Country Zest

Development Threatens Historic Village of St. Louis

St. Louis sign of the times.

Kevin Ramundo

By Kevin Ramundo

You may have noticed numerous signs west of Middleburg opposing a subdivision on Snake Hill Road in the historic village of St. Louis.

The developer, MOJAX, LLC, is seeking approval for 30 homes on 19 acres that would jeopardize important historic African-American resources and the identity of the village itself. Plus, there are very serious questions about the potential impact on well-water availability for existing and new residents and the destruction of important wetlands.

With all these preservation threats, it’s highly contradictory that the developer has named the project Middleburg Preserve. At least it’s less contradictory than if the name chosen was St. Louis Preserve.

St. Louis was the first and largest African-American community in Loudoun County and was settled immediately after the Civil War by the formerly enslaved.

Most of the new homes would surround a historic African-American house of worship, the Mount Zion Baptist Church, and an African-American cemetery with as many as 50 graves. As a small concession to the community, the developer is restricted from building within 50 feet of the cemetery.

The village of St. Louis could easily be overrun by the new subdivision. The 90 existing homes there would increase by about 30 percent and the new, likely larger homes would be out of character with the area.

This village would end up like so many other African-American historic places destroyed by development in Loudoun County and elsewhere around the U.S. It would be ironic if this subdivision were allowed to proceed after the nearby African-American village of Willisville was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Given the significant number of proposed homes, the development poses serious risks to the water supply, which, according to the community, is already running short.

Residents report that many older wells have gone dry, and newer wells drilled to a depth of 600 -700 feet produce as little as two gallons per minute. Loudoun County is well aware of the water issues and has rejected two previous residential developments in St. Louis due to insufficient water.

For subdivisions of more than nine homes, Loudoun typically requires a hydro-geologic study to help determine if sufficient water exists.

The developer requested a waiver of the study, which was denied by the county, and has recently filed for a nine-lot subdivision at the same location while the previous application for about three times as many homes has not been withdrawn. Many believe this is an attempt to circumvent the requirement for the hydro-geologic study while ultimately pursuing the larger subdivision.

Speaking of water, significant swaths of wetlands run through the subject property. These wetlands should be protected because they reduce the risk of flooding, which happens regularly in the village, and provide an important source of ground water for nearby wells and the Goose Creek watershed, which supplies drinking water to the county.

In fact, the developer has been cited by Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for wetlands violations associated with other land-clearing activities.

The DEQ’s enforcement action is not the first time this project has run afoul of authorities. Loudoun issued a stop work order in April, 2018 for grading without a permit, and another a year later for illegal land disturbance.

Finally, the proposed development conflicts with the county’s comprehensive plan adopted last year which prohibits high-density housing development in rural historic villages.

If you’d like to find out more and join the community effort to oppose Middleburg Preserve, please see the website: FriendsofStLouis.org. I’d also encourage you to communicate your concerns to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors at bos@loudoun.gov. St. Louis sign of the times. Kevin Ramundo You’ve WATCHED the race…