOBBY CRIM

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 12 Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com

SHANE HINES

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 12 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

GARY PALUMBO

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 12

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

BLUEGRASS JAM

5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 12

Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notaviva.com

SELA CAMPBELL

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 12

Dirt Farm Brewing, 18701 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont. dirtfarmbrewing.com

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 19

Stephen and Jennifer Fortier had a dream to move to the country and raise their three daughters in the great wide open while working alongside them in a vineyard.

They wanted to move to western Loudoun and open a winery as part of that dream.

That dream started turning into a reality in 2016 as they visited with several owners of the nearly 50 wineries in western Loudoun. They were told they needed to plant at least five acres if they wanted to do it commercially. That led them to buy the property at 13235 Milltown Road in Lovettsville in 2018.

“When you plant, you order these vines 18 months in advance,” Jennifer said.

They created a plan that involved building a tasting room on the property starting in 2021, then a production facility two years later. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and halted those building plans. Undeterred, they planted their first vines in 2020 and have been buying fruit from area growers and making wine at Walsh Family Wines near Hillsboro under the guidance of Nate Walsh, who they hired as their consultant before they broke ground.

“[Nate] has been with us the whole way. He’s been great and his crew has been great,” Stephen said.

In 2020, they bought some barrels of cabernet franc from Walsh that had been barreled two years prior. They decided to blend it with Tannat and let it sit until last year when they submitted it to the San Francisco Chronical Wine Competition where they won a gold medal.

“I think everything happens for a reason and because of these little hiccups we are able to let our wine sit and if we had opened up earlier, I don’t think our wine would be as good,” Jennifer said, adding they were tasting some of their 2020 wines recently and decided some still needed a few more years.

Between buying the land, planting vines, building their home, and the soft opening of their boutique winery in June the Fortier’s have been working their day jobs. Stephen has degrees in engineering management systems and owns a small engineering consulting firm and teaches part time at George Washington University. Jennifer is a patent attorney and busy mother to their three girls.

The Fortiers said their girls help out where they can and said they hope one

of their daughters goes to college for enology and viticulture, so they take over the vineyard one day.

For their opening in June, they had a temporary, open air tasting room installed on the property that will be in place until late October. It offers seating for about 60 people, with 360 degree views of the Catoctin valley with a French provincial theme.

“As soon as you get on our property, we really want to have like an escapism feel to it all. So, you just feel like you’re in the mountains of France,” Jennifer said.

They are pouring six wines—their gold winner 2017 Cabernet Franc, 2020 Le Pivot, Chardonnay and Petit Manseng, 2021 White Merlot and 2023 Albarino.

They also offer local Chevre cheese from George’s Mill Farm near Lovettsville and crackers. The Fortiers said guests are welcome to bring small picnics, however no outside alcohol is allowed per Virginia ABC laws.

Their boutique winery focuses on

small lot, hand-crafted high-quality wines.

“It’s boutique in that we’re not a gala winery where we own a million acres of vines. We sit on 34 acres, and we planted 10 acres of vines mainly vinifera which is the classic French or Spanish or Italian style wines,” Stephen said, adding he also planted an acre of Norton.

Stephen said they take care of the vines, pick the grapes and then process them at Walsh Family Wines until they can build a production facility on site.

“It’s done with a lot of love and care. We are here to do quality, not quantity. The best wine the grapes will give us. A great wine starts in the vineyard, so if you take care of the vines, then the grapes would be good and then when we go to produce the wine we can make good wine,” Stephen said.

2023 marks their first harvest and they expect to double their production this

DOMAINE FORTIER continues on page 21

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

Owner’s Stephen and Jennifer Fortier stand in their open air tasting room at Domaine Fortier Vineyards.

POLO IN THE PARK

Saturday, July 13, 6 to 10 p.m.

Morven Park International Equestrian Center polointhepark.org

Enjoy the cool evening outdoors watching Morven Park’s fast-paced arena polo series. Reserve your car pass

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 18

BRIGIT COOK

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 12 Old 690 Brewing Company, 15670 Ashbury Church Road, Hillboro. ol690.com

ONE BLUE NIGHT

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 12 Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

IAN VEST

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 12 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

FREDDIE LONG

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 12 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com

NATE CLENENDEN

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 12 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 12 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15. tallyhotheater.com

HARD SWIMIN FISH

8 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 12 Monk's BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com

DENNIS WAYLAND

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Cana Vineyards and Winery, 38600 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. canavineyards.com

TEJAS SINGH

12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13 City Tap Loudoun, 20376 Exchange St., Ashburn. citytap.com

BEST BETS

TURNSTILES

Saturday, July 13, 6 to 9 p.m. Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. tararaconcerts.com

Turnstiles faithfully recreates Billy Joel’s classics moving casual listeners as well as hard core Joel fans.

SCOTT KURT

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Otium Cellars, 18050 Tranquility Road, Purcellville. otiumcellars.com

MIKE KUSTER BAND

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

CHRIS ELLINGHAUS

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

TIDEWATER VALLEY

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

KIM & TOMMY

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Sunset Hills Vineyard, 38295 Fremont Overlook Lane, Purcellville. sunsethillsvineyard.com

STANLEY WHITAKER

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

JASON MASI

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13

50 West Vineyards, 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. 50westvineyards.com

STEVE & FRIENDS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

DAVID THONG

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

KEN WENZEL

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

THE BAD PRESS BAND

Saturday, July 13, 5 to 8 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro 868estatevineyards.com

Enjoy music under the stars with a blend of favorite rock, jazz, funk and blues tunes spanning decades.

LIBERTY STREET

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnsathamiltonstation.com

ANDY HAWK AND TWE

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoombas.com

BERLIN CALLING

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Lost Rhino Brewing Co, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com

THE LOST CORNER

VAGABONDS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukinewinery.com

LUKE ANDREWS

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. chrysaliswine.com

TIM MARCUM

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Bozzo Family Vineyards, 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. bozwine.com

BRAHMAN NOODLES

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville. twotwistedposts.com

BRIAN ELDER

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Trinity House Café, 101 E. Market St., Leesburg. trinityhousecafe.com

RICHARD WALTON

2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Bluemont Station Brewery & Winery, 18301 Whitehall Estate Lane, Bluemont. bluemontstation.com

JAKE MIMIKOS

3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com

PEBBLE TO PEARL

Saturday, July 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Green, 20 W. Market St. Leesburg idalee.org

Led by powerhouse vocalist Dari J, Pebble to Pearl blends funky beats, blues, and rock vibes into a musical explosion.

JOE BERNUI

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

SELA CAMPBELL

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notaviva.com

IAN VEST BAND

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

BRUNO SOUND

4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

THE VIRGINIA

RUM RUNNERS

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

MELISSA QUINN FOX

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

DELTA SPUR

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

POOL BOYS

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 13

MacDowell's Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macsbeach.com

JET CAPRIEST

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

BAD PRESS BAND

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 13 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro. 868estatevineyards.com

BURN THE BALLROOM

Saturday, July 13, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

This alternative rock act combines pop, rock, anthemic melodies, soaring dynamics, and eclectic instrumentation to form haunting compositions with driving force.

TURNSTILES - THE MUSIC OF BILLY JOEL

6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Tarara Summer Concert Series, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts. $25. tararaconcerts.com

VOLUME'S 11

6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. oldoxbrewery.com

BURN THE BALLROOM

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15. tallyhotheater.com

BRITTON JAMES

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 13

The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com

TEJAS SINGH

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Social House Kitchen & Tap, 25370 Eastern Marketplace Plaza, South Riding. socialhousesouthriding.com

PEBBLE TO PEARL

7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13 Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. idalee.org

PICTROLA

8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Monk's BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville. monksq.com

LOST LOCALS

9 p.m. to July 14, 1 a.m. Saturday, July 13

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

BEN REICHARD

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Creek's Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

LEFT OF CENTER JAZZ

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

NATHANIEL DAVIS

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

SHARIF

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. lostbarrel.com

MELISSA QUINN FOX

1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

CHRIS COMPTON

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 14 8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

CHUCK DARDEN

2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 14 Old Farm Winery at Hartland, 23583 Fleetwood Road, Aldie. oldfarmwineryhartland.com

MEISHA HERRON

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

JASON & MICHELLE

HANNAN

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

SUMMER & ERIC

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.co

JOE BERNUI

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

MELANIE PEARL

2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 14 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

LIVE MUSIC

continues on page 20

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 19

THE RAGWEEDS

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14

The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton. thebarnathamiltonstation.com

SCOTT KURT

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro. doukeniewinery.com

ROBBIE LÍMON

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Chrysalis Vineyards, 39025 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg. chrysaliswine.com

THE COLD NORTH

3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

TORRY B

4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 14

The Bungalow Lakehouse, 46116 Lake Center Plaza, Sterling. bungalowlakehouse.com

TEJAS SINGH

5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 14

Rebel Taco, 22850 Brambleton Plaza, Ashburn. rebeltaco.com

LEBA HIBBERT: A CELEBRATION OF TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS

7 to 11 p.m. Sunday, July 14, Tally Ho Theater

19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $20. tallyhotheater.com

JASON MASI

6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 17

The Lost Fox, 20374 Exchange St., Ashburn. lostfoxhideaway.com

TOMMY BOUCH

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18

Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

JET CAPRIEST

6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 18

Spanky's Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

HAPPENING

FUN AT THE FOUNTAIN WITH ABRACADABRA ALEX

10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 11 Lansdowne Town Center, Belmont Ridge Road, Leesburg. shoplansdownetowncenter.com

LOUDOUN COMMUNITY CAT COALITION BINGO

5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 11, Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

EXHIBIT OPENING: LOUDOUN'S FIRST FARMERS

6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 12

Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. hertitagefarmmuseum.org

POLO IN THE PARK

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 13

Morven Park International Equestrian Center, 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg. $40. morvenpark.or

HILLSBORO FARMERS MARKET

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 14 Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. oldstoneschool.com

SEMINAR: AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY

2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 14

St. James United Church-Christ, 10 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville. lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org

PRESCHOOL WEDNESDAYS

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 17

Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling. $5. hertitagefarmmuseum.org

GALLERY TALK WITH LAUREN KRAUT

3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 18

National Sporting Library, 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg. nationalsporting.org

Domaine Fortier

continued from page 18

year.

They hope to start building a permanent tasting room this winter that can also serve as a venue for weddings and other events.

“This is going to be short lived, and you know this is just kind of a taste of who we’re going to be,” Jennifer said of their temporary tasting room.

The plan is to have a big open space building for events with some rooms upstairs and a big deck on the back to allow for the 360 views of the Short Hill, Catoctin and Furnace Mountain ranges.

But the Fortier’s said it won’t be a barn. “We want to be a little bit different,” Stephen said.

Jennifer said they invited wedding planners out to the site to ask them what they would want to see in a venue to get ideas for theirs.

She said they are honored to be part of Loudoun’s collaborative wine community.

“This is just such a wonderful community, and that is also why we got into this because we’re like all in this together,” she said.

Domaine Fortier Vineyards is open Fridays from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct 27. Reservations are requested for parties larger than six.

They offer a wine club with three tiers, named after their daughters. Makya, is a four bottle membership, Makena is a six bottle membership and Mila is a 12 bottle membership each offering additional perks like a 20% lifetime discount on all wine and merchandise, 15% off all after hour and holiday event bookings in their tasting room, free advance reserve seating in the tasting room and free access to new and limited bottle releases among others.

“We are biased, but I think we make great wine. And it’s the product that will bring people out. The bonus is, look at this beautiful view in the middle of the vineyard and you get a taste of a French bistro while you are sipping excellent wine in Loudoun County,” Stephen said. n

Alexis Gustin/Loudoun Now

A look inside the open air tasting room with a French Provincial theme at Domaine Fortier Vineyards in Lovettsville.

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

Legal Notices

Loudoun County Public Schools

Proposed Elementary School Attendance Zone Change for Planning Zones DS08.4, DN36.17 and DN36.18

On June 25, 2024, the Loudoun County School Board initiated an abbreviated attendance zone process to change the elementary school serving three Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) planning zones – DS08.4, DN36.17 and DN36.18. The planning zones include the Parkside Village community (DS08.4), pending Fleetwood North development (DS08.4) and a section of the West Park at Brambleton community (DN36.17 and DN36.18). Within West Park at Brambleton, the recommendation specifically involves the Stratus at West Park and West Park IV single family homes accessed via Orchard Grove Drive.

The recommendation to assign the three planning zones to Sycolin Creek Elementary School would, upon approval, take effect in August 2024 - before the start of the 2024-2025 school year. No change is recommended for the secondary school attendance boundary.

Maps and information on this recommended attendance zone change are posted on the LCPS website (www.lcps.org/062524).

The School Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed elementary school zone change on August 13, 2024, followed by action later the same evening. The August 13 meeting will be held in the LCPS Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn), with the evening meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will also be broadcast live on Comcast channel 18 and Verizon Fios channel 43 and viewable via simultaneous webcast (https://www.lcps.org/webcast).

Persons who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully at the August 13, 2024 public hearing and meeting should contact the Clerk of the School Board at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Beverly I. Tate, Director Loudoun County Public Schools Division of Planning & GIS Services 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Telephone: 571-252-1050

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

ABC LICENSE

Saigon Bistro VA, LLC, trading as Saigon Bistro, 47100 Community Plz. Ste. 124, Sterling, VA 20164.

The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA AlCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for Restaurant license, for on and off-premises of beer and wine.

Thang Nguyen, 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.

7/4 & 7/11/24

7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1 & 8/8/24

LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE BIDS/PROPOSALS FOR:

SAND, STONE, AND GRAVEL PRODUCTS - REISSUE, IFB No. 658833 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, August 2, 2024.

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.

7/11/2024

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF LEESBURG

RESIDENTIAL TRAFFIC COMMISSION VACANCY

The Town of Leesburg is soliciting applications for a vacancy on the Residential Traffic Commission. The vacancy must be filled by a resident of the Northwest quadrant of Town. Citizens meeting the Northwest residency requirement and interested in serving on the commission can find additional information or may apply via the Town’s web site at: www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-and-commissions

Applications will be kept on file for one year. Any questions can be sent to the Clerk of Council via email at eboeing@leesburgva.gov.

7/11 & 7/18/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047413-04-00, -05-00, -06-00, -07-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Yessiah Recinos Morales Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Ebony Morales, Mother Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a second Permanency planning hearng and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1282.1 and 16.1-281 for Yessiah Recinos Morales and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1283 for Yessiah Recinos Morales. Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as

the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Yessiah Recinos Morales. Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limted to, the right to visit Yessiah Recinos Morales; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Yessiah Recinos Morales; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Yessiah Recinos Morales. Further, Ebony Morales, Mother, Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father, and Unknown Father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Yessiah Recinos Morales, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Yessiah Recinos Morales for adoption and consent to the adoption of Yessiah Recinos Morales.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Ebony Morales, Mother; Anderson Alejandro Recinos Rivas, Father; and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 26, 2024 at 10:00am. 6/27, 7/4, 7/10 & 7/18/24

TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE

SOLICITATION OF APPOINTMENT TO TOWN COUNCIL

The LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL currently has a vacant Council Member seat with a term that expires December 31, 2026. Pursuant to Va. Code §§ 24.2-226 and 228, the remaining members of Town Council may appoint a qualified voter to fill the vacancy until a special election is held on November 5, 2024. Any person qualified to vote in Town elections is eligible for appointment. Any person so appointed to fill this vacancy shall have the rights, privileges, duties and obligations, and shall exercise all powers of, an elected Council Member.

Pursuant to Lovettsville Town Code § 2-79, the Town shall solicit applications for this vacancy. All interested parties must complete an Application for Town Service that can be found on the Town’s website at www.lovettsvilleva.gov/government/council-subcommittees. Applications should be submitted to the Town Clerk before 4:30 P.M. Friday, July 19, 2024, however, the application period will remain for fifteen (15) days after this ad first appears in the newspaper or when the first application is received, whichever comes later. Applications can be submitted via email to clerk@lovettsvilleva.gov or in-person at the Lovettsville Town Hall, 6 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, Virginia between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm on weekdays, holidays excepted.

7/4 & 7/11/24

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

The Planning Commission of the Town of Purcellville will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on Thursday, July 25th, 2024 at 6:30 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:

ZONING ORDINANCE AND MAP AMENDMENT: Pursuant to Code of Virginia 15.2-2285, the Planning Commission has prepared amendments to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance and Official Zoning Map. The proposed amendments include various zoning changes and additional district overlays for the majority of properties along East and West Main St, 20th St., 21st St., 23rd St., Hatcher Ave., and Hirst Ave. Broader changes in various articles may affect all properties within Town limits. As authorized by Code of Virginia 15.2-2204, the full extent of Zoning Ordinance and Map Amendment is depicted in the map and materials available on the Town website linked below. https://www.purcellvilleva.gov/1149/Zoning-Ordinance-Update

Additional information regarding this amendment is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia during regular business hours, by appointment, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

At this public hearing, all persons desiring to present their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact Kendall Wisniewski, Planning Operations Coordinator, at kwisniewski@purcellvilleva.gov, three days in advance of the meeting.

7/11 & 7/18/24

Legal Notices

403-20-4175-000 //3//11////14/ 10.4 441-26-5866-000 //8////////97/ 12.18

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW LOVETTSVILLE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

The current period of the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on January 2, 2025. The District has a 4-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 20 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally bounded by Harpers Ferry Road (Route 671) to the west, Morrisonville Road (Route 693) to the south, Berlin Turnpike (Route 287) and Milltown Road (Route 673/681) to the east, and the Potomac River to the north, in the Catoctin Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However, any parcel containing at least 5 acres, but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met:

1. Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3. Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4. Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

Parcel Listings:

332-45-6758-000 //9////////92/ 2.12 408-17-2553-000 /16//49/////2/ 3.64

332-47-0153-000 //9///9/////1A 6.9 408-17-3189-000 /16//49/////1/ 7.15

334-15-3609-000 //9//11/////2/ 10 408-35-7146-000 /16///1/////2/ 10

335-15-6108-000 //9////////72D 10 408-35-8282-000 /16///1/////1/ 10

335-15-9934-000 //9////////72E 10 409-47-4462-000 /16////////95A 10.59

335-25-0663-000 //9////////69/ 2.27 437-15-7050-000 //2/////////4A 14.02

335-25-3278-000 //9////////70A 3.17 437-18-6110-000 //2///////109/ 4.06

335-25-6496-000 //9////////70/ 3 437-25-2747-000 //2/////////4B 14.02

335-36-3975-000 //9////////71/ 34.97 438-15-4243-000 //2////////92/ 25.97

335-46-4474-000 //9////////65B 10.23 438-17-0237-000 //2////////94A 4.6

336-45-2262-000 /17//24/////G/ 10 438-17-4252-000 //2////////94/ 3.07

367-17-2567-000 //3///6/////6B 10.2 438-20-9261-000 //2//14/////3/ 6.43

367-17-9949-000 //3///3/////3/ 10 438-27-3301-000 //2////////95/ 3

367-18-7208-000 //3///3/////1A 2 438-40-2019-000 //2///3/////2A 3.66

367-26-4625-000 //3///6/////6/ 19.07

439-10-5210-000 //8//24/////5/ 10.23

367-27-6067-000 //3///3/////4/ 25 439-10-6966-000 //8//24/////1/ 10.3

367-35-4219-000 //3//11////11/ 10.22 439-15-4818-000 //8///////155/ 9.2

367-35-9790-000 //3/////////8/ 57.25 439-15-7959-000 //8////////14/ 17.64

367-45-4695-000 //3/////////9B 10.65 439-15-8491-000 //8////////11A 18.2

367-49-5702-000 //3////////18/ 35.19 439-19-4182-000 //8//24/////3/ 10

368-40-8141-000 //9////////99/ 4.95

439-25-9194-000 //8/////////6/ 25.91

368-48-6786-000 //3///3/////2B 2 439-27-6405-000 //8///////121/ 72.01

370-15-8588-000 //9////////35/ 71.11 439-29-3368-000 //8//17/////2/ 3

370-36-1745-000 //9//13/////7/ 15.1 439-35-8423-000 //8///////147/ 23.68

370-37-2253-000 //9//13/////9/ 13.82 439-36-9594-000 //8/////////1/ 3.07

371-27-2763-000 //9////////54/ 20.57 439-37-2366-000 //8///////127/ 0.5

371-29-6476-000 //9///2/////2A 4.83

371-47-9326-000 //9////////47/ 30.78

372-19-2882-000 /17//25/////4/ 15.75

439-37-8236-000 //8///////121A 1.07

439-47-1866-000 //2////////96A 18.49

439-47-8210-000 //2///////101D 10

372-29-2298-000 /17//26/////E/ 5.02 439-48-5151-000 //2///9////PT/ 47.56

372-29-2461-000 /17//25/////3/ 10.11

440-10-6645-000 //8///////140/ 12.34

402-20-7603-000 //3/////////3/ 70.42 441-19-6273-000 //8////////88/ 162.5

403-27-2792-000 //3///9////20/ 10.6

443-30-8447-000 /16//25/////2/ 13.51

403-28-8065-000 //3///9////17/ 20.14 472-29-8903-000 //2////////11/ 71.42

403-29-3411-000 //3//13////27/ 10.62 472-30-2654-000 //2/////////5/ 19.38

403-29-4096-000 //3///9////16/ 10.42 474-10-3827-000 //8////////20C 5.75

403-29-9088-000 //3//11////15/ 10.4 474-19-6261-000 //7///2/////8/ 22.13

403-40-5043-000 //3//11/////7/ 10.24 474-28-8300-000 //7////////98B 24.94

404-15-1994-000 //8//23/////1/ 3.41 474-29-4442-000 //7///2/////9/ 18.22

404-15-2036-000 //8//24/////6/ 10.3 474-30-3888-000 //8///////146/ 13

404-30-4836-000 //9/////////1A 48.43 474-39-2526-000 //7////////95A 24

405-28-1327-000 //8///////138/ 6 474-39-9015-000 //8///////156/ 5.63

405-36-7116-000 //8//21/////8/ 10.04 474-40-7528-000 //8/////////4/ 21.26

405-39-5091-000 //8///3/////4/ 10.24 475-40-4084-000 //8////////20A 11.5

406-46-7192-000 //8///5/////7/ 15.89 *403-30-4696-000 //3//11/////8/ 10.05

407-20-8723-000 //9//41/////1/ 21.16 *406-38-8529-000 //8//22/////2/ 15

407-30-5782-000 //9////////49/ 82.35 *479-48-9241-000 /15////////98/ 6.47

*Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

The ADAC held a public meeting on June 10, 2024, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Lovettsville Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on July 30, 2024. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications are available for inspection 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 by calling 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https:// www.loudoun.gov/adac (6-10-2024 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

REVIEW AND RENEWAL, MODIFICATION

OR TERMINATION OF THE NEW MOUNTVILLE AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTAL DISTRICT

The current period of the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District will expire on January 2, 2025. The District has a 4-year period and a subdivision minimum lot size of 50 acres. Pursuant to Chapter 1226 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors has directed staff, the Agricultural District Advisory Committee (ADAC), and the Planning Commission to conduct a review in order to determine whether to continue, modify, or terminate the District. Parcels currently enrolled in the District are located within an area generally south of the Goose Creek and Beaverdam Creek, west of Lime Kiln Road (Route 733), Oatlands Road (Route 650) and Sam Fred Road (Route 748), east of Pothouse Road (Route 745), Foxcroft Road (Route 626), and Leith Lane (Route 733), and north of Little River Turnpike (Route 50), in the Little River Election District.

During this review, land less than 5 acres, or 20 acres or greater, in size that is currently enrolled in the District will be automatically renewed. However any parcel containing at least 5 acres, but less than 20 acres will be ineligible for renewal and inclusion within the District unless the owner submits an application on forms provided by the Department of Planning and Zoning and one or more of the following criteria is met:

1. Management Plan that specifically states that the property owner(s) are accumulating the required 5-year production records in order to qualify for agricultural, to include horticulture, land use tax deferral.

2. Animal Husbandry including Equine uses (commercial or non-commercial) with a Management Plan that relates the pasture carrying capacity to limit the number of animals allowed.

3. Forests and woodlands with a management plan that specifies the actions required to maintain and enhance the stands.

4. Wetlands, flood plains, streams and/or rivers that have Management Plans that set forth the terms for their maintenance and enhancement.

During this review, land within the District may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, at the owner’s discretion by filing a written notice with the Board of Supervisors at any time before the Board acts to continue, modify, or terminate the District.

Landowners of the following parcels, currently enrolled in the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District, were notified by certified mail of the District’s review.

Parcel Listings:

391-27-2834-000 /75A1/1////22/ 11.41

/75A1/1////21/ 11.51

393-18-4162-000 /75///8/////2/ 31.16

Continued next page

/73//17/////2/ 50

/73////////35/ 2.33

/74///1/////1/ 3

426-17-9754-000 /75A2/1////64/ 15.2

427-17-0166-000 /74///8/////2/ 19.9

427-20-0840-000 /75A2/1////30/ 13.79

Legal Notices

500-10-9206-000 /88//21/////1/ 6.77

500-17-7473-000 /87////////57/ 77.32

500-29-9671-000 /74////////13A 96.03

427-27-1326-000 /74////////39B 26 500-30-5992-000 /74/B/1/////3R 18.42

428-38-5924-000 /74////////42/ 355.44

500-47-9968-000 /73//17/////1/ 168.48

462-10-2124-000 /74///2/////1/ 15.64 501-27-3719-000 /87////////53/ 434.41

463-40-0861-000 /74///2/////2/ 24.3 501-38-8451-000 /87////////56/ 40.68

465-15-4047-000 /74///1/////2/ 10 501-46-8702-000 /87////////55/ 27.1

465-15-4311-000 /88/////////3B 3 532-10-7739-000 /73////////17A 16.69

498-16-7892-000 /73///2/////5/ 11.96

533-27-9786-000 /73///3////13B 27.06

498-17-7351-000 /73///2/////1/ 11.52 534-19-3347-000 /73//21/////1/ 225.27

498-17-8304-000 /73////////28C 17.57

535-46-9524-000 /73////////42/ 145.85

498-26-8239-000 /73///2/////6/ 10 536-46-5841-000 /87/////////8A 55.29

498-26-9874-000 /73///2/////7/ 12.5

498-27-7302-000 /73///2/////2/ 12.5

537-20-3377-000 /87////////58A 40

*427-10-6142-000 /75A2/1////16/ 10.83

*Indicates a parcel containing at least 5 acres but less than 20 acres whose owner did not properly apply for renewal.

The ADAC held a public meeting on June 10, 2024, to review and make recommendations concerning whether to continue, modify, or terminate the New Mountville Agricultural and Forestal District, and to review renewal applications and requests for withdrawal of land from the District. The report and recommendations of the ADAC will be considered by the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, at its public hearing on July 30, 2024. The reports and recommendations of the ADAC and the Planning Commission, along with any proposed modifications, will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its public hearing.

In accordance with Section 15.2-4307 of the Code of Virginia, the applications are available for inspection 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 by calling 703-777-0246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies or electronically at: https:// www.loudoun.gov/adac (6-10-2024 ADAC Meeting under Agendas and Bylaws). Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www. loudoun.gov/pc (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for Public Hearings Packet).

LEGI-2023-0088, DOMINION ENERGY LOUDOUN PANEL WIRING SHOP: CMPT-2023-0014

(Commission Permit)

Dominion Energy Virginia has submitted an application for a commission permit for approximately 114 acres of land located north of Bull Run, east of Auburn Farm Road(Route 705), and south of Dominion Power Loudoun Station in the Little River Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as PIN: 251-27-7544-000, Tax Map #105/////////3A. For CMPT-2023-0014, the applicant seeks a commission permit to allow the construction of a 72,000 square foot public service utility center in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance).

LEGI-2023-0093, MILESTONE BELMONT INTERCHANGE: CMPT-2023-0011 & SPEX-2023-0028 (Commission Permit & Special Exception)

Milestone Tower Limited Partnership IV has submitted an application for a commission permit and special exception for approximately 0.24-acres of land located between the travel lanes of eastbound Leesburg Pike (Route 7), the on-ramp to eastbound Leesburg Pike (Route 7) from northbound Claiborne Parkway (Route 901), and the cloverleaf exit-ramp from eastbound Leesburg Pike (Route 7) to northbound Lansdowne Blvd (Route 2400) in the Broad Run Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Claiborne Parkway (Route 901) Ashburn, Virginia, 20147. For CMPT-2023-0011, the applicant seeks to construct a 152-foot tall (150-foot tall with 2-foot lightning rod at the top) telecommunications tower, equipment compound, and related support equipment. For SPEX-20230028, the applicant seeks to permit a telecommunications tower in the OP (Office Park) zoning district under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance) and to provide the Plant Unit Composition Requirement of Section 7.04.07.B.2 of the Zoning Ordinance on the northern boundary of the Subject Property as shrubbery to accommodate an abutting Dominion Energy easement.

LEGI-2023-0077, ZEBRA EAST: ZCPA-2023-0005, SPEX-2023-0019 & SPMI-2023-0014 (Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, Special Exception, and Minor Special Exception)

Zebra Ventures LLC has submitted applications for a zoning concept plan amendment, special exception, and minor special exception, for approximately 26.58 acres of land located east of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607), north of Shellhorn Road ( Route 643), and southwest of Waxpool Road (Route 625), in the Sterling Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as 22130 Loudoun County Pkwy, Ashburn, Virginia, PIN: 089-30-9997-000 and Tax Map Number /79//84/////E/. For ZCPA-2023-0005, the applicant seeks to amend the concept development plan and proffer statement associated with ZMAP-1998-0003,

to permit the development of data centers. For SPEX-2023-0019, the applicant seeks to increase the permitted Floor Area Ratio from 0.6 to 1.0. For SPMI-2023-0014, the applicant seeks to eliminate the road corridor buffer requirement to provide an earthen berm along the frontage of future Lockridge Road. The applications are being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Grandfathering Resolution, dated December 13, 2023.

LEGI-2023-0076, STONE HILL: ZMAP-2023-0007, SPEX-2023-0042, ZMOD-20230065, ZMOD-2023-0066, ZMOD-2023-0067, ZMOD-2024-0004 & ZMOD-2024-0015 (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, and Zoning Modifications)

Toll VA LP has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment, special exception, and zoning modifications for approximately 16.64 acres of land located east of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607), south of Evergreen Ridge Drive (Route 3100), and east of Creighton Road (Route 774) in the Sterling and Little River Election Districts (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as:

123-15-0056-000 N/A

/92/C45//4R-1/ 123-25-5394-000

For ZMAP-2023-0007, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property to the R-16 ADU (Townhouse/Multifamily Residential-16 Affordable Dwelling Unit) legacy zoning district to permit 80 residential multi-family stacked dwelling units and 24 single family attached dwelling units at a density of 6.25 dwelling units per acre. For SPEX-2023-0042, the applicant seeks to reduce the minimum front yard setback required for multifamily stacked dwelling units from 25 to 5 feet. For ZMOD-2023-0065, ZMOD-2023-0066, ZMOD-2023-0067, ZMOD-2024-0004 & ZMOD-2024-0015, the applicant seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property including but not limited to: increase the maximum building height for multifamily units from 45 feet to 55 feet, modify lot access to allow frontage on open space, eliminate the road corridor buffer required along internal private roadways, reduce the Preservation Buffer on the south side of the cemetery from 25 feet to 15 feet, and to allow street trees on private lots. The applications are being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Grandfathering Resolution, dated December 13, 2023.

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, or amendments for each item listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Office of County Administrator, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications and land use ordinances may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. Additionally, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically the week before the hearing at www.loudoun.gov/pc. For further information, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5).

Planning Commission work sessions and public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Public hearings and work sessions are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40, and are also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views during the public hearing. Public comment will be received only for those items listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) prior to 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing; however, speakers may also sign-up at the public hearing. Written comments concerning any item before the Commission are welcomed at any time and may be sent to the Loudoun County Planning Commission, P.O. Box 7000 Leesburg, VA 20177-7000, or by e-mail to loudounpc@loudoun.gov. If written comments are presented at the hearing, please provide ten (10) copies for distribution to the Commission and for the Clerk’s records. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications. Any individual representing and/or proposing to be the sole speaker on behalf of a citizen’s organization or civic association is encouraged to contact the Department of Planning and Zoning prior to the date of the public hearing to request additional time to speak on behalf of such organization.

Regularly scheduled Planning Commission public hearings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. In the event the public hearing cannot be conducted on that date due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing will be continued to the next day (Wednesday). In the event the public hearing may not be held on that Wednesday due to weather or other conditions that make it hazardous for members to attend the hearing, the public hearing may be continued to the first Thursday of the next month.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory, or mental disability to participate in this meeting, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5). Three business days advance notice is requested.

BY ORDER OF: MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

Legal Notices

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-321

Civil Action No.: CL24-3519

Circuit Court of Loudoun County COUNTY OF LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA, Plaintiff v.

HEIRS and SUCCESSORS-IN-INTEREST OF EMORY PETERSON, who may include: Vernon William Peterson, Antonio C. Redd, Eugene Peterson, and others who are Parties Unknown, Defendants

IT APPEARING to the Court that the object of the above-styled suit is to achieve the judicial sale of real estate located in Loudoun County, Virginia, for the purpose of collecting delinquent real estate taxes assessed against the subject real property.

IT APPEARING to the Court that the subject real estate is vacant land and contains 0.64 acres, more or less, located in Bluemont, Virginia 20175. N 653-37-8652-000 and Tax Map Number /53////////45/ (the “Property”). In a Deed dated March 26, 1941, and recorded June 14, 1946 in Deed Book 12-G at page 10, Lucas K. Philips, Special Commissioner, conveyed the Property to Emory Peterson.

IT APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that the record owners of the Property are the heirs-atlaw and successors in interest of Emory Peterson.

IT FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that Eugene Peterson, a non-resident, maybe one of the heirs and/or successors-ininterest of Emory Peterson, whose last known address is 5729 Knox Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144-3300.

IF FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that Vernon William Peterson and

Antonio C. Redd may also be heirs and/or successors-in-interest of Emory Peterson, whose last known addresses are 22032 St. Louis Road, Middleburg, VA 20117 and 11702 S. Oxbow Ct., Fredericksburg, VA 22408-1895, respectively, that the County cannot determine with certainty whether such addresses are still accurate; that the County will attempt personal service, but if unsuccessful, Vernon William Peterson and Antonio C. Redd will be served by this Order of Publication.

IF FURTHER APPEARING to the Court, by affidavit, that there are or may be other individuals, heirs and/or successors-in-interest of Emory Peterson, whose location and whereabouts are unknown and have been made defendants in this case by the general description of “PARTIES UNKNOWN.”

ORDERED, that pursuant to Virginia Code §§8.01-316, 8.01-321, and 58.1-3967, Vernon William Peterson, Antonio C. Redd, Eugene Peterson and the Parties Unknown, appear before this Court on August 16, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., and do what is necessary to protect their interests herein.

7/4, 7/11/24

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE

The PURCELLVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers of Town Hall located at 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia on TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2024 at 6:00 PM for the purpose of receiving comments on, considering, and possibly voting on the following item:

APPROVAL OF PUBLIC USE, NECESSITY AND ACQUISITION OF EASEMENTS FOR PUBLIC USE (WEST END PUMP STATION AND GRAVITY SEWER RELOCATION) FROM PROPERTY LOCATED AT 625 W. MAIN STREET BY CONDEMNATION OR OTHER MEANS. The Town of Purcellville proposes to construct new gravity sewer from the existing West End Pump Station (WEPS) to the new Blue Ridge Estates Pump Station which has been sized to handle flows from the development as well as present and future flows to the WEPS. Once the new gravity sewer is installed, the aging WEPS can be abandoned. Easements from a few properties along West Main Street are needed and have already been obtained. The Town has not been able to acquire the necessary permanent utility easement on Parcel 488-35-0774 at 625 West Main Street. In order to not further delay the project’s schedule, the Town must begin the condemnation process to acquire the necessary and required easement for this public use. The proposed action by Council is the approval of the West End Pump Station and Gravity Sewer Relocation as a public use and authorization of acquisition of the easement by condemnation or other means.

Information related to this project is available for review at the Purcellville Town Hall, 221 South Nursery Avenue, Purcellville, Virginia by appointment, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.

At this public hearing, all persons affected, or otherwise desiring to present their views concerning this matter, will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact Kimberly Bandy, Town Clerk, at kbandy@purcellvilleva.gov, three days in advance of the meeting.

7/4 & 7/11/24

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a public hearing in the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING ROOM, on the first floor of the Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

LEGI-2024-0013, KINCORA PINSTACK: (Sign Development Plan)

Windhaven Properties, LLC has submitted an application for a Sign Development Plan for a property approximately 1.73 acres in size and located at the southwest intersection of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061) and Knowledge Drive in the Broad Run Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as PIN#: 040-29-9594-000 and Tax Map # /80/M/4///F1A/. Pursuant to Section 10.11.03 of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance, the applicant requests to modify the number signs allowed in the Planned Development – Mixed Use Business (PDMUB) Legacy Zoning District. The applicant seeks to increase the number of signs from 4 to 12 for a total sign area of 1,536 square feet.

Copies of the applications and related documents listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, First Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday or call 703-777-0246 (option 5), to request hard copies or electronic copies. County staff reports will be made available Friday, July 19, 2024. Documents may also be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding these matters. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance. If you wish to sign up in advance of the hearing, please call the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-777-0246 no later than 12:00 PM on the day of the public hearing. Speakers may also sign up at the hearing. Written comments may be sent to the Loudoun County Board of Zoning Appeals, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, Virginia 20177, or by e-mail to stephanie.capps@loudoun.gov. Members of the public may also submit comments electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications If you require a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or need language assistance in order to participate in the public hearing, please contact the Department of Planning & Zoning at 703-777-0246 (option 5) or, TTY-711. Three business days advance notice is requested.

Nan M. Joseph

Forbes, Chair Loudoun County Board of Zoning Appeals

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF LEESBURG REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

The Town of Leesburg will accept proposals electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 3:00 p.m. on August 21, 2024 for the following: RFP No. 500610-FY25-08

SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION (SCADA) HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE (HMI) SOFTWARE

The Town of Leesburg is accepting proposals from qualified vendors to provide a Human Machine Interface (HMI) software to modernize the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems at the Town’s Department of Utilities operating facilities.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard 7/11

7/11 & 7/18/2024

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047045-05-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Maria Jose Nunez Torres Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Maria Jose Nunez Torres.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Mario Obel Nunez, putative father, and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before July 30, 2024 at 10:00 am.

6/20, 6/27, 7/4, 7/11/24

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION

TLZM-2023-0003 AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2023-0002

CRESCENT SYCOLIN

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 PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLZM-2023-0003 and Special Exception application TLSE-2023-0002 Crescent Sycolin.

The Subject Property is located at 23 to 33 Sycolin Road SE and consists of 6 parcels totaling approximately 3.56 acres (Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PINs) 188-15-1721, 188-151715, 188-15-1708, 232-40-9196, 189-45-1396, and 189-45-0586). The Subject Property is zoned CD-MUO (Crescent Design – Mixed-Use Optional).

Rezoning Application TLZM-2023-0003 is a request by Big T Properties, LLC to allow multi-family residential dwelling units (52 units) and 5 stories building height in the CD-MUO zoning district.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2023-0002 is a request to allow “other activities that cause no increase in flood height” in the Floodplain Overlay Zoning District.

The Subject Property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as “Crescent Area” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76).

The application includes requested three (3) modifications to the requirements of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations for mix of uses required, ground floor use requirements, and building occupy 66% of the Build to Line. The application also includes a modification to the requirements of the Design and Construction Standards Manual (DCSM) for minimum entrance spacing requirements.

Additional information and copies of these applications are available at the Department of Community Development located 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Christopher Murphy at (703) 737-7009 or cmurphy@leesburgva.gov.

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

7/4 & 7/11/24

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2022-0007 WESTPARK TECH AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2022-0009 WESTPARK FLEX INDUSTRIAL

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, JULY 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application (Proffer and Concept Plan Amendment) TLZM-2022-0007, Westpark Tech and Special Exception application TLSE-2022-0009, Westpark Flex Industrial.

The Subject Property is located at 59 Clubhouse Drive SE and totals approximately 7.58 acres and is identified by Loudoun County Property Identification Number (PIN) 272-30-2501. The Subject Property is currently zoned B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial District).

Rezoning Application TLZM-2022-0007 is a request by Clubhouse DR, LLC to amend the existing proffers and concept plan of TLZM-1986-0071 to rezone the property to the PEC, Planned Employment Center District to allow an 86,400 square foot flex industrial/business park building.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2022-0009 is a request by Clubhouse DR, LLC to permit a 86,400 Flex Industrial/Business Park within the PEC District, pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) Sec. 9.8.

The Subject Property is located in what the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (LLTP) describes as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (LLTP pg. 72). The property is further designated within LLTP as “Innovation Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (LLTP pg. 76). There is no Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for commercial uses associated with an Innovation Center within LLTP. The building would have an F.A.R. of 0.26.

The application includes three requested modifications of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance (TLZO) regulations which include landscape buffer requirements, parking standards, and access through a residential zoned district.

Additional information and copies of these two applications are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Richard Klusek, at 703-771-2758 or rklusek@leesburgva.gov.

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

7/4 & 7/11/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

VA. CODE §§ 1-211.1; 8.01-316, -317, 20-104

Case No.: CL24-3609

Loudoun County Circuit Court Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Cynthia R. Hall-Palmer v. Arnold Palmer

The object of this suit is to obtain an official divorce. It is ordered that Arnold Palmer appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before 8/16/2024, 2:00 p.m..

7/4, 7/10, 7/18, 7/25/24

VEHICLE AUCTION

MD Repo Vehicles For Public Sale at ADESA Washington, DC. All Makes and Models Running Weekly Details can be found at www.adesawashingtondc.com

Terms: State and local orders will be strictly enforced at the sale, including social distancing and limits on the number of people permitted to gather in certain areas. All attendees must comply with such procedures or will be required to leave the premises. We strongly recommend that all attendees wear face coverings for the protection of themselves and our staff. Bidder agrees to register and pay a refundable $500 cash deposit plus a non-refundable $20 entry fee before the Sale starts. The balance of the purchase is due in full by 5:00pm on sale day. vehicles are AS-IS and are subject to a buy fee based on the sale price of the vehicle. Only cash or certified funds will be accepted. No vehicle will be released until Payment is made in full. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted.

VEHICLE AUCTION

ADESA WASHINGTON DC 705-996-1100 44475 OLD OX ROAD, DULLES, VA 20166

20+Chase repossessions will be offered to the public sale (monthly) on Wednesdays (7/17/24, 8/14/24, 9/11/24, 10/9/24, 11/6/24, 12/4/24). Auction doors open at 8:00 a.m. Sale starts at 9:50 a.m. ET. Registered persons may preview/ inspect vehicles on the day of the sale before bidding. Bids accepted only when a vehicle is presented for sale. The auctioneer will conclude the sale when bidding stops. All results will be final by 5:00 p.m. Terms: Cash or Certified Check.

Loco Service Providers

Viewpoint

You Belong Here: Creating a Welcoming, Inclusive Loudoun is Achievable

BY MARGARET L. BROWN

The launch of “You Belong Here: Hospitality Training for an Accessible Loudoun” by The Arc of Loudoun and funded by Visit Loudoun could be a game-changer for Loudoun if enough businesses sign up for training.

How do I know? Several members of my family are on the autism spectrum, and we recently had the great fortune to travel to Dublin, Ireland. We were lucky to be able to afford it and doubly lucky because Dublin is working toward being the world’s first autism-friendly capital city.

Backed by the government and in tandem with AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity, this initiative launched less than a year ago. In just eight months, they have managed to create an environment— from the airport to popular attractions— in which everyone seemed not only to understand how to assist us but also to be genuinely accepting and willing to support our family member. I was brought to tears several times by their help, and I am still emotional writing about it now.

Families with members on the autism spectrum—particularly those who don’t “seem to” or “look like” they have special needs—are in a constant state of vigilance. Will this crowd, place, noise, lighting system, etc., etc., be overstimulating and lead to autistic “burnout”? Often it will, which—in our family’s case—can lead to panic attacks and self-harming behaviors.

To be in a city where people understood and helped immediately with no need for explanation offered an opportunity to relax and really enjoy ourselves. Here are a few examples from our recent experience in Dublin and why I am encouraging local businesses to participate in You Belong Here.

Our flight into Europe required a layover at the Dublin airport. We were tired and in an unfamiliar place, couldn’t always understand the announcements made in the adorably confusing Irish accents I love so much. We were, therefore, a little lost. After several hours of waiting, changing terminals, etc., a family member started to become overwhelmed and have

a panic attack. When an airport employee noticed, his first concern was about their wellbeing. Then he went to work helping us without being asked.

He immediately took us to the front of the line and arranged for our family and about five other people to take the shuttle to the tarmac for our flight rather than require us to board a crowded shuttle. We basically had a private shuttle to the plane. The importance of that one small thing cannot be overstated.

Attractions, particularly Guinness

Storehouse, also go above and beyond. Guinness Storehouse was accredited as a certified autism-friendly attraction in late 2023 and offers special “sensory-friendly” tours, which we were unaware of when we booked ours. Fortunately, all we had to say to the greeter was that we had someone in our group with sensory issues. We were sent to pick up a sensory kit that included a booklet with a visual guide of the building and sensory “trigger warning” locations, earplugs, a fidget spinner (which came in handy for the rest of the trip), a stress ball

and more. Again, I cannot begin to tell someone who doesn’t understand autism what this meant to my family.

Wherever we went, greeters or staff immediately understood and proactively changed our schedule to ensure we could visit at times when there were smaller crowds, sent us to shorter lines, turned off background music without being asked or just showed incredible compassion and caring. This level of service and understanding was accomplished in just eight months!

Hopefully, initiatives like Dublin’s and You Belong Here in Loudoun County will become the norm and create greater, essential understanding of the individual needs of people in our community. The Arc’s You Belong Here training addresses all types of disabilities—from physical and mobility impairments, to invisible disabilities such as developmental, intellectual, emotional or behavioral disabilities. Up to a quarter of all U.S. adults have some sort of disability, according to the CDC. Like Dublin’s autism-friendly city enterprise, The Arc’s program helps local businesses and staff realize, understand and address the barriers people with disabilities may face when they shop, stay or work at those businesses. It also helps businesses understand how people with disabilities might look for when finding and choosing a place to visit, shop or work.

I cannot overstate how important You Belong Here could be for Loudoun County residents and visitors. Normalizing the understanding and care for those with special needs is a great first step to creating a community where people feel truly welcome and want to come back. It works—I experienced it in Dublin.

I look forward to the day when most of Loudoun’s businesses are staffed by people who really “get it” and can show our community members with special needs of all kinds that they not only are welcome, but also are truly understood and supported. n

For more information about You Belong Here Disability Awareness and Accessibility Training, contact The Arc of Loudoun at info@thearcofloudoun.org.

Margaret L. Brown

A poster on display at the Guinness brewery in Ireland.

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The How

The managers of the region’s power grid this week appeared open to a pivot on plans to boost the supply to eastern Loudoun by supporting the use of existing transmission corridors rather than create a new route through the countryside.

If that option is ultimately supported as the next-phase solution to the power crunch, it will be celebrated as a win for county residents and government leaders who worked for months to document the damage that would be done by a new crossing.

That celebration should be short lived. As those involved in the battle know, better policies and planning are needed to prevent such controversies in the future. These will not be the last power lines to be strung through the county.

LETTERS to the Editor Opinion

The project has shown the urgent need for expanded infrastructure planning that goes beyond roads and schools. The county’s commerce and communities cannot operate without adequate power.

If it is truly our expectation that new power lines will be built in existing rights-of-way or locally designated corridors that needs to be adopted as a formal policy supported by feasibility documentation. And if Loudoun truly intends to lead the industry in some type of on-site generation model, that too needs to be incorporated in the county’s foundational planning documents.

If county leaders want a partnership role in addressing the critical need, it is important that they are in a position to say how—not no. n

A Death Knell

Editor:

Catoctin District Supervisor Caleb Kershner reportedly said that requiring “special exception” permission from the Board of Supervisors for new data center construction “would discourage the industry too much” (Loudoun Now, July 4).

He “felt that requiring a special exception process would be a ‘death [knell]’ for new data centers.”

It sure sounds like Mr. Kershner wants more data centers in Loudoun.

And whether he likes it or not, more data centers mean more transmission lines with their gigantic towers, just like the ones now proposed to go through the

rural and historic parts of Mr. Kershner’s own district. That also means his constituents will be forced to pay much higher utility rates to cover the costs of the infrastructure that supports only these data centers.

And from what I read in Loudoun Now, no one elsewhere in the county wants to live near the data centers.

To me, this sounds like new data centers are the problem, not the solution. I don’t want to pay, via higher utility rates, for Loudoun County to be ruined by data centers and their associated transmission lines.

Recently, hundreds of Catoctin residents turned out for a mass meeting in Lovettsville about the proposed transmis-

sion lines that would pass through our community. I didn’t hear a single person speak in favor of building more data centers or their transmission lines.

Mr. Kershner was also at this meeting. Didn’t he hear what his constituents were saying?

I can only speak for myself, but I would guess that many Loudoun residents would welcome a “death knell” for new data center construction. Data centers and their infrastructure are a blight on our community.

Mr. Kershner and the other supervisors should listen to what their constituents are saying.

— Kurt Schroeder, Lovettsville

Loudoun

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Impact study

continued from page 1

SCC’s decision-making process,” she said. “There’s no way that the proposal they have currently put forward meets any of those three standards that they say they use to determine if projects should move forward or not.”

The report cites impacts to the county’s historic districts, cemeteries and burial grounds, agricultural and forestall districts, conservation easements, rural roads, specialty agriculture, the equine industry, wineries, breweries, bed and breakfasts, water resources, limestone and mountain overlay districts and plant and wildlife habitats.

During its review of the NextEra

Alternate route

continued from page 1

Exelon, Dominion all to come up with a good engineering working plan, considering the interests of us all to get this line built,” he said.

Caven said PJM and NextEra received a lot of feedback from residents and community groups about the proposed greenfield line.

“I appreciate the landowners who really

“We met with NextEra last week and we know that the impact report and the efforts that we've been making to raise community awareness have had an impact on them.”

— Sue Manch (LTLA)

gave us a lot of notes about the potential impact to that area and it’s just a demonstration of how these projects do eventually get sited, also considering the minimization of impacts to the areas,” he said.

NextEra representative Kaitlin McCormick said the change is result of the company’s standard routing process.

“The work that was done here was both in response to stakeholder feedback as well as collaboration with some existing utilities regarding central easements and colocation opportunities,” she said.

By Chip Beck

proposal, PJM cited similar concerns recognizing that the line would run through “highly developed residential and commercial developments as well as state and local conservation easements.”

“For [the project] medium-high constructability risks are assessed for the proposed line routes due to anticipated lengthy regulatory process, potential public acquisition, construction difficulty, environmental constraints and property acquisition, which may have significant impacts on the cost and schedule for the proposed project,” according to a Nov. 17 PJM Constructability and Financial Analysis Report.

The report was released approximately a week before a PJM committee heard an alternate route for the line which would use existing rights-of-way across

Del. Geary Higgins (R-30) who has been working with residents, community groups, NextEra, PJM and Gov. Glenn Youngkin to have the line moved said, while it is still early in the process to change the route, he was hopeful.

“We have been advocating that this is the only reasonable and acceptable alternative since day one,” he told Loudoun Now.

He said the community input was a crucial part of the conversation.

“The people had their voice heard,” he said.

the northern part of the county before crossing into Maryland and coming south through more existing rights-of-way toward Leesburg.

“We met with NextEra last week and we know that the impact report and the efforts that we’ve been making to raise community awareness have had an impact on them. They have definitely said they’re giving a lot more consideration to using existing rights-of-way and working with Dominion and working with PJM,” Manch said.

The proposal will be heard for a second time by PJM’s Transmission Expansion Advisory Commission in August. If recommended by the committee, the new route will advance to the full board for consideration. n

The proposal will be considered by the TEAC at its August meeting. If the committee recommends the change, it will continue on to the full PJM Board for consideration. If the board approves the change, First Energy and Dominion Energy would proceed with the process for their portions of the new line, while NextEra’s participation in the line would be cancelled.

The next TEAC meeting is scheduled for Aug. 6, and the full board set to meet Aug. 7. n