Loudoun Now for Nov. 28, 2024

APB Prepares for First Rural Broadband Hookups

BY NORMAN K. STYER AND HANNA PAMPALONI

nsyter@loudounnow.org

hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

A year ago when county supervisors were briefed on the status of the massive effort to extend broadband service to more than 8,600 homes in underserved areas of western Loudoun, they were told the project was on track to reach substantial completion by the end of 2024.

Twelve months later, All Points Broadband crews are mobilizing to get the first homes—probably about 60 northwest of Hillsboro—connected to the high-speed network before the calendar turns to 2025.

The $61 million project was launched in 2022 with funding from federal and state grants. In Loudoun, Dominion Energy and internet provider All Points Broadband are teaming up to install 620 miles of fiber in underserved rural areas. Of that total, 176 miles are to be attached to utility poles—a requirement that has proven to be both complex and time consuming.

A project update in April came with the acknowledgement that the

Supervisors Advance Planning for Combined Paeonian Springs, Waterford Utility System

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

After decades of concern and years of study, county leaders are eyeing a $60 million project to address public health concerns in two western Loudoun villages.

Paeonian Springs has no public water distribution system or sanitary sew-

er system. Homes rely on private wells for potable water and individual onsite sewage disposal systems for wastewater treatment, including, for some residents, outhouses.

Waterford residents are served by a public sewer system but rely on private wells for water, which has led to quantity concerns when the wells don’t yield

as much water as is needed. That creates safety concerns when dealing with fires within the area.

As a result, village residents rely on water storage tanks, dry well timers, conservation measures and hand dug wells that

ROOF LOCAL

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Lana Rohrmeier stands near a restored outhouse in Paeonian Springs and talks about problems facing the community’s sewer systems.

Ballots Set for General Assembly Special Elections

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

JJ Singh and Ram Venkatachalam will be the candidates for the 26th District House of Delegates special election set for early January.

Singh won the Democratic nomination during a firehouse primary Saturday beating out four other candidates. He received 745 of the 1, 839 ballots cast. Sam Nandi came in second with 425, followed by Ibraheem Samirah with 323, Loudoun County School Board Vice Chair Arben Istrefi with 280, and Lakesha Gorham-McDurfee with 66.

Singh served in the Peace Corps in Bolivia, within the Obama Administration’s Budget Office, and as a senior policy advisor to U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). He has also served on the county’s Economic Development Commission and as the treasurer of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee. He currently works as president of Retreat Hotels and Resorts.

He has received endorsements from local Democratic officials including Supervisors Laura A. TeKrony (Little River) and

Kristen C. Umstattd (Leesburg) as well as School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) and member Anne Donohue (At Large). He has also been endorsed by Del. Kannan Srinivasan (D-26) whose resignation prompted the special election. Srinivasan is running as the Democratic candidate for the 32nd District Senate seat special election. His resignation will take effect Jan. 7.

“JJ has the tenacity and determination to get big things done for Loudoun,” Srinivasan released in a Nov. 20 statement. “He has a record of stellar public service. Now, as a successful small business owner, he has the passion and commitment to deliver results for all Virginians. In tough times like these, JJ will be a great Democratic nominee and Delegate.”

Singh cites top issues in his campaign as codifying abortion access into the Virginia Constitution, lowering costs, implementing gun safety legislation and building a clean economy.

“The cost of tuition and fees at the typ-

ical national public university, over the past twenty years, has grown 175%. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech’s costs are up more than 250%, UVA more than 400% over the same time period. The growth rate of these schools in tuition has been approximately 6% per year. JJ knows this cannot continue,” according to his campaign website.

Venkatachalam was chosen as the Republican nominee after the Loudoun County Republican Committee held a special mass meeting of the 26th District Legislative District Committee Nov. 18. He beat Ashburn resident Ommair Butt for the nomination.

He is a private sector consultant and has served as chair of the Loudoun County Transit Advisory Board and on the Brambleton HOA Board. He was also appointed in August by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to serve on the board of trustees of the Science Museum of Virginia.

Last year, Venkatachalam ran for the Little River District seat on the Board of

Supervisors losing to TeKrony. His platform focuses on lowering taxes, increasing economic opportunity, public safety and quality public education for every child.

“Richmond is broken. Thanks to high inflation, Virginia families are already forced to do more with less. Richmond should not be making matters worse, yet Democrats in the House of Delegates have done exactly that. Rising energy costs and redundant taxes like the car tax have Virginians overburdened and struggling. As your Delegate, I will vote to repeal the car tax and bad energy policy that are punishing our wallets,” according to his campaign website.

The Jan. 7 special election is scheduled to run concurrently with the 32nd District special election where Srinivasan will face off against Republican Tumay Harding. That election was spurred by Sen. Suhas Subramanyam’s (D-32) election to the 10th District House of Representatives earlier this month.

The races have the opportunity to shift control of the Senate to the Republican Party and split control of the House of Delegates. n

Region's School Districts Push for Delay in Governor’s Performance Monitoring Plan

BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org

As the Youngkin administration rolls out a new system for measuring the performance of Virginia’s public schools, administrators from Loudoun and other Northern Virginia divisions are urging the state to delay the program.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced plans for the School Performance and Support Framework in August and began publishing data this month. The goal is to “provide a transparent assessment of how well every school is serving every student, encourages school communities to work together to implement changes that will improve student and school performance, and focuses targeted supports on the students and school in most need,” according to a Nov. 8 statement announcing the rollout.

Essentially, the plan establishes new sets of criteria on which schools will be judged. The current school year is the first year that data is being collected based on the measurements. It focuses most on improving transparency to students and parents and sending support to schools that show they need it most.

An online “hub” that went live this month displays preliminary results from the data collected so far this school year. The data is ranked in four tiers: Distinguished, with scores of 90 and above; on-track, with scores between 80 and 89; and off-track, with scores of 65 to 79; and needs intensive support, with scores below 65. Loudoun County’s 98 schools range from a score of 69.3 to 96.9 using the new system. Thirty-three schools ranked as distinguished, 49 ranked as on-track, 15 ranked as off-track. One school, Guilford

Elementary in Sterling, ranked as needing intensive support. All results can be seen on the VDOE website.

However, schools are not as keen on this new plan. Loudoun County and seven other Northern Virginia school systems— Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Manassas City and Prince William County—are asking for a delay in the program implementation by at least one year.

In a joint statement released Nov. 18, the school divisions cite their concerns over undefined terms in the framework, as well as its implementation after all plans had been made for this school year. They also asked for details on what kinds of support will be provided to underperforming schools.

Before full implementation of the framework, the divisions suggested providing more time to re-instate alternate

mastery plans other than SOLs for students with disabilities and English learners, allowing more vetting of the framework components with review by parents and educators, allowing testing of the program by running it alongside current programs, allowing additional vetting of the requirements for underperforming schools, and properly funding programs for underperforming schools.

“We stand ready to begin working with you and other stakeholders to perfect the Framework. Time is an essential ingredient in any educational change. We respectfully ask that our primary recommendation to delay full implementation for at least one year be adopted immediately. We offer this in service of our goal to provide excellent education to all Virginia’s students,” according to the statement. n

Singh

Venkatachalam

Loudoun

Equestrian Industry Leaders Call for Flexibility in Zoning Regulations

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

As the equine industry in Loudoun continues to grow, with the latest census data listing the county with more horses and horse farms than any other in the state, industry leaders are calling for looser zoning regulations to continue to allow their businesses to thrive.

The Board of Supervisors has tasked the county planning staff with drafting Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments for rural Loudoun after largely leaving that topic alone in last year’s adoption of a new Zoning Ordinance. As part of that process the board commissioned a stakeholders group comprised of supervisors, Planning Commissioners and representatives from three categories – agriculture and conversation, business and tourism and residents – to help guide the work.

The group gathered for its first meeting Thursday, discussing the rules governing stables, liveries and outdoor recreation. Committee members each had the oppor-

tunity to bring up regulations in the current Zoning Ordinance that they thought

gestions aimed at drawing back or eliminate some county oversight.

Specific areas regulations discussed

during the work session included parking requirements, allowing food sales at events, operational hours, exterior lighting requirements, building sizes and water.

Morven Park Executive Director and CEO Stacey Metcalfe said standards are often applied to the equine industry that are not required of other agricultural uses, making it harder on the industry to thrive. She cited extensive growth at Morven Park but said that if the county wanted to build another large-scale equine performance center, the current Zoning Ordinance would not allow it.

“I believe that it is in our best interest to have consistency in regulation across all agricultural uses,” she said.

That approach was also supported by Save Rural Loudoun Representative John Ellis, who said it was also the case for outdoor recreation facilities.

“There are different uses that are subject to different standards,” he said. “For example, depending on which outdoor recreation use you have you can more vehicles

ZONING FLEXIBILITY continues on page 5

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now

Morven Park Executive Director Stacey Metcalfe stands at the park's Leesburg equestrian facility which includes indoor and outdoor arenas and stables.

Zoning Flexibility

continued from page 4

on site for type of use and less for another type of use, more light pollution than on another, more disruption on a surrounding landscape than on another. Since the regulatory concerns are the same, there’s no obvious rationale for these differences in the ordinance.”

Loudoun County Equine Alliance President Kelly Foltman said the current limitations on when stables and liveries may operate are unnecessary and detrimental to the animals’ health.

“Horses’ care is a 24-hour responsibility. While we appreciate having morning hours extended, staff must have the ability to observe and care for horses at events and liveries at all hours,” she said.

In smaller commercial facilities, clients occasionally want to use an indoor or outdoor arena in the early morning hours before work begins, while at larger events, workers often arrive long before the event begins to prepare the animals and facilities.

Parking requirements are also a concern, stakeholders said.

Planning Commissioner Mark Miller (Catoctin) said currently the ordinance allows 300 parking spaces for the first 100

acres of land, and an additional two cars per acre over that.

“That’s an arbitrary number. It was pulled out of the sky,” he said.

“Spillover” parking is allowed for wineries and breweries, Foltman said, it should be allowed for equine uses as well.

“That’s why we want to be able to have field parking,” she said.

Cavallo Farm Trainer Mike Bertozzi said requiring paved surfaces is often not in the animals’ best interest.

“On a lot of these activities, the horses themselves are better off on grass. … I don’t pave my roads. I don’t want any pavement around my farm for the very specific facts of the animals. And so, demanding I do something that’s not in the animals’ best interest,” he said.

Stakeholders also suggested reevaluating setback requirements, removing equine uses from the agricultural support category that has more stringent regulations and creating its own classification, reviewing lighting standards to develop more appropriate regulations for rural parts of the county and buffering requirements.

Foltman said it should not be the property owner’s responsibility to construct a buffer if a neighbor moves in and complains about seeing facilities.

“I think it’s really cleaner to say, if the person next door doesn’t like to look at

your barn or outdoor ring, or whatever it is, or your tasting room, they can plant evergreens, or they can put a berm up themselves to block that,” she said.

Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin) said an important “guiding principle” he will be keeping in mind throughout the amendment drafting process is found in the Comprehensive Plan, which says the goal for western Loudoun is to limit residential development to protect rural economic uses and open spaces.

“If you look at that, houses are kind of second. Residents are a little bit second in some of this,” he said.

Kershner also reiterated concerns about implementing unnecessary restrictions.

“When we overregulate and I’m very concerned as we go through this we’ll do that, so I’m going to be looking to remove some of the shackles of the regulation, we steal capital from some of these small businesses and in its place houses will come,” he said.

The next stakeholder meeting is scheduled for Jan. 23 and will cover agricultural processing and other farm-related uses.

Areas of interest and suggestions made by the committee will be taken into account by county planning staff as they draft the amendments, which will then go through the full Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for public hearings and final votes. n

ON THE agenda

Board Approves Old Wheatland Road for Paving

An effort by some Waterford-area residents to have a portion of Old Wheatland Road paved was successful, after the Board of Supervisors approved its annual update to the county’s Secondary Road Six-Year Plan on Nov. 7.

The plan lists Old Wheatland as the only road included in next year’s plans for paving. Only a 0.8-mile portion of the road will be paved, between Rosemont Farm Place and Milltown Road. The project is estimated to cost $1.6 million. That will be partially funded by a cash contribution from the developer of Old Wheatland Estates totaling $682,968. State grant funds will make up the rest of the cost.

During an Oct. 9 public hearing, several residents supported the paving saying the current conditions of the road are unsafe citing increasing traffic, excessive dust and narrow travel lanes.

On the Agenda

continued from page 5

Supervisors approved the item on an 8-0 vote with Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) absent.

Bus Routes Cancelations

Go into Effect Dec. 2

Starting Monday, 10 of the county’s bus service routes will be discontinued after underperforming in customer demand.

The morning routes discontinued are the 5:23 and 5:50 a.m. from Dulles South. Evening routes include 2:54 and 5:15 p.m. from the Pentagon; 5:15 and 6 p.m. from Washington, DC to Dulles South and East Gate; two 5:15 p.m. routes from Washington, DC; 5:35 p.m. from Crystal City and 6:10 p.m. from Washington, DC, to the Dulles Transit Center, Leesburg and Harmony.

A new route will be added with a departure at 5:45 p.m. from Washington, DC, to the Dulles Transit Center, Leesburg and Harmony.

The Board of Supervisors approved the change during its Transit Summit in May. The board also voted to increase fare fees by $1 and eliminate operations at the Brambleton Park and Ride lot because of low ridership.

Mental Health, Substance Abuse Trainings Planned

The county is offering free mental health education and substance abuse prevention training sessions throughout December.

Adverse Childhood Experiences virtual training will take place Monday, Dec. 9 at noon and will aim to raise awareness of the impact of potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood.

Mental Health First Aid is a two-day training that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. The session for adults will take place Dec. 5-6 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day. A virtual youth training is scheduled for Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Opioid Overdose Reversal training teaches attendees how to assist someone experiences an overdose. Graduates are given a free dose of naloxone to keep. That session is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m.

Suicide Prevention training helps people recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to refer someone for professional help. That is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.

For more information on the prevention and intervention services offered by the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services, go to  loudoun.gov/MHSADSPrevention. n

Broadband

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completion, originally planned for July 2023, would be pushed back 15 months to October 2025.

At that time, 4,400 poles needed for the project had been inspected and prepared for connections, while another 8,000 remained under review. As of late October, 6,000 poles had cleared the approval process.

The process of inspecting and replacing utility poles has been a challenge throughout the state, where some 125,000 poles may be needed for broadband expansions.

In Loudoun, the issue has been complicated by other regulatory factors in some of the western towns.

Last March, the Round Hill Town Council raised the concern that the 40-year franchise agreement that permitted Dominion to conduct utility work in town expired more than a decade ago. Without that agreement, plans to string the network’s backbone lines on 82 poles along Main and Loudoun streets couldn’t go forward, they warned.

Dominion also lacked a franchise agreement with the Town of Hamilton, creating a roadblock for that section of the network.

In Hillsboro, the project has run afoul of the town ordinance requiring utilities to be placed underground along Rt. 9.

While those concerns went unaddressed for much of the year, there has been a flurry of work in recent weeks to get agreements in place, with Dominion engaging outside counsel to sort through the concerns and Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner’s (R-Catoctin) office jumping in to complete the deals.

Now, instead of negotiating new franchise agreements, Round Hill and Hamilton are developing project-specific memoranda of understanding to permit the lines.

Round Hill Mayor Scott Ramsey said it was not the towns that should be blamed for any delays.

“We had a meeting on this back in March. We gave our concerns to the town attorney. The town attorney then sent those concerns to Dominion. According to the memorandum of the town attorney, we got our first response in October,” he said during the council’s Nov. 20 meeting.

“It was definitely our direction to the town attorney and the town staff back in March that we don’t want to hold up construction. We just want to have some of our questions answered, and at least some

response to our concerns,” Ramsey said. “Our impression was that that might take 60 days or whatever. Instead, it sounds like there was little to no discussions or responses occurring. And now, in the past month, this has become where the towns are the reason this process behind schedule, and we’re being painted as the villains in this affair because we haven’t agreed to this MOU.”

“We don't want to hold up construction. We just want to have some of our questions answered, and at least some response to our concerns.”

— Scott Ramsey (Mayor, Round Hill)

Even with the agreement, the major concerns of town leaders won’t be addressed. Round Hill residents, who only have access to the Comcast network, will not be permitted to hook into the new fiber system. Also, there will be no guarantee that the existing poles will be removed when a new pole needs to be installed to support the broadband project.

The council is expected to approve the agreement at its next meeting.

In Hamilton, concerns are largely the same, with council members expressing frustration at slow responses from Dominion representatives and a lack of information. Council members also expressed concern that even without approval, the company would install the fiber.

“Getting information from Dominion has been very challenging,” Council Member Craig Green said. “We’ve been working on this for over a year and a half with them, I think, or at least over a year, and in September, we finally got a map that shows where they’re going.”

Town Attorney Maureen Gilmore, who also represents Round Hill, said after months of asking, she received information from the company four weeks ago, including where the company plans to run the fiber. She said she is concerned about the broad language sought for by Dominion throughout the MOU.

“One sticking point also, which again is

kind of unbelievable, we have provisions in there that says by 30 days after the project was complete, they had to clean up after themselves and restore and they took it out in the most recent draft,” she said.

Dominion Representation Brett Heather Freedson said the company has been working with the town but has also met with slow response times from town staff.

“Essentially, I don’t have a problem with anything that was in your bullet point list, but I have not seen a response to our recent draft,” she said.

Hillsboro faces a different set of challenges having fiber already connected to homes within the town that was installed underground during the 2020 traffic calming and streetscape project.

The town then established the Hillsboro Broadband Authority, which sets rates and regulates users. Mayor Roger Vance said he told Dominion he wanted the broadband to run underground through the town’s conduits, rather than above ground.

“We had a two-year back and forth with Dominion about running though Hillsboro,” he said.

However, Vance said after an agreement was unable to be reached, the company installed the fiber on existing poles through town.

“They want an MOU allowing them to do what they’ve already done,” he said.

Vance said he has countered the company’s latest draft MOU and is waiting to hear back from Dominion.

“We’re not trying to hold things up… I think we’re all looking for some reasonable accommodations. We know the value of this, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask that we be included in the proposition,” he said.

As of October, Dominion had completed 88 miles of the 168.6 miles of Loudoun backbone routes, with another 68 miles in progress. Just over 12 miles remained on hold.

The push to get the first customers hooked up will begin in the section with the most completed main-line fiber. That is going to be in the upper region of Zone 2 area that stretches from just north of Purcellville to Harpers Ferry. Residents who will be eligible for the first round of hook ups should be receiving promotional mailings and then emails to activate their accounts.

Those living in the other four Western Loudoun deployment zones are encouraged to register at apbfiber.com to be notified when their connections are ready— potentially early next year. n

Leesburg

Town Council Approves Data Center Water Agreement

leaders plan to promote closed-loop cooling systems, which use less water, for future data centers.

Director of Utilities Amy Wyks said the staff recommended specific conditions for the approval of the water system extension. The town should make certain that Stack’s average water daily demand and peak sewer flows don’t exceed what they propose, she said.

There’s

a HIDDEN TREASURE at Inova Loudoun Hospital

BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org

The Town Council on Nov. 12 approved plans to extend water and sewer service to the recently approved data center at the Village of Leesburg.

The applicant, Stack Infrastructure, will cover the costs of the utility upgrades, including the construction of a new pump station, needed to support the project.

The staff estimated the permit will cost $5.4 million.

The permit allows a maximum water demand of 109,000 gallons per day and a peak wastewater demand of 83,000 gallon per day.

Water capacity has been raised as a concern as the town sees more applications for data center construction. Town

“It is not a closed loop system, we have been working with the applicant for quite a while now, and they have worked with their engineer to look at the numbers,” Wyks said. “They’re comfortable with the 109,000, I believe they’re even including a margin of error potentially.”

Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg raised concerns about the possibility the project might need more water in the future.

“Is there a potential that their technology within the building, within their servers, would change and cause them to require a greater capacity than we now see?” he asked.

Wyks said the staff would monitor the water usage, and if Stack required more capacity the company would have to come back to the Town Council for approval.

A resolution for the conditional approval of the water and sanitary sewer extension was approved on a 6-1, with Council Member Kari Nacy opposed. n

Leesburg to Establish Auxiliary Police

BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org

The Town of Leesburg is establishing an auxiliary police force.

Police Chief Thea Pirnat said she intends for the program to begin with three new auxiliary police officers, eventually growing to 12. The program is designed to support the wellbeing of officers frequently working double shifts and to provide extra support during special events. Programs like town parades, she said, require a force of 34 officers.

The primary responsibilities of APOs include traffic control, patrolling, low risk service calls, and parking complaints. APOs would not have the authority to detain or arrest individuals, and most will start at a level-three certification, meaning they do not have access to a service weapon. Under state code, the officers will have qualified immunity. APOs will also drive vehicles distinguishing them from regular

officers.

The staff estimates that the initial annual cost of the program will be $11,666, including equipment, training, and special risk accident insurance to cover three APOs. The town plans to allocate $15,014 annually for the program. Pirnat said the costs would decrease once officers are trained.

Aspiring APOs must be at least 21 years old, high school graduates, and complete training requirements as well as a background check.

The program is different than the current Citizens Support Team, which has trained volunteers who assist the department during special events, emergency situations and with neighborhood patrols.

During a Nov. 18 Town Council work session, Council Member Zach Cummings asked if the program would partner new APOs with more experienced

AUXILIARY POLICE continues on page 8

It’s not your average hospital gift shop, shoppers will find unique items, seasonal décor and casual clothing. You’re bound to find just the right present and maybe something for yourself, too!

All proceeds go to the Ladies Board to support Inova Loudoun

projects and nursing scholarships.

A rendering of the data center development on the east side of Crosstrail Boulevard east of the Village of Leesburg Development.

Council Delays Vote on Crescent District Plan Changes

BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.com

After two years of community input and Planning Commission review, proposed updates to the Leesburg’s Crescent District Master Plan will take a little bit longer to complete

Following a Nov. 19 public hearing, the Leesburg Town Council voted to dedicate more time to review the proposed changes.

The Crescent District Master Plan was created in 2006 to guide redevelopment in an area south and east of the town’s historic district. After approving the Virginia Village rezoning application in 2022, the council initiated a review of the policies, with the Planning Commission completing its review over the summer.

As a result of the Planning Commission’s review, the revised plan modifies the district boundaries to a smaller size, provides more detail on design criteria, added standards for infrastructure, multimodal transportation improvements and calls for more additional parking.

The commission also recommended rolling back use of form-based code, a key element in the original plan, for use in only two designated activity centers. Formbased code are zoning rules that focus on regulating the size and design of buildings rather than specific uses.

The revised plan would create two new walkable districts, or “activity centers,” one

AROUND town

LPD Teams up With Pizza Stores to Fight Holiday Scams

The Leesburg Police Department and town pizza establishments are using carry out and delivery boxes to educate residents about safe online shopping.

Delivery boxes from Giovanni’s New York Pizza, La Villa Roma Pizzeria, New Yorker Pizza and Solo NY Pizza have flyers with safety tips printed in English and Spanish affixed to boxes through Dec. 4.

The program is part of the Leesburg Police Department’s proactive community outreach efforts.

The flyers contain advice on avoiding phishing scams and fake packages and encourage shoppes to retain records of credit card transactions.

Public Information Officer Michele Bowman said scam and fraud calls seem to ramp up during the holidays.

at the shopping center property northeast of the Market Street and Catoctin Circle intersection and the other at the Virginia Village shopping center northeast of the King Street and Catoctin Circle intersection. Activity centers are envisioned as higher density developments with three to five story buildings, increased residential units, active ground floors, open public spaces, and a network of walkable streets, along with uses including parks, recreation facilities, libraries, medical facilities, and personal services.

Form-based code allows developers to move projects through the review process more quickly.

“The idea behind form-based code is that it’s prescriptive rather than proscriptive. So, you put the work in up front, and you put in the details about how you want the building forms to look,” Department of Community Development Director James David told the council.

David said the Planning Commission chose to keep form-based code only in activity centers rather than in the commercial corridor because members were concerned about allowing four- to five-story buildings across the entire Crescent District. He said that the commission studied form-based codes and found it worked better in smaller areas, rather than broader planning districts.

Questions were raised about whether the plan would promote affordable housing.

“If a deal is too good to be true, it is,” she said. “Things look so realistic now that more people fall for it.”

Chief Thea Pirnat said the department was excited to share “crucial shopping safety tips in a way that’s convenient and engaging.”

VDOT Hosts Dry Mill Bridge Virtual Meeting

The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a virtual public information meeting Thursday Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m. on plans to rehabilitate the historic Dry Mill Road bridge over the Washington and Old Dominion Trail.

VDOT hopes to improve driver and trail user safety and extend the overall life of the 27-ton masonry stone bridge, which was originally constructed in 1892.

Plans include the instillation of a strengthening system for the stone arch to remove current weight restrictions, repairing bridge spandrel walls and stone masonry, upgrading parapets, in-

“We need to be careful with what requirements we’re putting on folks who’re trying to build houses here, in this area,”

Council Member Zach Cummings said. “I would just urge us to think about all of those aspects—whether it’s a requirement for open space or limiting height, and in our efforts to make this truly the urban center for the town and allow us to put both affordable and market rate housing in the Crescent District.”

During the public hearing, Ned Quinn said he was part of a group that owns three properties outside of the activity zones that planned to develop affordable housing. He said if the council limited building heights to three stories the project could not more forward.

“I would like to see a little bit more consideration for some of those contiguous parcels outside of the activity areas where something nice can be done to solve a town problem,” Quinn said.

Department of Community Development Director James David said the traditional rezoning process would be available to parcels outside the activity center to permit buildings higher than three stories.

Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg said the plan wouldn’t succeed if it relied on small parcels developing individually.

Cummings said taking more time to include more detail would be worth the time and effort.

Auxiliary Police

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The council voted to hold a future work session to iron out some of the details. n officers.

stalling slope protection and new guardrail end treatments, washing the bridge, and repaving roadway approaches.

Residents who wish to attend the meeting can register on VDOT’s website or can listen through their phones by dialing 877-568-4108 (password:585-381-412. Staff will answer questions after the presentation. Residents can email comments to meetingcomments@vdot.virginia.gov,

Pirnat said that the department intends to hire retired police officers who already have experience.

“I’ve been cold contacted by two people that are interested [in being APOs],” Pirnat said. “One is an auxiliary police officer with another program, and he is interested in coming over and being what we call a lead auxiliary police officer.”

Pirnat said she plans for these more experienced APOs to take leadership roles. She added that the department would entertain the idea of allowing retired regular officers to carry weapons if working in APO roles.

The council held a public hearing on the program Tuesday night. Cummings asked if it could be an opportunity for adults looking to join the police force to gain experience. Pirnat said that it would, adding that once a full Auxiliary Police Academy is established, officers interested in doing full-time work earn certifications to aid in that process.

Long term, Pirnat wants the auxiliary academy to operate independently under the leadership of experienced APOs.

Pirnat said other auxiliary academies in the region require eight weeks of training or 96 hours of classroom time. Since many APOs have other jobs, that training is flexible and can take place on evenings and weekends. n

referencing “Dry Mill Road over Washington and Old Dominion Trail Bridge Rehabilitation” in the subject line. Comment can also be sent via the online comment form.

VDOT will post a recording and PDF presentation on their website.

Morven Park Road Contractors Continue Improvements

Leesburg announced that work on the storm and sewer portion of the Morven Park Road Project continues.

The town said the sewer main along old Waterford Road is near its conclusion, with a tie-in expected to be completed next week. They added that storm pipe instillation is progressing.

The $2.7 million contract was awarded to Ardent Construction LLC to improve a half-mile section of the Morven Park road in May of this year.

Driveway access will be maintained during construction using a flagging operation. n

William Timme/Loudoun Now

The historic Dry Mill Road Bridge, originally constructed in 1892.

Council Retreats from Doubling Developer Parking Fee Requirements In Downtown

BY WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.com

A month after proposing the measure, the Leesburg Town Council last week voted down a plan to double fees charged to downtown developers unable to provide required on-site parking for their projects.

Deputy Director of Community Development Brian Boucher on Oct. 7 recommended the town increase the per space charge—known as the parking in lieu fee—from $8,254 to $16,800. The ordinance change would apply to the H-1 Overlay District, where commercial property owners can avoid some on-site parking requirements with the payments. The $16,800 price is roughly half the estimated cost of providing a space in a parking garage.

Since the fee’s inception in 1985, 300 spaces have been purchased, according to the town. The fee was increased to $6,270 in 2014 with a consumer price index escalator clause. According to the staff, all money collected from the fee has been deposited into a dedicated account for the “exclusive use of planning, designing, acquiring, and developing public parking facilities within the H-1 Overlay District.” The balance of that fund sits at $479,717. The only expenditure to date was $8,200 to establish a temporary public parking lot at the intersection of Church and Loudoun streets.

Council Member Zach Cummings during the hearing asked Boucher if any parking spaces had been built using the account money. Boucher said there hadn’t.

Council members opposing the ordinance change said they wanted to see

a plan put in place to provide parking throughout town.

“To move forward a comprehensive parking strategy, not a study, but a strategy looking at and anticipating future public parking needs, structured parking, overall fees, on street parking, garage parking, all that from a comprehensive perspective, looking at that is at least a goal toward what we need to raise,” Council member Ara Bagdasarian said.

Cummings said he had a hard time increasing the fee when none of the money had been used to build parking. He asked for a conversation about parking and how to add spaces in the future.

But Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg, who supported the increase, said he wanted to see the parking fund be used for construction and maintenance.

“There’s no denying that we haven’t built a parking space or a parking facility yet, but I think that simply speaks to how grossly underfunded this program is and couldn’t even come close to achieving that goal,” Steinberg said. “In addition, I’m not entirely sure why the original ordinance prevented maintenance, at least, but I think this moves us in a better direction to be able to deal with badly needed infrastructure in parts of town.”

Mayor Kelly Burk added that she thought parking in leu fee program was generous to downtown developers.

“If something’s going to cost 30,000 dollars and we’re giving it to them for 16, I think they’re getting a deal,” she said.

The council voted 4-3 to not make the change. Bagdasarian, Cummings, Patrick Wilt and Kari Nacy opposed it, and Steinberg, Burk, and Todd Cimino-Johnson supported the change. n

More than 700 Join in Freeze Your Gizzard Race

There were bundled up babies, dogs in sweaters and turkey costumes and nearly 750 runners participating in Saturday’s Freeze Your Gizzard 5K race at Ida Lee Park.

It was the 22nd year for the event, which doubles as a holiday food collection Loudoun Hunger Relief’s food pantry.

The first-place runner was Scott Doescher of Gainsville with a time of 16:21. Jovie Dyke of Bluemont was the fastest female runner, finishing with a time of 21:26. n

Amber Lucas/Loudoun Now

Education

Students Get Hands-On Medical Training Through BLOOM

BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org

Sixth graders from around Loudoun County got up close experiences with the medical field this week as part of the third annual BLOOM program offered by Inova Loudoun Hospital and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue.

The two-day program helps students decide if they want to apply for the Health and Medical Sciences Academy during their high school years, according to Loudoun Education Foundation Director of Development Kari Murphy.

On Tuesday, approximately 100 sixth grade students from Leesburg’s three middle schools met at Simpson Middle School to participate in hands-on training stations covering topics of how to stop bleeding and perform CPR and exploring the Inova Mobile Health Bus and an ambulance. Students also participated

in a question-and-answer session with Inova Hospital professionals, including surgeons, nurses and social workers.

Vandana Sharma, coordinator of the Health and Medical Sciences Academy, spearheaded the event with the help of the Loudoun Education Foundation.

“They learn a little bit more about people’s journeys and how they came to be the physician and where they are right now. This is all to expose them,” she said. “But there is not just one set career. There are so many different things you can do within healthcare.”

In stop the bleed, they were shown how to apply a tourniquet and pack a wound by Amy Baker, a clinical nurse educator in trauma services at Inova.

“Let’s say an ambulance hasn’t come yet, and you’re like, ‘oh my goodness, I’m so tired,’” she told students about the importance of applying pressure to slow bleeding. “Switch. If you have to use your elbow, switch to your elbow. You have to

use your knee. Switch all of your body parts. Hold that pressure. We want to hold it ‘til the ambulance comes, because once we release it, what happens? It all starts bleeding again.”

They were also given lessons in CPR by Loudoun Fire and Rescue EMS workers. Students learned the correct speed to do compressions, advised to keep up the timing by singing “Baby Shark,” or the more inspirational “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees.

Registered Nurse Leslie Brundage taught students about the importance of healthy eating, not taking medication their parents didn’t give them, and where the mobile health unit goes and how it helps people.

The question-and-answer session taught students where medical professionals came from, how many different fields there are, what it takes to get through school, and answered the students’ questions about their jobs. n

The Town of Leesburg invites you to enjoy and experience the holiday magic of Historic Leesburg

IN

Shop Small Saturday

Saturday, November 30 ~ All Day Shop and dine around Historic Downtown Leesburg on this special day to support local small businesses.

Victorian Carolers

Saturday, November 30 ~ 2:00pm-5:00pm

The Pickwick Singers will be dressed in Victorian costumes, as they stroll around caroling everyone they meet.

Leesburg First Friday

Friday, December 6 ~ 6:00pm-9:00pm

Over 15 live music events, wine tastings, art exhibits, special activities, and more. It’s fun and free!

Holiday Market at the Courthouse

Saturday, December 7 ~ 12:00pm-4:00pm Pop-up holiday market on the courthouse grounds with many gifts under $25.

Holidays in Leesburg Fine Arts & Crafts Show

Saturday, December 7 ~ 9:00am-4:00pm & Sunday, December 8 ~ 10:00am-4:00pm

Over 95 local and regional artisans will be selling original handcrafted items at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center. Free parking and admission to the show.

Holiday Tree Lighting

Saturday, December 7 ~ 6:00pm Join friends and neighbors to celebrate the start of the holiday season. Held on Town Green.

A Downtown Hometown Holiday

Saturday, December 14 ~ 1:00pm-3:00pm

Enjoy strolling carolers & holiday characters, photos with Santa, holiday open houses, and free holiday wrapping.

Annual Christmas & Holiday Parade

Saturday, December 14 ~ 6:00pm

The parade will usher Santa and his friends down King Street through Historic Leesburg. Parade begins at Ida Lee Park and ends at Fairfax Street. Parade participation is free and open to the public.

Amber Lucas/Loudoun Now. Amy Baker demonstrates how to use a tourniquet during “stop the bleed” at the Nov. 26

School Board Supports Calls for Inclusive Playgrounds

BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org

In the weeks since Superintendent Aaron Spence presented his $405.4 million six-year construction plan for the school division, the community debate has not centered on the need to build new schools but on how to serve students who are often excluded from activities.

In its recent meetings, the School Board has been hearing from delegations of students and parents pressing to build more inclusive playgrounds on school campuses. Spence’s plan has funding to upgrade three each year and proposes an increase to six per year in fiscal year 2030. The advocates want the work to be done faster.

“Our disabled children face enough hardship. Play should not be one of them, not to mention the lifelong psychological issues that rise from exclusion in their early childhood development,” said Carrie Adams, a mother of a first grader.

SCHOOL notebook

Essay Contest Opens for Loudoun Chamber’s Civic Bee

The contest period is open for the Loudoun Chamber’s Civics Bee.

The program is sponsored in partnership with U.S. Chamber Foundation and supported by The Morven Park Center for Civic Impact and the Loudoun School-Business Partnership Executive Council.

The first-of-its-kind civics competition encourages students to develop their interest in American democracy, engage constructively in their communities, and build trust with their fellow citizens.

Students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades from public, private, and home schools are invited to participate. The Civics Bee’s first round is an essay competition. Based on the assessment of a blue-ribbon panel of community leaders, the top 20 students will advance to an in-person competition.

Essays may be submitted through Feb. 4.

Top finalists will gather at Morven

Chief Operations Officer Kevin Lewis provided more details on the work during a meeting Nov. 19.

Inclusive playgrounds are only available at 18 elementary schools in the county, with three more at high schools with early child development programs. There are 36 other schools on the list for renovations. Lewis projects that work would be complete by 2035.

He said the order of the renovations is decided by the age of the play structure. In the current plan, that policy puts some high school playgrounds on the list before some elementary school and preschool playgrounds.

Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) suggested the board shift the construction budget to accommodate building more than three playgrounds per year. At $350,000 each, 12 upgrades would cost $4.2 million. This sentiment was supported by several on the board.

Lauren Shernoff (Leesburg) said that, as a child development major, she also supports finding money for this endeavor.

“When I think about little our little

on March 5. The first-place student will advance to the State Civics Bee finals, with a chance to compete in the National Championship in Washington, DC, and compete for prizes worth $50,000 next fall. For more details on how to enter an essay or to become a community sponsor of the local competition, go to loudounchamber.org/civics-bee.

Panel Proposes New Expulsion Appeals Process

The School Board’s Student Behavior and Accountability Committee on Monday voted to recommend changes the disciplinary hearing process to permit the panel, rather than the full School Board, to act on unappealed decisions of student suspensions or expulsions.

Currently, appeals of administrators’ decisions to impose a long-term suspension or expulsion of a students are heard by the full School Board. Under the new proposal, the student behavior committee could conduct that review. If unanimous, the decision would be final. If the three-member committee was split, the disciplinary action could be appealed to the full board.

friends standing on the playground and not being able to play, and I’m really struggling with that, and so I’m trying with a more limited scope than you have, and your team has to figure out where we can find that money,” she said.

Anne Donohue (At-Large) suggested earmarking year-end budget surpluses to help accelerate the projects.

With confirmation from Lewis that 12 playgrounds per year is feasible, Chair Melinda Mansfield (Dulles) won support in directing the staff to develop plans to implement a 12-playgroundsper-year improvement schedule, to put elementary school playgrounds before high school playgrounds and to accelerate options for preschool playgrounds for special education students. April Chandler (Algonkian) added that mobility-aided student populations should also be higher on the priority list than the high schools.

Lewis will present new options to the board at its Dec. 2 meeting. The board is scheduled to vote on the construction plan Dec. 10. n

Committee members advocating the change said it would allow the School Board to work more efficiently. The proposal will go to the full board for action

County Opens New Survey on Youth Issues

The Loudoun County Advisory Commission on Youth is conducting a survey to help inform county leaders about services and programs designed to meet the needs of young people in the community.

The survey is intended for middle and high-school-aged students and their parents/guardians. The 10-minute survey covers four topic areas: activities and interests. drug and alcohol use, mental health and stress management, and online access and activity. Responses are anonymous. The survey is open through Dec. 31.

The results will be used to compile the commission’s annual State of Loudoun Youth to be presented to the Board of Supervisors.

More information about existing youth services offered by Loudoun County is online at loudoun.gov/youth. n

Earlier Start Date Eyed in School Calendar Options

BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org

By 2026, classes for Loudoun County Public Schools students could start as early as Aug. 4 under calendar options under review by the School Board; and there’s a potential for a switch to year-round classes in the years ahead.

Administrators typically look several years ahead when planning the school calendar, with talks happening now for the 2026-2027 school year and discussions for 2027-2028 planned next spring.

After receiving over 20,000 responses to a calendar satisfaction survey, administrators created four options for consideration. Since the survey showed that 72% of responders support an alternative calendar option, there is a wide range of choices for discussion. All options keep the same length for spring and winter breaks and the current number of school holidays, conditions supported by the survey data.

Historically, there have been 180 instructional days for students, except for Election Day conflicts in 2024 and 2025. A start date two weeks before Labor Day and an end date in early June has been the standard.

The first option is very similar to the current calendar. The main change would have the first day of school as a Monday and not a Thursday. School would begin Aug. 18 and end June 11 and would maintain the current holiday schedule.

The second and third options would shift the calendar to much earlier start and end dates. Option Two maintains 180 instructional days, with classes running from Tuesday, Aug. 4 to May 28. The option comes with a shorter summer break in the first year of adoption.

Option Three is similar, but would start on Wednesday, Aug. 12 and end May 28, providing 174 instructional days.

Both of those options would eliminate the time after standardized testing when productivity is low and would maintain the current holiday and break schedule.

Option Four creates a more balanced break schedule and places spring break the week after Easter. It also has 174 instructional days but keeps the first day of school as a Thursday and runs from Aug. 13 to May 28.

Year-round school options that run from mid-July to early June are being drafted as well. These would provide for a two-week fall break, three-week winter break, and two-week spring break. It would be based on a 45-10 model, where for every 45 days of school there would be a 10-day break.

The board is expected to set the calendar for the 2026-2027 school year item at the Dec. 10 School Board meeting. n

Mercer Renaming Committee Continues Deliberations

BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org

The committee appointed to potentially rename Mercer Middle School met last week to discuss alternate names to present to the School Board and whether to add the current name to that list.

The need to change the name at all remains under debate, with Pastor Michelle Thomas, Loudoun NAACP president, championing the efforts to completely change it and Victoria Spiotto, a teacher at the school, opposing it.

The name changing effort resulted from a consultant study of school facility names that could be associated with slavery or the Confederacy as part of a broader effort to address concerns about systemic racism. Mercer Middle School was targeted for study because of link to Loudoun businessman and Congressman Charles F. Mercer, who owned slaves.

Alexandra Fernandez said that all of her African American children have experienced racism at Loudoun County Public Schools. She urges people to change the name.

“We need to understand. We don’t walk in everyone’s shoes,” she said.

Spiotto said the school was named after the county’s former Mercer election district and should be viewed as neutral. She said the school was not named to

honor Charles Mercer and she would be ashamed if it was.

She does support rebranding Mercer in honor of another famous Mercer not connected with slavery as has been advocated by some.

New names for the school that were suggested to the committee include: Charles F. Mercer, Margaret Mercer, John Mercer Langston, Mercer, Justice, Gum Spring, Ethel Stewart Smith, Thomas Sewell Inborden, Josie Cook Murray, Greenstone, Flossie L. Furr, Claire Girard and Marble Quarry.

Thomas recommended Leonard Grimes and Bazil Newman, both Loudoun County abolitionists.

Richard Dinetz agreed with Spiotto that a rebrand could be better than a complete name change. He said everyone in this process is “coming from a place of good for the community we represent.”

John Mercer Langston, the first Black American to represent Virginia in the House of Representatives was the name most discussed as a possible compromise, with options discussed from changing the school’s name to simply adding a plaque and statue to honor him.

Committee Chair Meredith Ray said a community survey would gather additional input. After that, committee members would get to vote on their top name choices to narrow the list. n

Woodgrove Cited as Model to Tackle Chronic Absenteeism

BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org

The School Board’s newly formed Performance Monitoring Committee is taking a deeper dive into concerns about chronic absenteeism and looking at successful monitoring and communication systems employed at Woodgrove High School as a model for other schools.

To be labeled chronically absent, a student has to miss 10% of the school year. Virginia code defines truancy as five or more unexcused absences and requires court notification after seven unexcused absences.

Woodgrove took its chronic absentee rate from 22% at the end of the 2022-2023 school year to 12% last year. This year, as of Nov. 13, the rate was at 13%. The rate changes daily during the first few months of the school year but tends to flatten out as the year progresses.

The staff members credit the dramatic improvement to their attendance tracking system and weekly parent notification of who appears on the chronically absent list. Their attendance system is a Google

Lightridge HS Community Comes Together to Support Flag Football

BY AMBER LUCAS alucas@loudounnow.org

A delegation from Lightridge High School in Aldie is leading an effort to establish flag football as a school-sanctioned varsity sport in Loudoun County.

In making a pitch to the School Board last week, Counselor Jennifer Schrader said flag football is the fastest growing sport in America, landing an addition to the 2028 Olympics lineup.

David Keller, a flag football coach, said there are approximately 2.4 million youth athletes participating in flag football—66% of those are female.

Jackie Socia and Alanna Espriratu, both high school students involved in flag football, told the board there would be minimal start-up cost for program because funding sources and sponsors have already come forward.

Speakers highlighted the benefits high school sports like flag football provide to female students, including making lifelong friends, benefits of women being able to play together, and oppor-

Absenteeism

continued from page 14

Sheet that has 42 tabs to track different aspects of student data. It is updated daily, and the information is sent to counselors weekly so they can add or review specific notes and keep track of which students need extra support.

At least 16 other schools adopted Woodgrove’s system this year.

“I got an email from [my daughter’s] principal saying, go to our website and take a look at our attendance procedures for this year. I was curious what those were. I opened up the link, and it’s exactly our Google Doc, so I didn’t know that they were using it. So at least 16 other LCPS schools we’ve been in contact with,” said Jeff Schutte, Woodgrove High School’s student activities and engagement coordinator.

Parents are notified by email each Friday if their student is found to be chronically absent. The letters start going out a few weeks into the school year. Counselors can review specific circumstances of each student and

tunities for college recruitment.

Lightridge teacher Myron Curtis said football was a big part of his daughters’ lives, even after he gave up coaching varsity to spend more time with them. His youngest daughter especially has a love for the game, and he wants her to be able to chase that.

“When Ms. Schrader took over the initiative for getting this program rolling, I, like many girl dads, realized there was hope for our daughters, that opportunities are being created right now,” Curtis said.

Virginia High School League teams are already established in several districts in southwest Virginia, including Wythe County, Augusta County and Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County.

School Board member Sumera Rashid (Little River), whose district includes the school, said she is supportive of the effort, but that it is unlikely to be included in this year’s budget talks. She said she would like to make it a priority in the future, however. n

have the ability to take them off the mailing list if there are special circumstances including death in the family or hospitalizations.

The first letter is sent after a student reaches the 10% absence threshold. If there has been 40 days of school so far, that is four missed school days. A second letter is sent after a student misses one day over the threshold, and a third is sent after 15% of school days are missed. After the 15% mark, a medical note is required.

Five days of truancy triggers a court notification, and seven to 10 days triggers a conference that includes parents or guardians, the student, a social worker and a student support advisor.

Other efforts to address chronic absenteeism include year-round student support advisors, creating more consistency the consequences of missed days among elementary, middle and high schools, better defining the threshold for requiring medical notes, and conducting strategic planning around high absence days like Thanksgiving week. n

Public Safety

Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty after Abandoning Dogs in Sterling Home

WILLIAM TIMME wtimme@loudounnow.org

Loudoun County Animal Services last week charged a Sterling woman with two counts of felony animal cruelty and one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty.

LCAS humane law enforcement officers responded to calls regarding a stray dog found roaming near Sugarland Drive in Sterling on Oct. 31. Officers found a microchip on the dog, which led them the owner, 70-year-old Sandra Ulrike Landgraf, who was living at an extended stay hotel.

On Nov. 4. Animal services found two additional dogs had been left inside her Sterling home for an extended period of time and found the conditions inside the home to be consistent with extreme hoarding. Landgraf said she had not been inside the house since the spring and that the dogs hadn’t been given food or water since.

The surviving dog, Elvis, a 10-year-old Chinese crested mix, is believed to have survived by escaping through a gap in the property’s fence in October.

Chief of Loudoun County Animal Services Chris Brosan said Elvis had likely been able to escape through the gap because of his emaciated condition.

But Brosan said Elvis’s survival took more than starving to fit through the gap.

“The assumption, based on the fact that we found the other two dogs deceased in

the house, and they were basically skeletons, is that [Elvis] actually fed on the other two dogs after they were deceased,” Brosan said.

Investigators said Elvis also likely consumed trash, rodents, and insects to survive.

Director of Animal Services Nina Stively called the case heartbreaking and completely preventable.

“We always want to support our community’s pet owners, but there is no excuse to move out and leave your pets without food, water, or care,” she said.

Brosan said signs of severe hoarding were evident both inside the house and in the backyard.

“We deal with hoarding cases all the time,” Brosan said. “Anything you can think of is saved and it just piles up and up to the point where there’s either no pathway through the house, where you actually have to walk across items, or there’s very narrow pathways that you have to navigate through to get to certain areas of the house.”

He added that courts define hoarding as a mental illness.

Landgraf is scheduled to appear in Loudoun County General District Court on Dec. 10. She faces up to five years in prison for each felony conviction and a possible fine of no more than $2,500. The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of up to a $2,500 fine and a year in jail. n

Loudoun County Animal Shelter

Elvis in a doggy bed is under the care of Loudoun County Animal Services.

Woman Charged in Father’s Murder Enters Insanity Plea

A woman charged in fatal shooting of her father in 2022 pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity during a Nov. 21 Circuit Court hearing.

Alicia Carroll is charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and shooting or stabbing in commission of a felony.

According to the Sheriff ’s Office, deputies responded to a Fording Branch Court home shortly after 10 p.m. Sept. 7, 2022, for a reported shooting. They found Jeffrey Carroll, 57, dead inside the home. Alicia Carroll was located near the home and arrested.

Since her arrest, Carroll has undergone three psychological evaluations. She was assessed by Dr. Mark Hastings in November 2022 and April 2024 and by Dr. Kathia Amaya in August 2024.

According to Judge Stephen E. Sincavage, both evaluations done this year found her to be insane at the time of the shooting and without capacity to be

SAFETY briefs

culpable. All evaluations are currently sealed.

Should Carroll be found not guilty by reason of insanity, she faces possible hospitalization with annual court reviews regarding her progress.

Carroll has been remanded to the custody of the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Hearing Set for Driver Charged in Fatal Crash

The driver of a 2023 Ford Mustang that crashed along Tall Cedars Parkway early Friday morning has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Two passengers were ejected from the vehicle after it ran off the road and hit multiple trees. One was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was transported to Reston Hospital and pronounced dead there.

Bijay Tamang, 30, of Aldie, was also transported to Reston Hospital before being taken to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center where he was

held without bond.

According to the arrest warrant, Tamang admitted to deputies that he was driving the vehicle and was intoxicated. The deputy also reported Taman smelled of alcohol, had red blurry eyes and had trouble following directions. Speed above the posted limit is also believed to have been a factor.

Tamang is scheduled to appear in General District Court on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. for a preliminary hearing.

A conviction of involuntary manslaughter carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Herndon Man Pleads Guilty to Leesburg Shooting

A Herndon-area man arrested in connection to a May 30 shooting in Leesburg pleaded guilty to four felony charges during a Nov. 21 Circuit Court hearing.

Zeon Garner, 21, was charged with three counts of malicious wounding and one count of reckless handling of a firearm.

According to the report, Leesburg Police officers were called to an Edwards Ferry Road apartment complex just after 7:45 p.m. May 30. Two young adult males and one juvenile were found suffering from gunshot wounds and transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Under questioning Garner admitted to shooting the individuals, according to the arrest warrant.

A Loudoun grand jury handed down indictments on two of the charges, while Garner waived indictment on the remaining two.

In exchange, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office agreed not to prosecute more charges related to the incident and to recommend a sentence cap in accordance with the sentencing guidelines, which have not yet been released for the case.

Judge Stephen E. Sincavage deferred acceptance of the pleas until the sentencing guideline report was complete.

Garner is scheduled to appear back in the Circuit Court on Feb. 27. n

How Can A Newspaper Be A Nonprofit?

Just like PBS is viewer supported and NPR is listener supported, newspapers can be reader supported. Loudoun Now has become a nonprofit so we can continue our free non-partisan journalism and community commitment for years to come.

Court Cases Advance for 10 Arrested in Leesburg Organized Retail Thefts

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Cases against 10 New York residents arrested in September under suspicion of conducting organized retail thefts in Leesburg are continuing to advance through the courts.

According to Leesburg Police, just before 5:30 p.m. Sept. 1, officers responded to the Target store on Edwards Ferry Road for a report of a group of people who had removed items from the store and were trying to leave in two vehicles. Officers stopped them in the parking lot. Inside the vehicles officers found “a large amount of merchandise from Target.”

Police charged Yerianny De Los Angel Carrasquero-Salas, 26, Amilkor J. Camargo Sarmiento, 29, Fernando De Jesus Pizarro Paredes, 35, Keider J. Vacca Velazco, 22, Yoccelin M. Rodriguez Barroso, 31, Nicandro Aquirre Guerra, 30, Yetsai Del Carmen Gerrero Toledo, 22 and Edison Pinto Pardron, 25, all of New

York, with grand larceny, possession of burglarious tools, conspiracy, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Carrasquero-Salas, Pizarro Paredes and Rodriguez Barroso waived preliminary hearings in the General District Court for the conspiracy charges, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office opted not prosecute the remaining charges against them. They are all scheduled to appear in Circuit Court on Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.

Camargo Sarmiento and Vacca Velazco were previously scheduled for preliminary hearings in General District Court on Nov. 20, but those were continued. They are scheduled to return before the court Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. Camargo Sarmiento and Vacca Velazco were released on $2,500 unsecured bonds in September. They are both currently being held in federal custody.

Aguirre Guerra pleaded no contest to the charges of accessory to grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny during a Nov. 20 General District Court

hearing. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office did not prosecute the possession of burglary tools charge against him.

He was sentenced to 360 days in jail for each charge, with all of that time suspended, and required to pay court costs totaling $1,021.

Pinto Padron waived preliminary hearing in General District Court on the conspiracy to commit grand larceny charges, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office dropped the possession of burglary tools and the accessory charges. The conspiracy charge has been upgraded to a grand larceny charge and Pinto Padron is scheduled to appear in Circuit Court on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m.

Guerrero-Toledo entered into a plea agreement with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office pleading guilty to grand larceny. She was sentenced to two years of suspended jail time and two years of supervised probation. Guerrero-Toledo is also required to pay $458 in court costs. n

Nonprofits

AWS Opens Applications for $250K in Local Grants

Amazon Web Services is accepting applications for grants through its $250,000 AWS Community Fund.

In its second year, the fund supports local programs in Loudoun, Prince William, and Fairfax counties. Grants are open to individuals, community groups, schools, nonprofits, and other organizations.

Nonprofit applicants may apply for grants up to $10,000, individuals and community groups may apply for up to $5,000.

Project themes include community, education and access, homelessness, health and wellbeing, hunger, mental health, inclusion, diversity and equity.

Applicants may also apply for funding to launch local chapters of three global community programs that have been successful in other communities: Repair Café US, which organizes a free meeting place to repair things instead of throwing them away; Community Fridge, which provides a place to share good food that would otherwise go to waste; or OpenSeat Mindful Meals; which hosts a meal-sharing moment with others to discuss healthy responses to mental health issues.

“At AWS, we recognize that true community impact begins at the grassroots level. Our program empowers local residents and organizations in Northern

Virginia to turn their visionary ideas into reality,” stated Sarah Georgiades, Head of InCommunities, Americas at AWS.

“By strategically investing in community-driven initiatives, we’re supporting significant progress in critical areas such as education, equity, and public health, creating a ripple effect of positive change throughout the region.”

Applications for the AWS Community Fund will be accepted until Dec. 31 and will be administered by ChangeX. The nonprofit will review and score applications against funding criteria and the potential impact to the community, especially underserved populations.

Those interested in applying are encouraged to participate in an information session to be held over Zoom on Dec. 4.

In addition to the Community Fund, AWS also supports STEM education for school age children through programs such as AWS Girls’ Tech Day and launched initiatives with local organizations to provide equitable gathering spaces and education for the community. In 2022, the AWS Community Fund supported 45 sustainability-focused community projects across Northern Virginia.

To apply and for more information on the 2024 fund, click here to access the ChangeX platform. n

$65K Awarded to Animal Rescue Organizations

The Ursula Landsrath Animal Rescue Fund and the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties are issuing $65,072 in grant awards to 41 nonprofit animal rescue organizations across Virginia.

In Loudoun, grants were awarded to A Fighting Chance Foundation, $1,000; Equine Rescue League Foundation, $1,500; Friends of Homeless Animals, $1,500; Humane Society of Loudoun County, $1,500; Loudoun Community Cat Coalition; and The Cats at Longstreet, $1,000.

Ursula Landsrath founded the Animal Rescue Fund of Virginia as an

independent organization in 2008, distributing more than $1 million to Virginia-based animal rescue organizations before shutting down grantmaking operations in 2017 when she became seriously ill. Her husband and friends created the Ursula Landsrath Animal Rescue Fund within the Community Foundation at her passing in January 2019 to ensure her grantmaking legacy.

To learn more about the Ursula Landsrath Animal Rescue Fund, or setting up a personalized grantmaking fund, go to communityfoundationlf.org. n

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

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

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

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

EDA Announces Innovation Challenge Finalists

Ten companies are in the running for $85,000 in prizes as part of the 2024 Loudoun Innovation Challenge.

Sponsored by the Loudoun Economic Development Authority and Loudoun Economic Development, it is the fifth year for competition that celebrates entrepreneurs leading the way in their respective industries by launching innovative initiatives.

The winner of each of five categories will be awarded $15,000 and the public will vote for the $10,000 People’s Choice Award, casting their votes at Loudoun-

InnovationChallenge.com. Winners also gain access to a six-week Growth Program led by Startups Ignite and a full year of mentorship.

Winners will be announced during a Dec. 5 invitation-only gala at the Belmont Country Club.

This year’s finalists are:

Clean Technology Innovation: Young Scholars Circle/The Masterpiece Academy, Emtel Energy USA

Cyber and Defense Innovation: Measured Risk, AnzenSage

Highly Specialized Manufacturing Innovation: SkyRFID Pattent

Industry Transformation Innovation: Chunky Vegan, NoHack

Life Sciences Technology Innovation: RoadDoc, Vascrisk

“The Loudoun Innovation Challenge allows these bold thinkers to spotlight their own groundbreaking ideas and pave the way for others to follow,” Loudoun Economic Development Au-

thority Chair Angela Wilson stated. “By joining past winners like Blue Vigil, Route 7 Provisions, and CodeLock, their participation sends a powerful message that innovation thrives when visionary leaders take that first step forward, inspiring a ripple effect throughout our vibrant and diverse community.

Voting for the People’s Choice Award will remain open until midnight Dec. 4.

Learn more about this year’s Innovation Challenge finalists and cast your vote at:  loudouninnovationchallenge.com. n

BUSINESS briefs

Vogel, Goettman Join MWAA Board

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s two newest appointments have joined the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board of directors.

Alex Vogel, of Upperville, is the chief executive officer of Vogel Group, a government affairs firm. An attorney, he previously served as chief counsel to the Senate majority leader, general counsel of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and deputy counsel of the Republican National Committee.

Jeff Goettman was Younkin’s chief of staff from January 2022 to July 2024. Prior to that, he was the chief operating officer and policy director of the Youngkin for Governor campaign and director of transition the transition team. Goettman also served in the federal government as counselor for domestic finance in the U.S. Department of Treasury and executive vice president and COO of the Export-Import Bank from 2017 to 2019.

The Airports Authority’s 17-member board is comprised of seven appointees by the governor of Virginia, four by the mayor of Washington, three by the governor of Maryland, and three by the president of the United States.

Smith Joins CapRelo as Innovation Executive

CapRelo has hired operations executive Corry Smith as senior vice president of Innovation and Operational Excellence.

Smith will focus on harnessing technology and developing scalable processes to drive efficiency, transform client experiences, and support the Sterling-based relocation company’s mission to deliver smarter, cost-effective global mobility services.

He will lead the evaluation and transformation of business processes with an eye toward value and industry trends and be responsible for speeding the integration of AI solutions—including Moxie 1.0, a recently launched AI chatbot that serves as a virtual consultant for customers and their relocating employees as well as CapRelo’s on-line portals Companion and  CompanionFlex.

Smith has more than 20 years of C-level experience across a wide range of industries. Most recently, Smith served as a consultant helping CapRelo implement AI-powered solutions to streamline operations and elevate service delivery. He holds an MBA from Westminster College and resides in Salt Lake City, UT. n

Towns

Lovettsville Council Restructures Events Committee

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounow.org

After a year in which both of the Lovettsville’s largest community events –Mayfest and Oktoberfest – were canceled, the Town Council is moving forward with a plan to restructure its Events Committee, with the goal of hosting the programs with greater efficiency.

Mayfest was canceled because of rainy weather and Oktoberfest was canceled after the third-party event planner withdrew from the contract just weeks before the event. Last year was also marked with conflict between the council and the Oktoberfest Subcommittee culminating in the chair quitting shortly before the event. Town Clerk Lizzy Fontaine stepped in to finish organizing and executing the event.

The restructuring proposal is headed by Council Member Tom Budnar and Vice Mayor Joy Pritz. Currently, the town has 14 different events under five subcommittees, which all fall under the larger Events Committee.

“The issues that we see in the current approach and structure are: We don’t have enough experienced event leaders [and] we don’t have documentation of the event itself or the event plan or many of the repeatable processes that we continue to year after year and it creates inefficien-

cies,” Budnar said during Nov. 21 council meeting.

The subcommittees also have coordinated well with volunteer groups such as the Lovettsville Lions Club making it confusing to organize their involvement. The panel also has a shortage of volunteers.

“We desperately need to increase our volunteer pool. We’ve had disconnects be-

tween the Town Council, Events Committee and the events subcommittee. There have been either no communication, miscommunication or misinterpreted communication and that’s gotten us into issues as a result and it’s just not the most

EVENTS RESTRUCTURING continues on page 22

Cooper Files Recount Petition in Lovettsville Town Council Race

BY HANNA PAMPALONI hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

Charles Cooper has petitioned the Circuit Court for a recount of the votes in Lovettsville’s Special Election to fill a Town Council vacancy. He lost to Ann Arena by six votes according to the certified election results.

A total of 1,368 ballots were cast in the race.

Cooper said he wants to do “his due diligence” because of how close the results are and all the different ways ballots were casted and counted.

“I don’t think there was an impropriety or anything,” he said. “I just really don’t understand the way the votes get counted

because it took a week and a half to figure it out.”

Unofficial results on election night showed Cooper leading by two votes, while Arena gained ground as provisional ballots were counted.

“It used to be, 20 years ago, everyone just voted in one night except for a few absentee ballots,” Cooper said.

The petition will be presided over by three judges. Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens said the petition is in the hands of the Virginia Supreme Court, which appointed three judges –Mecklenburg County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Anderson Nelson, Amherst County Circuit Court Frank Patrick Yeatts and Loudoun Circuit Court Chief Judge Douglas L. Fleming, to oversee the recount process.

Clemens said the petition is a priority for the court.

“We want to have a resolution, so the town has proper representation on the council,” he said.

A hearing in Loudoun’s Circuit Court to determine where the recount should take place has been scheduled for Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. No candidate will be sworn in until the process is completed. The winning candidate will serve a term ending Dec. 31, 2026.

The last time Loudoun County participated in a recount process was in 2013 for the Attorney General race between Democratic candidate Mark Herring and Republican Mark Obenshain where Herring ultimately was announced the winner by 165 votes statewide.

In cases where the margin of victory is less than half a percent of the total votes cast the government pays for the cost of the recount. n

AROUND towns

HAMILTON

Council Member to Be Chosen Via Drawing

The town’s newest council member will be selected by a random drawing to break a tie between two write-in candidates.

Three council seats were up in the Nov. 5 election, but only two candidates—incumbents Heather Beardsley and Chris Shumaker—had their names on the ballot. That left the third seat to be filled by the town resident who got the most write-in votes.

Heading that list was current council member Greg Wilmoth. His term expires at the end of the year and he did not run for reelection. And after winning the most write-in votes he declined to change his mind.

Jamil Moen and Thomas Soska tied for second with each earning six write in votes.

To determine which of them will take the seat, a drawing during the Electoral Board’s next meeting on Dec. 12.

LOVETTSVILLE

Settlement Reached with Bow Tie for Oktoberfest

The Town Council on Monday announced it has reached a settlement agreement with Bow Tie Strategies following the company’s decision to withdraw from its contract to run Oktoberfest this year.

Bow Tie Strategies owner Rusty Foster cited health concerns as the reason he was not able to move forward with the event. After conferring with other third-party event planners, the Town Council decided there was not enough time to execute the event well and canceled Oktoberfest.

The town did not release the details of the settlement.

“The resources the town devoted to this event and the impact that the cancellation of this year’s Oktoberfest has had on the local businesses, vendors, and visitors who eagerly anticipated this annual festival were taken into consideration in reaching this agreement,” according to the announcement.

Proposals from event management firms to run Oktoberfest 2025 were accepted by the town through Nov. 1.

AROUND TOWNS continues on page

Hanna Pampaloni/Loudoun Now Children play games at Lovettsville’s Mayfest on the Town Green in 2023.

22

Arena

Cooper

AROUND town

continued from page 21

PURCELLVILLE

County Awards $4.6M for Rt. 690 Interchange

Plans for the Rt. 7/Rt. 690 interchange outside of Purcellville are advancing after county supervisors last week voted to award a contract to Dewberry Engineers for the project’s construction engineering inspection.

The contract totals $4.6. million of the project’s total $52.7 million price tag. Dewberry was one of five bids submitted for the contract, coming in ahead of Quinn Consulting Services.

The project aims to enhance accessibility to the north side of Purcellville and will involve two roundabouts with a shared use path, resembling a barbell. The existing Rt. 690 bridge over Rt. 7 will be demolished and reconstructed.

The project will also include construction or widening of two bridges over Catoctin Creek, two ponds and a triple box culvert.

ROUND HILL

Council Launches Niels Poulsen Park Annexation Effort

The Town Council is moving forward with plans to bring Niels Poulsen Park within the town limits.

The almost 9-acre parcel on the northern edge of town was created as a park during the development of the Brentwood Springs neighborhood and was acquired by the town in 2019. The property includes a playground and a fitness trail. It is named in honor of one of the town’s founders.

During its Nov. 20 meeting, the council directed Town Administrator Melissa Hynes to begin talks with the county government on incorporating the land through a cooperative boundary line adjustment.

As part of the project, the town also plans to allow the owners of neighboring residential lots that are bisected by the town boundary—meaning a portion of their property is in town and a portion in the county—to remove that split.

The town’s Planning Commission is developing a master plan for Niels Poulsen Park and the town’s other park properties. n

Events Restructuring

continued from page 21

efficient process,” Budnar said.

The subcommittee also often has to redo the work already accomplished by prior groups because it is not recorded anywhere.

To solve the problem Budnar and Pritz propose replacing subcommitees with an event leader and event execution manger.

“The event leader would be the person that owns the responsibility for the event planning, all planning in advance and all documentation and everything that goes around the event. And the event execution manager being kind of like the project manager on the day of the event,” Budnar said.

Combining those two positions with event plans, which the council approved at the end of last year, replaces the need to have specific subcommittees, he added. Ad hoc work groups could be created as needed to support the event leaders. Event plans with budgets and activities must be approved by the Town Council.

“Things can change from year to year, but [a plan] is a starting point that kind of maps things out so that we’re not starting over fresh each year trying to figure things out,” Pritz said.

A plan would also have checklists to be completed each month so ensure the preparations are on track.

The Events Committee will continue to hold monthly meetings with a focus on the next scheduled event and reports from each event leader. Town staff members will provide administrative support and handle contracts.

“The Events Committee will be the glue to hold the event leaders together and the events staff,” Budnar said.

The restructuring requires a change to the committee charter, as well. The council is expected to take up that at its next meeting.

Budnar and Pritz said the work developing event plans is almost complete and is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

Mayor Christopher Hornbaker said he wanted to make sure that the events would not place too much additional work on the town staff.

Budnar said he was working with Town Manager Jason Cournoyer to find the right balance and the goal is not to have the town staff “consumed” by the work.

The council voted 4-0, with Council Member Brandon Davis absent and one vacancy, to approve the restructuring process going into effect Jan. 2. n

Obituaries

Kimberly Gale Williams

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Kimberly Gale Williams, who left this world on November 17, 2024, at the age of 45. Born on September 29, 1979, Kimberly was a devoted mother, a loving wife, and a passionate horse enthusiast. She touched the lives of all who knew her with her warmth and kindness. She is survived by her beloved husband, Joey, and her cherished children Nora and Logan, who were the light of her life. She is also survived by her wonderful mother, Linda, her loving siblings, Kelsea and Kevin, and an extended family who loved her so much. Kimberly’s unwavering love and care for her family and friends will forever be remembered and celebrated.

We will be celebrating Kim’s beautiful life on December 7th at Tranquility Farms in Purcellville Va. All family and friends are welcome to come. Please go to loudounfuneralchapel.com for further details. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Kim’s name to: https://www.equinerescueleague.org/donate Kimberly’s love and spirit will remain in our hearts always. She was truly one of a kind. We love you Kim.

LIVE MUSIC

K-PAZ DE LA SIERRA

9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 Rio Cantina, 21800 Towncenter Plaza, Sterling. facebook.com/RioCantinaSterling

STEVE BOYD AND FRIENDS

12 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

LIBERTY STREET

2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

BRYAN WILLIAMS

3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 Firefly Cellars, 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton. fireflycellars.com

WAYNE SNOW

3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notaviva.com

THE BRUNO SOUND

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg. spankyspub.com

COLE LARRAVIDE

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

KEN WENZEL

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com

WILL SHEPARD

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

GARY SMALLWOOD

5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

ESCPATE GOAT

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

LIVE MUSIC continues on page 24

Seeing Solace: Demovidova Exhibit Featured at Waddell Gallery

BY KATIANA DAWN

When exploring Loudoun’s arts community, an important stop is the Sterling campus of Northern Virginia Community College which opens its doors every month to build connections between the community and a featured artist.

Through Dec. 13 Anna Demovidova’s collection “Solace” is on display in the Waddell Art Gallery. This exhibit shows women in reflection, sadness that is involved in their reflection, resilience in that sadness and the weight of waiting to be hurt. Demovidova brings in nature as an element that allows one to find their inner peace and strength.

In a conversation with the artist, Demovidova spoke of her childhood in Russia and formal art training at a university in Moscow. The leap from Moscow to Loudoun County is quite big, she said, one that she completed gracefully. From her hometown, Demovidova was able to connect with a sister school in Wisconsin where she continued her university art studies. From there, she moved to Washington, DC, and met her husband. For the past 12 years they have called Vienna home and Demovidova continues to create.

Being familiar with the area and NVCC faculty, Demovidova was asked to create a solo exhibit of work that could be shown to the students and shared with her friends and area art lovers.

“To collect this exhibit, I really tried to think about the college and to show to the students the variety of work that

you can do,” she said. “From acrylic painting—that’s maybe a little bit more classical—to kind of a little bit more edgy collage, to lots of different kinds of printmaking.”

Exploration and being open to trying new things is a substantial quality that Demovidova hopes the students will take away from viewing and connecting with her work.

While artists have a significant arsenal of mediums to work with, they often find their preferred medium and stick to it, creating their own artistic voice. Demovidova prefers a mix.

“I think I will just do whatever I want to do,” she said.

When she was younger, Demovidova had boundaries set in her mind, lines that

could not be crossed in the creation of art.

“Like I couldn’t mix watercolor and acrylic,” she said.

Her work today removes those barriers.

“Acrylic paintings are more controlled and slightly more predictable with the result, so the collage, and layers of work is a really fun kind of experiment, right? Now, I start with an abstract monotype, or abstract woodcut,” she said. “...I removed those breaks that I made. So now [I prefer] whatever works, whatever achieves whatever it is I’m doing.”

Within the exhibit there are various themes throughout the gallery. There are pieces created from inspiration gathered in Lisbon that feature a theme of travel. These works highlight places different from what we may know.

There is work based of off the impending fear or doom of a war threat.

“I think I was actually working and thinking of a circle [referring to her painting “Waiting for the Unseen”] to a kind of a bomb or explosion, but it’s still kind of looks pretty, right, and sunny, so hopefully without the morbid sort of, morbid end. It’s more of a happy end,” she said.

The theme of womanhood returns. Within the gallery the women portrayed all carry a deep sense of suffering, yet there are aspects to the works that bring the viewer in close to notice a bit of light or hope within that pain.

Surrounded by her works and asked to pick her favorite, Demovidova’s choice was “The Weight of Reflection,” a piece less complex than some of her other pieces and still compelling.

“I think if I had to choose just one, it’s probably that one with a red circle. It’s a little bit more minimalist compared to how much I usually want,” she said. “The red, brown and blue are printed. I like to use different kinds of fabrics, or different types of materials. I ink them. I run them through the press. I make like an abstract print and then I draw and paint on top of it.”

The painting itself is only the final step of a long and fun process, she said.

The collection will be on exhibit through Dec. 13. The Waddell Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the Waddell Building on the Loudoun campus of Northern Virginia Community College at 21200 Campus Dr. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Learn more about Demovidova at annademovidova.com and @demovid on Instagram. n

Katiana Dawn/Loudoun Now Anna Demovidova stands in the Waddell Art Gallery where her exhibit Solace will be on display through Dec. 13.

The Shattered Glow by Anna Demovidova.

BEST BETS

CHRIS TIMBERS BAND

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

MacDowell's Beach macsbeach.com

MacDowell’s celebrates its 13th anniversary with a Loudoun County favorite.

GET OUT

LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 23

PATTY REESE

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

CONNER HITCHCOCK

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

ROWDY ACE DUO

7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

THE GATHERING GLOOMTHE CURE TRIBUTE

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

CHRIS TIMBERS BAND

7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

TEJAS SINGH BAND

9 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

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

GARY SMALLWOOD

1:30 to 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

LAURA CASHMAN

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Stone Tower Winery, 19925 Hogback Mountain Road, Leesburg. stonetowerwinery.com

FILM AT ELEVEN

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

BRENT KIMBROUGH

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

GDR

1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Bear Chase Brewing Company, 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont. bearchasebrew.com

HUBIE G FROM THE CORNER VAGABONDS

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

SHANE GAMBLE

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

8 Chains North Winery, 38593 Daymont Lane, Waterford. 8chainsnorth.com

JET CAPRIEST

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

POP-UP AUDIO

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Lost Rhino Brewing Company, 21730 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn. lostrhino.com

TOMMY GANN

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com

ONE BLUE NIGHT

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

SCOTT KURT

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Creek’s Edge Winery, 41255 Annas Lane, Lovettsville. creeksedgewinery.com

THE JARED STOUT BAND Saturday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

MELISSA QUINN FOX

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

ACOUSTIC SOUL

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

DAVE MININBERG

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Quattro Goombas Brewery, 22860 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. quattrogoomabas.com

ZACH JONES

3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. flyingacefarm.com

SHADE TREE COLLECTIVE

4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

TEJAS SINGH

4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

SOMETHING COUNTRY

5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

SELA CAMPBELL

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Notaviva Farm Brewery & Winery, 13274 Sagle Road, Hillsboro. notaviva.com

JUST SOUTH OF 7

6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

MacDowell’s Beach, 202 Harrison St. SE., Leesburg. macbeach.com

JOE DOWNER

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

EMILY SIMONIAN

6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

BRITTON JAMES

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

THE JARED STOUT BAND

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $15. tallyhotheater.com

FILM AT ELEVEN BAND

9 p.m. to a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

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

NO STOPLIGHT

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery, 42245 Black Hops Lane, Lucketts. vanishbeer.com

TOMMY BOUCH

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Lark Brewing Co., 24205 James Monroe Highway, Aldie. larkbrewingco.com

SCOTT KURT

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Fleetwood Farm Winery, 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. fleetwoodfarmwinery.com

ACOUSTIC SOUL

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1

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

BRIAN FRANKE

1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1

Bleu Frog Vineyards, 16413 James Monroe Highway, Leesburg. bleufrogvineyards.com

MUSIC continues on page 25

Fresh off the release of its second album “Heavy from the Sky,” the Virginia-based alt-country band performs in Leesburg. Justin Trawick opens.

GET OUT LIVE MUSIC

continued from page 24

ROBBIE LIMON

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1

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

WAYNE SNOW

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Harvest Gap Brewery, 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro. harvestgap.com

O’MCPUB BAND

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Harpers Ferry Brewing, 37412 Adventure Center Lane, Loudoun Heights. harpersferrybrewing.com

JAKE PHILLIPS

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Flying Ace Farm, 40950 Flying Ace Lane, Lovettsville. Flyingacefarm.com

ANDY CARIGNAN

2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro. breauxvineyards.com

JASON MASI

6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4

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

JUST DOUG

5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5

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

RICH RIDGELL

5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5

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

JOJO BAYLISS

6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5

Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen, 1 N. King St., Leesburg. eatatrebellion.com

A KILLER’S CONFESSION

7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg. $18. tallyhotheater.com

HAPPENINGS

ASHBURN FARM THANKSGIVING DAY RACES

8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28

Crossroads United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn. $30. crossroadsnova.org

CHRISTMAS TREES & WREATHS FUNDRAISER

9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

Ashburn Fire House, 20688 Ashburn Road, Ashburn. ashburnfirerescue.org

HOLIDAY MARKET

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

Stone Tower Winery, 19925 Hogback Mountain Road, Leesburg. stonetowerwinery.com

A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

Capital Community Church, 20430 Ashburn Village Blvd., Ashburn. $20. thepickwickplayers.com

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29

2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville. $25. goosecreekplayers.com

PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30

Van Metre Homes, 43045 Van Metre Drive, Ashburn. $30. humaneloudoun.org

OLD OX HOLIDAY MARKET

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn. oldoxbrewery.com

HOPE HANES FALL STUDIO SALE

12 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 Kalero Vineyard, 36140 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro. hopehanes.com

CHRISTMAS CAROL SING

4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 605 W. Market St., Leesburg. holytrinityleesburg.org

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

HOLIDAY NETWORKING

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 Fortessa Tableware Solutions, 20412 Bashan Dr. Ashburn. $30. fortessa.com

INTRO TO SEWING: LINED DRAWSTRING GIFT BAG

6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3

Waterford Heritage Craft School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. $95. craftschool.waterfordfoundation.org

HOLIDAY COOKIE

DECORATING WORKSHOP

6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4

Waterford Heritage Craft School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. $90 craftschool.waterfordfoundation.org

WRITING IN NATURE

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 Morven Park Grounds, 17339 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. loudounwildlife.org

WINTER RESIN JEWELRY WORKSHOP

6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5

Waterford Heritage Craft School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. $80. craftschool.waterfordfoundation.org

NEEDLE FELTED

HOLIDAY CARD WORKSHOP

6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5

Waterford Heritage Craft School, 40222 Fairfax St., Waterford. $88. craftschool.waterfordfoundation.org

ALGONKIAN OWL PROWL

7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5

Algonkian Regional Park, 47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling. loudounwildlife.org

Legal Notices

TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG VACANCIES – TOWN COMMITTEES

The Middleburg Town Council is accepting applications/letters of interest/resumes from individuals who wish to be considered for service on the following committees:

Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The BZA hears and decides appeals from any determination or interpretation of the Zoning Administrator; applications for variances; and, applications for interpretation of the zoning map, including disputed district boundaries. Members must be residents of the Town of Middleburg. This appointment is for a five-year term, which will expire on December 31, 2029. Appointments are ultimately made by the Judges of the Loudoun County Circuit Court. The BZA meets on an as-needed basis.

Cultural & Community Events Committee (CCEC). CCEC is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Town Council regarding funding requests by local organizations for tourism and cultural activities; reviewing and making recommendations to the Town Council regarding sponsorship opportunities for tourism and cultural activities; designing, implementing and managing cultural or community events; and, coordinating the marketing of events with the Town’s brand implementation team. Candidates should represent the local hospitality industry, the local retail industry or the local food/beverage industry. These appointments are to fill two vacancies. Normally, terms are for a two-year period and expire on December 31st. CCEC meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.; and, in work session on an as-needed basis.

Middleburg Sustainability Committee (MSC). The Middleburg Sustainability Committee is responsible for advising the Town Council on environmental issues. They are responsible for developing recommendations for environmental action plans and for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) resolution. Their goal is to increase community awareness about environmental issues, such as the value of recycling, the importance of preserving water quality and the methods for conserving energy. The Committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.; and, in work session on an as-needed basis. These appointments are to fill two vacancies. Normally, terms are for a two-year period.

Anyone interested in serving on any of these committees is asked to apply online at https://middleburgva.gov/242/Board-Vacancies or send a letter of interest/resume, to include any relevant qualifications, no later than December 31, 2024 to the following:

Mayor and Members of Town Council Town of Middleburg P. O. Box 187 10 W. Marshall Street

Middleburg, Virginia 20118

Attn: Committee Vacancies

Applications and letters of interest may be included in a public agenda packet. Applicants who do not wish for their contact information to be made public should indicate this in their letter of interest.

11/14, 11/21 & 11/28/24

TOWN OF MIDDLEBURG VACANCIES – TOWN COMMITTEES

The Middleburg Town Council is accepting applications/letters of interest/resumes from individuals who wish to be considered for service on the following committees:

Middleburg Planning Commission. The Planning Commission prepares and recommends to the Town Council a comprehensive plan for the growth, development and redevelopment of the Town; amendments to the zoning and subdivision regulations; and policies, ordinances and administrative procedures for achieving plans in a coordinated and efficient manner. The Planning Commission also makes recommendations concerning proposed special use permits, zoning map and text amendment applications. Members must be residents of the Town of Middleburg. Appointments are for four-year terms. Training is available for members of the Planning Commission through the Virginia Certified Planning Commissioners Program at no cost to the members. The Town Council encourages new members to take advantage of this training opportunity. The Planning Commission meets on the fourth Monday of each month in a work session beginning at 6:30 p.m. (as needed) and in regular session beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC). EDAC is responsible for making recommendations to the Town Council on tourism/economic development activities including but not limited to business development; retention and assistance; branding and marketing; downtown infill and recruitment; promotion of multiple commercial and social uses of the downtown for visitors and residents; and infrastructure necessary to support public events and the business community. Members currently serve one-year terms; although, this will soon change. EDAC generally meets on a monthly basis on the fourth Monday of the month at 9:00 a.m.; and, in work session on an as-needed basis.

Middleburg Strategic Finance Committee (MSFC). The MSFC is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Town Council for changes to the Town’s financial policies, as advisable; recommending long-range financial policies regarding the investment of the Town’s reserve funds; recommending tax and revenue policies based on a review of the Town’s tax structures and larger economic trends and factors in a long-term planning sense; and, making recommendations as needed on debt restructuring or the Town’s borrowing policy based on a review of the annual budget, debt structures, financial borrowing capacity and long-term capital and financial needs. Applicants should have a strong financial services or banking background, preferably with some experience related to local government finances. MSFC members currently serve two-year terms; although, this will soon change. The MSFC meets a minimum of once a quarter, with the meeting dates and times to be established by the Committee.

Anyone interested in serving on any of these committees is asked to apply online at https://middleburgva.gov/242/Board-Vacancies or send a letter of interest/resume, to include any relevant qualifications, no later than December 31, 2024 to the following:

Mayor and Members of Town Council Town of Middleburg P. O. Box 187 10 W. Marshall Street Middleburg, Virginia 20118 Attn: Committee Vacancies

Applications and letters of interest may be included in a public agenda packet. Applicants who do not wish for their contact information to be made public should indicate this in their letter of interest/ application.

11/21 & 11/28/24

ONLINE.

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room on the first floor of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following:

LEGI-2023-0090, RACEFIELD SUBSTATION:

CMPT-2022-0007, SPEX-2024-0008, & SPEX-2024-0018

(Commission Permit, Special Exception, Minor Special Exception)

Northern Viginia Electric Cooperative has submitted an application for a commission permit, special exception, and minor special exception for approximately 39.24-acres of land located along the north side of Little River Turnpike (Route 50), south of Racefield Lane (Route 877), and west of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 2625) in the Dulles Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as 42139 Reeds Farm Lane Aldie, Virginia, PIN: 203-170856-000 and Tax Map # 100AC/1///A2B/. For CMPT-2022-0007, the applicant seeks to construct a Utility Substation with intent to transmit and/or distribute voltages. For SPEX-2024-0008, the applicant seeks to permit a Utility Substation in the Industrial Park Zoning District under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. For SPEX-2024-0018, the applicant seeks to remove a six-foot, 95 percent opaque fence on the southern Type C Buffer of the Subject Property.

LEGI-2023-0109, NOVEC SOUTHFORK SUBSTATION:

CMPT-2023-0015, SPEX-2024-0033, & SPEX-2024-0034

(Commission Permit, Special Exception, Minor Special Exception)

Northern Viginia Electric Cooperative has submitted an application for a commission permit, special exception, and minor special exception for approximately 17.67-acres of land located along the north side of Little River Turnpike (Route 50), south of Racefield Lane (Route 877), and west of Stone Springs Boulevard (Route 2625) in the Dulles Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as PIN: 203-16-8093-000 and Tax Map # 100AH/1///A1A/. For CMPT-2022-0007, the applicant seeks to construct a Utility Substation with intent to transmit and/ or distribute voltages. For SPEX-2024-0008, the applicant seeks to permit a Utility Substation in the Industrial Park Zoning District under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance. For SPEX-2024-0018, the applicant seeks to remove a six-foot, 95 percent opaque fence on the northern and eastern Type C Buffers of the Subject Property.

CPAM-2024-0004, RURAL HISTORIC

VILLAGES

(Comprehensive Plan Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2225 and 15.2-2229, and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors on April 2, 2024, the Planning Commission hereby gives notice of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) to amend the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (2019 GP) and the Loudoun County 2019 Countywide Transportation Plan (2019 CTP), in order to establish new policies and criteria regarding the identification, designation, and preservation of Rural Historic Villages (RHVs) and other smaller historic rural hamlets and crossroads communities in accordance with existing 2019 GP RHV Policy 1, Strategy 1.1, Action A. The CPAM proposes revisions to Chapters 1 and 2, the Glossary, and certain 2019 GP and 2019 CTP Maps, and such other Chapters, policies, and provisions of the 2019 GP as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typographical errors, section and subsection numbering, and formatting within, update cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned section(s) of the 2019 GP. The RHVs and rural historic hamlets and crossroads communities to which the CPAM would apply generally are located within the Little River Election District and the Catoctin Election District in the Rural Policy Area. The proposed CPAM includes, without limitation, the following:

Amendments to 2019 GP Chapter 1- Introduction:

• Amend Chapter 1-5 – Rural Policy Area – to update the number and designation of recognized RHVs and add a reference to rural historic hamlets and crossroads communities.

Amendments to 2019 GP Chapter 2 – Land Use:

• Amend Chapter 2 - Rural Historic Village - to establish new policies regarding the identification and designation of, update the list of, and revise Action A to address the preservation of, RHVs and rural historic hamlets and crossroads communities.

Amendments to the 2019 GP Glossary

• Establish a new definition for RHV.

• Establish a new definition for rural historic villages and crossroads community

Amendments to 2019 GP Maps

• Revise the RHV Map to reflect the updated list of designated RHVs.

• Establish a new Map showing designated rural historic hamlets and crossroads communities.

• Establish a new Map showing all documented historic villages and crossroads communities.

Amendments to 2019 CTP Maps:

• Revise 2019 CTP maps to reflect the boundaries and locations of newly designated RHVs

ZOAM-2024-0003, Manufactured Home Regulations (Zoning Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §§15.2-2204, 15.2-2285, and 15.2-2286, and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors on November 7, 2024, the Planning Commission hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance) in order to establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations and definitions to correct an ambiguity regarding the use “Manufactured Home” that was unintentionally created in the text with the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance on December 13, 2023. The ambiguity could allow for the use “Manufactured Home” to be considered as a different principal use from the principal uses “Dwelling, Single-Family Detached,” or “Dwelling, Single-Family Attached,” and thereby not be subject to the one per lot limitation for such uses. The amendments propose revisions to Chapter 3, Uses, Chapter 4, Use-Specific Standards, and Chapter 12, Definitions, and such other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the Zoning Ordinance as necessary to fully implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments; to incorporate input received during the public hearing process; to correct typographical errors, section and table numbering, and formatting; to update cross references; and to further clarify the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. The proposed amendments include, without limitation, the following:

Chapter 3, Uses, Chapter 4, Use-Specific Standards, and Chapter 12, Definitions:

• Establish new, and clarify and revise existing, regulations to clarify that only one Manufactured Home may be developed as a principal use per lot; that any such Manufactured Home shall be in lieu of any, Dwelling, Single-Family Detached, or Dwelling, Single -Family Attached, principal use that may be permitted or permissible on such lot; and that any additional proposed Manufactured Home use on such lot must be considered a Caretaker or Guard Residence, Dwelling, Accessory, or Dwelling, Tenant.

The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes of zoning as set forth in Virginia Code §§15.2-2200 and 15.2-2283, including, without limitation, furtherance of the public necessity, convenience, general welfare, and good zoning practice, and facilitating the creation of a convenient, attractive, and harmonious community.

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

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

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

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

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

BY ORDER OF: MICHELLE FRANK, CHAIR

LOUDOUN COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION

11/28 & 12/5/24

Legal Notices

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING

TLREZN2023-0001

TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION

OAKLAWN LAND BAYS A AND MUC2

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Rezoning application TLREZN2023-0001 Oaklawn Land Bays A and MUC2.

The Subject Properties are in the Oaklawn development and consist of three parcels totaling approximately 32.0278 acres and are further identified as Loudoun County Property Identification Numbers (PIN) 233-38-8942, 233-30-4276 and 233-30-1486. The Subject Properties are zoned PEC (Planned Employment Center District) and PRN (Planned Residential Neighborhood District) and subject to the H-2 Historic Corridor Architectural Control Overlay District (Proffered).

Rezoning Application TLREZN2023-0001 is a request by Oaklawn LLC to revise the concept plan and proffers for TLZM-2014-0004 for Land Bay A and TLZM-2015-0001 for MUC2 to allow the following:

Land Bay A: Permit development of up to 450,000 square feet of data center use and a 3.7 acre Public Park dedication.

Land Bay MUC2: Permit the development of up to 184 multi-family affordable dwelling units

Both land bays are located in areas described by the Legacy Leesburg Town Plan (Town Plan) as an “Area to Transform or Evolve” on the Area Based Land Use Initiatives Map (Town Plan page 72). The property is further designated as a “Innovation Center” on the Character Areas for Preservation and Change Map (Town Plan page 76). There is no recommended density for residential use or a Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) for nonresidential uses associated with an Innovation Center. The requested density for the residential units associated with Land Bay MUC2 is approximately 33 dwelling units per acre. The proposed maximum commercial F.A.R. of Land Bay A is approximately 0.39.

Modifications: The application includes four (4) requested modifications to the requirements of the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance regulations for buffer yard, number of parking spaces, outdoor lighting, and open space.

Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Community Development, 222 Catoctin Circle, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Christopher Murphy at 703-737-7009 or cmurphy@leesburgva.gov.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodation at the meeting should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 7712733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

11/21 & 11/28/24

ABC LICENSE

My Peruvian Cuisine LLC, trading as Sabor a Barrio Peruvian Restobar, 20921 Davenport Drive, Suite 134, Sterling, VA 20165. The above establishment is applying to the VIRGINIA ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Restaurant, Wine, Beer, Mixed Beverages application, Consumed On and Off Premises.

Elizabeth Obitas Vargas, owner.

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

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

11/21 & 11/28/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ047156-03-00

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Aleszandra Bywater

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v. Unknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Aleszandra Bywater

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father, appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before December 17, 2024 at 2:00pm. 11/7, 11/14, 11/21, 11/28/24

TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LEESBURG TOWN CODE AMENDMENTS:

CHAPTER 30 (STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES), ARTICLE I (IN GENERAL), SECTION 30-10 (REMOVAL OF SNOW AND ICE FROM SIDEWALKS); and CHAPTER 32 (TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES), ARTICLE VIII (SNOW EMERGENCIES)

Pursuant to Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-900, 15.2-901, 15.2-1115, and 15.2-1427, and 46.2-1302, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on:

Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA

at which time the public shall have the right to present oral and written testimony on proposed amendments to the Town Code: Chapter 30 (Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places), Article I (In General), Section 30-10 (Removal of snow and ice from sidewalks); and Chapter 32 (Traffic and Vehicles), Article VIII (Snow Emergencies). The proposed amendments to Section 30-10 will clarify owner and occupant responsibility for clearing accumulations of winter precipitation, clarify the types of winter precipitation that must be removed from sidewalks, and give the Town Manager the discretion during severe weather conditions to suspend deadlines for clearing winter precipitation from sidewalks. The proposed amendments to Chapter 32, Article VIII will refine procedures for declaring a snow or weather emergency.

A copy of the proposed ordinance is available from the Town Clerk, located in Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.); or by calling Eileen Boeing, Town Clerk, at 703-771-2733.

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

11/21 &11/28/24

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION

TLSPEX2024-0005 POTOMAC STATION DUNKIN DONUTS DRIVE-THROUGH

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, DECEMBER 5, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application

TLSPEX2024-0005, Potomac Station Dunkin Donuts Drive-Through.

The subject of the application is an existing, vacant structure at 607 Potomac Station Drive NE. The property is zoned PRC, Planned Residential Community and is further described by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 148-16-4540-000.

Special Exception Application

TLSPEX2024-0005 is a request by Vigario Holdings, LLC to allow an overall total 3,028 square foot fast food use with drive-through pursuant to Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance Section 8.5.2 Use Regulations.

Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Community Development located at 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 200, Leesburg, Virginia 20175 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Debi Parry, PlannerPreservation, by telephone at 703-737-7023, or by email at dparry@leesburgva.gov.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Department of Community Development at (703) 771-2765 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

11/21 & 11/28/24

Legal Notices

PUBLIC HEARING

The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, December 11, 2024, in order to consider:

PROPOSED 2025 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

Each year the Board of Supervisors adopts a Legislative Program demonstrating its priority statements, legislative initiatives, and policy statements for the upcoming session of the Virginia General Assembly. By adopting a Legislative Program, the Board requests Loudoun’s General Assembly delegation to introduce specific legislation of importance to the County. The Program also indicates the County’s position on various legislative issues, and provides direction for the County’s staff and contract lobbyists if bills on those topics are introduced. The Board is seeking input from the public on the proposed 2025 Legislative Program. Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and express their views on the proposed 2025 Legislative Program.

A copy of the Board of Supervisors’ 2025 proposed Legislative Program is on file and may be examined at the Office of the County Administrator Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200 to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments.

DOAM-2024-0002, LOUDOUN COUNTY LAND SUBDIVSION AND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE AND LOUDOUN COUNTY FACILITIES STANDARDS MANUAL AMENDMENTS DAM BREAK INUNDATION ZONES (Development Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-2204, the Virginia Dam Safety Act (Virginia Code §10.1-604 et seq.) and Virginia Impounding Structure Regulations (4VAC50-20-10, et seq.), and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on September 17, 2024, notice is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Loudoun County Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO) and the Loudoun County Facilities Standards Manual (FSM) to incorporate Virginia Code and Virginia Administrative Code requirements for state-regulated impounding structures. These amendments will propose revisions to Chapter 1245 of the LSDO, and Chapters 5 and 8 of the FSM, and such other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the LSDO and FSM as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typos within, update internal cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned Chapters of the LSDO and FSM. The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes listed in Section 15.2-2200 of the Code of Virginia and to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development and the public necessity, convenience, and general welfare.

Description of proposed amendments to the LSDO:

Proposed amendments to LSDO Section 1245, Development Standards, include without limitation the following:

• Establish new Section 1245.15, Development in Mapped Dam Break Inundation Zones, to require development in mapped dam break inundation zones to comply with applicable FSM standards.

Description of proposed amendments to the FSM:

Proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 5, Water Resource Management, include without limitation the following:

• Renumber existing FSM Section 5.500, References, to FSM Section 5.600, and establish new FSM Section 5.500, Development in Mapped Dam Break Inundation Zones, to implement State requirements for development in mapped dam break inundation zones regarding the following:

o Review of the dam break inundation zone map for the affected impounding structure,

o Notification of the affected impounding structure’s owner,

o Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) determination of potential impacts of the proposed development on the spillway design flood standards required for the impounding structure, and

o Actions the developer or subdivider must take if DCR determines that said preliminary plat, construction plans and profiles, or site plan would change the spillway design flood standards for the impounding structure.

Proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 8, Administrative Procedures, include without limitation the following:

• Establish new FSM Subsection 8.101.A.22, Mapped Dam Break Inundation Zones, regarding required information and notes to be depicted for dam break inundation zones,

• Add “Mapped Dam Break Inundation Zones (see 8.101)” as a requirement for the following:

o 8.102 Preliminary Plat of Subdivision (SBPL),

o 8.103 Plats for Subdivision and Other Miscellaneous Plats,

o 8.103.6 Easement Plats – Creation and Vacation,

o 8.103.7 Dedication/Vacation Plats (DEDI),

o 8.103.8 AR-1 and AR-2 Division Plats (SBBD),

o 8.106 Construction Plans and Profiles (CPAP), and

o 8.107 Site Plans (STPL) and Rural Economy Site Plans (REST).

DOAM-2024-0003, LOUDOUN COUNTY LAND SUBDIVSION AND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE AND LOUDOUN COUNTY FACILITIES STANDARDS MANUAL AMENDMENTS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE (Development Ordinance Amendment)

Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-2204, and a Resolution of Intent to Amend adopted by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on September 17, 2024, notice is hereby given of proposed amendments to the Loudoun County Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO) and the Loudoun County Facilities Standards Manual (FSM) that are necessary to implement ZOAM-2020-0001, Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, that resulted in the adoption of a new Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance). Contemporaneously with the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance, the Board adopted a resolution that authorized and directed the Director of Building and Development (Director) to issue Interim Technical and Procedural Newsletters (Tech Memos) as needed to implement the Zoning Ordinance and prevent delays in processing land development applications. The first three Tech Memos were issued by the Director on June 13, 2024, with an effective date of July 25, 2024, and provided interim standards regarding Land Engineering, Natural Resources, and Land Planning necessary to implement the Zoning Ordinance. DOAM-2023-0003 proposes to formally adopt and incorporate into the LSDO and FSM, as appropriate, the standards provided by the aforesaid three Tech Memos. These amendments will propose revisions to Chapters 1241, 1243, 1244, and 1245 of the LSDO, and Chapters 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 of the FSM, and such other Chapters, Sections, Subsections, and provisions of the LSDO and FSM as necessary to implement and maintain consistency with the foregoing amendments or as otherwise necessary to correct typos within, update internal cross-references to, and further clarify the requirements of, the above-mentioned Chapters of the LSDO and FSM. The public purposes of these amendments are to achieve the purposes listed in Section 15.2-2200 of the Code of Virginia and to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development and the public necessity, convenience, and general welfare.

Description of proposed amendments to the LSDO:

Proposed amendments to all sections of the LSDO include without limitation the following:

• Update and correct cross references in the LSDO to replace specific references to the Zoning Ordinance with general references to the Zoning Ordinance.

Proposed amendments to LSDO Section 1241.05, Definitions, include without limitation the following:

• Revise the definition of “Originating Tract” in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance definition of “Originating Tract.”

• Revise the definition of “Alleys” in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance to add a list of zoning districts where alleys are permitted to serve as primary access under certain circumstances.

Proposed amendments to LSDO Section 1243.05.2, Low Density Development Waivers, include without limitation the following:

• Delete this section, as Low Density Development Waivers are no longer permitted under the Zoning Ordinance.

Proposed amendments to LSDO Section 1243.10, Construction Plans and Profiles, include without limitation the following:

• Delete the reference to Section 6-1509 of the Zoning Ordinance, as submitting a preliminary plat in conjunction with a rezoning application is no longer permitted under the Zoning Ordinance.

Proposed amendments to LSDO Section 1244.01, Applicability of Site Plan Regulations, include without limitation the following:

• Replace duplicative regulations with a cross reference to the Zoning Ordinance.

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Legal Notices

Proposed amendments to LSDO Section 1245.02, Private Access Easement Roads and Private Streets, include without limitation the following:

• Revise private access road requirements in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

Proposed amendments to LSDO Section 1245.02.1, Class III Roads, include without limitation the following:

• Delete this section because the requirements are inconsistent with the Zoning Ordinance.

Proposed amendments to LSDO Section 1245.02.2, Private Access Easement - Low Density Residential Development, include without limitation the following:

• Delete this section, as Low Density Development Waivers are no longer permitted under the Zoning Ordinance.

Description of proposed amendments to the FSM:

Proposed amendments to all sections of the FSM include without limitation the following:

• Replace references to the Mountainside Development Overlay District (MDOD) with Mountainside Overlay District (MOD) in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

• Replace references to “communal” water systems, water supply, sewer systems, sanitary sewer systems, systems, and wells with “community” water systems, water supply, sewer systems, sanitary sewer systems, and wells in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

Proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 4, Transportation, include without limitation the following:

• Revise Section 4.330.D.3.f, Alleys, in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance to add a list of zoning districts where alleys are permitted to serve as primary access under certain circumstances

• Revise Section 4.400.B, Geometrics, to establish new parking geometry and identification standards for motorcycle parking spaces and stacking standards for drive-through facilities or similar designated pickup or delivery zones in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

Proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 7, Environmental Design Standards, include without limitation the following:

• Revise Section 7.110, General Requirements, to provide lighting and photometric plan standards in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance and delete the exception for the Planned Development –Countryside Village (PD-CV) zoning district, which no longer exists under the Zoning Ordinance.

• Reformatted Section 7.120, Lighting Standards, to clarify standards.

• Revise Section 7.301, Landscape Plantings, to add a cross-reference to the Zoning Ordinance regarding minimum sizes required for each plant.

• Revise Section 7.302, Tree Conservation and Landscape Plans, to:

o Establish a new standard to identify cultivars on the tree planting schedule.

o Establish new standards for professionals who are permitted to prepare Tree Conservation and Landscape Plans in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

o Establish new planting standards regarding compliance with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Plant Material Requirements in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance and add a reference to the Virginia Stormwater BMP Clearinghouse.

o Establish new standards for addressing previously compacted soils.

o Establish new standards regarding tree proximity to any restrictive barriers, such as curbs, walls, sidewalks, and other paved areas for new plantings used to meet canopy, landscaping, and/or buffering and screening requirements.

o Establish new diversity requirements for shrubs.

o Revise the Sample Landscape Table to add a Native column and correct the Scientific and Common Name columns.

• Establish new Section 7.306, Tree Cover Inventory, regarding tree cover inventory map standards for projects located within the Mountainside Overlay District and Public Water/Sewer Utility Lines in RSCR Adjacent Steep Slopes or Very Steep Slope Areas or Special Exceptions for Errors in Very Steep Slopes in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

• Revise Chapter 7, Table 3 – Trees and Shrubs to: identify “Native Plant, Regional Native” and Small Deciduous Trees and Deciduous and Evergreen Shrubs with conspicuous flowers in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance; correct Scientific and Common Names, and other terminology used in Table 3; add or delete certain Large Deciduous, Small Deciduous, and Evergreen trees, and Deciduous and Evergreen Shrubs; delete the designation for Parking Lot plantings; add species to the designation for Overhead Utility Line plantings; and revise the Canopy Coverage of certain tree species.

Proposed amendments to FSM Chapter 8, Administrative Procedures, include without limitation the following:

• Revise Sections 8.106, Construction Plans and Profiles, and 8.107, Site Plans (STPL) and Rural Economy Site Plans (REST), to establish new standards for plans to include data regarding photometric plans in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

• Revise Sections 8.103, Plats for Subdivision and Other Miscellaneous Plats, 8.106, Construction Plans and Profiles, and 8.107, Site Plans (STPL) and Rural Economy Site Plans (REST), to establish new standards for plats and plans to include designations, tabulations, and calculations regarding affordable housing (Affordable Dwelling Units (ADUs), Unmet Housing Needs Units (UHNUs), and Affordable Housing Units (AHUs)) in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

• Revise Sections 8.102, Preliminary Plat of Subdivision (SBPL), 8.103, Plats for Subdivision and Other Miscellaneous Plats, and 8.107, Site Plans (STPL) and Rural Economy Site Plans (REST), to establish new standards for a written agreement regarding provision of ADUs if fewer than 24 dwelling units are proposed in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance.

• Delete Section 8.103.C.10, regarding two year maintenance contracts for private communal (community) water and/or sewer systems, as new communal (community) systems are no longer are permitted under the Zoning Ordinance.

Copies of the proposed amendments listed above are on file and may be examined at the Office of the County Administrator Loudoun County Government Center, Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday,, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies. Documents may may be reviewed electronically at loudoun. gov/landmarc. In addition, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: loudoun.gov/bosdocuments

LEGI-2023-0099, KINCORA VILLAGE CENTER LAND BAY N: SPEX-2023-0033 (Special Exception)

Covenant Capital Partners LLC has submitted an application for a special exception for approximately 1.81acres of land located along the east side of Russell Branch Parkway (Route 1061), west of Sully Road (Route 28), and north of Gloucester Parkway (Route 2150) in the Broad Run Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: PIN 042-49-4764-000 and Tax Map #s /80/W/1///N2C. For SPEX-2023-0033, the applicant seeks to permit a car wash in the Planned Development – Mixed Use Business Legacy Suburban zoning district under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance

LEGI-2023-0096, STRATUS SUBSTATION: CMPT-2023-0013, ZCPA-2023-0007, and SPMI-2023-0031 (Commission Permit, Zoning Concept Plan Amendment, and Minor Special Exception)

Virginia Electric Power Company has submitted applications for the following: a commission permit, a zoning concept plan amendment, and special exception for approximately 96.74 acres of land located a quarter mile north of the Dulles Greenway (Route 267) at the northwest intersection of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 606) and Shellhorn Road (Route 643) (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: 22210 Loudoun County Parkway, Ashburn, Virginia, old PIN: 062-256361-000, new PIN: 089-20-8954-000, old Tax Map# /79////////V1/, and new Tax Map #: /79AJ/2/// LC4/. For CMPT-2023-001, the applicant seeks to a commission permit to allow a Utility, Major (Utility Substation) under the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance For ZCPA-2023-0007, the applicant seeks to amend Proffer III.C to revise the 15-foot wall height to a 12-foot wall height with exception to the western boundary that fronts Loudoun County Parkway. For SPMI-2023-0031 the applicant seeks a minor special exception to waive the landscape buffer planting requirements along the northern and southeastern perimeters. The applications are being processed under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance pursuant to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution, dated December 13, 2023.

LEGI-2023-0111, OCEAN COURT SUBSTATION:

CMPT-2023-0007 & SPEX-2024-0030

(Commission Permit & Special Exception)

Dominion Energy Virginia has submitted applications for a commission permit and special exception, for approximately 17.02 acres of land located just west of Pacific Blvd (Route 1036), south of Moran Rd (Route 634) and north of Relocation Drive (Route 775) in the Sterling Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as: 22429 Pacific Boulevard, Sterling, Virginia, PIN: 045-49-4862-000, and Tax Map # /94/////////4/. For CMPT-2023-0007, the applicant seeks a commission permit to allow the development of a “Major Utility” substation in the IP zoning district, pursuant to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance (Zoning Ordinance). For SPEX-2024-0030, the applicant seeks a special exception to permit the development of a “Major Utility” substation use in the IP zoning district.

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Legal Notices

LEGI-2023-0023, GOOSE CREEK CLUB II: ZMAP-2021-0020, ZMOD-2022-0056, & ZMOD-2023-0040 (Zoning Map Amendment & Zoning Modification)

Kettler Goose Creek Commercial LLC has submitted applications for a zoning map amendment and zoning modifications for approximately 23.86 acres of land located south of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) on the east and south sides of Golf Club Road (Route 653) and east side of Cochran Mill Road (Route 653) in the Leesburg Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is a 23.86-acre portion of a larger parcel more particularly described as 43001 Golf Club Road, Leesburg, Virginia, PIN: 150-40-5648-000, and Tax Map # /61/////////3A. For ZMAP-2021-0020, the applicant seeks to rezone the Subject Property from the Planned Development – Office Park (“PD-OP”) zoning district to the Planned Development – Housing 4 Legacy zoning district administered as the R-8 ADU (Single Family Residential, inclusive of Affordable Dwelling Units) Legacy zoning district in order to develop up to 90 single-family attached residential dwelling units at a density of approximately 3.77 dwelling units per acre, For ZMOD-2023-0056 & ZMOD-2023-0040, the applicant seeks zoning ordinance modifications for various regulations affecting the Subject Property, including but not limited to: reducing the required minimum size of the PD-H4 zoning district from 25 to 23.86 acres, and allowing single-family residential dwelling units to front onto and be accessed from private roads instead of public roads. The applications are being processed under the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance pursuant to the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Grandfathering Resolution, dated December 13, 2023.

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

Darab Ventures Three LLC has submitted applications for a zoning concept plan amendment and special exception, for approximately 26.58 acres of land located east of Loudoun County Parkway (Route 607), north of Shellhorn Road (Route 643), and southwest of Waxpool Road (Route 625), in the Sterling Election District (the Subject Property). The Subject Property is more particularly described as 22130 Loudoun County Pkwy, Ashburn, Virginia, PIN: 089-30-9997-000, and Tax Map 79//84/////E/. For ZCPA-2023-0005, the applicant seeks to amend the concept development plan and proffer statement associated with ZMAP-1998-0003, to permit the development of data centers. For SPEX-2023-0019, the applicant seeks a special exception to increase the permitted floor area ratio from 0.6 to 1.0. The applications are being processed under the land use and development regulations of the Revised 1993 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance in accordance with the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Grandfathering Resolution, dated December 13, 2023.

Copies of the proposed plans, ordinances, and amendments for each land use application listed above may be examined at the Loudoun County Government Center; Information Desk, 1st Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-7770246 (option 5) to request hard copies or electronic copies. Additional project files related to land use applications for public hearings may be reviewed electronically at loudoun.gov/landmarc. In addition, documents may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: loudoun.gov/ bosdocuments

Board of Supervisors public hearings are held in the Board Room of the Government Center. Meetings are televised on Comcast Government Channel 23 and Verizon FiOS Channel 40. Meetings also are livestreamed at loudoun.gov/meetings.

Members of the public desiring to do so may appear and present their views regarding those matters listed for public hearing. Members of the public who wish to provide public input, whether electronically or in person, are encouraged to sign-up in advance; however, speakers may sign-up during the public hearing. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on November 27, 2024, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on December 11, 2024. Members of the public may also submit written comments by email sent to bos@loudoun.gov. Any written comments received prior to the public hearing will be distributed to Board members. Members of the public may also submit comments on land use items electronically at loudoun.gov/landapplications.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory, or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200/TTY-711. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice. FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF: PHYLLIS J. RANDALL, CHAIR LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

11/21 & 11/28/24

LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Program

Fiscal Year 2026 – 2031 Capital Asset Preservation Program

The Loudoun County School Board has scheduled meetings for the Fiscal Year 2026 - 2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Capital Asset Preservation Program (CAPP) budget process.

DATE

October 22, 2024* 4:30 pm/ 6:30 pm

November 12, 2024* 4:30 pm

November 19, 2024 6:30 pm

December 2, 2024 6:30 pm

December 10, 2024* 4:30 pm/ 6:30 pm

Presentation of Superintendent’s Recommended FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Budgets.

School Board FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Work Session

School Board FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Public Hearing / Work Session

School Board FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Work Session (if needed)

School Board Adoption of FY 2026-FY 2031 CIP & CAPP Budgets

*Regular School Board Business Meeting

The meetings will be held at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building (21000 Education Court, Ashburn) and broadcast live on Comcast channel 18 and Verizon Fios channel 43, as well as viewable via simultaneous webcast on the Loudoun County Public Schools website (www.lcps.org/webcast).

Details on how to sign up to speak at the November 19 public hearing will be provided at www.lcps.org/o/lcps/page/citizen-participation. In-person sign-up will also be available on the evening of November 19 between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Those who need translation/interpretation assistance or a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability in order to participate meaningfully in the School Board meetings should contact the Superintendent’s Office at 571-252-1020 at least three (3) days prior to the meeting.

Kevin L. Lewis, Chief Operations Officer Loudoun County Public Schools Department of Support Services

21000 Education Court, Ashburn, Virginia 20148

Email: LCPSPLAN@LCPS.ORG

10/3 - 12/5/24

Public Notice

The Town of Leesburg Board and Commission Appointments

In January 2025, the Town of Leesburg will be making appointments to the Town’s thirteen boards and commissions. These are the thirteen boards and commissions: Airport Commission, Thomas Balch Library Commission, Board of Architectural Review, Commission on Public Art, Diversity Commission, Economic Development Commission, Environmental Advisory Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Performing Arts Commission, Planning Commission, Technology and Communications Commission, Tree Commission and the Residential Traffic Commission. Citizens interested in serving on a board or commission can find additional information, membership requirements, or may apply via the Town’s web site at www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-and-commissions. Applications will be kept on file for one year. Any questions can be sent to the Clerk of Council via email at eboeing@leesburgva.gov.

11/14, 11/21, 11/28 & 12/05/24

Legal Notices

LOUDOUN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NOTICE OF IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLE

This notice is to inform the owner and any person having a security interest in their right to reclaim the motor vehicle herein described within 15 days after the date of storage charges resulting from placing the vehicle in custody, and the failure of the owner or persons having security interests to exercise their right to reclaim the vehicle within the time provided shall be deemed a waiver by the owner, and all persons having security interests of all right, title and interest in the vehicle, and consent to the sale of the abandoned motor vehicle at a public auction.

This notice shall also advise the owner of record of his or her right to contest the determination by the Sheriff that the motor vehicle was “abandoned,” as provided in Chapter 630.08 of the Loudoun County Ordinance, by requesting a hearing before the County Administrator in writing. Such written request for a hearing must be made within 15 days of the notice.

2015 SUZUKI CYL JS1NP41A8F2100144 DOUBLE D TOWING 703-777-7300

2010 KIA SOUL KNDJT2A24A7094836 ROADRUNNER 703-450-7555

2007 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1GCGG25U571167654 BATTLEFIELD TOWING 703-378-0059

2005 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 1GCGG25V751267597 BATTLEFIELD TOWING 703-378-0059

2007 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT WVWDR71K67W119890 BATTLEFIELD TOWING 703-378-0059 11/21 & 11/28/2024

PUBLIC NOTICE

INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

TOWN SHOP AND FLEET

MAINTENANCE BUILDING HVAC REPLACEMENTS

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s e-procurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024, for the following:

IFB NO. 100315-FY25-31

TOWN SHOP AND FLEET

MAINTENANCE BUILDING HVAC REPLACEMENTS

Work includes construction services, including, but not limited to, demolition of existing tube heating systems in the garage area and in the wash bay, demolition of two (2) two existing AC systems for the shop area; furnish and install two (2) HVAC units for garage building; furnish and install one (1) two stage low intensity gas fired heating system in the wash bay; all associated utilities, controls, testing and commissioning, and all incidentals related thereto.

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard 11/28/24

PUBLIC NOTICE

INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)

IDA LEE PARK RECREATION CENTER

POOLPAK NO. 3 AND ROOF TOP UNIT (RTU) REPLACEMENTS

The Town of Leesburg will accept sealed bids electronically via the Commonwealth’s eprocurement website (www.eva.virginia.gov), until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2024, for the following:

IFB NO. 100314-FY25-10

IDA LEE PARK RECREATION CENTER

POOLPAK NO. 3 AND ROOF TOP UNIT (RTU) REPLACEMENTS

Work includes construction services, including, but not limited to demolition of existing PoolPak No. 3 and associated utilities and appurtenances as well as furnishing, installing, grounding, testing, and commissioning of the new Poolpak unit and HVAC Roof Top Unit (RTU).

For additional information, visit: http://www.leesburgva.gov/bidboard 11/28/24

COUNTY OF LOUDOUN SECOND HALF REAL PROPERTY

TAX DEADLINE

Henry C. Eickelberg, Treasurer

December 5, 2024

The deadline for payment of the second half real property tax is December 5, 2024.

Payments received or postmarked after December 5, 2024, will incur a 10 percent penalty and interest. Any such penalty, when assessed, shall become part of the tax with interest accruing on both the tax and penalty at a rate of 10% annually. Taxpayers who are having financial difficulties should contact our Collections Team 703-771-5656.

CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS AND LOCATIONS

Online: www.loudounportal.com/taxes

Pay using electronic check, VISA, MasterCard, American Express or Discover

By Telephone: 24-hour line 1-800-269-5971. Please have your account number and credit card number ready.

Please note: There is a convenience fee added to a Credit Card transaction. No fee is charged for electronic checks (e-check).

By Mail:

County of Loudoun P.O. Box 1000

Leesburg, Virginia 20177-1000

TREASURER’S OFFICE LOCATIONS

Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

1 Harrison Street, S.E. 1st Floor Leesburg, Virginia 21075

46000 Center Oak Plaza 1st Floor Sterling, Virginia 20166

*A 24 hour drop box is located outside the Sterling and Leesburg locations. All Check payments should be made payable to “County of Loudoun”.

Please contact the Loudoun County Treasurer's Office at 703-777-0280 or email us at taxes@ loudoun.gov with questions or if you have not received your bill.

Stay up to date on tax information by subscribing to the Tax Notices category of Alert Loudoun at www.louduon.gov/alert. You can also text the word “TAXES” to 888777 to receive text messages about tax-related information, including upcoming deadlines.

For information regarding Real Property or Personal Property Tax Exemptions or Deferrals, please contact the Tax Exemptions Division of the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office at taxrelief@loudoun.gov, by phone at 703-737-8557 or visit www.loudoun.gov/taxrelief

11/28 &12/5/24

Legal Notices

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ045449-04, -05, 06, -07

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Cristino Membreno, putative father and Uknown Father

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno and hold a hearing on the Petition for Termination of Parental Rights of Cristino Membreno, putative father and Unknown Father, pursuant to Virginia Code §16.1-283 for Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno. Cristino Membreno, putative father and Unknown Father, are hereby notified that failure to appear on the hereinafter noticed date and time may result in the entry of an Order approving a permanency goal of adoption as well as the termination of their residual parental rights with respect to Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno. Cristino

Membreno, putative father and Unknown Father, are hereby further notified that if their residual parental rights are terminated, they will no longer have any legal rights with respect to said minor child, including, but not limited to, the right to visit Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno; any authority with respect to the care and supervision of Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno; or the right to make health related decisions or determine the religious affiliation of Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno. Further, Cristino Membreno, putative father and Unknown Father, will have no legal and/or financial obligations with respect to Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno, and the Department of Family Services of Loudoun County, Virginia may be granted the authority to place Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno for adoption and consent to the adoption of Mackenzie Berenize Membreno Membreno

It is ORDERED that the defendant Cristino Membreno, putative father and Unknown Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before December 17, 2024 at 11:00am.

11/14, 11/21, 11/28 & 12/05/24

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

Case No.: JJ044457, JJ044458

Loudoun Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Camilo Pisani Marquez and Gabriel S. Pisani Marquez

Loudoun County Department of Family Services v.

Josue Valentin Marquez Decid, Father

The object of this suit is to hold a motion to Modify the Child Protective Orders for Camilo Pisani Marquez and Gabriel S. Pisani Marquez pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-253. The Department of Family Services will be seeking to have all of the father’s contact with the children supervised. The Department of Family Services will also be seeking to have the father participate in certain services.

It is ORDERED that the defendant(s) Josue Valentin Marquez Decid, Father appear at the above-named Court and protect his or her interests on or before January 9, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. 11/28, 12/5, 12/12 & 12/19/24

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

CONSTRUCTION OF THE UTILITY DUCT BANK AND CONDUITS ON STERLING BOULEVARD, IFB No. 670842 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, January 14, 2025.

TASK ORDER INTERSECTION

IMPROVEMENT DESIGN SERVICES, RFP No. 663834 until prior to 4:00 p.m., local “Atomic Time”, January 14, 2025.

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

11/28/24

VEHICLE AUCTION

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

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

VEHICLE AUCTION

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

20+Chase repossessions will be offered to the public sale (monthly) on Wednesdays (12/4/24).

Auction doors open at 8:00 a.m. Sale starts at 9:50 a.m. ET. Registered persons may preview/ inspect vehicles on the day of the sale before bidding. Bids accepted only when a vehicle is presented for sale. The auctioneer will conclude the sale when bidding stops. All results will be final by 5:00 p.m. Terms: Cash or Certified Check.

Loco Service Providers

Town of Leesburg Employment Opportunities

Please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs for more information and to apply online. Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA.

Regular Full-Time Positions

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.

Published by Loudoun Community Media

15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176

703-770-9723

KURT ASCHERMANN Executive Director kaschermann@loudounnow.org

NORMAN K. STYER Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.org

EDITORIAL

AMBER LUCAS Reporter alucas@loudounnow.org

HANNA PAMPALONI Reporter hpampaloni@loudounnow.org

WILLIAM TIMME Reporter wtimme@loudounnow.org

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TONYA HARDING Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.org

VICKY MASHAW Account Executive vmashaw@loudounnow.org

CRYSTAL MONNINGER Account Executive cmonninger@loudounnow.org

Opinion

Opening a Corridor

Addressing public health threats caused by a lack of access to safe drinking water or adequate sewage treatment has been a priority of county leaders for decades. Paeonian Springs and Waterford are now moving to the top of a too-long list of communities facing those challenges.

Both are compact communities initially served by private wells and septic drain fields sharing space on small lots.

In Waterford, the contamination of groundwater from numerous septic systems on the National Historic Landmark village’s 150 lots promoted the construction of a sewage treatment plant to better protect the drinking water supplies. While that effort improved water quality, many wells still struggle to provide adequate supplies.

Paeonian Springs was established in the late 19th century as a resort community bringing Washington tourists to enjoy its clean water among other amenities. Today, the village has 215 lots with more than 100 homes and businesses all served by on-site water and sewer systems. For at least a few, their system includes an outhouse.

Over the past several years, studies of options to address health concerns in both villages have focused largely on establishing traditional—and feasible—communal systems to improve water service and sewage treatment within their boundaries. This method has been employed in other historic communities, including Aldie and St. Louis, and even permitted for some modern subdivisions like nearby Beacon Hill. That approach ensures the systems will serve a defined area and a limited number of properties.

More recently, the idea to connect the two communities with shared utility systems has gained traction. There are reasons that a pipeline option has not been used to date. Chief among them is what happens along the utility corridor, particularly in an area where countryside preservation is touted as a primary goal.

Development inevitably follows your utility lines.

LETTERS to the Editor

Not Gifts

Editor:

I attended Del. David Reid's Nov. 23 presentation to Potomac Green and was was shocked to hear that Loudoun County’s budget is larger than spending for the entire state of West Virginia. What are we spending on and what are we wasting?

I propose the following discussion, and hopefully a charette format can further determine best ways to address the excessive surplus this county is receiving from the data center revenue stream.

1. Grow the community college in Loudoun with certificates and degrees that benefit us directly. Scholarships should be given to any high school student seeking entry into any public service vocation, teacher or special ed assistant, military enlistment or medical assistant career. I know we have the linkages within some high schools, but these future employees grow our base here in our own county.

2. Set aside a defined percentage of the data center revenue annually toward affordable housing. Make it happen sooner with partnerships with private builders and landowners.

3. Build the Eastern County Performing Arts Center soon, not weighed down by bureaucratic processes.

Current residents want to benefit from the taxes we are paying.

4. Increase the salary levels for all public employees while you have the revenue stream. Loudoun needs to retain and house these workers now.

5. Refund to all county residents paying car taxes.

6. Affirm the Area Agency on Aging efforts to reduce property taxes on all seniors, regardless of income, and establish that percentage based on what each taxpayer pays to the school proportion.

7. Defund and eliminate any DEIA programs and personnel and encourage merit-based personnel throughout the county agencies. These same dollars can be redirected to growing high school civic instruction, enabling communication and learning about how our country's and county's government structure was formed, and now exists.

As you have paid higher food, gas, energy, and insurance costs these past four years, so have your constituents. To read of such a massive budget revenue surplus and now still seeing our tax bill growing, the disconnect is real and felt by each of your taxpaying residents. We are fortunate to have these data centers, even with the electricity needs growing.

Taxes are not gifts to be spent on

creative programming and personnel creation. Return what you can, not spend what you dream.

— Robbie Milberg, Potomac Green

Well Done

Editor:

At the Nov. 12 meeting of the Commission on Aging, we discussed the Nov. 5 Election Day operation as it pertained to accommodations for senior citizens and those with mobility issues. We were all impressed with the accommodations that General Registrar Judy Brown and her staff provided to make voting more accessible for this very important election.

Specifically:

• the provision for curbside voting, and signage,

• ensuring that there were handicap parking spaces,

• providing entrances to polling stations were wheelchair accessible,

• the provision of an accessible voting machine, and

• the provision of a wheelchair accessible voting booth.

So, as the commission chair, I want to LETTERS continues on page 37

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publicly note our appreciation for those efforts to make sure that senior citizens and those with mobility issues could vote.

— Anthony V. Fasolo, Leesburg

Follow the Process

Editor:

A Nov. 14 article reported that Supervisor Michael R. Turner proposed an option that would give each supervisor $500,000 to spend on projects within their district through a discretionary funding proposal.

I oppose any such allocation option and ask, even though it is perhaps cumbersome and bureaucratic, that the board follow established staff review and recommendation funding procedures subject to a full board and/or public review process within the capital improvement projects queue.

Discretionary funding of one or more projects earmarked within a singular district by its supervisor is not sufficient justification, in my opinion, to bypass the county’s competing and prioritization of all projects currently in effect. Supervisor Kristen Umstattd’s points regarding administration, structure, staff time allocation, etc. are valid and I fully support her concerns.

What are the changes “leftover revenue” will not be spent, but returned to

— By Chip Beck, beckchip@aol.com

LETTERS to the Editor

the taxpayers?

— Rebecca Reeder, Leesburg

Another Waste

Editor:

I'm writing in response to the effort to rename a school because the woman whose name it bears had a membership in the Daughters of the Confederacy.

Not more than a few years ago there was a statue honoring “The Confederate Soldier” standing in front of our courthouse in Leesburg. That statue had been there for many decades and was the result of a much more questionable decision by county planners.

The fact is that, unless it's falsely promoted as racist, very few people care that Frances Hazel Reid had a membership in a women's heritage organization, and no student will be adversely affected by the present name. This effort is another waste of taxpayer funds.

— James Sivard, Leesburg

Stop Pretending

Editor:

I had the privilege of attending a Mercer Middle School renaming committee meeting last week.

I was aware of the school’s rich 20-year

history of academic accomplishment and service. Many people have told me of the dedicated teachers and staff who make this school a true beacon of love and learning for the surrounding community.

I arrived just as the committee of about 20 people, seated around the main table, began a bewildering debate about renaming a school that is not named in honor of any person or anything that can be construed with racism. In other words, they are looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

I quickly observed that the chairperson of the committee was showing bias against the name “Mercer.” Her line of questioning, body language, and interaction with the other members made it seem that she had already decided that “Mercer” equates racism.

One person on the committee made a contortionist argument that racist incidents in Birmingham, AL, during the 1960s were somehow proof that systemic racism was alive and well in Loudoun County Public Schools.

One of the committee members was the chairperson of the local NAACP chapter. She asserted, using a noncredible, evidence-free, taxpayer-funded report from several years ago, that systemic racism exists in LCPS.

Pro-tip to the audience: if you’re

conducting a racism study and you can’t find any proven incidents of racism, use the nebulous words “systemic racism,” and then the profit-driven educationindustrial complex will throw tons of money at a problem that doesn’t exist.

Members of the Loudoun Love Warriors were here as well. They are the street muscle for the local NAACP. They intimidate School Board members and encroach into their personal space, threaten violence, arson and lawfare and use cancellation against anyone who interferes with their narrative of racism.

In attendance was the former Loudoun County commonwealth’s attorney. Apparently, she has a strong scent for rooting-out “racism” where it doesn’t exist but was weak on prosecuting child rape in LCPS.

This months-long attack on MMS has left stunned parents and staff with the difficult task of explaining to bewildered children that their school is somehow, might be, associated with racism.

We must stop pretending that these race-bullies are credible. They distract us from what is good, and they foment hate and division in our community.

Mercer Middle School’s name should remain unchanged.

— Ray Farrell, Round Hill

Utility System

continued from page 1

are sometimes contaminated with heavy metals and bacteria.

County leaders are hoping to address both problems simultaneously by creating a joint water and wastewater system serving both villages. The Board of Supervisors last week approved a proposal by county staff to continue working on the design of such a system, authorizing $4 million for land acquisitions, land use approvals and design plans.

A feasibility study of the project was conducted this year and showed that the proposal is both possible and financially beneficial, Director of General Services Ernie Brown told the board during a Nov. 19 briefing.

“A key factor of this is the development of separate systems, meaning if we forward with a Paeonian Springs separate system and a Waterford separate system it would require the construction of three new treatment plants in rural Loudoun, as opposed to just one plant, which would be a new water plant,” he said.

The wastewater system would serve all connections in an approved Paeonian Springs service boundary with a pumping station located in the village and would require a sewage force main to convey flows from Paeonian Springs to the Waterford sanitary collection system. The plan also would require an expansion at the Waterford wastewater treatment plant, which is operated by Loudoun Water.

The water system would require new groundwater wells, a treatment facility and storage and pumping facility to be located somewhere along Clarkes Gap Road between the villages; a watermain conveying treated water from the facility to the villages and a water distribution system within each village to serve all the individual connections.

Challenges identified during the feasibility study include roadway impacts along Clarkes Gap Road for the estimated construction time of eight months, required approval from the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority for a crossing along the W&OD Trail, impacts to archaeological resources, and easement and property acquisitions.

Building the interconnected system, rather than two village systems, is estimated to save $6 million to $8 million dollars in capital costs and 20-30% of overall life cycle costs.

“The majority of those [life cycle] savings will come from operation and main-

tenance,” Environmental Program Specialist Scott Fincham said.

The entire project is estimated to cost $60.2 million, if approved.

The proposal is met by support, opposition, and uncertainty by residents from both villages.

Waterford resident Carl Scheider said everyone has a right to clean water and cited concerns with the impact failing septic systems have on the water quality.

“Runoff from our traffic-clogged roads and local fields lead to frequent contamination of our wells, including E. Coli contamination” he said.

print,” he said. “Villagers who have resources install complex filtration systems, but these systems require constant maintenance and if the power goes out, these systems go out. This new system will bring security and ensure everyone in Waterford and Paeonian Springs has the option to choose to connect to clean, safe drinking water.”

Paeonian Springs resident Lana Rohrmeier said the system could help solve an issue that the community has been working to address for 50 years and that it’s long overdue for the small village.

“People have been hospitalized and

bring unwanted development in the village.

“I do not want to cause a majority of the approximately 80 vacant parcels in the village to be developed in a full buildout scenario. Most residents want to preserve the quiet, historic community as it is which includes giving existing residents and structures the services that they need,” she said.

The community is tightly knit, Rohrmeier said, and bringing an influx of development would erode that.

“We all know and love our neighbors. We will have little village get-togethers and things like that occasionally. And so having someone take advantage of this erodes at the collective community feeling. So that’s what I’m cautious of,” she said.

During the Nov. 19 meeting, Rohrmeier asked supervisors to establish a community commission allowing residents within the service area to be involved in the design process and help mitigate some of the residents’ concerns.

Because, despite their fears, a wastewater system is needed, she said.

“Some of them have running water, but they don’t have indoor toilets,” she said, adding that some of the drainfield septic systems are decades old and didn’t work well even when they were first installed.

“They’re called bed systems where it’s just a fan of pipes over a bed of gravel and it’s not a real drainage field really and that was approved in the ’70s and ’80s and ’90s even. It’s 30 years old now – this is not sustainable, and these systems are not going to work for much longer,” Rohrmeier said.

But addressing them on their own is expensive for residents.

“What it takes on a smaller acreage to replace something like that is an alternative septic system, so it requires less physical area, but usually they are like $40,000 to $50,000 to start,” she said.

Lack of running water also contributed to the recent demolition of an old home in the village, which fell within Paeonian Spring’s National Historic Landmark designation.

Rohrmeier said without action by county, the situation will continue to deteriorate.

As a volunteer with the Potomac River Keeper Network, Scheider said he has trained hundreds of community scientists to track water quality along the Potomac watershed to make sure that the rivers are safe.

“In Waterford, we have a whole lot of wells put together in a very small foot-

houses on the National Historic Register torn down that do not have indoor facilities,” she said. “… Some properties have failed septic fields and are now on pump and hauls, which includes our historic post office.”

However, Rohrmeier said she was also concerned that a combined system would

“It’s kind of like this recipe for disaster, where these systems have been aging and this has been put off for decades,” she said. “Here we are over 50 years later.”

There are some residents who oppose the plan saying there are other methods to

UTILITY SYSTEM continues on page 39

County of Loudoun

A conceptual layout shows a possible location and route of an interconnected water and wastewater system between the villages of Paeonian Springs and Waterford.

A Loudoun Moment

Utility System

continued from page 38

address the concerns.

“Waterfordians have yet to be informed that there is a $15,000 hookup fee, a $5,000 well abatement fee, plus monthly water usage fee for the proposed county combined solution. They have not been made aware that they will get a mere 1.2 gallons per minute. Nor have they been told that there could be mandatory water restrictions as surrounding towns have suffered,” Waterford resident Laura Shaw said.

Instead, the board should look further into who has water issues, what the issues are, what kind of attempts have been made

to resolve them, if additional wells have been drilled, whether low-yield management solutions have been considered and how many residents want the system built at all, she said.

“Our group is not at all about denying water to anybody. Quite the opposite,” Shaw’s husband Jeff Bean said. “We believe and have found that there are much simpler, much lower cost, more immediately attainable methods of getting water to those in need.”

The availability of water in the village is not the problem, he said. It’s the method of extracting it.

“A processor-controlled, low-yield well management system is needed and is successful in harvesting, storing and pressurizing virtually as much water as the

homeowner or institution requires, even if the well yields as little as one quarter of a gallon per minute,” he said.

While $15,000 is the average Loudoun Water hookup cost, Brown said it is within the board’s purview to set that fee.

“In no form or fashion in the feasibility study or the representation that the staff has made during the public meetings or the water wastewater process has made any representations of cost for hookup, or expenses associated with being part of the system,” he said.

The combined system is looked at with cautious optimism by the Waterford Foundation, President Susan Manch said, with the organization’s main concern focusing on the impact to the historical nature of the village. The design phase needs

to be completed to understand what that will look like, she said.

“What’s clear to us is that none of the potential threats can be fully understood until we move from the concept phase, where we are today, to the design phase. Only when we can see the proposed design, can we know exactly with certainty how this project will affect our area and whether the promised protections against harm, such as limiting the connections and the service area, will be upheld,” she said.

Supervisors voted unanimously to move forward with the design, allocating the $4 million. n

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

Kareem McCullough of the McCullough School of Guitar wrapped up his fall music tour in his hometown of Leesburg last week at the historic St. James' Episcopal Church on Cornwall Street.