Loudoun BOS Adopts Resolution Regarding Power Line Route 

At the April 16th business meeting, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution encouraging the use of existing transmission line corridors for the new 500 kV electric power transmission line across western Loudoun. The line, known as the Mid Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) is being planned by Florida-based NextEra Energy. The proposed route would cross Loudoun from the West Virginia border to the Aspen substation south of Leesburg.

The resolution “encourages NextEra Energy to work with the electric utility providers in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland to collocate the new transmission lines in exiting electrical transmission corridors.”

According to an article in the April 17^th edition of Loudoun Now, County Attorney Leo Rogers told supervisors that an intent of the resolution would be to encourage NextEra to use existing right-of-way transmission line rights of way for the new lines.

Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catoctin), whose district would be crossed by the transmission lines if the preliminary route is approved, said the location is critical. “I think it’s largely unanimous throughout the community that we find the correct route, which we believe in this resolution is the existing rights-of-way” he said.

Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains has joined numerous other environmental / conservation groups including the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), The Waterford Foundation, and The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy in the formation of the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance (LTLA) to help minimize the negative impacts of the line on the natural and cultural environment of Western Loudoun.

Jim Hanna, representing the LTLA, called the NextEra proposal a serious threat.

According to Hanna “The alliance does not oppose, but indeed supports, the overall PJM regional transmission expansion plan aimed in particular to meet the rising power needs of the region’s data center industry. The alliance does firmly oppose NextEra’s proposal for a new transmission path anywhere in western Loudoun and requests NextEra to withdraw this proposal and select an existing right-of-way”.

Friends has prepared an “Impact Statement” for the LTLA outlining the anticipated impact of a 500 kV line crossing the Blue Ridge. Because of the destruction of trees, the MARL has the potential to seriously degrade air quality and increase storm runoff in the Blue Ridge and throughout the region. According to the Arbor Day Foundation a mature tree can absorb approximately 48 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO²) per year. CO², of course, is a major component of greenhouse gases and is a significant contributor to climate change.

In addition to absorbing CO², a tree will produce approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. 
Furthermore, a single deciduous tree can intercept from 500 to 760 gallons per year. A mature evergreen can intercept more than 4,000 gallons per year.

For every acre of trees lost to the MARL in the Blue Ridge we are losing the ability to absorb approximately 2,400 pounds of CO² per year. We are not generating approximately 13,000 pounds of oxygen per year and not intercepting approximately 150,000 gallons of storm water runoff per year. That 150,000 million gallons of runoff per year is going to find its way into the Chesapeake Bay.

NextEra said through a spokesperson on April 17 “We are early in the process, and no final route has been selected. We continue to evaluate a number of options and to engage with local communities and stakeholders.”

President Monroe’s Oak Hill Estate a
Possible State Park

Virginia State Senator Russet Perry (D-SD31) carried language in the Virginia State Budget to make President Monroe’s Loudoun County estate –Oak Hill — a state park.  According to Maya Mahdi, Senator Perry’s Director of Constituent Services the study, which will be conducted by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will:

• Assess the challenges in acquiring and developing the property,
• Identify upfront costs and ongoing and future obligations of the Commonwealth,
• Assess the involvement and contribution of Loudoun County,
• Assess potential philanthropic contributions and/or other funding resources to support the project.

If the approximately 1,000-acre property were to be designated a state park it would be under permanent conservation easement.

James Monroe considered one of the original “founding fathers” served as Secretary of State under President James Madison and was elected President from 1817-1825. He is best known as the author of Monroe Doctrine.

Monroe inherited the property at Oak Hill, near Aldie from his uncle in 1808, which was also the year in which he made his first, unsuccessful bid for the presidency. Construction of the mansion probably did not begin until 1820, due to financial difficulties.  During construction, Monroe lived on the property in a wood frame clapboard building, known today as the “Monroe Cottage.”  Completed in 1823, the main house stands at the head of a long avenue of trees.

Monroe sought ideas for the design of the Mansion from both Thomas Jefferson and James Hoban, architect of the White House. The house was constructed by the local builder William Benton. Its dominant architectural feature is the unusual five column portico. Marquis de La Fayette visited Oak Hill in 1825 during his tour of America and it was here that Monroe worked on the drafting of the Monroe Doctrine. Monroe retired to an active life at Oak Hill at the end of his second term in 1825.  Monroe’s two daughters inherited the property. By the late 19th century, the land had passed out of the family.

Today, Oak Hill is a private residence. A smokehouse, a springhouse and many other outbuildings from Monroe’s ownership and later still surround the mansion. 1,200 acres of the original 2,000-acre plantation have been exceptionally well-preserved, as well as the interior and exterior of the main house.

The historic property is also a site of important artifact discoveries of the Manahoac Native American people and even dinosaur bones.

The mansion and outbuildings have been well preserved by the private owners, who now wish to share with the public the story of the former president and the craftspeople and enslaved African Americans who also lived there. Approximately fifty enslaved African Americans lived and worked at the plantation.

The Virginia DCR has not yet set a timeline for the study nor designed the study process. FBRM will keep you informed of progress, particularly regarding public input. LPM

Loudoun Board Refers PDR program to
Committee for Further Study

By a 5 to 4 vote at the April 16th Business Meeting the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors referred the controversial Purchase Development Rights (PDR) program to the Transportation and Land Use Committee (TULC) for further study.
Supervisors Randall (Chair), TeKrony (Little River), Kershner (Catoctin), Turner (Ashburn) and Glass (Broad Run) supported the referral to TULC.

The County Planning staff had originally proposed beginning the PDR program this spring, however in January the Board removed the spring deadline, changing it to “To Be Determined” (TBD) and Supervisor Letourneau (R-Dulles), who does not support the PDR program, made a motion to remove two of the three staff positions supporting the program. His motion passed 5-4.

According to an article by Hanna Pampaloni in the April 18, 2024 edition of Loudoun Now  County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) said some of her colleagues were trying to kill the program.

She said without a PDR program or a prime agricultural soil program the county might as well not have a rural part of the county at all.

“That is where we’re headed for because we’re not doing anything. We’re not putting anything in place to protect those areas,” Randall said.

Supervisor Turner agreed. Loudoun Now quotes Turner.

“If you kill the PDR program and you don’t enhance the conservation easement grant program and you vote against the cluster ordinance, just come out and say you’re not interested in saving farmland in western Loudoun. Just be honest about what you’re doing”.

For now, the PDR will retain its TBD designation on the Department of Planning and Zoning’s work plan and will also advance to the TULC committee.

The intent of a PDR program is to permanently protect working farm and forest land, open space, or aesthetically pleasing landscapes from development, while retaining private ownership and management.

PDR is a voluntary program in which a landowner sells the development rights of a parcel of land to a public agency, land trust or unit of government. A conservation easement is recorded on the title of the property that limits development permanently. While the right to develop or subdivide that land is permanently restricted, the landowner retains all other rights and responsibilities associated with that land and can use or sell it for purposes allowed in the easement.

If implemented in Loudoun County, the PDR program could be a significant tool to protect land in the Mountain Overlay District (MOD) from further development.

22 Virginia localities have PDR programs including Clarke, Fauquier, Shenandoah, Rappahannock, and Stafford counties. Funding for the programs range from $50,000 to $20 million dollars. Common sources to fund PDR programs include general appropriations, real estate transfer taxes, bonds (most popular) and donated lands. LPM

People You Should Know

This one in a series of occasional articles highlighting the people whose decisions and activities directly impact the way in which we enjoy, use, celebrate and protect our wonderful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Alexander Nance – Executive Director, Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association
Alexander is the Executive Director of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association (VPHA) having been appointed in January 2022. As Executive Director, he is the chief operating officer and is responsible for the active management of the Association’s daily business, development, fundraising, membership, and preserving the integrity of the historic landscape of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area.

He brings a somewhat unique background to the position, not as an historian or professional preservationist but as an engineering officer in the US Army.  He was stationed in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Jordan. After completing his tour of duty, he worked as a civilian employee of the Army as a military analyst for five years.

Alexander is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia, having lived in Alexandria and McLean before he and his wife Jane Latham moved to an old farmhouse on 7 acres outside of Middleburg. They are lovingly restoring the farmhouse and starting a small apple orchard featuring heritage apples.

For as long as he can remember Alexander has had an intense interest in history, particularly Virginia history. When the Executive Director position at VPHA opened he decided it might be a a great opportunity to change careers and follow his passion.

Alexander has a BS in International Politics from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Virginia.

The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a mission to educate and advocate for the preservation of the extraordinary historical landscape and culture of the Northern Virginia Piedmont and Lower Shenandoah Valley for future generations.

VPHA and seven other local conservation groups have come together to produce a Rural Landowner Manual: A Resource Guide for the Northern Piedmont. The publication includes a list of experts, programs, and opportunities to assist landowners, as well as advice for how to navigate the complexities of rural property stewardship. Click here to download the document.

Over the next several years VPHA will continue to expand its education program which features In-Person or Virtual Classroom Presentations. Last year the program reached 5,000 students. The program is available for free to all public schools, private schools, catholic schools, and home schools.
Each free classroom presentation includes:

• A professionally trained public historian with classroom experience;
• Free scavenger hunts for each student;
• Primary sources and fascinating stories.

The classroom presentations are specifically tailored to elementary school, middle school, and high school.
The education program is run by Travis Shaw who brings over two decades of experience in the fields of historic preservation, archaeology, and museum education.

The VPHA is actively involved in developing public policy to preserve the historical landscape and culture of the Northern Virginia Piedmont and Lower Shenandoah Valley. VPHA has joined the Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains and many other Loudoun County based organizations in signing the declaration prepared by the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance (LTLA) expressing concern about the proposed 500KV transmission line through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The VPHA is in the process of preparing an Impact Statement outlining the serious impacts the proposed line will have on the area’s historic landscape.