Loudoun County Comprehensive Plan – How you can Help!

The future of Loudoun County will be determined within the next 90 days.  The  Planning Commission submitted their 2040 Comprehensive Plan to the Board of Supervisors on March 26^th, starting the clock for the Board of Supervisors to take action. We have one more chance to get it right!

The 2040 plan calls for an additional 27,500 residential units on top of the 48,000 unbuilt units already approved and/or allowed under current zoning.  Over the past year, Loudoun residents have almost unanimously (east to west) called for stabilized growth, focus on improving infrastructure and amenities, relieving traffic congestion, providing parks, preserving our valuable resources, and maintaining and improving our quality of life. The Plan jeopardizes the Transition Policy Area and removes critical protections for the rural landscape. The Plan removed the language that allows for the possibility of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. These are important land preservation tools that we can use to preserve Western Loudoun’s agrarian land base and rural landscape. We do not need to condone more inappropriate suburban sprawl and burden our already stressed infrastructure. It is critical that we have a big turnout at these April public input sessions and that we send the Supervisors our emails to convince them to alter the plan to better preserve Loudoun’s unique identity!  Future generations are depending on us!     

What can you do?
The best way to make your voice heard is to speak out at one of the next two public input sessions listed below and /or send an email to the supervisors.

To sign up to speak at one of these sessions, please call 703-777-0200
1.      Wednesday, April 24, at 6PM
County Government Building,
1 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg, VA 20175
2.      Saturday, April 27 at 9AM
Loudoun Co. Public Schools Admin Building
21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA 20148.

If you are not able to speak out at one of these events, please send an email expressing your concerns to bos@loudoun.gov.  An email sent to this address will reach each of the Supervisors.  We have included talking points at the bottom of this email for your consideration.

The most effective emails will be written in your own words, but if you do not have time to write your own, click the PEC Take Action Link which includes a default message against the 2040 Comp Plan.  If you do use their message, please add the following line at the end of the first paragraph: 

“Additionally, it is imperative that the 2040 Comprehensive Plan include language that allows for the possibility of Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs.” 

Thank you all for taking the time to weigh in on behalf of Loudoun County.

With sincere appreciation for your time and consideration,

Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Talking Points:

1. Request that the Board of Supervisors include a provision to allow PDR/TDR programs to protect open space in the Comp Plan. This tool must be included in the Comp Plan or it will not be able to be utilized in the future.
2. Acknowledge the rural policy area (RPA) as a permanent resource
3. Maintain the Transition and Rural Policy Area with adequate open space and plan for pedestrian, bike, and equestrian trail systems that connect the east and west portions of the Loudoun County, AKA, the Emerald Ribbon.
4. There is too much emphasis on economic development of the rural policy area, rather than preservation of this natural resource. For example, the rural economic development committee (REDC) is designed as an ‘advocacy’ committee rather than just an advisory committee. They need to take into account the overall preservation and enhancement of the resources of the RPA as part of their mission and not allow inappropriate rural economy uses.
5. Performance and design standards for rural economy uses (e.g., wineries, breweries, wedding and event venues, bed and breakfasts, etc.) needs to be required.
6. Viewsheds, the agrarian countryside, and historic landscapes are what bring tourism and quality of life we have come to enjoy in Loudoun. They set the stage, provide the back drop, and give Loudoun a personality of its own as well as support a strong economy.
7. Linear parks are a critical component of all policy areas. They could link all policy areas together, including rural economy and agrarian land uses, and open spaces in the RPA. Such a system would contribute to and enhance the unique character of Loudoun County and integrate Loudoun County into an organic whole.
8. Nuclear towns and villages surrounded by green spaces prevent them from merging into each other, each one having a unique identity based on its history and preferences. When strip development occurs along the linkages, a clear image is diluted. It is important to people to have a sense of place and identity, with environmentally friendly linkages between them.
9. See PEC Flyer for additional talking points.