Semester 703-759-5100 www.FairfaxChristianSchool.com Lower School Middle
Dulles Campus near the intersection of Routes 28 & 606 GIVE YOUR CHILD A ADVANTAGE.COMPETITIVE School Division Avoids ShortageTeacherCrunch
BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com Although many of the nation’s schools are scrambling to find enough teachers as the new school year draws near, Loudoun County Public Schools seems to have avoided falling into that category as students return to class next week. In fact, administrators say the numbers of hired teachers seem to be above what they normally see this time of year. In March, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona issued a nationwide call to action for states, higher education leaders and schools to work together to address the teacher shortage. In a statement, Cardona encouraged them to use federal resources to “address the critical challenge schools and districts across the nation are facing.” Since then, media outlets have reported on the teacher shortage in America, claiming it has hit crisisWaydelevels.Byard, spokesman for Loudoun County Public Schools, said Loudoun’s school division has 97.8% of its positions filled. Byard said the district is normally above 95% by this time of year, so it’s “right on target.” SHORTAGE continues on page 34 FARM on page 33
Parting With a Lifetime’s Collection Legard Farm Auction Showcases Farming History
One of the largest collections of antique tractors and farming equipment is going up for auction
said looking over a field with row after row of tractors and other farm implements lined PRESRTSTD U.S.Postage PAID Permit#1374 MerrieldVA n LOUDOUN Pg. 4 | n LEESBURG Pg. 8 | n EDUCATION Pg. 10 | n OBITUARIES Pg. 24 | n PUBLIC NOTICES Pg. 24 VOL. 7, NO. 39 We’ve got you covered. In the mail weekly. Online always at LoudounNow.com AUGUST 18, 2022 ˀ Call Today! Limited Space for the
for “There’sretirement.threegenerations of farm equipment here,”
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Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now R.T. Legard stands in a field at Glenmore Farm filled with his collection of 182 antique tractors and other antique farm equipment that will go to auction next weekend.
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com as a dean of Loudoun’s agricultural community prepares R.T. Legard Jr., 79, Fall School High School
PAGE 2 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022 This hand chime group is for individuals with early to moderate stage cognitive impairment and their care partners. No music experience is needed, just the joy of creating music together. C H I M CE H I M E I N I! N ! 10am 11am 2nd Tuesday of every month Senior Center of Leesburg 102 North Street NW Leesburg, 20176 Call 571-233-2583 or send an email to aaasupport@loudoun.gov CM IN C a
Parts of the county’s new Zoning Ordinance will head to a public hear ing at the Planning Commission on Aug. 30 after years of work. But some of the new ordinance’s most impactful and argued-over chapters are still not ready for a pub lic hearing, including ones detailing zoning districts, use standards, over lay districts, environmental stan dards, and attainable housing rules.
Birchwood resident Carolyn McCul ley organized her neighbors to pack the commission’s June 28 public hearing. She said she bought her home in early 2022 and went out to the site multiple times as her house was being built. “Professionally, I’m a filmmaker and a podcast producer and my home office would be at this site, so I was very con cerned about the noise. I did everything that I could do to be an educated home purchaser,” she said. “But the only dis closure that I had to sign at closing was a generic statement that I lived near the airport. So, you can understand what an unpleasant surprise it was to get your no tice that a zoning change was going to be made.” She said in her case, her home was in the one-mile buffer—so it was built with out even the additional noise insulation.
BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Revised Dulles Airport Noise Zone Hits Residents
“Now I’ve been moved into it, and my home is not protected. How this happened in a new neighborhood is very frustrat ing,” she said. “We’re only half built.” She suggested the county offer help for those homeowners perhaps providing tax AIRPORT NOISE continues on page 32
Partial New toRulesZoningHeadHearing
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 3
Other chapters deal in large part with the administration of govern ment, including procedures ranging from applying for permits, to legisla tive applications, to zoning enforce ment; a chapter governing the pow ers, duties and makeup of the zoning administrator, Planning Commis sion, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Historic District Review Committee; ZONING ORDINANCES continues on page 35
A Planning Commission public hear ing on new airport noise zoning overlays saw outcry from people who could see their homes moved into an area where residential development is forbidden due to Dulles Airport noise. The county is working to implement the results of a 2019 noise study around Dulles Airport into the Airport Impact Overlay District. Currently, the district is divided into three parts based on a “Loud ness Day Night,” or Ldn, calculation that projects the annual average airplane noise level weighted for nighttime noise. Those noise overlays also do not necessarily re flect airport noise today—they are based on the airport’s potential full capacity, including a planned additional east-west runway to the south of airport property that has no specific timeline to be built. The local noise overlay does not con trol where airplanes may fly—that author ity is reserved for the Federal Aviation Administration.Withinaone-mile buffer of the Ldn 60, the only additional requirement is a written disclosure to homebuyers that they are in an area impacted by aircraft noise. In the Ldn 60-65, the next-noisier district, in addition to the disclosure there are requirements that homes be built with acoustic treatments to lessen the noise in side. And in the Ldn 65, residential devel opment is largely forbidden. Actual airport noise can impact home values, according to research by the Dull es Area Association of Realtors. In re sponse to a question from county staff, the association found studies indicating the home value impact of airport noise of 65 decibels or more can range from undetectable to around 20%. According to the CDC, 60 decibels is about the lev el of a normal conversation; 70 decibels is comparable to a washing machine or dishwasher. The decibel scale is logarith mic—every 10 decibels equates to a noise twice as Whileloud.thenew contours shrink in many areas, residents of Birchwood at Bramble ton have seen their neighborhood, which is already approved but still under con struction, moved from the one-mile buf fer or the Ldn 60-65 into the Ldn 65 zone. And they are worried not only about the noise, but the overlay affecting their lives and property values.
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Planes taxi at Dulles International Airport.
The Zoning Ordinance codifies into enforceable laws and standards the visions set out in the county’s General Plan and Countywide Trans portation Plan, collectively referred to as the comprehensive plan. The Board of Supervisors approved a new comprehensive plan in 2019, af ter almost three years of work—and almost 20 years since the previous General Plan overhaul in 2001. That launched the project to write a new Zoning Ordinance to reflect the new plan, along with the new realities of a county that has changed dramatically in the past two decades. On Aug. 30, the commission will take public input on chapters of the ordinance including development standards such as landscaping, park ing, light and noise, and parking; sign regulations; regulations on non conforming uses such as buildings that do not fit the new Zoning Ordi nance but are grandfathered in; and adaptive reuse, usually rehabilitating historic structures and putting them to new use.
The airports authority has written that it does not consider the project subject to local zoning. In a March 18 letter to the county Department of Planning and Zoning, airports authority Planning Department Manager Gregg Wollard compared the project to other common development at airports such as gas stations, hotels, restaurants and parking lots which are “quite common to U.S. airports and are as integral a part of everyday airport operations as those uses classified by FAA as ‘aeronautical’/’aviation’.” He wrote that the airports authority would Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority A map of the proposed new solar energy project at Dulles International Airport, with the solar arrays in green.
“It is going into the grid for public use, they are subject to the zoning,” Zoning Administrator Mark Stultz told the Planning Commission at its July 26 public hearing. “If they were solely doing this as an airport-related use, they would not be subject to our zoning.”
A rendering for plans for Rivana at Innovation Station.RIVANA continues on page
DULLES SOLAR continues on page 6
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LOUDOUN
BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Loudoun
the project’s developers had hoped to break ground early this year, but now hope to clear the county’s legislative approval process by the end of the year. County planners continue to identify some concerns with the proposal—for example, the developer’s proposal to restore
Planning Commission Rivana Vote Expected in September NOW STAFF REPORT
Fast-tracked county approvals for a plan to install a 100-megawatt solar array on undeveloped Dulles Airport property have been temporarily halted by the Loudoun County Planning Commission—although the airports authority has maintained that it doesn’t need the local government’s approval. Dominion Energy and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority plan to put the solar array on 835 acres at the airport. Their plans also include a 50-megawatt battery system and a substation for transmitting the power, some of which would be used at the airport. Currently, that land is zoned for single-family homes, zoning that has never changed because it has never been necessary—the land is owned by the federal government and leased to MWAA, and is largely exempt from local zoning. However, the county administration contends that because the planned solar array would serve not just the airport but the power grid at-large, it falls under county zoning, citing state legislation which holds the airports authority is independent of state and local authority “in the performance and exercise of the airport-related duties and powers.”
BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now
OpposesCommunityRetirementFast Food Restaurant Plans
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The residents of the Regency at Belmont are opposing plans to build a fast food restaurant on the undeveloped commercial lot in their neighborhood. REGENCY continues on page
Households in the Regency at Belmont retirement community next to a proposed drive-through fast food restaurant have voiced unanimous opposition to the proposal. Developer Regency Centers has filed an application for a zoning special exception to permit an auto service and gas station flanking a commercial area under construction along Claiborne Parkway. The fast food restaurant would be at the intersection of Claiborne Parkway and Belmont Chapel Drive, next to townhouses in the retirement community on Stewart Gap Terrace and Hanes Hall Terrace. The proposal is across Claiborne Parkway from a shopping center anchored by a Whole Foods.Residents of every nearby townhouse, 18 households in total, have signed onto a letter urging the county to deny the application, saying they were “horrified and angered” to learn of the fast food restaurant plans. “Toll Brothers did not inform us when we were purchasing our new homes that the adjacent commercial development would be a fast food drive-through Rivana.com
Dulles Airport Solar Project Stalls in Planning Commission Review
The Loudoun County Planning Commission is expected to make a recommendation on Rivana at Innovation Station, a massive new Metrorail-adjacent development on Loudoun’s eastern border, in September.Originally
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Dawn and her sister now operate a successful dog walking business, sometimes covering up to 5 miles a day What was once a missing link in senior healthcare is now easily accessible to the residents of Northern Virginia If you’ve missed too many tee times because of pain or you’ve passed on walking through the town centers with friends because you’re afraid of falling, it’s time to call Rachal and the staff at Firefly It’s time you let your golden years BE GOLDEN!
Loudoun county resident Dawn R. had been experiencing the painful side effects of Peripheral Neuropathy, “my feet and legs were extremely painful and my doctor told me there was nothing they could do. That I would have to take Gabapentin for the rest of my life.” Then she met Ashburn's very own Rachal Lohr, L.Ac.
Peripheral Neuropathy is the pain, discomfort, and numbness caused by nerve damage to the peripheral nervous system. Dawn explained that daily tasks like opening doors and using the bathroom were overwhelmingly painful “How can you live for the next 30 years when you don’t even want to get out of bed to do simple things?” She was experiencing the burning, numbness, tingling and sharp pains that those suffering from neuropathy often describe. “The way that I would describe it, it’s equivalent to walking on glass.” Dawn hadn’t worn socks in five years and was wearing shoes two sizes too big so that nothing would ‘touch’ her feet Unfortunately, Dawn’s story is all too familiar for the over 3 million people in the U.S. suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy. If you’re unfortunate enough to be facing the same disheartening prognosis you’re not sleeping at night because of the burning in your feet. You have difficulty walking, shopping or doing any activity for more than 30 minutes because of the pain. You’re struggling with balance and living in fear that you might fall Your doctor told you to ‘just live with the pain’ and you’re taking medications that aren’t working or have uncomfortable side effects
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY? Call (703)263 2142 to schedule a consultation! Visit www.FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com to learn more and to take advantage of their New Patient Offer! Advertisement
Rachal Lohr, L.Ac. is once again accepting new patients And for a limited time will be offering Free Consultations so call (703)263 2142 to schedule a consultation. “It’s life altering. As far as I’m concerned Rachal saved my life!”
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 5
Rachal has been helping the senior community for over 14 years using the most cutting edge and innovative integrative medicine. Specializing in chronic pain cases, specifically those that have been deemed ‘hopeless’ or ‘untreatable’, she consistently generates unparalleled results.
"SHE SAVED MY LIFE"
Fortunately, two months ago Dawn read an article about Rachal and the work she was doing to treat those suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy, without invasive surgeries or medications. Rachal Lohr, founder of Firefly Acupuncture and Wellness, in Ashburn, is using the time tested science of Acupuncture and a technology originally developed by NASA that assists in increasing blood flow and expediting recovery and healing to treat this debilitating disease. “Now when I go to bed at night I don’t have those shooting pains. I don’t have that burning sensation. I don’t have pain coming up my legs,” Dawn enthusiastically describes life after receiving Rachal Lohr's treatments. “I can wear socks and shoes!”
LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
“NOVA Parks was founded as our region’s first conservation organization sixty-three years ago with a mission to create truly exceptional places open to all people,” said NOVA Parks Board Chairwoman Cate Magennis Wyatt. “This plan exemplifies this vision with a focus on environmental excellence and a desire to be open and welcoming to everyone in our community.” The authority’s priorities are to in crease parkland, enhance park ame nities, offer new services, serve more community members, create a sense of belonging, offset carbon, conserve en ergy, become a national brand, attract and retain top-quality employees, and further develop the systems to support and grow the dynamic agency. Highlights of the program include plans to plant more than 50,000 trees creating new areas of forest, investing $6 million to create or improve trails, build a W&OD visitor center, create a wetland park for environmental edu cation and sustainability, and invest in electric vehicles and mowers. NOVA Parks also plans other steps to low er their carbon footprint, add five new parkland properties, add parkland to better sequester carbon, expand cultural events and festivals, and lead an effort to commemorate the Declaration of In dependence with interpretive efforts fo cused on liberty, justice, and freedom. There are also plans for expanded partnerships with community groups, growing entrepreneurial revenues to support park improvements, and creat ing a team and programs that are reflec tive of a changing and diverse commu nity.Learn more at novaparks.com. n The NOVA Parks 2023-2027 is available online at novaparks.com/strategicplan.
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
NOVA Parks this week released its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, which pro vides goals and objectives to help guide improvements, operations, conserva tion, and services of the regional author ity over the next five years.
NOVA Parks Sets 5-Year Priorities
PAGE 6 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
www.fairhousing.vipnet.org request the federal Secretary of Transpor tation approve the project as an “airport purpose” under federal law. Despite the disagreement over local zoning authority, the county has sought to fast-track the rezoning on the property to meet the proposed construction schedule. The county is working to rezone that par cel at Dulles Airport to Planned Develop ment-General Industry, and to amend that zoning district to add ground-mounted utility-scale solar generation as a permit tedThatuse. also jumps ahead of an ongoing project to rewrite the county’s Zoning Or dinance, work which includes new solar array regulations but work which is not yet done. A requirement in the zoning amendment before the Planning Commis sion that requires at least a 500-acre lot size to build a solar array is meant to pre clude solar arrays on any other Planned Development-General Industry zoned parcels in the county while the county finishes its larger Zoning Ordinance over haul. But the Loudoun Planning Commis sion bucked the fast-tracked schedule, which would have seen the application before the Board of Supervisors in Sep tember, over environmental concerns. “If this goes through us and the su pervisors, we are taking a big chance of destroying lots and lots of trees, because you’ve got to have fields cleared out to put these things,” Commissioner Ad Barnes (Leesburg) said. “Solar is something that everyone is looking at favorably because it replaces the use of fossil fuels, which create car bon pollution, and many people know that mature trees are some of our best carbon sequestration natural solutions,” said Commissioner Jane Kirchner (Al gonkian). “So it’s kind of a very weird situation here. We’re going to be wiping out all of these huge spans of mature trees to create a solar farm to provide clean en ergy.” Kirchner and other commissioners also said the commission was not being given enough time to fully consider the application. And commission Chairman Forest Hayes (At Large) said it was unfair to consider that application ahead of the new Zoning “DominionOrdinance.andMWAA don’t want to wait for us to complete the zoning re write, and so when powerful people call us, we’re going to pull things out and we’re going to consider them one by one, and then we’re going to finish the rewrite that the rest of the county is waiting on ac cording to whatever snail’s pace,” he said. Piedmont Environmental Council Field Representative Evan McCarthy was the only person to speak during the public hearing. He reiterated the council’s environmental concerns about the proj ect, including that much of that planned capacity could be accomplished with rooftop solar. The Planning Commission voted 6-0-3 to send the rezoning and zoning amend ment to a work session for further review, with Vice Chairman Jeff Salmon (Dull es) and commissioners Michelle Frank (Broad Run) and Mark Miller (Catoctin) absent.The long-obsolete residential zoning at Dulles Airport hearkens back to its history. In 1958, the village of Willard, a Black neighborhood of formerly enslaved people and their descendants, was con demned to make room for the airport. All 87 Willard-area landowners were forced to give up their properties. n
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE
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, elderli ness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”
Dulles solar continued from page 4
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity through out 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.
The comment period is open through Sept. 12. Learn more and submit a comment at loudoun.gov/transitequity. n restaurant,” reads the letter. “Rather, we understood that the forthcoming business would be a low-impact, attractive and positive part of our quiet Age 55+ community, compatible with and beneficial to ourTheyneighborhood.”arguedthe fast food restaurant is incompatible with the neighborhood, including potential early-morning and late-night operations, ambient light, traffic, noise, and impacts to safety and home values.“…The proposed commercial uses are in keeping with the Plan’s vision for creating a vibrant mixed-used community in this area of the County,” the developer wrote in the Statement of Justification, part of the zoning application. “Commuters and other residents might be initially drawn to this location because of the automobile service station and drivethrough restaurant, but the increased trips into the Property would likely also benefit the other business establishments in the vicinity.”Theapplication is still going through staff and referral agency reviews. To win approval, it will have to go through public hearings at the Planning Commission and then the Board of Supervisors, which has final authority to approve or deny the application. n
Rivana continued from page 4
County Seeks Input on Transit Equity Policy
An online comment period is open on a proposed change to the Loudoun County Transit civil rights policy, currently provided under the 2020-2023 Title VI Program for Local Transit and Commuter Bus service. Loudoun County Transit proposes changing the program’s policy on major service changes, which defines the thresholds for determining whether changes to bus service would have a discriminatory impact based on race, color, or national origin and/or income. The proposed change would remove a provision defining a major service change as any that would add 15% or more average daily ridership, because the county says that cannot be accurately predicted. A provision defining a major service change as any that would eliminate 15% or more of the average daily ridership remains.
Regency continued from page 4
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 7 What we offer • Cheerful, serene, state of the art office • Digital x-rays (reduces radiation by 90%) • We file all dental benefit claims • Cosmetic Dentistry (veneers, white fillings, and Zoom Whitening) • Crowns and Bridges, all phases of Implants, Root Canals and Dentures • We offer periodontal therapy to restore your oral health as well as oral cancer screening. •• Convenientlyclaims located in the Village of Leesburg 1503 Dodona Terrace #210 • Leesburg, VA 20175 • 703-771-9034 Mon. & Wed.: 8am - 6pm • Tues. - Thurs.: 7am - 4pm • Fri.: CLOSED • 24hr Emergency Service LOUDOUN’S LoudounNow FAVORITE 2019 LOUDOUN’S FAVORITE LoudounNow Now 2018 WINNER LoudounNow 2020 WINNER LOUDOUN’S FAVORITELoudounNow 2021 WINNER LOUDOUN’S FAVORITECochran Family Dental Welcoming all new patients! Visit our website: TheLeesburgVADentist.com part of a stream would involve tearing up much of an existing mature forest. County staff members reported those impacts do not seem to mitigate or improve on the existing conditions. They also say the developer should commit to more transportationTheimprovements.proposed79-acre mixed-use development would include up to 2,719 apartments and condos for rent and almost 3.3 million square feet of nonresidential development. The developer is offering up to 218 units of price-controlled housing. Despite the project’s scale it has so far moved through the county approvals relatively quietly. The Planning Commission held a hearing on the project April 26, with three speakers from the public. According to a county staff report one addressed land use and school capacity, and two spoke in support. Commissioners discussed student generation rates, affordable housing commitments, residential unit size, the floodplain, the capital facilities credit requests, the parks, and transportation phasing. The developers have not held any community meetings, and no comments have been submitted online. After the Planning Commission makes a recommendation, the developer’s applications will move to the Board of Supervisors, including another public hearing. n
Leesburg
The town’s rules for the program requires the Town Council to endorse all art displayed on public or private property.
Council Approves First Private Property Mural BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The proposed Virginia Village shopping center mural designed by Serina Chowdry.
America’s 9/11 Ride to Pass Through Town Friday America’s 9/11 Foundation’s annual commemorative motorcycle ride will come through downtown Leesburg on Friday, Aug. 19. The ride, which begins in Somerset, PA, continues to the Pentagon and ends at the World Trade Center site, honors the memory of the volunteers and victims who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The procession of motorcycles is expected to enter Leesburg historic district on King Street around 1:45 p.m., dependent on traffic, road construction, and weather. King Street will be closed to traffic for 30 to 45 minutes as the motorcycles pass through town. Those wishing to watch the riders as they pass through the downtown area are encouraged to arrive no later than 1 p.m. The ride is organized by the Loudoun-based America’s 9/11 Foundation, which provides scholarships and other support for families of first responders. Learn more at americas911ride.org. Ida Lee Festival Celebrates Kites, Crafts On Saturday, the field at Ida Lee Park will be filled with more than 60 vendors displaying everything from fine art to jewelry, ceramics to crafts, while the sky—weather permitting—
The Town Council last week approved a plan to colocate Leesburg’s Department of Economic Development with the Loudoun Small Business Development Center in new office space downtown. The action comes as the town department has outgrown its space in the Loudoun Museum’s log cabin along Loudoun Street, and the SBDC sought a new home following the closing of the Mason Enterprise Center Incubator on Church Street where it was housed.
Town Leases Space for Business Support Operations
Town of Leesburg
The Town Council last week unanimously approved Leesburg’s first private property mural project. A large brick wall at the Virginia Village shopping center will be converted to a celebration of music with artwork designed by Serina Chowdry.
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
n
AROUND TOWN continues on page 9
AROUND Town Ida Lee Park Indoor Pool Closed The indoor swimming pool at the Ida Lee Park Recreation Center will be closed through Sept. 18. Over the next month other areas of the center will be closed as part of planned maintenance and repair work. The outdoor A.V. Symington Aquatic Center is not affected and will be open normal hours. Future closures include the multipurpose room, which will be closed from Aug. 22 to Sept. 5. The group fitness and racquetball courts will be closed from Aug. 22 to Aug. 28. The basketball courts will be closed from Aug. 24 to Aug 31. The fitness locker rooms will have rolling closures between Aug. 22 and Sept. 5.
Last July, the council approved a plan to extend the town’s public art program to include allowances for murals on commercial properties outside the historic district through a pilot program. A committee with representatives of the town’s Economic Development Commission, Commission on Public Art and Board of Architectural Review and led by Councilman Ara Bagdasarian developed details of the program and reviewed proposals submitted following a call to artists. In May, the committee selected Chowdry’s mural to be the first approved under the program. Virginia Village owner Keene Enterprises is underwriting the $8,615 cost of the project.
PAGE 8 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
The town is leasing 3,000 square feet on the second floor at 15 N. King St. The five-year lease has a starting rate of $24.40 per square foot. According to the staff report on the lease, the town sought a downtown location close to Town Hall, but outside the HUB Zone that provides federal contracting incentives for qualifying small businesses.Aspartof an on-going joint agreement with Loudoun County, the town has provided space for the SBDC since 2011. While opting to drop its funding contribution for the Mason Center this year, the Town Council agreed to continue support for the SBDC, which offers resources to help businesses start up and grow. The town’s DED staff is growing this year with the recent addition of a full-time position, a small business development and tourism specialist. n Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Leesburg’s Department of Economic Development will be moving into new office space on North King Street.
Sons of American Revolution Marks Anniversary of Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Leesburg
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 9 will be filled with kites. The 2022 Leesburg Festival of Crafts & Kites is a free, family-ori ented event that also includes displays from businesses and nonprofits, music and kids activities. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more details, go to chiceventsdc.com.
The Sgt. Maj. John Champe Chapter of the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution led a commemoration of the 246th anni versary of the reading of the Declara tion of Independence from the Lees burg courthouse steps on Saturday. The recently signed Declara tion was read from the doorway of the original courthouse on Aug. 12, 1776, by the county sheriff. Parts of the doc ument reflect the sentiments put forth in the Loudoun Resolves, adopted two yearsLeadersearlier.from chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Daugh ters of the American Revolution, the Children of the American Revolution and Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk took part in reading the Declaration of In dependence in front of the Spirit of Loudoun, the Revolutionary War mon ument in the courthouse square, along with ringing of a 1/3-scale Liberty Bell. The Sons of the American Revo lution also presented a resolution to Burk, who also took part in the com memoration of the Loudoun Resolves, thanking her for her support. n
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Members of the Sons of the American Revolution lead a reading of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday.
Leesburg Gets Tasty
The Town of Leesburg’s celebration of local food, beer, wine, and music brought a large crowd to the historic district Saturday night. The Taste Leesburg event featured more than 65 booths, with area restaurants, food trucks, and vendors offering a variety of menu options.—Photos by Norman K. Styer
AROUND Town continued from page 8
ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
Proposed Cell Tower at Freedom High School Stirs Safety Debate BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
Several parents in South Riding are objecting to plans to erect a cell tower at Freedom High School. Milestone Towers has proposed to build a 150-foot-tall telecommunications monopole at the school. AT&T is the first wireless carrier signed up for the tower, which has spaces for four more providers as well as dedicated space for Loudoun County Public Schools. It is the fourth cell tower Milestone has proposed on school properties. Three have already been approved by the School Board. Milestone has built towers like the proposed one on Freedom’s campus on school property in other parts of Virginia, including Woodbridge Middle School, Herndon High School and Charles City High School. It has also built one at Rock Ridge High School in Loudoun County and is expected to build one at Woodgrove High School once the Town of Purcellville reviews the proposal.
“The Loudoun County Democratic Committee treated me poorly by picking a candidate behind my back without me knowing anything about it,” he said. He said he was surprised at not getting the endorsement because the LCDC never told him they had any problems with him.
Education
“You’d think that since I have been a loyal Democrat, my home has been used as stations for elections, I contribute to Democratic candidates, they would show me a little more courtesy than they showed me,” Marshall said. Marshall said he thinks he is more moderate than the current LCDC leadership. According to the Loudoun County Democratic Committee website, it has endorsed Erika Ogedegbe. The committee did not immediately respond to a request for an interview. He also said, being a former educator, he was upset he didn’t get the endorsement from the Loudoun Education Association, which also endorsed Ogedegbe. He said he thinks he lost the LEA’s endorsement because he didn’t support collective bargaining for teachers. “I just don’t know enough about it [collective bargaining]. I didn’t rule it out completely. But in an area like Loudoun County, it’s very completive and salaries aren’t a big issue. I just don’t think collective bargaining is needed to have a good school system,” Marshall said. “Under no circumstances do I want students held hostage from binding arbitration and LEA couldn’t give me an answer if that would or would not happen,” he added. “Erika shares our vision, and we look forward to partnering with her as we work to achieve our goals,” wrote the Loudoun Education Association in a prepared statement. “We believe the single most important thing that we as educators can do for education is to fight with an equal voice for policy reform and work conditions. With Erika’s strong stance in support of collective bargaining, we believe that will help us achieve that goal.” He also cited his age as a reason for withdrawing. Marshall turns 82 in October.“I’mjust not as young as I used to be,” he said.
Schools StandardsCOVID-19UpdateMitigation
Other mitigation practices in place this year at schools include continued optional masking, the exception being Head Start programs and Head Start buses, where masks are required, and continued cleaning of high touch surfaces, including on buses and cafeteria tables. Vaccinations continue to be encouraged, but not required. Anyone who tests positive should isolate regardless of vaccination status for at least five days. Those who are asymptomatic or fever-free for 24 hours may return to school after day five if they wear a mask through day 10. They may also choose to stay home through day 10, according to theContactVDH. tracing is no longer required, unless there is an outbreak in a classroom or school. However, school nurses or health clinic specialists need to know if a student has been diagnosed or has tested positive. Free tests are available while supplies last at each school. On Aug. 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also relaxed its COVID-19 policy. The updated guidelines state quarantine is no longer required if you are exposed. Instead, it’s recommended to wear a mask for 10 days. It also stated physical distance recommendation are no longer needed, however it states to be aware of local community COVID-19 levels when considering distancing from others. According to the CDC, “COVID-19 continues to circulate globally, however with so many tools available to us for reducing COVID-19 severity, there is significantly less risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death compared to earlier in the pandemic.” n
The proposed Freedom High School tower would be just outside the fence line of the school’s football stadium, near the opposing teams’ bleachers. It would also be close to the school’s baseball field and several homes. Parents in the area say they don’t want it on school property because they worry it’s not safe. They say data on the safety of having a tower that close to kids is too new and believe it’s hard to know if it truly is Theysafe.have also expressed concerns over the tower lowering property values and being an eyesore in their neighborhood. Milestone Towers held a public briefing on July 18 at Freedom High School to answer questions and give information about the project. Xi Van Fleet was one of the few who showed up for the meeting. She said she is concerned about the proposed location of the tower and has been trying to get the word out to her neighbors about it. “It’s way too close to all of us. I spoke to three people who just bought their homes here. They spent a lot of money to buy their home and they had no idea there was a plan to put in a tower,” she said. She believes the tower is unnecessary and said there is no problem with the AT&T service in the area. Van Fleet said the school system is getting $40,000 to put the tower in. She said she fears losing more than that in property value and said others won’t want to buy a home if they see a big tower nearby. She believes the money the school will get won’t offset the loss in taxes if property values drop. According to the proposed agreement with Milestone, the school division will get a one-time payment of $40,000 once construction on the tower begins. Then it will earn 40% of any revenue from the service providers on the tower. “Everyone is reasonable, we understand the need for the service and depend on it. We just want them to consider other locations further away from homes,” said Van Fleet. Geetika Pahuja is another South Riding resident opposed to the tower. She said the tower isn’t needed because there aren’t any coverage problems and there is already a 5G tower down the road. According to a questions and answer page on the school division’s website, Milestone wrote that the AT&T cell tower on Gum Spring Road is not providing the Marshall MARSHALL continues on page 12 CELL TOWER continues on page 12
Marshall Withdraws from School Board Race
BY ALEXIS GUSTIN agustin@loudounnow.com
Tom Marshall on Monday officially withdrew from the Loudoun County School Board race for the Leesburg District. Marshall, a Democrat, said he withdrew for a number of reasons, including the fact that he didn’t get either of the endorsements he had previously received.
PAGE 10 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
Loudoun County Public Schools last week updated its COVID-19 mitigation standards to reflect the latest Virginia Department of Health guidance for early childhood education. The VDH standards were updated July 15 to no longer require quarantining for asymptomatic persons, regardless of their vaccination status.
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 11 The Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department would like to say THANK YOU to our Sponsors, Businesses, Entertainers, Residents, and Attendees for their support. Evelyn Clark Allstate Agency C2 Operations Heartland Foods LeafGuard The Home Doctor Power Home Remodeling Wegmans Food Markets Loudoun Mega Events
Morse also asked Milestone to look at real numbers from their towers that are at a lower height of 110 feet instead of modeling the projected impacts.
The DBM analysis went up to 20 feet. Morse pointed out the bleachers are 30 to 40 feet high and asked Penning if Milestone intended to complete the analysis to the full level of the highest seats in the bleachers, saying he believed the biggest risk was to the elevated seats. Morse said if that became an issue, he would want the tower moved further away.
“I’d like to see some real numbers I think you could actually find those and provide those. Models are great but models are only as good as the assumptions going in,” he Penningsaid.agreed to bringing actual numbers back to the next committee meeting in September and said he could reference cell towers in Fairfax County, some of which have been in place since the late 1990s. Morse said he tries to stay current on the research on cell towers and noted there is still concern overall that the long-term radiation effects are not known. He said most of the comments from people against the Freedom High School tower dealt with worries over the 5G technology. He said, based on his reading, 5G is such a short wavelength that even leaves would prevent it from penetrating the body. He said it is known that the further away a cell phone is from the cell tower the more power it needs to work.
Jeff Morse (Dulles), who has been on board with putting cell towers on school property since the first tower was approved, expressed concerns over the nearby visitor bleachers. “We’ve been through this several times with extensive background research,” he said. “The majority of the energy going out of the tower is provided to the horizon, not down to the ground. That’s why I’m concerned about the elevated seating and where that would draw out. If you could add that to the analysis, I think that’s an important part we don’t have yet.”
Marshall also said he was frustrated about the International Baccalaureate school selection. Marshall’s attempt to move to program from Heritage High School to Tuscarora High School was voted down 5-4 at the Aug. 9 School Board. “I was very disappointed I didn’t get that through. But I am striving to make sure my area is equitably treated,”
CABINET SHOWPLACE Fine Cabinetr y for the Entire Home 540.338.9661 210 N. 21st St., # E Purcellville, VA 20132 www.cabinetshowplace.com Cell tower continued from page 10 Marshall continued from page 10
“The real radiation hazard for our children is really the phone in their pocket. That’s the biggest problem and the greatest intensity and most continuous exposure. We can’t legislate that, but we need to figure out if this piece of that risk is substantial enough to not support putting the tower there,” Morse said. The Finance and Operations Committee will hear an updated report from Milestone at its Sept. 6 meeting. n
Milestone Towers representative Matt Penning presented that report at the School Board’s Finance and Operations Committee’s Aug. 2 meeting. Penning said the report showed a worstcase scenario for all potential carriers on the tower and said in answer to member Tom Marshall (Leesburg)’s question about any documented negative effects from this kind of emissions that there was “nothing credible or nothing from the government agencies tasked with protecting human health if you are above the levels listed by theMemberFCC.”
Marshall said. He will serve out his term on the board, which lasts until Dec. 31, and in that time said he plans to try to relieve Loudoun County High School with the upcoming boundary changes and work hard to balance the demographics of Loudoun County and Tuscarora high schools.
“I work for my town. I love Leesburg,” he said. Marshall is wrapping up his ninth year as a member of the School Board. He was first elected in 2007 then again in 2015. Marshall has devoted most of his life to public education, including 30 years with Fairfax County Public Schools as a teacher, counselor and Director of Student Services. There are now three candidates for the Leesburg District seat: Michael A. Rivera, Lauren E. Shernoff and Ogedegbe. n neededAccordingcoverage.toan independent Electromagnetic Exposure Analysis conducted by DBM Engineering of the site to determine whether the proposed tower would comply with FCC guidelines for human exposure.
The report also stated that radio frequency emission levels from AT&T and other communications base stations are similar to other two-way communications systems like those used by fire, police and ambulance personnel.
PAGE 12 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
Public Safety
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 13 22446 DAVIS DRIVE #109 STERLING, VA 20164 QUARTZBASEMENTREMODELINGCOMPLETEKITCHEN&BATHROOMDESIGN&REMODELING&GRANITECOUNTERTOPSFABRICATION & INSTALLATION 2 WEEKS CABINET TURNAROUND, NEXT DAY COUNTERTOP INSTALL FREE ESTIMATE WWW.GRANITECENTERVA.COM703.956.9470 4.9 74 GOOGLE REVIEWS CABINET WHOLESALER Fugitive Suspect in 2001 Leesburg Child Rape Case Extradited from El Salvador LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
A 45-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting a girl in 2001 is back behind bars in Loudoun County following an international law enforcement search. Franklin Antonio Carcamo Giron faces two charges of rape of a juvenile under the age of 13 years old. In September 2001, Leesburg Police detectives arrested Carcamo Giron in the case, but he was subsequently released from jail on bond prior to his court date and fled the area. He had been missing for two Accordingdecades.to Loudoun County Circuit Court records, Carcamo Giron was indicted on the rape charges by a grand jury in December 2001. He was scheduled to appear before Circuit Court Judge James H. Chamblin on Jan. 11, 2002, to enter a plea in the cases, but did not show up. In February 2002, he was indicted on the additional felony charge of failure to Accordingappear.tothe Leesburg Police Department, in 2019, detectives and the agency’s crime and traffic analyst determined that Carcamo Giron was living in eastern El Salvador. They worked with federal and international agencies to obtain an INTERPOL Red Notice, which is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Carcamo Giron was arrested on Aug. 18, 2020, pursuant to the INTERPOL notice. Federal authorities formally requested his extradition on Oct. 2, 2020. Extradition was granted on July 11, and he was returned to the U.S. on Aug. 12. He is being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. He was scheduled to appear in Circuit Court Wednesday morning. Leesburg Police Chief Gregory C. Brown said the case demonstrates the department’s commitment to help victims find justice. “The Leesburg Police Department will continue to work diligently in ensuring perpetrators face justice for the crimes they commit, regardless of how many years have passed. I commend the hard work and dedication by all involved in both the initial 2001 investigation and the ensuing apprehension and return of Carcamo Giron to the United States. Thanks to the efforts of the many agencies involved, he will finally be held accountable for his offenses. I am hopeful this will bring some closure to the victim,” Brown said. The department cited the Office of the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney, the FBI Washington Field Office, the FBI legal attaché El Salvador, the US Marshals Service, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for their assistance. n Franklin Antonio Carcamo Giron
Midland Man Charged in Aldie Arson
On Saturday, May 14, just before 8 a.m., Loudoun County Fire and Rescue units from Kirkpatrick Farms, Dulles South, Brambleton, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority responded to a structure fire at a Purebred Court home. The 911 call came from a neighbor who reported a deck on fire next to his home.
A Loudoun County murder trial that was expected to last for three weeks ended quickly when the suspect pleaded guilty to eight felony charges on the first day of testimony. Gavin Collins, 23, was charged with first-degree murder, robbery, and firearm violations in connection with the July 8, 2020, fatal shooting of Jose I. Escobar Menendez, and additional drug and firearms charges stemming from his arrest two daysHelater.entered the guilty pleas during the first day of testimony in the trial, after prosecutors had called just nine witnesses to the stand. Collins faces a maximum sentence of two life sentences plus 38 years in prison on the Duringcharges.opening statements, Senior Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Sweet laid out the case prosecutors intended to present during the trial. He described Menendez as “a beautiful man with a heart of gold” and “a loving trusting soul” who was “naive of the real dangers that exist in ourSweetworld.”said for Menendez, the incident started at 12:30 a.m. when he received a text message from Collins to meet up and have sex. Menendez packed an overnight bag and drove from his mother’s home in Winchester to Sterling for the meetup. He arrived at the Village at Potomac Falls apartment complex shortly before 2 a.m. Collins and Hunter drove there to meet him. Neighbors heard a gunshot and Hunter’s Dodge charger and Menendez’s Sentra drove away. An hour later a neighbor found Menendez lying on the street. Sweet said that with the help of Menendez’s best friend with whom he shared his GPS location, the victim’s phone was found discarded along Rt. 28. Investigators determined Collins was the last person to have contact with Menendez. Collins was located in a Sterling hotel room with his girlfriend with quantities of methamphetamines, psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana. A .45-caliber pistol was in the nightstand. Ballistics experts linked the weapon to the single brass casing found by Menendez’s body and to the bullet that lodged in his mouth, Sweet said. Upon questioning by investigators, Collins and Hunter said they were on a five-day methamphetamine bender and looking for ways to get money. Stealing a car and selling it to a contact in Prince William County was the plan they devised. They got $500 for Menendez’s car, Sweet said. Both men had denied pulling the trigger and taking Menendez’s life.
BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
The Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office has made an arrest following a fire that damaged an Aldie home in May.
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SAFETY Briefs
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which was contained to the deck. Damage was estimated at $45,000. The Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and determined the fire was intentionally set, triggering a criminal investigation.
Collins’s attorney Corinne Magee said the fatal shooting occurred when “everything went sideways.” She said the defense did not plan to contest much of the evidence—acknowledging Collins’s involvement in the events— however, for the jury to find Collins guilty of any of the eight charges against him would require “competent evidence.” She said she would challenge hearsay evidence that could not be proved without first-hand accounts and would ask jurors to question the motivation and credibility of some prosecution witnesses who have avoided facing criminal charges for their own involvement. After testimony of the early witnesses—including Menendez’s father, his best friend, and neighbors who heard the gunshot—Collins told his attorney he wanted to halt the trial and plead guilty. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1. n
Murder Trial Ends with Guilty Plea
On July 29, Christopher A. Hope, of Midland, was arrested and charged with burning or destroying a dwelling, a Class 4 felony that carries a sentence of two to 10 years in prison. He was released on SAFETY BRIEFS continues on page 15
93-Year-Old Driver Dies After Crash
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 15 bond from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. A preliminary hearing in Loudoun County District Court is scheduled for Sept. 14.
A 30-year-old Leesburg man was arrested early Saturday morning after a deputy witnessed him driving at 100 miles per hour on Ashburn Village Boulevard. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened just before 2 a.m. Aug. 13 near Riverside Parkway. The driver was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and narcotics possession. He was released from jail on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
Suspected DWI Driver Clocked at 100 MPH
Moving Company Worker Charged with Thefts
The Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash that happened in Lansdowne. According to the report, deputies were called to Slatestone Court near Lansdowne Woods at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 4 where a vehicle had gone off the road and struck an embankment and a fallen tree. Two occupants of the car were transported to the hospital. On Aug. 9, investigators were notified that the driver, 93-year-old Siegfried H. Lehnigk of Leesburg died from his injuries. Herndon Man Charged in Suspected DWI Crash
A suspected DWI driver was arrested near South Riding last week after his vehicle caught Accordingfire.tothe Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the area at 9:17 p.m. Aug. 11 for a report of a two-vehicle crash where the striking vehicle had left the scene. Responding deputies found a vehicle with significant damage and occupied by three people. One was transported to a local area hospital for treatment. A short time later, deputies responded to Rt. 50 and Pleasant Valley Road for a report from the Fairfax County Police Department which had officers on the scene of a vehicle fire. The investigation determined that this was the same vehicle that was involved in the hit-and-run crash, according to the agency. The driver, Rolando Sanchez Dominguez, 23, of Herndon, was charged with driving while intoxicated, hit and run, driving without a license, and reckless driving. He was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
The Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 10 brought 12 criminal charges against a 29-year-old Suitland, MD, man suspected of taking money and items from homes while he worked as a contractor for a movingAccordingcompany.tothe report, he also took checks that he forged and cashed. He was charged with nine felonies, including three counts of fraud, three counts of larceny, use of identifying information to commit fraud, obtaining money by false pretense and larceny with intent to sell. He also was charged with three misdemeanor counts of larceny.
Security Guard Charged with Assaulting Juveniles
A 20-year-old security guard working in the Brambleton Plaza area faces eight criminal charges following a Saturday afternoon altercation with a group of juveniles. According to the Sheriff’s Office, three juveniles were exiting the elevator on the upper level of the parking garage when they were approached by the guard. The man said they were trespassing and then physically detained and assaulted the juveniles. He took a cell phone from one of them. The guard was charged with three felony counts of kidnapping, three counts of misdemeanor assault and one count of property damage. n
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DAAR Joins LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance
LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Loudoun Hunger Relief, the county’s largest hunger nonprofit, has been serving the community since 1991. Last year, it served 14,000 Loudoun residents, 40% of whom were children and another 13% senior citizens. It distributed 2.3 million pounds of food. For more information, go to loudounhunger.org or call 703-777-5911.
nEIT continues on page 17
Manufacturing Unit; May Plans Expansion in UV, Avionics BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com
Loudoun Hunger Relief on Monday announced Harris Teeter will again be the signature sponsor for its 2022 Back to SchoolBackweek.toSchool week is the nonprofit’s effort to supply families with school-aged children extra food before the beginning of the school year. The weeklong effort takes place Aug. 14 to Aug. 20, the week before Loudoun students go back to class. Harris Teeter sponsors that effort with a $10,000 donation.
Harris Teeter Sponsors
DAAR’s 2022 President Rich Blessing officially signed the memorandum of understanding with the Alliance late last month. “DAAR is excited to partner with the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance to help advance fair and equal access to housing for members of the LGBTQ+ community,” DAAR CEO Amanda Brewer said. “This partnership directly reflects the commitment DAAR has made to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the priority we have placed on DEI efforts throughout our 2022-2024 Strategic Plan.”
After founding EIT together 45 years ago, Joe and Bobby May are looking to expand the company with a new focus on innovation.
PAGE 16 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
Dulles Area Association of Realtors has partnered with the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance to promote and foster diversity, equity and inclusion in the real estate community. The Alliance, is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community on the path to homeownership while advocating on behalf of the community on housing issues.
The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance was launched in June 2020 and began accepting members in October 2020, and now has more than 2,600 members and 50 chapters in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It officially partnered with the National Association of Realtors in May 2021. For more information go to realestatealliance.org and dullesarea.com.
Leesburg-based Electronics Instrumentation & Technology last month sold its manufacturing operations to Zollner Elektronik AG. The transaction provides an expanded U.S. footprint for the family-owned German firm that has grown to become one of the world’s largest electronic manufacturing service companies. And it marks a new chapter in the life of EIT founder Joe May, who will continue his engineering work through a rebranded company: EITMay2.0. said the sale will be a big win for Leesburg, as Zollner is expected to significantly increase manufacturing operations at the plant near Leesburg Executive Airport. Meanwhile, EIT 2.0 plans to build a new headquarters just across the street, where it will focus on ultraviolet measurement technology, avionics and applied“I’vetechnology.soldthe manufacturing arm. When you say that it sounds like I’m cutting and running. I’m not cutting and running, in fact far from it. We’re actually going to work in an area where I think is beneficial to everybody involved if we can do it properly,” said May, 85, who founded EIT in 1977. May said the increasingly price-driven manufacturing market isn’t as satisfying as his work designing new products. “I’ve had a lot of success with inventing things, and I’ve got some more of that in me,” said May, who holds 28 patents, with a few more pending. “I’m coming to the end of my career. I plan to work another five years and I want to work on things that I’m honestly proud to be a part of.” Much of that work is in the field of UV measurement. Today, the company is working with healthcare facilities to develop systematic ways to ensure the disinfection of patient rooms with the goal of reducing the rate of hospital acquired infections. EIT’s ultraviolet measurement tools are designed to lower infection rates, lower healthcare costs, and keep peopleMayhealthy.recently returned from a visit to a West Coast hospital where he was working to help measure the amount of UV radiation that was being applied in an operating room. “They don’t know if they’ve got too much, not enough or none at all, because you can’t look at it and tell. So, we designed a nice little instrument to do that.” While UV radiation is growing in use to disinfect surfaces where COVID or MRSA may be an infection threat, May’s work measuring UV radiation goes back four decades. At EIT’s former plant in Sterling, the company received a shipment of circuit boards that weren’t properly cured, a $40,000 loss. “I ended up designing an instrument to measure how much UV they were putting on the printed circuit boards to cure them. That was just self-defense in my case. In fact, I gave them the first instruments and said, ‘Here it is. Use it.’” “That little product turned into other little products, and we now sell into 53 countries,” he said. The company’s expansion into avionics is more recent—and increasingly important because of the advent of increased air traffic and the use of electric powered aircraft.
Loudoun Hunger’s 2022 Back to School Week
EITBusinessSells
Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
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In addition to the engineering work, the new building for EIT 2.0 also will house the May Family Foundation, the family’s philanthropic arm that has fo cused on providing educational opportu nities to students who otherwise might not see their talents fully realized. May reflects on his own experience as a poor student who faced expulsion from high school until he promised his prin cipal he would do something productive with his life. Just weeks after graduation, he was at Fort Jackson, SC, for Army ba sic training. There, he was sent to elec tronics school and assigned to a guided missile unit—and found he had a knack for it. After serving three years, he was, with a little help from his principal and others, admitted to Virginia Tech’s engi neering program. He excelled there, rising to number 9 in his class ranking until he started dating his soon-to-be wife, Bobby, and then he “tapered off a little bit.” The couple, now married more than 60 years, started EIT together on their kitchen table. That once failing high school student also went on to serve 20 years in the House of Delegates.“We’ve chosen to make assisting kids academically one of our family founda tion objectives,” May said. “It is amazing to us how many really talented kids there are out there who are going nowhere fast. Kids like me. I didn’t even know what an engineer was. No idea.” The foundation is involved locally providing scholarships to high school graduates through the Loudoun Laurels program and at Virginia Tech by helping to expand opportunities for engineering students, among other activities.
Soman Named New Goodstone Inn GM LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Jess Soman is the new general man ager of the Goodstone Inn & Restaurant near Middleburg. Soman comes to Goodstone with over 35 years of hospitality experience, most recently as the director of Food & Beverage over the past decade at The Inn at Little Washington. He is developing new programs and initiatives at Good stone, which he said is “a special proper ty with an incredibly passionate team.” “I am excited to join the Goodstone team and help con tinue the property’s long-standing tradition of excellence,” Soman said. “The Inn at Little Washing ton is one of my favorite places, and I am looking forward to bringing some of that magic to Goodstone.” Goodstone Inn was built in 1917 and features restored Georgian archi tecture and an award-winning restau rant. For more information, go to goodstone.com. n
EIT continued from page 16
It began when, at age 73, May got a license to fly helicopters. “It was sufficiently challenging that I ended up inventing and getting patents on two safety devices for helicopters,” he said. “Quite a few of our products have come along by someone calling and say ing, “Hey, can you think of a way to …,” he said, with the now ubiquitous firstdown line on televised football games falling into that category. Another reason to expand with a new company, May said, is his staff, many of whom have served with him for decades. “It would bother me a great deal to shut down what we’re doing. Forty-five years of good history is useful,” he said. “I like what I do and I think the people who work here like what they do and take pride in it.”
Soman
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The Harpers Ferry, WV-based Appalachian Chamber Music Festival’s second season runs Aug. 15-28 with a total of 14 concerts across the region, including five in Loudoun. “I believe music has the power to bring us together. No matter your age, tastes, background, ethnicity or creed, sharing an intimate musical experience has the potential to change lives by reminding us what it means to be alive,” Tertell said. “ACMF melds world-class chamber music performances, collaboration and outreach, with the rich and inspiring history, nature and culture of Harpers Ferry and surrounding areas. We are all about bringing music to audiences in new, meaningful and accessible ways.”
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Community Supports Police Dept. Supply Drive Purcellville Police Department employees this summer collected more than 1,000 pounds of food and hygiene products, and over 200 pounds of school supplies to benefit local families. On July 16, the department partnered with Giant Food for a “Cram the Cruiser” event in which an SUV was filled to beyond capacity with donations within three hours. With support from the Purcellville Cannons baseball team, more than 200 pounds of school supplies were collected. The Purcellville Eagles club also dropped off school supplies.
AROUND towns
PAGE 18 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022 Towns
Partnering with the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival in its second season, the Town of Hillsboro and Hillsboro Preservation Foundation will offer two concerts at the Old Stone School this month. The concerts will be held Friday, Aug 19 and Saturday Aug. 27. ACMF also is holding a summer chamber music camp this week at the Old Stone School. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with ACMF this year and look forward to building a long-term relationship with this outstanding organization,” Mayor Roger Vance said. Friday night’s Music in the Gap concert will feature award-winning bluegrass artist Dave Asti. Admission is free, but verandah and lawn tables may be reserved at oldstoneschool.org. Asti also will hold a free Bluegrass music workshop on Saturday Aug. 20, starting at 2 p.m., at the Old Stone School. This event is open to the public. Spectators are welcome and musicians are invited to bring an instrument for this immersive experience. For its show on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 7:30 p.m., the ACMF will host an indoor, ticketed concert, “Storytelling and Folklore: Music to Excite,” at the Old Stone School. ACMF founder and cellist Katie Tertell, said the program will pair performances of great masterworks with the edgy, fun, and energetic works of composer-in-residence Steven Snowden, an arrangement of the traditional Welsh song “Ar hyd y Nos” (All Through the Night) by Simmy Singh, and the second performance of their new commissioned work, sponsored by Berryville Graphics, “Of Woods and Water” by composer Judith Ring.” Tickets for the performance are available at appalachianchamber.org.
PURCELLVILLE Nonprofits On Display at Expo
Admission is free. For more details, go to ville-Non-Profipurcellvilleva.gov/984/Purcell-t-Expo.
“The Purcellville Non-Profit Expo is a great chance for people to learn about a lot of different organizations in a short amount of time,” said board Chairman Phil Rohrer. “We are thrilled to have a wide variety of organizations participating, and hope that residents will take advantage of this unique opportunity.”
Award-winning bluegrass performer Dave Asti and the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival will perform at Hillsboro’s Old Stone School and offer a free bluegrass workshop this weekend.
Representatives from 20 nonprofits will be available to discuss what their organizations do and how volunteers can getDuringinvolved.the expo, the advisory board will hold five random drawings for gift cards. The first 100 attendees will receive a $5 voucher to purchase items from the skating rink concession stand.
The free Friday night Music in The Gap concerts continues through Sept. 2, featuring the Beatles powerhouse Mostly Fab on Aug. 26 and the rock and downhome roots music of Hard Swimmin’ Fish on Sept. 2. n
LUCKETTS Rurtians ConservationSponsorForum
The town’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will hold its second annual Purcellville Non-Profit Expo on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Bush Tabernacle at 250 South Nursery Ave.
Contributed
The Lucketts Ruritan Club will host a land conservation and management workshop at Barnhouse Brewery on Aug. 31, from 6 to 8 pm. Featured speakers from The Piedmont Environmental Council, Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District, and Virginia Working Landscapes will review conservation easement basics, available agricultural cost-share programs, and habitat restoration options for landowners. For more information or to reserve your space, contact Jay Frankenfield at jay.frankenfield@lswcd.org or 571-918-4530 ext. 106.
LOVETTSVILLE School House Childcare Center to Celebrate Opening The Town Council plans to formally welcome the Lovettsville School House as a new business in town with an Aug. 27 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Founded by Isabel Brito, the school is a nature-based early childhood center that emphasizes the importance of learning through play with a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach to education, expressed through music, outdoor play, literacy, and social-emotional development. It is located at 5 N. Berlin Turnpike. Learn more at lovettsvilleschoolhouse.com.
LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT
Hillsboro Hosts Appalachian Chamber Music Festival Performances
The items will be distributed through the Tree of Life and BetterALife nonprofits.OnSaturday, Aug. 27, Tree of Life will hold its annual clothing and furniture giveaway at Purcellville Baptist Church.
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 19 Post your job listings at NowHiringLoudoun.com Post your job listings NowHiringLoudoun.comat Position Department Hourly Rate Closing Date Library Associate or Senior Library Associate Thomas Balch Library $21.20-$37.55 DOQ Open until filled Position Department Hourly Rate Closing Date Day Porter Public Works & Capital Projects $16.86-$28.85 DOQ Open until filled Flexible Part-Time Position Regular Part-TimeEmploymentTownPositionofLeesburgOpportunities Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs. Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications. All Town vacancies may be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel 67 and Verizon FiOS Channel 35. Position Department Salary Range Closing Date Administrative Associate I Public Works & Capital Projects $50,000-$75,040 DOQ Open until filled Cataloger/Reference Librarian Thomas Balch Library $52,446-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled Deputy Director of Public Works and Capital Projects Public Works & Capital Projects $93,438-$169,567 DOQ Open until filled Emergency Management Coordinator Town Manager’s Office $93,438-$169,567 DOQ Open until filled Fleet Maintenance Parts Specialist I Public Works & Capital Projects $50,000-$75,040 DOQ Open until filled Fleet Maintenance Technician I Public Works & Capital Projects $50,000-$81,495 DOQ Open until filled Laboratory Technician Utilities $50,000-$88,071 DOQ Open until filled Library Genealogy Associate Thomas Balch Library $52,446-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled Parks Operations Supervisor Parks & Recreation $56,956-$103,363 DOQ Open until filled Police Officer Police $62,000-$94,966 DOQ Open until filled Project Manager Utilities $76,426-$138,530 DOQ Open until filled Stormwater and Environmental Manager Public Works & Capital Projects $82,999-$150,445 DOQ Open until filled Urban Forester/Landscape Management Specialist Public Works & Capital Projects $67,175-$121,947 DOQ Open until filled Utility Plant Operator Trainee, I or II Utilities $50,000-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled Utility Plant Technician or Senior Utility Plant Technician Utilities $50,000-$95,178 DOQ Open until filled Utility Systems Technician Trainee Utilities $50,000-$81,495 DOQ Open until filled Seeking ReceptionistMedicalinLeesburg Prior Experience not Required PT or FT , $16/hr (negotiable) Email Reception@varunfa.com CYMYCMYMC NHLEmployerCard2.pdf 1 9/3/19 10:58 AM Let us help nd your next employee. • Candidate Search • Resume Postings • Employer Dashboard and much more CMYCYMYCMYMCK NHLEmployerCard2.pdf 1 9/3/19 10:58 AM Search, nd and contact applicants directly on your mobile device or desktop. Manage prospective employees and resumes from a convenient secure dashboard NowHiringLoudoun.com
Live Music: Derek Kretzer Duo Friday, Aug. 19, 5:30 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com Derek Kretzer is a multi-instrumentalist most recognized for his banjo, lead vocal and songwriting duties in the popular progressive bluegrass group The Plate Scrapers.
PAGE 20 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
BY JAN MERCKER jmercker@loudounnow.com
SUMMER TUNES Music In The Gap: Appalachian Chamber Music Festival Friday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro Details: oldstoneschool.org This celebration of the roots of traditional and folk music is part of a multi-venue regional festival. Friday’s concert features multi-instrumentalist Dave Asti and other ACMF musicians playing work from Punch Brothers, Mark O’Connor, Joan Baez and Ukrainian composer Valentyn Silvestrov.
THINGS to do
LOCO LIVE Live Music: Torrey B Friday, Aug. 19, 5-8 p.m. Droumavalla Winery, 14980 Limestone School Road, Lucketts Details: droumavalla.com Enjoy R&B, funk, soul, rock and blues from a regional favorite. Live Music: Mark Cullinane Friday, Aug. 19, 5 p.m. Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, Neersville Details: Cullinanetwotwistedposts.comisbackwithacoustic classic rock tunes for a fun afternoon.
Live Music: Warren Hayford Friday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville Details: flyingacefarm.com Catch groovy psychedelic Americana from a Loudoun native.
Andrew McKnight Revisits His Heavy Metal Roots
THINGS TO DO continues on page 21
To Loudoun fans, Andrew McKnight is a beloved and prolific folk singer/songwriter and music teacher. But locals may be surprised to learn the longtime musician’s first project was an ’80s metal and hard rock band. McKnight launched Nor’easter in the mid-80s with two close friends. The band eventually fell apart as bandmates went their separate ways. But two years after breaking up, the trio got together to record an original album “Calm Before the Storm” in 1989. This week, McKnight releases a new version of that record, restored thanks to 21st century technology and talented Leesburg-based sound engineer Dustin Delage. “It very quickly became sort of a mission of mine. We have all the tools now to do the things we always dreamed about doing and never would have been able to do back then,” McKnight said. Restoring “Calm Before the Storm” became a passion project during McKnight’s touring hiatus in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The record is also a tribute to McKnight’s childhood friend and Nor’easter drummer Matt Bouley, who died in 2002 at the age of 38. “There’s lots of threads, there’s lots of ghosts. It’s been a deeply emotional journey,” McKnight said. McKnight and Bouley launched Nor’easter with vocalist Chris Gursky as 20-year-olds with big dreams. Inspired by both ’70s legends like Led Zeppelin and Rush and guitar-driven heavy metal sounds of Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden, the trio wanted to create their own sound with McKnight as songwriter and guitarist. But in their eastern Connecticut town, which McKnight describes as “a hotbed of talent and a backwater of opportunity,” Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Sound engineer Dustin Delage and singer/songwriter Andrew McKnight work at Les Thompson’s studio north of Leesburg.
NOR’EASTER
LoCo Living Ghosts, Miracles and the Calm Before the Storm
continues on page 23
Tarara Summer Concert Series: Slippery When Wet Saturday, Aug. 20, 6-9:30 p.m. Tarara Winery, 13648 Tarara Lane, Lucketts Details: tararaconcerts.com One of nation’s top Bon Jovi tribute bands brings the sounds of the 80s favorite to Tarara. Tickets are $20. Acoustic on the Green: David Thong Trio Saturday, Aug. 20, 7-8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Green, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: Acousticleesburgva.govontheGreenwraps up its 2022 season with pop, rock, reggae, hip-hop and indie tunes from DMV favorite David Thong. Admission is free.
Contributed From left, Matthew Bouley on drums, Andrew McKnight, on guitars Christopher A. Gursky on vocals and Paul St. Amour on bass made up the short-lived 1980s heavy metal and hard rock band Nor’easter.
Appalachia and Midwestern Americana, Palmyra captures the collective spirit of three Virginia natives. With an everexpanding sonic palette, Palmyra’s live set explores the fusion of traditional folk string instruments, three part harmonies and foot percussion. Admission is free.
LOCO CULTURE Leesburg Festival of Crafts and Kites Saturday, Aug. 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Ida Lee Park, 60 Ida Lee Drive NW, Leesburg Details: facebook.com/chiceventsdc Enjoy a full day of flying kites, food, vendors, music from an international DJ and children’s activities. The event features more than 60 artists displaying fine art, jewelry, ceramics and crafts along with nonprofit organizations and local businesses. Admission is free.
THINGS to do continued from page 20 THINGS TO DO continues on page 22
Trio
Live Music: Juliet Lloyd Saturday, Aug. 20, 2 p.m. Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: Singer/songwriter/pianistbreauxvineyards.comJuliet Lloyd returns to Lost Barrel with her signature pop, rock and classic soul favorites. Live Music: Laurie Blue Saturday, Aug. 20, 2 p.m. Two Twisted Posts Winery, 12944 Harpers Ferry Road, CheckDetails:Neersvilletwotwistedposts.comoutrockingoriginalsand
This Maryland-based five-piece ensemble gets Middleburg dancing with traditional bluegrass. Live Music: Tommy and Kim Saturday, Aug. 20, 5:30 p.m. Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Pop/rock/folkDetails:Lovettsvilleflyingacefarm.comartistsTommy Gann and Kim Pittinger have been writing music and performing together since 2014. Live Music: Bad Press Band Saturday, Aug. 20, 6 p.m. 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road, Hillsboro Details: 868estatevineyards.com Bad Press brings the full band for a great set of Motown, rock and pop.
DavidPresents:Thong Saturday, August 20 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Live Music: The Amish Outlaws Thursday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com
Live Music: Electric Company Band Saturday, Aug. 20, 6-9 p.m. Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro Details: harvestgap.com With two lead singers and great onstage chemistry, the Electric Company band plays an eclectic mix of songs that get audiences dancing. Loudoun Jazz Jam Sunday, Aug. 21, 1 p.m. 1602Chefscape,Village Market Blvd. # 115, Leesburg Details: chefscapekitchen.com Join the Loudoun Jazz Society every third Sunday for a fun jazz jam. Live Music: Palmyra Sunday, Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m. B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round DrawingDetails:Hillbchordbrewing.comfromthesoundsof
The exuberant Amish Outlaws return to the Tally Ho with fun tunes ranging from Snoop Dogg to Johnny Cash. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $40 for VIP seats.
beloved covers from a local favorite. Live Music: Shade Tree Collective Saturday, Aug. 20, 5 p.m. Lost Barrel Brewing, 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: lostbarrel.com
Live Music: Berlin Calling Saturday, Aug. 20, 6-9 p.m. Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts Details: vanishbeer.com It’s a rocking evening of 80s favorites from Berlin Calling.
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 21 WWW LOUDOUN GOV/PRCSEVENTS FOOD MUSIC GAMES & FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! SCAN HERE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 SEGRA FIELD PARKING LOTS 12PM 5PM LABOR DAY HOLIDAY N OY E P CAN H E O/PRCS UV N WUVEEN W LO DO 2022 The Town of Leesburg’s Award Winning Free Summer Concert Series Town Green 25 West Market Street Lawn chairs and blankets are recommended. No smoking, alcoholic beverages, or pets allowed. In case of inclement weather, the show will be cancelled. For more information, visit www.idalee.org Washingtonian Magazine’s Best Bet for Summer Concerts.www.idalee.orgBestBetfor Street&SocialMedia Partner “One of concertSummer’sthebestlineups.” -The Washington Post
It’s a jazzy evening at Leesburg’s downtown speakeasy with tunes from Chris Mangione and Madeline Miller.
Live Music: Chris Timbers Band Friday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: Celebratemacsbeach.comFridayonMac’s Beach with the chillaxed music vibes of the Chris Timbers Band.
Live Music: Jason Masi Saturday, Aug. 20, 1 p.m. Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville Details: creeksedgewinery.com Enjoy a mellow afternoon of acoustic soul and R&B from local favorite Jason Masi.
Live Music: Disorganized Mess Saturday, Aug. 20, 6 p.m. MacDowell Brew Kitchen, 202 South St. SE, Leesburg Details: Frontmanmacsbeach.comVictorTorresis joined by Chico Torres and Tom Malone for a warp speed tour of music hits from the 60s through the 2000s.
Live Music: Chris Mangione and Madeline Miller Friday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m. Tarbender’s Lounge, 10 S. King St., Leesburg Details: tarbenderslounge.com
This full-length concert features celebrated works of chamber music and explores the folk and traditional elements and influences. The program includes Ravel, Brahms, Sylvestrov, Widmann and other greats. Tickets are $20 or $8 for a virtual view.
Book Launch: ‘The Miracle Child’ Sunday, Aug. 21, 1-3 p.m. Congregation Sha’are Shalom, 19357 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg Details: Leesburg-basedthemiraclechild.orgauthorsKelly and Michael Lang share passages from and sign copies of their book “The Miracle Child,” an account of their family’s journey with traumatic brain injury after daughter Olivia was injured in a car crash.
Music for Dessert: Let’s Duet Tuesday, Aug. 23, 7-8 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org
The Appalachian Chamber Music Festival continues with a series of duets featuring violinist Audrey Pride, violist Danielle Wiebe and cellist Schuyler Slack. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students and $8 for a virtual view.
PAGE 22 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022 FRIDAY AugustwithBluegrassGAPHillsboro’sNIGHTSSTAGELawnOpensat6p.m.LocalBeer,Wine,FoodVirtuosoDaveAstitheAppalachianChamberMusicFestival19!CelebrateOurRoots Aug. 26 Mostly Fab Sept. 2 Hard Swimmin’ Fish LoudounNowArcherArcherWesternWestern Enjoy the FRUITS of THE GAP Farm & Artisan Market & Wines from Doukénie Two Twisted Posts Walsh Fabbioli Old 690 Brews MOO-THRU Scan for more info & TO LAWNVERANDAHRESERVEORPICNICTABLES FREE! TheBeatles!BeatDownHomeRoots www.TallyHoTheater.com 19 W MARKET ST. LEESBURG, VA Upcoming Events! THE AMISH OUTLAWS08.25 THU THE DARBY BROTHERS BAND08.27 SAT AEROSMITH09.02 FRI SEPT. 01 Thursday WITH DITORO DRAWTRIBUTE:THE LINE RICHIE KOTZEN09.03 SAT WITH SMALLWOODGARY SEPT. 09 Friday Doors 7pm SEPT. 24 Saturday Doors 7pm SEPT. 30 Friday WITH GORDON STERLING AND THE PEOPLE OCT. 07 Friday WITH CAROLINE SPENCE INTERN JOHN’S: LOST OCT. 15 Saturday Doors 7pm JOHN MORELAND CARS: BEST FRIENDS GIRL08.26 FRI ZACH DEPUTY09.08 THU BEST BETS APPALACHIAN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL Friday, Aug. 19, 6-10 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School oldstoneschool.com LEESBURG FESTIVAL OF CRAFTS AND KITES Saturday, Aug. 20, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Ida Lee Park chiceventsdc.com POLO IN THE PARK SEASON FINALE Saturday, Aug. 20, 6-10 p.m. Morven Park Equestrian Center morvenpark.org SLIPPERY WHEN WET Saturday, Aug. 20, 6-9:30 p.m. Tarara Winery tararaconcerts.com DAVID THONG TRIO Saturday, Aug. 20, 7-8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Green loudounnow.com/aotg THE AMISH OUTLAWS Thursday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com Appalachian Chamber Music Festival: Folk Roots Saturday, Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m. Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville Details: franklinparkartscenter.org
THINGS to do continued from page 21
The restoration is also a tribute to his “lifer” friends, including both Bouley and Gursky, who now lives in New Hampshire with his family. It’s also something to pass on to Bouley’s adult children. “He was a wonderful human being. I said at some point I needed to do this for him and for his kids,” McKnight said. Last summer McKnight got together for Bouley’s son Alex’s 30th birthday and jammed with friends and family. “It was deep,” McKnight said. “I was able to hand him a copy of his dad’s legacy a couple weekends ago. The human part of it is important.”
“I think that some of the same instincts that show up in the Nor’easter recording are things that you might recognize elsewhere in my work in a completely different setting. It’s all part of a long musical journey,” McKnight said. “To have [Nor’easter] in my wheelhouse meant that I wrote with a rock foundation to a lot of what I do even as a folk singer and songwriter.”McKnight left his engineering job for a career as a full-time touring musician in the late ’90s. And in 2002 while on an East Coast tour, McKnight connected with Mills who had the original analog recordings of “Calm Before the Storm.” McKnight transferred the recordings to a digital workstation with backup discs just two weeks before Bouley’s death. Those digitized recordings sat for nearly 20 years, with the discs stored in McKnight’s attic. But when COVID hit and the 20th anniversary of his bandmate’s death approached, McKnight was determined to save them. Working with “technical wizard” Dustin Delage of Cabin Studios near Leesburg, McKnight overcame corrupted files and other obstacles to restore the 1989 recordings to radio-quality glory. “It’s nothing short of a miracle,” McKnight said. “It would not have happened without Dustin. He put in an enormous amount of effort. He turned it into the way it should have been heard on the radio in the ’80s.” McKnight hopes the album will have something to offer his Loudoun fans— both his GenX contemporaries and a new generation of music students and rock lovers. “I’ve found that the people who come in our wake find a lot of interest in the music of my youth. Part of it is because musically speaking it was more challenging and maybe has more energy to it,” he said. “There’s a reason a lot of that music has staying power.”
n To read Andrew McKnight’s moving story of Nor’easter and purchase a disc or download of “Calm Before the Storm,” go to noreaster.rocks.
Nor’easter continued from page 20
Renss Greene/Loudoun Now Loudoun singer/songwriter and teacher Andrew McKnight today is known for his folk music, but in the 1980s he was part of the short-lived heavy metal and hard rock band Nor’easter. Now the band’s album “Calm Before the Storm” is getting a new release.
”I often think of Nor’easter as one of tens of thousands of stories from that era of people who had ideas that we’re going to write these songs, and we’re going to do something. But hardly any of them really get a chance to do it. We were lucky that we were able to preserve our music, that we have that legacy,” McKnight said. McKnight went on to get a degree in environmental engineering, a career that brought him to Northern Virginia and eventually the tiny village of Lincoln where he lives with his family. But college also introduced McKnight to the folk scene and the power of acoustic music, putting his guitar skills and lyric sensibilities to work in a new genre.
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 23 options were limited and the band never got its big break. Nor’easter broke up in 1987 as members went on to college, jobs and other musical pursuits. “We were creating and riding a wave and we were hoping to catch a wave and do something more. It is what it is as far as the story goes, but the really cool thing is that this story has all these twists that wind up right here right now. And I can share the story with people in a very visceral way,” McKnight said. Two years after breaking up, the band had a chance to record “Calm Before the Storm” at their friend Pat Mills’ studio in a nearby town, laying down recordings, first on 4-track cassette and then on 8-track tape reels.
PAGE 24 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
There are three (3) primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate impacts. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: The above referenced activity, more extensively described below, which was funded in FY 2021 and FY 2022 and anticipated to be funded in FY 2023 through FY 2025 may be subject to the eight-step decision-making process in 24 CFR 55.20: Loudoun County Home Rehabilitation – Rehabilitation of income eligible owner-occupied housing units. Locations will be determined for this activity. The funding for this activity in FY 2021 is $56,555, in FY 2022 is $285,205, and anticipated in FY 2023 through FY 2025 to be approximately $280,000 in each of the three (3) remaining fiscal years, for a total anticipated project budget for the five-year period of $1,181,760. Funding amounts for FY 2023 through FY 2025 are estimated based on the FY 2022 funding allocation. The proposed activity is located in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Mary Lou Baker Mary Lou “Pat” Baker, 84, of Lovetts ville, VA (formerly of New Oxford, PA) passed away peacefully at Edenton Retire ment Community in Frederick, MD on August 8, 2022. Survived by her children, Lesa A. Althoff (Ron) of Dillsburg, PA; Cheryl L. Cook (Steve) of Leesburg, VA; and Mark A. Baker (Cassie) of William sport, MD. Grandchildren: Kristina Goel (Anupam) of New Cumberland, PA; Nicole Wierman (Joel) of Etters, PA; Rachael Baker and Hailey Baker of Wil liamsport, MD; Emily Cook and Abigail Cook of Leesburg, VA. Great Grandchil dren: Chloe Rae Wierman, Ruhie Mia Goel, and her first great grandson, Baby Goel, due December 2022. Pat, as she was known by all, was born June 15, 1938 in Adams County, PA to the late Melvin J. & Mary A. Starner. She was one of the last graduating classes, 1957, from the old East Berlin High School, in East Ber lin, PA. In the mid 1960’s she moved to Loudoun County, settling in the Catoctin district where she met and married Gor don D. Baker, who preceded her in death. True to her childhood farming roots, in the 70’s she worked as a meat cutter at the IGA in Leesburg. Following the birth of her youngest child, Pat began work ing part-time at the family’s hometown grocery, McClain’s, in Lovettsville. She also assisted her husband with the admin istrative and operations of his company, Baker Tree Service. After the death of her beloved Gordon, Pat became a school bus driver for Loudoun County Public Schools, from where she retired after 23 years of dedicated service. Always on the go and with an eternally curious nature, Pat loved to travel with dear friends and never met a stranger. She enjoyed visiting casinos in NJ and WV and playing bingo locally, where she always seemed to have lady luck by her side. She loved attend ing gospel concerts, church suppers and spending time with family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Pat’s name to Alzheimer’s Dis ease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871; or to the Lovetts ville Volunteer Fire Department, 12837 Berlin Turnpike, Lovettsville VA 20180.
Obituaries LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA EARLY NOTICE AND PUBLIC REVIEW OF PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN A 100-YEAR FLOODPLAIN
Affected and interested parties are invited to submit comments either by mail to Loudoun County’s Department of Housing and Community Development, ATTN: CDBG Program Manager, PO Box 7000 Leesburg, VA 20177; or by email to housing@loudoun.gov. Comments must be received by the County no later than Friday, September 2, 2022, or fifteen (15) days from the date of the publication of this Early Floodplain Notice. A full description of this activity may be reviewed during normal business hours Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Loudoun County’s Department of Housing and Community Development, 106 Catoctin Circle SE Leesburg, VA 20175.
Public Notice
Date Published: Thursday August 18, 2022 To: All Interested Agencies, Groups, and Individuals
Sheldon James Pratt August 25th, 1959 – August 5th, 2022 Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grand father Sheldon passed on August 5th, 2022 after fighting pancreatic cancer for over twoBornyears.in Ohio, and living in California shortly after, Sheldon eventually spent his childhood in Bloomington as the oldest of five siblings. He attended Indiana University on an ROTC Scholarship, married his wife Dail Jones, and went on to a twenty-year career in the US Army as a third-generation Officer. During that time they raised two sons, Lane and Taylor, and lived in Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, Germany, Missouri, Kansas, California, Georgia, and Illinois before his first retirement to Northern Virginia where he continued to work in Infor mation Systems Security. He returned to Bloomington in his final year after spending a life traveling the country and theAsglobe.afather, Sheldon was actively involved in his sons’ lives, from assisting in homeschooling, to serving as a Leader for their Cub Scout Den, and sharing his lifelong love of learning; especially through reading. Sheldon was an enthu siastic supporter of the performing arts, and was a regular season ticket holder at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC. He was a keen amateur astronomer, and loved to share both his telescopes and his enthusiasm. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Leesburg, VA where he taught RE, was a member of the board, and gave layFiercelysermons.loyal, hardworking, and stead fast; he will be missed. To place an obituary, contact Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sstyer@loudounnow.comemail
COMMENTS ON FLOODPLAIN ACTIVITIES:
The Board of Zoning Appeals meets as necessary the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA. Additional information concerning this quasi-judi cial board is available from the Clerk of Council during normal business hours (Mon – Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at 703-771-2733 or eboeing@leesburgva.gov, or the Town of Leesburg website at www. Pleaseleesburgva.gov.submityour letter of interest and resume materials by 5:00 p.m., September 12, 2022, to the Clerk of Council, at the Town of Leesburg, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 or via email to eboeing@leesburgva.gov. All interested parties will be forwarded to the Loudoun County Circuit Court for consideration. 08/11, 08/18, 08/25, 09/01 & 09/08/22
The Town of Leesburg is soliciting resumes and letters of interest for an appointment to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals. This position is appointed by the Loudoun County Circuit Court to fill a former member’s unexpired term ending December 31, 2023.
Notice is hereby given that Loudoun County’s Department of Housing and Community Development has determined that the following proposed actions under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for FY 2021 through FY 2025, (Grant Agreement No. B-21-UC-51-0006 through No. B-25-UC-51-0006) may be located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (100-year floodplain). As such, Loudoun County will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the actions in the floodplain and the potential impacts on the floodplain from the proposed actions, as required by Executive Order 11988, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands.
The Town of Leesburg Board of Zoning Appeals
Valmarie Turner, Assistant County Administrator 1 Harrison Street, SE Leesburg, VA 20175 8/18/22
o Buffers, Setbacks, and Yards, including how the various types of buffers, setbacks, and yards are to be provided, permitted structures in various types of setbacks and yards, and processes for addressing structures that were erroneously constructed or partially constructed in a buffer, setback, or yard.
o Motorcycle/Scooter Parking, including applicability to certain developments within certain zoning districts, and minimum and maximum number of motorcycle/scooter parking spaces for parking facilities.
o Earthborn Vibration standards, including method of measurement for earthborn vibrations; Maximum vibration levels permitted for heavy intensity land uses and light intensity land uses beyond which earthborn vibrations are prohibited; and Required evening reduction of permissible vibration levels.
• Establish new provisions regarding: o Buffers, Setbacks, and Yards, including, prohibited uses in various setbacks and yards and screening requirements. o Transition Standards to mitigate certain impacts between neighboring use types and intensities, including transition methods between areas with different densities, uses, zoning, and building height, locational requirements for certain types of uses, and transition standards applicable to zoning districts located in the Urban Policy Area, Suburban Policy Area, and Transition Policy Area, respectively.
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o Parking Adjustments, including Zoning Administrator authority to approve an increase in max imum parking spaces allowed or up to a 35% reduction of minimum required parking spaces.
o Noise standards, including applicability of such standards, definitions that apply specifically to Noise standards; Methods of measurement of sound levels; Maximum sound levels and exemptions; and Noise standards required by use specific standards for certain uses.
Legal Notices
o Canopy Requirements for different types of applications and developments.
• Revise and consolidate provisions regarding: o Lot Requirements, including variation and dispersion of residential lot sizes, lot width, lot depth for regular and irregular lots, and length to width ratio.
o Electric Vehicle Parking, including applicability to certain zoning districts and types of devel opment; Charging station requirements regarding size of associated parking space; Installation and equipment; Accessibility, and Minimum number of parking spaces with charging stations required based on use type and zoning district.
The proposed new Zoning Ordinance has been reorganized and renumbered into Chapters 1-13. Cross-ref erences (CR) to corresponding provisions of the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance (R93ZO) are provided in this notice, as applicable. Proposed amendments may establish new regulations, revise existing regu lations, or incorporate provisions from R93ZO with revisions necessary to clarify the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance; to implement and maintain internal consistency; to correct typographical and gram matical errors; and to update formatting and cross-references.
Section 7.01, Site Development CR R93ZO Sections 1-103(D), 1-205, 1-206, 1-207, 2-103(C), 2-1005(D), 2-1105(D), 2-1205(B), 4-911(B), 4-2104(B), 5-200, Article 8.
New Format and Numbering for the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance
CHAPTER 7: DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
o Screening of Certain On-site Components, including screening requirements for loading areas, dumpsters and areas for collection of refuse, outdoor storage areas, maintenance areas, ground or building mounted mechanical equipment, and utility equipment, with certain exceptions.
o Waivers and Modifications that may be granted by the Zoning Administrator, Board of Super visors, or Board of Zoning Appeals, respectively.
o Road Corridor Buffers and Setbacks, including location, siting, and width requirements appli cable to road corridor buffers and setbacks, exemptions to road corridor setback requirements, reductions of structure setbacks for certain lots, road corridor buffer types, road corridor buffer and setback width and plant requirements, gateway corridor buffer requirements, and street trees.
• Delete provisions that use glare to regulate lighting.
o Bicycle Parking, including methodology for counting bicycle spaces and minimum required based on use type and zoning district; Permitted bicycle parking facility types; Standards for bicycle racks; and Long-term and short-term bicycle parking facilities requirements.
Section 7.04, Landscaping, Buffers, and Screening CR R93ZO Sections 5-1303(B), 5-1400.
o General Landscape Provisions, including implementation of plant unit requirements, and re quirements for landscape plans, permitted uses in buffer yards and road corridor buffers, land scape installation, and maintenance of landscaping.
Section 7.06, Parking CR R93ZO Sections 2-507(F), 2-607(F), 2-707(F), 2-807(F), 3-205(H), 3-305(H), 3-405(H), 3-507(H), 4-911(J), 4-1015, 4-1117, 4-1216(D), 5-800, 5-1100.
o Yards, including length, depth, siting and location requirements applicable to all yards, and front, side, and rear yard requirements for interior, corner, through corner, and through lots, as applicable.
Public Hearings
ZONINGZOAM-2020-0001ORDINANCEREWRITE (Zoning Ordinance Amendments)
• Revise provisions regarding: o General Standards including minimum plant sizes and installation requirements.
o Car-Share Parking, including applicability to certain developments within certain zoning dis tricts; Minimum required number of car-share parking spaces for parking facilities; and reduc tion of required parking spaces for car-share parking spaces located within certain distances of building entrances.
Section 7.05 Light, Noise, and Vibration CR R93ZO Sections 5-652, 5-1501, 5-1502, 5-1503, 5-1504, 5-1505, 5-1507.
The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Govern ment Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:
o Parking Area Landscaping and Screening Requirements, including respective interior and pe ripheral parking area landscaping requirements regarding applicability of such landscaping, and minimum area, plant types, screening, location, and siting.
• Revise provisions regarding: o Applicability of the Section and exceptions, and requirements for new vegetative material and use of existing vegetation.
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 25
o Building Requirements, including how density is expressed and calculated for residential uses (dwelling units per acre) versus other uses (Floor Area Ratio), how building height, lot cov erage, and buildable area are calculated, and structures that are exempt from building height requirements.
• Establish new Light and Glare standards, including new exemptions for certain types of residential, seasonal or holiday, public monument or statuary, theatrical, television, performance area, and con struction site, underwater swimming pool and water feature, emergency, and motion sensing light ing; and new general standards for light direction, submission of a photometric plan, height limit, color temperature, and automatic switching controls and extinguishment with certain exceptions.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING
o Canopy coverage calculation requirements including use of existing trees and exclusion of certain land areas and features.
The following is a descriptive summary of the portions of the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments that will be considered at the public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 30, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. This descriptive summary covers the main points of the proposed amendments but does not explain every detail of the text.
The Planning Commission will conduct multiple public hearings concerning the proposed Zoning Or dinance Amendments. Public notice as required by Va. Code § 15.2-2204 will be provided prior to each hearing. The Planning Commission may recommend additional amendments to the proposed text as a result of its hearings and deliberations.
Section 7.02, Reserved for Future Public Hearing Section 7.03, Tree Planting, Replacement, and Preservation CR R93ZO Section 5-1300
o Buffer Yards, including determination of type of buffer yard required, use of existing vegeta tion and trees, buffer yard types and respective width and plant requirements, and buffer yard location. o Cemetery, Burial Ground, and Grave Buffer, including types of cemeteries, burial grounds, and graves that are exceptions to the requirements of this Section, intent of the 3 components of the cemetery, burial ground, and grave buffer (perimeter boundary, protection buffer, and preservation buffer), perimeter boundary requirements (demarcation and prohibition on land disturbing activity with certain exceptions), protection buffer and preservation buffer require ments (location, siting, and width requirements, prohibition on land disturbing activity with certain exceptions, and modifications), and application of protection buffer and preservation buffer requirements to an off-site cemetery, burial ground, or grave.
Pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286, the Planning Commission gives no tice of its intent to consider and recommend a proposed ordinance that will repeal the existing Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (commonly known as the “Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance”), amending, re placing, renumbering, and re-ordaining it as the new Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordi nance Amendments” or “Zoning Ordinance”).
• Revise and consolidate provisions regarding: o Applicability of Section to uses and agricultural operations.
o Parking Location and Design, including off-street parking facility access requirements and de sign requirements for compact/walkable/urban nonresidential off-street parking applicable to certain zoning districts, parking structures, and parking for recreational and multifamily uses,
o Applications for modification of the requirements of this Section.
o Light and Glare standards, including applicability to outdoor lighting; Exemption for certain street lighting; Alternate regulations for lighting at recreational and athletic fields and facilities at publicly owned facilities utilized for athletic competition other than at public schools, light ing required by use specific standards for certain uses, lighting approved by special exception by the Board of Supervisors, and other lighting required by applicable law; General standards for lighting, including specifications for lighting devices and maximum illumination; Method of measurement of illumination levels; and Special Exception approval for lighting that does not meet Light and Glare standards.
• Establish new provisions regarding: o Maximum number of parking spaces permitted.
o Visibility at Intersections, including applicability to certain intersections; Visibility Triangle standards within which no impediment to visibility is to be placed; Visibility Triangle require ments for driveway or alley intersections with roads; and Exceptions to Visibility Triangle requirements.
Section 8.04, Freestanding Signs CR R93ZO Table 5-1204(D) Sign Requirements Matrix.
o Transition Policy Area Zoning Districts public water and sewer service requirements.
• Revise regulations for sidewalk signs from 1 sign per tenant to 1 sign per building entry for Com mercial/ Employment/Industrial, Urban/Mixed Use zoning district categories.
Section 7.07, Transportation CR R93ZO Sections 1-205(A), 2-1005(D), 2-1105(D), 2-1205(A), 3-511, 3-610(A), 3-710(A), 3-907(F), 3-907(G), 4-110(B), 4-206(D), 4-307(F), 4-407(G), 4-507(G), 4-707(D), 4-808(B), 4-808(C), 4-808(D), 4-911(A), 4-911(H), 4-1009, 4-1013, 4-1110(D), 4-1110(H), 4-1114, 4-1121(B), 4-1311(A), 5-300, 5-654.
Section 8.05, Attached Signs CR R93ZO Table 5-1204(D) Sign Requirements Matrix.
• Establish new attached sign category, which includes wall signs, window signs, and murals.
• Add the following tables: o Table 8.05-1 wall signs and Table 8.05-2 window signs, which establish regulations for: the number of signs allowed in each zoning district category, permitting requirements, dimensions (cumulative area and individual sign area, height), location (right-of-way setback, spacing from other signs), and design (digital, backlight, illumination, channel letters and animated).
o Table 8.05-3 murals, which establishes regulations for: the number allowed within each zoning district category, permitting requirements, dimensions, location, and design.
• Clarify that the regulations apply to all signs and add exemption for government signs.
• Establish new regulations regarding murals: o Murals may not be on the front of the building. o May include words, text, logos, or emblems within the depiction that do not exceed the fol lowing cumulative area, whichever is less: 20% of the total size of the depiction, up to the maximum allowable wall sign area, or 5% of the surface area of the wall to which it is attached or painted on the front of buildings.
Section 8.02, General Sign Requirements
o Applicability to types of development; Calculation of parking space requirements for multiple principal uses located on the same property or for changes in type or intensity of use; Types of parking spaces that meet parking requirements; Parking and loading facilities plans; and Restrictions on inoperable vehicle parking.
o Establish 3 major sign categories: freestanding signs, attached signs, and incidental signs. Regulations include tables that establish standards for sign types, including whether a sign type is permitted in a zoning district, whether a sign permit is required, the maximum number of signs, sign dimensions, and design characteristics. o Group signs into 5 “common zoning districts” categories: urban/mixed use, neighborhood, commercial, employment/industrial, and rural.
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• Delete Sections 1204(B)(C) and (D) regarding ground mounted bonus multiplier and Table 5-1204(D) Sign Requirements Matrix
• Add Table 8.04-1 ground signs, Table 8.04-2 pole signs, and Table 8.04-3 sidewalk signs, which establish regulations for: the number of signs allowed in each zoning district category, permitting requirements, dimensions (cumulative area and individual sign area, height), location (right-of-way setback, spacing from other signs), and design (digital, backlight, illumination, channel letters, and animated).
Section 7.08, Utilities CR R93ZO Sections 2-103(C)(10), 2-104, 2-203(C)(10), 2-204, 2-307, 2-406, 2-510, 2-611, 2-711, 2-811, 2-907, 2-1005(C), 2-1105(C), 2-1206, 2-1305, 3-110, 3-211, 3-312, 3-411, 3-510, 3-609, 3-709, 3-807(D), 3-907(I), 3-1007(D), 4-916, 4-1215, 5-702(I), Article 8.
o All signs must be secured and not impede visibility.
• Establish new regulations for signs in PD Districts that they are subject to an approved sign permit and/or sign development plan.
o Suburban and Urban Policy Area Zoning Districts central water and sewer service require ments.
o Parking Ratio requirements, including metrics and interpretations for computation of required number of parking spaces; Use groups for the calculation of parking, bicycle, and loading space requirements; Vehicular parking requirements based on use type and policy area; Addi tional rules for computing parking requirements for uses not listed, accessory uses, and alter ations, expansions, and changes in use; and Applicability to new construction, expansion of existing uses, and existing uses.
• Revise regulations regarding prohibited sign characteristics.
• Revise and consolidate provisions regarding: o Road Access and Frontage Standards, including: Ø Applicability to new development. Ø Lot access requirements for any structure requiring a building permit or use requiring a zoning permit, and limitations on new access points to arterial and major collector roads. Ø Private road requirements for private maintenance and repair covenants and reserve funds, notice requirements for sellers, and Board of Supervisors’ authority to permit pri vate roads in other zoning districts through approval of a Zoning Map Amendment. Ø District vehicular access requirements applicable to primary vehicular access to roads in certain zoning districts and prohibition on primary vehicular access to certain roads and certain road connections. Ø Access limitation for Route 50 applicable to all zoning districts and permitted access to Route 50 if certain conditions are met. Ø Standards for road access when required by use specific standards for certain uses.
o Joint Land Management Area Zoning Districts, including municipal water and sewer connec tion requirements, use of individual water supply and sewage disposal systems if municipal water and sewer is not available, exceptions for Town or County owned and operated public uses and development of lots that existed prior to January 7, 2003, and location of individual water supply and sewage disposal systems and communal water and/or sewer systems within open space.
o Pedestrian and Bicycle Network, including applicability to certain zoning districts; and Re quirements regarding width, location and siting, underpasses and tunnels, and mid-block pas sageways in certain zoning districts or if certain development features are present.
o Road Network, including general requirements regarding road connections for new develop ment; Standards for blocks required by certain zoning districts; and Additional requirements regarding dead end roads in certain zoning districts and “T” intersections in certain situations.
o Limitations on parking and paved parking surfaces within residential yards.
Section 7.09, Owners Associations CR R93ZO Sections 2-104, 2-204, 4-111(B), 4-1022, 4-1124, 4-1217, 4-1314, 4-1360, 5-701(E), 5-702(J), Article 8.
• Establish new provisions regarding: o Applicability of the Section and exemptions. o General Standards, including location, siting, and screening requirements.
o Parking Location and Design, including requirements for conformance to the FSM, location and siting, and off-street parking facilities with multiple property ownership; and Specific parking design requirements for childcare, home occupation, and recycling drop-off center uses.
• Revise and consolidate provisions regarding:
• Clarify the following: o Permitted signs are allowed subject to regulations and no other signs are permitted. o Signs approved by a sign permit or sign development plan are subject to its terms.
PAGE 26 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
Section 8.03, Prohibited Signs CR R93ZO Sections 5-1202(A)(D).
• Establish new subcategories: wall signs, window signs, and murals.
• Establish new regulations to: o Regulate a sign’s structure and physical parameters and not the sign’s content.
o Joint Land Management Area Zoning Districts, including exception to municipal water and sewer connection requirements for connections to central (Loudoun Water) water and sewer in certain zoning districts.
• Establish new subcategories: ground signs, pole signs, and sidewalk signs.
• Establish new regulations regarding freestanding signs, which include ground signs, pole signs, and sidewalk signs
• Revise and consolidate provisions regarding Owners Association requirements for any development that contains certain common areas or improvements, exception to Owners Association require ments if the only common element is a private road, Owners Association rights and responsibilities, and review process for Owners Association documents.
o Village Parking, including applicability to Village Conservation Overlay District or areas des ignated as Legacy Village Cores under the General Plan; Minimum and maximum parking requirements based on use; Use of certain public, shared, and on-street parking to meet parking requirements; and Additional regulations regarding location, access, and visibility of parking and loading spaces.
• Clarify that any sign not specifically permitted is prohibited.
o Rural Policy Area Zoning Districts, including maintenance of individual and communal sys tems, and exemption for parcels located within Water or Sewer Service Districts or if extension of municipal water and/or sewer is agreed upon and available.
CR R93ZO Sections 5-1202(B)(C), 5-1204(A).
• Establish new provisions regarding Visibility at Intersections, including Visibility Triangle require ments at pedestrian/bicycle network intersections with roads.
o Loading Spaces, including applicability to certain uses; Minimum loading space requirements based on gross floor area ranges; and Location standards.
o Oversized Vehicle Parking, including applicability to oversized vehicles in certain zoning dis tricts; Definitions applicable to this section; General prohibition on oversized vehicle parking in residential zoning districts and exceptions for certain business and commercial vehicles, and major recreational equipment.
o Parking Adjustments, including Zoning Administrator authority to determine parking space requirements if none are listed for a use, and to approve up to a 35% reduction of minimum required parking spaces certain existing situations; and ability for approval of over a 35% reduction of minimum required parking spaces by Special Exception.
• Delete provisions requiring parking covenants for Zoning Administrator approved parking reduc tions.
CHAPTER 8: SIGNS Section 8.01, Application of Sign Regulations CR R93ZO Section 5-1201.
o Specific Residential Design Type Parking applicable to certain single-family attached and multifamily dwellings, including how tandem, garage, driveway, and on-street parking spaces count towards the parking requirements, and minimum and maximum parking requirements.
Legal Notices
• Revise and consolidate provisions regarding: o General Standards, including undergrounding.
• Clarify regulations of “off-premises” signs.
CR R93ZO Section 6-1300.
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 27
• Establish new regulations expanding authority of Zoning Administrator to approve administrative concept development plan changes.
o The documentation required for a mural sign permit application.
• Revise regulations to separately identify requirements for zoning ordinance amendments, zoning map amendments, concept development plans and amendments, and proffers.
• Establish new Pre-Review procedure for legislative applications, whereby the Board of Supervisors may provide initial comment on a development proposal prior to formal submission of an applica tion.
Legal Notices
Section 11.08, Variance CR R93ZO Section 6-1600.
o Digital signs: where permitted, message duration and transition, light sensing devices, auto matic shutoff, owner responsibilities, and required maintenance of digital signs without the need for Sign Development Plan approval or amendment. o External illumination and shielding.
• Establish new regulations regarding incidental signs category, which includes banners, de minimus signs, temporary signs, and incidental signs
Section 8.10, Sign Measurements CR R93ZO Section 5-1200 Figures 1 through 6.
CHAPTER 10: NONCONFORMITIES AND ADAPTIVE REUSE CR R93ZO Section 1-400. Sections 10.01, General Requirements; 10.02, Nonconforming Uses; 10.03, Nonconforming Struc tures; 10.04, Nonconforming Lots; 10.05, Adaptive Reuse CR R93ZO Section 1-400.
• Revise regulations regarding inactive applications, allowing applicant to suspend and reactivate an application and allowing administrative withdrawal for failure to pursue an application.
Section 11.09, Commission Permit CR R93ZO Section 6-1100.
• Revise regulations regarding submission, review, and decision for commission permit applications, including to clarify the facilities for which a permit is required and otherwise to comply with appli cable provisions of the Code of Virginia.
• Clarify regulations regarding general sign measurement standards and establish measurement stan dards for freestanding signs.
• Clarify staff processing time for temporary use permits is calculated in business days and maximum permit duration for temporary special events is calculated in consecutive calendar days.
Section 11.03, Administrative Waivers and Modifications CR R93ZO 1-201(L).
• Establish new regulations requiring Pre-Review for zoning map and concept development plan amendments.
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Section 8.07, Historic Signs
o Nonconforming Lots, including prohibition on establishment of nonconforming lots with cer tain exceptions; Use of nonconforming lots; and Requirements applicable to boundary line adjustments between nonconforming lots or a conforming and a nonconforming lot, and non conforming lots created by highway realignment or condemnation.
• Establish regulations allowing the Zoning Administrator to approve requests for reasonable accom modations in accordance with Va. Code § 15.2-2309(2).
• Delete provisions regarding Rezoning Review Schedule. Subsections 11.10.06, 11.10.07 & 11.10.09, Reserved for Future Public Hearing Subsection 11.10.08, Historic Overlay Districts (HODs) – Additional Requirements
• Revise regulations to specify that a site plan is required for all land development, establishment of use, or change of approved site plan, except for certain identified exempt uses.
Section 8.09, Sign Permits and Administration CR R93ZO Sections 5-1202(E), 5-1203.
o Removal of nonconforming signs that have been abandoned for a minimum of 24 months.
• Revise existing regulations and establish new procedures allowing Zoning Administrator to approve deviations from certain lot, yard and building requirements and errors in structure location, in accor dance with Va. Code § 15.2-2286(A)(4).
• Rename “Historic District Overlay” to “Historic Overlay District”.
• Clarify regulations regarding submission, review, and decision of applications for zoning variances, including to comply with Code of Virginia requirements regarding authorized variances and criteria for approval.
Sections 11.04, Zoning Permit & 11.05, Sign Permit CR R93ZO Sections 5-500, 5-1203, 5-1509, 6-1000.
• Incorporate regulations regarding fees (including existing fee schedule as Appendix C), public hear ings, and disclosure of development plans upon new home sale.
• Delete regulations regarding sketch plans.
• Revise and consolidate procedures regarding the Preapplication process for legislative applications and Completeness Check for submitted applications (formerly “Checklist Review”).
• Incorporate existing regulations regarding criteria for establishment of new HODs or removal of property for an existing HOD.
• Establish new regulations regarding: o Applicability, brightness, and external illumination of all signs and provide uniform controls for illuminated signs.
o Adaptive Reuse Standards, including applicability to and eligibility of certain structures; Lo cation, siting, design, landscaping, and construction standards and requirements for adaptive reuse projects; Permitted uses for adaptive reuse structures; and Development incentives for adaptive reuse projects.
• Establish specific procedures for submission, review, and decision of sign permit applications to ensure compliance with Sign Regulations.
Section 11.10 Zoning Amendments Subsections 11.10.01 through 11.10.05 CR R93ZO Section 6-1200.
• Establish that the Director of Planning and Zoning determines minimum submission requirements for zoning applications, including digital submission standards to replace physical media.
PAGE
Section 8.08, Illuminated and Digital Signs
• Revise and consolidate regulations regarding submission, review, and decision of zoning permit applications, including submission requirements, approval criteria, and scope of approval.
• Revise regulations to require sign permit for freestanding signs, attached signs, and incidental signs, in accordance with Sections 8.04 through 8.06, and 11.05.
• Establish new submission requirements for applications within the Limestone Overlay District (LOD) and Mountainside Overlay District (MOD) to protect natural and environmental resources.
• Add provisions acknowledging that Zoning Ordinance and Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance apply to condominium developments and conversions, and requiring special exception for proposed condominium conversion that does not comply with applicable local regulations, as provided in Va. Code § 55.1-1905.
Section 8.06, Incidental Signs CR R93ZO Table 5-1204(D) Sign Requirements Matrix.
• Establish new provisions regarding: o Special exception approval required for conversion condominiums that do not comply with local regulations.
o Nonconforming Uses, including applicability to principal uses; Prohibition on expansion of nonconforming uses with exception for nonconforming residential uses located within noncon forming structures that received approval to expand; Effect of discontinuance or abandonment of nonconforming use; Special exception approval to change nonconforming use to another nonconforming use, and exception for historic structures; and No resumption of nonconform ing use superseded by a permitted use.
• Establish new regulations requiring Pre-Review for all commission permits, except for telecommu nications facilities.
• Clarify regulations and procedures regarding Zoning Ordinance Determinations, including that proffer determinations are appealed to the Board of Supervisors and all other determinations are appealed to the BZA.
• Revise provisions regarding: o General Requirements, including applicability of the Chapter to any use, structure or lot that was legally established but became nonconforming through subsequent zoning action; and requirement for special exception approval to remove nonconforming status.
CR R93ZO Section 6-1800.
• Establish new subcategories: banners, de minimus signs, temporary signs, and incidental signs, and add Table 8.06-1 banners, Table 8.06-2 de minimus signs, Table 8.06-3 temporary signs, and Table 8.06-4 incidental signs, which establishes regulations for: the number of signs allowed in each zoning district category, permitting requirements, dimensions (cumulative area individual sign area, height), location (right-of-way setback, spacing from other signs), and design (backlight, illumina tion, channel letters and animated).
CHAPTER 11: PROCEDURES Section 11.01, General Process Administration CR R93ZO Sections 6-402, 6-403, 6-404, 6-405, 6-406, 6-600, 6-1203, 6-1206, 6-1304, 6-1306, 6-1610, 6-1705.
• Revise regulations regarding withdrawal of pending applications, allowing immediate withdrawal upon written request by the applicant or verbal request made during a public meeting, and providing that withdrawn application is treated as denied.
• Delete Section 5-1200 Figure 2 Pole Mounted Signs
• Revise requirements regarding Placard Notices, providing that an unintentional technical defect will not delay public hearing.
• Revise regulations regarding submission, review, and decision for SPEX and SPMI applications and minor changes for approved special exceptions. NEXT
• Establish new regulations identifying required content for applications to establish new or add prop erty to an existing HOD.
Section 11.02, Determination CR R93ZO Section 6-401(C).
Sections 11.06, Site Plan & 11.07, Subdivision CR R93ZO Sections 6-700, 6-800.
Section 11.11, Special Exception Review Subsections 11.11.01, Special Exception (SPEX) & 11.11.02, Minor Special Exception (SPMI)
• Establish new regulations regarding protecting and designating signs as an Historic Landmark, in cluding altering and/or rebuilding.
• Delete prior exceptions to sign permit requirement.
o Nonconforming Structures, including requirements applicable to the repair or reconstruction of nonconforming structures; Prohibition on alteration or enlargement of nonconforming struc tures with exception for certain residential structures; Prohibition on moving nonconforming structures; Permitted encroachments into Road Corridor Setbacks for certain dwellings and their accessory structures; and Expansion and use of historic nonconforming structures.
o The standards of approval the Zoning Administrator must consider in approving a mural sign permit application.
CR R93ZO Sections 6-1612, 6-1613.
o T: Tree, Flowering; Tree Canopy or Tree Cover.
Section 11.14, Enforcement CR R93ZO Sections 5-1510, 6-500.
• Delete provisions regarding SPEX and SPMI Review Schedule.
• Establish a new rule of interpretation regarding the use of “such as” to mean “including, but not limited to”.
• Add, delete and revise definitions as appropriate; additional changes to Zoning Ordinance defini tions will be identified in the notice published prior to the second public hearing.
o I: Illumination, External; Industrial Storage.
o To establish new or expand existing stone quarrying operations.
o F: Facility for Lessons in Dance, gymnastics, judo and sports training.
o D: Decommission, Solar Facility; Dinner Theatre; Donation Center; Donation Drop-off Box; Dry Cleaning Plant; Dwelling, Live/Work.
o R: Rainwater Harvesting; Recreation, Active; Recycling Collection Center; Religious Hous ing; Religious Land Use; Remediation Services; Resource Area Width; Restaurant, Fast Food with Drive-Through Facility; Restaurant, Fast Food Excluding Drive-Through Facilities; Restaurant, Sit-Down; Retail, General; Riparian Forest; Riparian Protection Buffer; Rivers and Streams; River and Stream Corridor Resources (RSCR); River and Stream Corridor Resources Management Area; Road, Centerline of; Road, Local; Road, Public; Roofline; Rural Retreat.
o W: Water Extraction; Wholesale Distribution, Warehousing and Storage; Wood, Metal and Stone Crafts.
o Identifying factors for consideration for SPEX applications to authorize conversion condo miniums that do not conform to local regulations, as provided in Va. Code § 55.1-1905. Section 11.12, Zoning Modification CR R93ZO Section 6-1217.
• Revise regulations regarding submission, review, and decision for special exceptions for error in structure location or errors in very steep slopes.
o To establish a SPEX or SPMI use in a very steep slope area.
o R: Recycling Drop-Off Center, Private; Recycling Drop-Off Center, Public.
• Revise regulations regarding submission, review, and decision for applications for Certificate of Appropriateness for construction and development activities within HODs.
CHAPTER 13: DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF INTERPRETATION
o Limiting HDRC membership to maximum of 7 voting members.
• Revise regulations regarding submission, review, and decision for zoning modification applications.
Section 11.15, Appeals CR R93ZO Section 6-1700.
o U: Utility Substation, Distribution.
Sections 12.01, Zoning Administrator; 12.02, Planning Commission; 12.03, Board of Zoning Ap peals (BZA); 12.04 Historic District Review Committee (HDRC) CR R93ZO Sections 6-401, 6-100, 6-200, 6-300.
• Add requirement for BZA to act within 90 business days after receiving complete application. Subsections 11.11.05, Special Exception for Parking Adjustment; 11.17, Parking Adjustments
o A: Abutting; Accessory Dwelling; Adaptive Reuse; Adjacent; Adjacent Steep Slopes; Agricul tural Structure; Agriculture, Bona Fide; Agriculture Supportive Business; Alternative Lending Institution; Amphitheater; Archery; Area Median Income (AMI); Auction Facility, Livestock.
o Increasing the number of BZA members from 5 to 7. o Judicial review of BZA decisions to reflect compliance with Va. Code § 15.2-2314.
o B: Bankfull; Bankfull Bench; Bank or Financial Institution; Base Flood Elevation; Bona Fide Agriculture; Building and Landscaping Materials Supplier; Building Maintenance Services; Business Support Services.
o L: Legacy Zoning District; Library; Live/Work Dwelling.
o P: Parcel; Parking Facility; Pedestrian and Bicycle Network; Perennial Headwaters; Perennial Sinking Stream; Perennial Stream; Permeable; Personal Instructional Services; Photovoltaic (PV).
o Authorizing HDRC to advise Zoning Administrator on enforcement matters.
• Establish new regulations: o Identifying additional requirements for SPEX applications to authorize lighting that does not comply with lighting standards prescribed in Section 7.05.02.
o H: Halo Lit; Heliport or Helistop; Historic Setting.
• Revise the following definitions (brackets indicate a replacement term): o A: Affordable Dwelling Unit; Affordable Housing Unit; Agricultural Research Facility [Agri cultural Education or Research]; Agriculture; Airport.
• Establish new regulation requiring special exception for parking reduction of more than 35%. Subsections 11.11.06, Stone Quarrying – Additional Requirements; 11.11.07, Very Steep Slope Areas – Additional Requirements; 11.11.08, Temporary Special Events – Additional Requirements
CHAPTER 12: OFFICIALS, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS
CR R93ZO Section 1-206.
Subsection 11.11.04, Special Exception for Errors in Location
o Confirming the Planning Commission must elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from its membership.
• Revise regulations to establish administrative review process for density credit applications that are not associated with a zoning map amendment, concept plan amendment, or SPEX application.
o Z: Zoning Map, Official.
CR R93ZO Sections 3-1008, 5-1508(D), 6-1303.
o M: Machinery and Equipment Sales and Services; Maintenance and Repair Services; Manu factured Housing Land Lease Community; Manufacturing, General; Manufacturing, Intensive; Manufacturing, Light; Marina; Market Rate Dwelling Unit; Media Production; Micro-Grid Energy System; Mobile Vending; Mobile Vendor; o N: Natural Heritage Resources; Natural Historic Landmark; Neon; Natural, Environmental, and Heritage Resources; Non-Contributing; Nonresidential; Non-Store Retailers.
o H: Heliport; Helistop. o M: Minor Utilities
Subsection 11.11.03, Sign Development Plan CR R93ZO Section 12-1202(E).
• Revise regulations regarding what constitutes the official zoning map and clarify where the authori tative data source for locations and boundaries is kept.
o U: Unmet Housing Needs Unit (UHNU); Use, Interim; Use, Temporary; Utility, Major; Utility, Minor.
• Establish new regulations requiring Pre-Review for zoning modification applications.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
o O: Official Notice; Oil and Gas Storage; Other Protected Resources.
• Establish new regulations requiring Pre-Review for SPEX and SPMI applications and allowing Board of Supervisors to require Planning Commission review of SPMI applications following Pre-review process.
• Revise regulations regarding submission, review, and decision on appeals filed under the Zoning Ordinance, including to clarify the decisions appealed to the Board of Supervisors, HDRC, BZA, and circuit court.
• Identify additional requirements for special exception applications:
• Revise procedure to provide for review and decision by BZA, instead of recommendation and ap proval by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, respectively
• Revise regulations regarding submission, review, and decision for, and minor changes to, sign de velopment plan.
Legal Notices
• Revise and consolidate regulations regarding enforcement of Zoning Ordinance requirements, in cluding Zoning Administrator’s responsibilities, criminal violations, civil violations, and enforce ment of light, noise, and vibration standards.
o To authorize temporary special events as part of an underlying SPEX or SPMI use. Subsections 11.11.09, Light and Glare – Additional Requirements; 11.11.10, Nonconforming Con version Condominium – Additional Requirements
o E: Electric Energy Storage, Utility Scale; Emergency; Energy Storage; Entertainment Facility; Establishment; Extractive Industries.
o F: Façade; Facility; Farm; Farm Distribution Hub; Flex Building; Food Preparation; Freight.
o C: Channel Letter; Civic Space; Commercial; Commercial Strip Development; Communica tions Facility; Community Garden; Composting Facility; Congregate Housing; Contributing; Convenience Store (with Gasoline Sales); Covered Activities; Conversion Condominium; Crest; Cultural Tourism.
CR R93ZO Section 5-1504(C).
Section 11.16, Density Credit for Public Uses
• Revise provisions regarding: o Planning Commission membership conforming to long-standing configuration of 9 members, representing each of the 8 election districts, plus 1 at-large member.
o G: Government (General); Ground Passenger Transportation (e.g. Taxi, Charter Bus); Ground water Extraction, Commercial.
CR R93ZO Section 5-1102(F).
• Revise regulations and procedures regarding administrative parking adjustments that may be ap proved by the Zoning Administrator.
• Delete requirement for Board of Supervisors’ approval.
• Delete the following definitions: o A: Active Recreational Uses.
o S: School, Business/Technical; Setback, Perimeter; Sewer Pumping Station; Shooting Range, Indoor; Sign, Animated; Sign, Digital; Sign, Feather; Sign, Incidental; Sign, Light Post Ban ner; Sign, Monument; Sign, Mural; Sign, Pylon; Sign, Window; Sign Face; Slaughterhouse; Small Business, Agricultural and Rural; Snack or Beverage Bars; Solar Energy Equipment, Fa cilities or Devices; Solar Facility; Solar Facility, Commercial; Solid Waste Facility; Specimen Tree; Steep Slopes; Stream Restoration; Substantial Conformance.
PAGE 28 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022
• Establish new provisions regarding: o Finality of Zoning Administrator’s determination in accordance with Va. Code § 15.2-2311(C). o Eligibility of elections officers and town elected officials to serve on BZA in accordance with Va. Code § 15.2-2308. o Ex parte communication with BZA members in accordance with Va. Code § 15.2-2308.1.
Sections 13.01, Interpretation of Zoning Ordinance; 13.02, Interpretation of Map and District Boundaries; 13.03, Definitions CR R93ZO Sections 1-201 through 1-204, 1-300, 6-407, Article 8.
o T: Transit Facilities; Travelway; Tree Canopy; Tree Cover.
Section 11.13, Historic Overlay District (HOD) Review CR R93ZO Section 6-1900.
• Establish the following new definitions:
o V: Variable Riparian Preservation Buffer; Vehicle Charging Station; Vehicle Repair, Heavy; Vehicle Repair, Light; Vehicle Sales; Vehicle Service Station; Vehicle Storage and Impound ment; Vertical Cost; Virginia Landmark Register.
o S: Sign, Farm; Sign, Informational; Sign, Non-PD District Project Directional; Sign, PD-H Community Directional; Sign, Project Identification; Sign, Public/Quasi-Public; Sign, Real Estate; Sign, Residential Name; Sign, Wayside Stand; Sign, Window or Display (Business); Sign, Window or Display (Non-Business).
Legal NoticesLoudounNow.com
o W: Winery, Commercial.
o S: Sign; Sign, Banner; Sign, Directional, On-Site [Sign, On-Site]; Sign, Ground Mounted [Sign, Ground]; Sign, Illuminated; Sign, Pole Mounted [Sign, Pole]; Sign, Temporary; Street, Centerline of; Street Tree.
o D: Dwelling, Accessory; Dwelling, Stacked Multi-Family; Dwelling Unit.
o C: Campground; Caretaker’s Residence [Caretaker or Guard Residence]; Car Wash; Child Care Home [Child Day Home]; Co-housing; Comprehensive Plan; Convenience Food Store [Convenience Store]; Cultural Center [Cultural Facility].
o K: Kennel, Indoor.
Appendix B: Acronyms: • Establish a new appendix for acronyms used in the Zoning Ordinance. The public purposes of these amendments are to implement the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan; to implement applicable provisions of the Virginia Code; and to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§ 15.2-2200 and 15.2-2283, including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare, and good zoning practice and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community. Copies of the above-referenced sections from the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendments may be examined at the Office of the County Administrator, First Floor Information Desk, County Government Center, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call (703) 7770246, or email zor@loudoun.gov Copies may also be examined electronically at www.loudoun.gov/ Allzoningordinancerewritemembersofthepublic will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. If any member of the public requires a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate in a public meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200/TTY-711. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. 8/11, 8/18, 8/25/22
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 29
The purpose of the amendment is to clarify and establish that stairs and landings attached to decks accessory to single-family attached, and multi-family dwellings do not require a setback from interior lot Copieslines.and additional information regarding this proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment is available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-737-7920 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator. This zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2022-0005. At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 7712434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711. 8/18 & 8/25/2022
o E: Electric Generating Plant and Transmission Facility.
o H: Health and Fitness Center. o J: Junkyard.
ORDER OF PUBLICATION
o T: Theater, Indoor [Theater]; Training Facility; Tree, Large Deciduous.
TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLE 10 DENSITY/INTENSITY & DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS RELATING TO EXTENSIONS INTO REQUIRED YARDS FOR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PURSUANT TO SECTION 15.2-2507 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, 1950, AS AMENDED, TO CONSIDER A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION Pursuant to Section 15.2-2507 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LOVETTSVILLE TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on August 25, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chamber, 6 E. Pennsylvania Aveneue, Lovettsville, Virginia to consider the following budget amendment:Asupplemental appropriation in Fiscal Year 2023 in the amount of $2,652,339.41 comprised of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding, previous year capital project appropriation, and carryover of Fiscal Year 2022 appropriation, which exceeds one percent of the total expenditures shown in the Fiscal Year 2023 adopted budget. All persons desiring to speak will be given an opportunity to do so at this meeting. A copy of any additional information regarding the proposed appropriation is available for review at the Town Hall between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call 540-822-5788 for more information or visit www.lovettsvilleva.gov. In the event the meeting is cancelled, the public hearing will be convened at the next regular scheduled meeting at the same time and place. 8/11, 8/18
o F: Farm Based Tourism; Farm Market; Feed and Farm Supply Center; Floodplain.
o G: Guest House.
LOUDOUN COUNTY WILL BE ACCEPTING SEALED COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR: APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM, RFP No. 534782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, September 13, 2022. INTEGRATED TAX REVENUE SYSTEM, RFP No. 539782 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, September 22, 2022.
o L: Lodging Unit. o O: Open Space; Outdoor Storage, Vehicles; Overlay District.
The object of this suit is a 2nd permanency planning hearing and review of foster care plan with goal of adoption, pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Anthony Rodriguez Castro, and Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-283 for Anthony Rodriguez Castro. Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & 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 his/her residual parental rights with respect to Anthony Rodriguez Castro. Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown Father are hereby further notified that if his/her residual parental rights are terminated, he/she will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Anthony Rodriguez Castro; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Anthony Rodriguez Castro; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of for Anthony Rodriguez Castro. Further, Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown Father will have no legal and /or financial obligations with respect to for Anthony Rodriguez Castro, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Anthony Rodriguez Castro for adoption and consent to the adoption of Anthony Rodriguez Castro.Itis ORDERED that the defendant Yeni Rodriguez Castro, Mother, Carlos Barnica, Putative Father & Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court to protect his interests on or before September 12, 2022 at 3:00pm.
o U: Utility Substation, Dedicated [Utility Substation]; Utility Transmission Line, Underground.
o R: Recreation Establishment, Indoor [Recreation, Indoor]; Recreation Establishment, Outdoor [Recreation, Outdoor or Major]; Recreational Vehicle Park; Research and Development Use [Research and Development]; Residential Use.
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, SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider Zoning Ordinance Amendment TLOA-2022-0005 revising the following Sections of the Zoning Ordinance: 1. Sec. 10.4.5.C Extensions Into Required Yards; 2. Sec. 10.4.5.C.4 Balconies, Bay Windows, Steps and Landings; and, 3. Sec.10.4.5.C.5 Uncovered Decks and Patios
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. 8/18/22
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Department of Support Services has scheduled the remaining sessions in a series of community meetings held across the county to share information on funded, planned, and proposed school capital projects. By design and to focus the discussion and public involvement, each community meeting begins with a general overview of the Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Capital Asset Preservation Program (CAPP) budgets and then spotlights a specific geographic area of Loudoun. The three meetings held in June highlighted LCPS’ Central Loudoun, Eastern Loudoun, and Dulles North planning districts.
It appearing that a report of the account of Debra Murphy Riveiro, Executor for the Estate of Robert William Murphy, and a report of the debts and demands against the Estate have been filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County, and that more than 6 months have elapsed since the qualification of the Executor before this Court, It is ORDERED that the creditors of, and all others interested in, the Estate of Robert William Murphy, deceased, do show cause, if any they can, on the Friday, September 16, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., before this Court at its courtroom in Leesburg, Virginia, against payment and delivery of said Estate to its beneficiaries, after payment of remaining administrative expenses and debts, in accordance with Va. Code §64.2-528.8/18& 8/25/22 LoudounNow.com
Kevin L. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer Loudoun County Public Schools, Department of Support Services 21000 Education Court Ashburn, Virginia 20148 Telephone: 571-252-1385 Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG
Community Information Meetings on Future School Facility Projects
PAGE 30 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022 ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § § 1-211.1; 8.01-316,-317,20-104 Case No.: CJ22-19 & CJ22-20; CJ22-21 & CJ22-22; CJ22-23 & CJ22-24; CJ22-25 & CJ22-26; CJ22-27 & CJ22-28; CJ22-29 & CJ22-30; Loudoun County Circuit Court 18 East Market St., Leesburg VA 20176 Loudoun County Department of Family/v.Services Allison Fluke-Ekren
Leesburg Office 1 Harrison Street SE First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Circle Suite 100 Internet: www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, M - F Phone: 703-737-8557 of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Zachary William Wells. It is ORDERED that the defendant Tina Lynn Klinedinst, mother appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his or her interests on or before August 30, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. 7/28, 8/4, 8/11 & 8/18/22 Loudoun County Public Schools
Commissioner of the Revenue Residents 65 and older or totally and permanently disabled who wish to apply for 2022 Personal Property (vehicle) Tax Relief for the first time must submit an application to my office by the September 1, 2022 filing deadline. Please visit our website or contact my office for information or filing assistance.
Following each meeting, the presentation will be posted on the LCPS website, at https://www.lcps.org/Page/81470.
Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the community meetings should contact the Support Services office at least three (3) days prior to the specific meeting.
VIRGINIA:INTHECIRCUIT COURT FOR LOUDOUN COUNTY IN ESTATERE: OF ROBERT WILLIAM MURPHY Probate File No. 16234 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE AGAINST DISTRIBUTION
Email: taxrelief@loudoun.gov Mailing Address: PO Box 8000, MSC 32 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 8/11 & 8/18 Loco Service Providers R&D Cleaning Service, LLC Residential - Commercial Move In/Out - Carpet Cleaning Excellent References - Reasonable Rates Licensed & Insured - FREE ESTIMATE CALL MARLENE (703) 303-1364 Email: rdcleaningserv@gmail.com R&D Cleaning Service RDCleaningservice.comLLCWE ACCEPT: Cleaning CONSTRUCTION Kenny Williams Construction, Inc. * Decks & Screen Porches * Additions * Fences * Garages * Finished Basements * Deck Repairs Free www.kennywilliamsconstruction.com703-771-8727EstimatesLicensed•Insured•bondedServingLoudounCountyfor35years.ClassAContractor Construction CONSTRUCTION C ustom C onstru C tion A dditions • r epA irs Blue Ridge Remodeling, Inc. LicensedSincePurcellville,www.brrinc.net540-668-6522VA1976•FreeEstimates&Insured Construction Legal Notices ORDER OF PUBLICATION COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA Virginia Code § 8.01-316 Case No.: JJ038626-10-00 LOUDOUN COUNTY JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176 Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Zachary William Wells Loudoun County Department of Family Services/v. Tina Lynn Klinedinst, mother The object of this suit is to hold a 2nd permanency planning hearing and review
The object of this suit is to hear an appeal of Dispositional Orders entered in the Loudoun County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court and underlying Foster Care Plans pursuant to Virginia Code § § 16.1-278.2 and 16.1-281 for Sumeyyah Nadiya Ekren, Zubayer Rafik Ekren, Asiyeh Hanan Ekren, Fatima Zahra Ekren; Khadija Ulku Ekren and Osama Othman Ekren. It is ORDERED that Unknown Father(s) appear at the above-named court and protect his/her interests on or before September 6 - 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. 7/28, 8/4, 8/11 & 8/18/22 A message to elderly and disabled Loudoun County residents from Robert S. Wertz, Jr.
Date & Time Auditorium of Meeting Spotlight Wednesday, August 17, 2022 6:00 p.m. Mercer Middle School (42149 Greenstone Dr, Aldie) Dulles South Area (General Description: North of Prince William County, East of Town of Middleburg, South of Rt 50, West of Fairfax County) Wednesday, August 24, 2022 6:00 p.m. Trailside Middle School (20325 Claiborne Pkwy, Ashburn) Ashburn Area (General Description: North of Rt 267, East of Goose Creek, South of Potomac River, West of Rt 28) Monday, August 29, 2022 6:00 p.m. Blue Ridge Middle School (551 East A St, Purcellville) Western Loudoun Area (General Description: North of Fauquier County, East of Clarke County/West Virginia, South of Potomac River, West of Catoctin Mountain Ridgeline)
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n
Norman K. Styer, Loudoun Leesburg, Loudoun audience of more than 100,000 The Balance As county leaders and residents debate to aircraft noise land around Dulles Airport, it is important to remember the intent of the regulations. The purpose is not to provide protections to residents who may be impacted by aircraft noise or frequent flyovers. The polices are aimed at preventing residents’ complaints about aircraft noise or frequent flyovers from restricting the airport’s operation or its futureBuiltgrowth.essentially in the middle of nowhere in the early 1960s, the airport grew to become the county’s key economic engine in the subsequent decades. When development began in the Ashburn area in the 1980s, county policies held out large swaths of land where projected high noise from aircraft would make residential development incompatible. The eastern half of Ashburn Village and nearly all of the land that that today is Brambleton were included in that no-housing zone. With the advent of quieter planes, subsequent revisions to the projected highnoise zone reduced the prohibition area and developers quickly built right up to those new boundaries, even as airport leaders—and many of the county’s elected officials—warned against that folly. The latest update of the noise contours— generated at least in part at the request of Loudoun developers who claimed the building restrictions in the county’s new General Plan were too restrictive—are for the first time adding residential neighborhoods along the airport boundaries into the high-noise zone. That designation comes with significant ramifications with which county leaders will need to strike a balance. That balance, however, should not come at the expense of stifling operations at Dulles Airport, which today operates at less than half its planned passenger capacity. That economic engine still has a lot of growth potential and the county’s longstanding policy has been—and should continue to be—to provide the room its needs to reach it.
policies for the
Now is mailed weekly to homes in
n Opinion Airport noise continued from page 3
the
western Loudoun and Ashburn, and distributed for pickup throughout the county. Online,
“The plain fact of the matter is, the problem’s just going to get worse,” said Dennis Boykin, who long served as chairman of Leesburg’s Airport Commission. “The new 30 Left [runway] is coming, and it’s just going to get worse and worse.
unique monthly visitors.
And as a guy who’s taken off on 30 [the existing east-west runway] a lot of times, when the controller says you’ve got to turn, you’ve got to turn, but it seems to me that there is some room that we could possibly work on that with MWAA. It’s not that hard to stay straight for another three“Dullesmiles.”is the only international airport on the east cost of the United States that has room to grow, to add an additional runway, and this is extraordinarily important for the economic development of Loudoun County,” said Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority State and Local Government Affairs Manager Michael Cooper. “It’s extraordinarily important that the airport be allowed to grow.”
The Planning Commission voted to send the new overlay to a work session for more consideration—in part to give members a chance to understand the underpinnings of the 2019 noise study. “I was incredibly urged to make a motion to recommend denial to the Board of Supervisors, I really was, largely because I feel like there are too many moving parts here, and that in a lot of ways there are issues related to our neighbors, the residents who live and [are] currently impacted, and future impacted neighborhoods and areas,” said Planning Commission Chairman Forest Hayes (At Large). And Commissioner Michelle Frank (Broad Run) said the outcry at the public hearing and in comments submitted online showed the importance of the overlay district.
And airports authority Planning Department Manager Gregg Wollard said the fifth runway will be built. “Our airline partners, and our major airline partner at Dulles Airport, is growing their activity rather significantly,” he said. Others voiced concern about the overlay’s business impacts, such as representatives from developer Toll Brothers who could see a planned mixed-use development affected. And Ford’s Fish Shack owner Tony Stafford said the restrictions on new housing could affect his restaurant business. “I think we all know that we are dying for workforce housing, and if we limit that development and limit that workforce housing, it’s going to have detrimental effects to my business and a lot of businesses that are dying out there for more people to work,” he said. He and others asked that developments in the pipeline now be grandfathered in under the current noise overlays.
“To me that just stresses how important it is for us to use an overlay map in our planning, because if we don’t know where the noise is, we’re just going to put more residential where it probably doesn’t belong, and we’re going to have more people upset,” she said. The commission voted 8-0-1 to send the overlay to a work session, with Vice Chairman Jeff Salmon (Dulles) absent.
PAGE 32 LOUDOUNNOW.COM AUGUST 18, 2022 credits to help offset the loss in property value. And Marcia Calhoun asked the county to put pressure on the FAA to keep planes on a straight trajectory until they clear the community—exactly what Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials have long warned would happen if homes are permitted in high noise areas, and has already happened at the authority’s other airport, Reagan National. Airports authority officials have warned those flight restrictions could stymie Dulles Airport’s growth and importance as an economic engine for the region.
Now provides daily community news coverage to an
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AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 33 LAST WhatQUESTION:WEEK'Sisthebest use of Leesburg’s Liberty Street parking lot?
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While his passion for the machines remains strong, Legard said he is ready to pass this collection on to others who share his appreciation for them. “It’s time for somebody else to get them where they can take better care of them than I have. Many of them I’ve saved from the junk man. Literally, they were on the truck ready to head to the scrapyard. I’ve saved them this far and we’ll see whether somebody else wants to take over,” he said. “I’d like to have been able to settle back and enjoy playing with them and working with them some, but that just hasn’t happened.”
Aumann Auctions, describing the offerings as one of the “largest, oldest and best ‘unknown’ collections” of farm antiques remaining, is preparing for a crowd of thousands, with collectors from Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio having made inquiries. Beyond the tractors there are thousands of other farm implements, from corn shellers to blacksmithing tools and threshing machines. Details of the sale are at aumannvintagepower.com.
THIS worry?back-to-schoolWhat’sQUESTION:WEEK'SyourbiggestShareyourviewsatloudounnow.com/polls up in preparation of the sale, which is expected to draw thousands of collectors to Glenmore Farm near Wheatland on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3. “Some of this stuff had belonged to my grandfather, and other equipment dad bought and there are things that I grew up with.”
Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now A line of tractors that are part of the collection assembled by R.T. Legard over the past four decades.
Norman K. Styer/Loudoun Now Legard sits atop his 1916 Mogul Kerosene tractor, the oldest in his collection.
The family’s second tractor, purchased in 1949, is in the field for the sale—along with 180 others that Legard has collected over the past four decades. He didn’t intentionally start out to be a tractor collector. In 1978, he had two tractors broken down and needed a replacement until they could be repaired. A neighbor had a restored John Deere A in his yard for sale and he made a trade for it. It was a crank start even older than the one his father had used. “It turned out to be a 1941. I thought, gee, this is two years older than I am. Somebody should save that,” Legard said. A month or so later, while on a parts run to Urbana, Legard saw a Farmall F-20 along the side of the road. “I thought, gee my uncle used to have one of those. They were asking $300. I gave $275 and brought it home,” he said. “And then it got out of hand.” Soon people would report to him when they came across something they thought he would be interested in. He recalled a time a friend went to the livestock market in Boonesboro and saw a used equipment lot next door with a steel-wheel tractor. “So, I went to check that out and brought it home,” Legard said. More than half of his collection was bought locally. “There are numerous Loudoun County tractors here,” he said. The oldest in the collection is a 1916 International Harvester Mogul, which was one of the most popular tractors sold in the U.S. at the time. His favorite—the one he would keep if he could—is the 1925 Rumely Oil Pull Lightweight, one of his earliest acquisitions.
n Legard farm continued from page 1
His grandfather, Robert Norris Legard, started farming the land on lease shares in 1915 and bought the property in 1919. He farmed with three-horse teams as did his son, R.T. Legard Sr. “My dad farmed with horses far longer than most of the farmers,” Legard said. It wasn’t until 1940 that the family bought their first tractor, a Farmall H. That machine is in the collection of the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum in Sterling.
For years, most of the tractors have been stored under roof, tightly packed in the farm’s large sheds. It is only over the past six weeks in preparation for the sale that they’ve been out and displayed all at once. He’s tinkered with many of them over the years and tried to start the ones that were operational at least once a year. “The most I had running at any one time was 82,” he said. “But I’ve got way more than I could take care of now. Some that ran when they came here are no longer running, and that is discouraging.”
Phillips said they are always looking at critical needs fields like special education. “We always look at those very careful ly and this year it’s on par with our last normal school year in terms of vacancies. But we are always cognoscente of those fields and those areas that are hard to fill in terms of certification,” Philips said. Better Pay Competitive teacher salary may be helping fill positions. “Over the course of the past five years, LCPS and the School Board’s commit ment to salaries and making them com petitive has really helped attract new talent and retain the talent we do have,” Phillips said. First year teachers with a bachelors make just over $2,000 more a year in Loudoun County compared to its closest neighboring school districts. In Loudoun, that teacher makes $55,611 on a 197-day contract, according to the LCPS website. Compare that to a 195-day contract and a bachelor’s degree in Fairfax for $53,313, and a 195-day contract with a bachelors in Prince William, $53,570. Meanwhile first-year Loudoun teach ers with a master’s degree make almost $3,000 more than teaches with the same qualifications in Fairfax County. According to Sullivan, teachers are coming to teach in Loudoun because of the pay, but not to live in Loudoun. “Lots of people are coming here but they are not choosing to live in Loudoun because of the cost of living,” said Sullivan. Low resignation and retirement rates may be keeping veteran teachers in po sitions and helping with Loudoun’s high fill rate. Phillips said HRTD conducts exit in terviews and employees who are resign ing or “separating from employment” can fill out optional exit surveys. He said as they analyze this year’s resignation data it is more on par with the last full year of school of resignations before the pandemic. Figures from Byard show 334 teach ers resigned during the 2018-2019 school year. Since that year there have been 1,301 teacher resignations total; the high est number, 370, took place in the 20202021 school year. He said since then there have been a handful more resignations added to the totalSullivannumber.said there is a typical uptick at the end of a school year in retirings and resignations and said some teachers make the decision over the summer. “I know resignations and retirements have been occurring. I am not sure I un derstand how the numbers work out the way they do,” said Sullivan. Sullivan said the proof will be in the pudding when students go back on Aug. 25. She said that’s when schools will see where the problems are and may have to fill gaps with long-term substitute teachers.Shesaid one of the biggest conse quences will be larger class sizes.
He said with the exception of the firefighting class at the Academies of Loudoun, all classes In Loudoun Coun ty Public Schools will be covered by Aug.Fairfax25. County Public Schools is ap proaching 99% staffed, according to Jen nifer Sellers with Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Community Relations. In a statement emailed to the commu nity on Aug. 15, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid said they anticipate having a teacher in every classroom “who is licensed or working to attain their licensure” through a program that allows teachers to start teaching this fall while finishing up re quirements to become fully licensed in Virginia.Prince William County Public Schools Director of Communications Diane Gu lotta said that Human Resources was “busy hiring teachers to best meet the needs of our students returning August 22” and could not get the information in time for this article to print. A Recruiting Frenzy With shortages reportedly so rampant across the United States, why are the num bers so good in Loudoun County? Robert Phillips, Human Resources and Talent director for Loudoun County Public Schools said there are multiple reasons, in cluding pay, benefits, recruiting and a new user-friendly application tracking system for potential hires. He said his staff has attended 55 in per son or virtual job fairs as well as hosting five of their own to introduce potential employees to the division. He said through this recutting season, which runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, they have registered 455 potentialAdditionally,candidates.the department imple mented a more user-friendly application tracking system that allows hiring man agers to stay in contact with potential candidates to keep them interested in the positions. Phillips said the ability for the candidate to apply on mobile devices and to set up alerts for certain jobs they are in terested in and keep in touch with hiring managers really contributed to the suc cessful recruiting this year. The school division has also revised its parental leave policy. Effective July 1, it will provide six weeks of 100% pay at the onset of an employees Family Medical Leave Act leave. That includes the spouse if the couple are both teachers, according to Phillips.“Asanemployer of choice in our stra tegic plan, we don’t always want to talk about our salary, we want to talk about oth er things like our benefits,” Phillips said. According to Byard, recruitment has remained stable, with the school division doing a lot more virtual interviews and jobSandyfairs.
Teacher shortage continued from page 1
According to the division’s policies on class sizes, kindergarten can have a max imum of 25 students, unless there isn’t space to form another kindergarten class room at the school, in which case up to 27 can be housed to avoid overflow into other schools. Additionally, the policy states that if creating an additional class at the school leaves 13 kindergarten students in one class and 13 in another, then the classes can combine, bringing the maxi mum to 26. For grades 1-3 the maximum is 28 students per class; for grades 4-5 it’s 31. However, all five grades can increase if there is a full-time teacher assistant in the class. In that case, grades 1-3 can increase to 30 and grades 4-5 can increase to 32.
Sullivan, president of the Loudoun Education Association, which represents teachers and school employees, said she’s surprised at the 97.8% fill rate in Loudoun County. “I find that hard to believe considering how many people, especially in the past several months have resigned or retired. I find that surprising,” said Sullivan. She said one of LEA’s board members told her there are a lot of changes being made within the building they work. For example, she said one teacher who was going to teach fourth grade is now doing something else. “It’s hard to imagine there’s not as great of a need,” she said, “Especially when mo rale has been historically low in Loudoun County Public Schools.” Sullivan said moving a teacher like that will increase the class size for all the remaining fourth grade classes. But she said moving teachers around is a way the school division can work around open teacher spaces.
In Ziegler’s Aug. 9 operational update, he outlined various strategies for support ing schools when it starts. Those include continued recruiting, site-assigned substi tutes, hiring long-term substitutes to fill vacancies and absences and growing the substitute pool. According to the report there are 3,140 active substitutes. Phillips said there are site-based subs at each school based on the number of teachers. Those site-based subs will be able to fill in for a teacher who is still in the hiring process until that teacher is up and running. n
Loudoun County School Board mem ber Andrew Hoyler (Broad Run) said the fact that almost half of the open positions have a candidate in process right now is a good sign. But he said teachers are still resigning, and because, he feels, the exit interview isn’t thorough enough, the rea son is unknown.
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Byard said there were 139 teacher va cancies and that 58 of those have a candi date in process, meaning they are waiting on reference checks, a job offer, or they are attending a new hire session before they are cleared to begin work.
Hoyler pointed to numbers present ed by Superintendent Scott Ziegler at the Aug. 9 School Board meeting showing just over 2% vacancy rate. He said as good as that is, even one to two vacancies at a single school can cause some “pretty big ripple effects.” He said the big issue is filling the spe cialized roles like special education or vocational programs offered at the Acad emies. Hoyler said a pharmacy tech re cently resigned from the Academies after finding a job in the private sector that paid more. That specialty position requires two years of experience as a pharmacy tech as well as being nationally licensed. A posi tion that may be harder to fill as the first day of school draws near. A Crowded Classroom
The policy also states maximum num bers for middle and high school classes, 30 per class in middle school with the exception of P.E., music and career and technical education courses. It is 32 for high school classes, but P.E., music and CTE courses can be up to 40. Maximum class sizes for CTE courses are set by spe cific state and federal requirements. Both high school and middle school classes that need an exception made to the maximum class size must get approval from the level director, the policy states. Hoyler said while it’s good to see the fill numbers at such a high level and to have candidates coming in to work for a great school system, numbers vary from school to school, and some schools may not have vacancies while others may have quite a few. “In my opinion it will have a pretty big effect on the school operations,” Hoyler said, adding he’s worried about shortages in Title I schools. “Title I schools struggle the most. They need extra staffing. Those are the ones you are most worried about,” he said.
The feedback has ranged as widely. The Apartment and Office Building As sociation of Metropolitan Washington, the Northern Virginia Building Industry Asso ciation and land use law firm Walsh, Co lucci, Lubeley & Walsh, which often rep resents developers bringing major projects to the county, called for looser regulations, with the NVBIA warning the new ordi nance “seems more repetitious, subjective, and cumbersome.” They variously called for more flexibility in development regu lations, arguing they would get in the way of development including of affordable housing, and Walsh Colucci sought to roll back some environmental protections and policies and streamline the zoning special exception process. The Dulles Area Association of Realtors pushed the county to provide more expla nation of the differences between the old Zoning Ordinance and the new, and ques tioned aspects of the proposal such as how it encourages additional affordable hous ing and the new Mountainside Resource Protection Setback. Meanwhile, Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains President Peter Weeks wrote to the county urging stronger protections for mountainsides and stronger enforcement of those regulations.
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Groups like the Unison Preservation Society, the Waterford Foundation, the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area and the Loudoun Historic Village Alliance wrote urging the county to offer stronger pro tections for historic areas of the county. The Catoctin Scenic River Advisory Com mittee offered a series of suggestions and questions, urging stronger protections for waterways.Someof the county’s own advisory committees weighed in. The county’s En vironmental Commission reviewed a draft of the new Zoning Ordinance and made a range of recommendations to strengthen its environmental protections. The Rural Economic Development Council formed an ad hoc committee which also combed through a draft, suggesting a series of edits to both preserve the rural character of parts of the county and the businesses there, such as allowing farm markets byright in urbanized areas of the county, or removing a five-acre minimum lot size for non-livestock agriculture such as growing hay or fruit trees, but also seeking to tight en down regulations on farm wineries and breweries.Eventhe Purcellville Town Council weighed in, asking the county to ensure data centers would not be allowed in the area around town limits, specifically with an eye toward an industrial-zoned property north of town. After the public hearing, the Planning Commission anticipates meeting several times to work on the proposed ordinance, as well as another public hearing for its remaining chapters. It will then be for warded to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. There are also other Zoning Ordinance projects running parallel to the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, including revising regulations on short-term residential rent als such as Airbnb, an effort to rework the county’s cluster zoning options to better protect prime agricultural soils, and updat ing the Airport Impact Overlay District to reflect a new study of airport noise around Dulles International Airport. To read the proposed text for the Aug. 30 public hearing, go to missionburg.ernmentboardroomlicloudoun.gov/ZoningOrdinanceRewrite.ThePlanningCommissionPubHearingwillbeginat6p.m.intheonthefirstflooroftheGovCenter,1HarrisonSt.inLeesInformationonthePlanningComincludinghowtosignupin advance to speak at the public hearing is at loudoun.gov/PlanningCommission.Commentsmayalsobe sub mitted to an online form at loudoun.gov/ZoningOrdinanceRewrite or by calling 703-777-0246. n
AUGUST 18, 2022 LOUDOUNNOW.COM PAGE 35 and a schedule of fees related to develop mentAndapplications.moresections relate largely to the hefty document itself, such as definitions of the terms it uses, an index of acronyms, and rules on how the Zoning Ordinance should be interpreted. And that is still plenty to talk about— the sections going to the public hearing Aug. 30 total 248 pages. That is dwarfed by the 371 pages of comments from the public submitted online and by email and compiled by the Loudoun County Preser vation and Conservation Coalition, and the 424 pages of statements and supporting materials from organizations ranging from development and business interests to en vironmental groups to the Loudoun Coun ty Equine Alliance.
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