1/7/12

Leesburgs town plan seeks citizen input | LoudounTimes.com

Mobile Website | Login | Register

Staff Directory | Advertise | Subscribe

News

Opinions

Sports

Entertainment

Blogs

Video

Classifieds

Advertise

Leesburgs town plan seeks citizen input

Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011 by Laura Peters | 3 comments | Email this story

2
The Leesburg Planning Commission has completed an in- depth review of the town plan and is asking the residents of Leesburg for their input. The plan, originally adopted in September 2005, had a total of nine elements and seven policy maps that have been part of the Town Plan Amendment by Leesburg Town Council on Oct. 6. The purpose of the amendments are to change and clarify unclear objectives, add new policy that is consistent with Town Councils directions since 2005, update guidance based on new federal and state requirements, remove outdated policies and update statistics and references text, according to the town. According to Susan Berry Hill, the director of planning and zoning for the town, its required in Virginia State code to have a town plan and to update it regularly, at least every five years. The importance is that it is your towns guide of how you want the development of land and facilities to be in the future, so its the blue print for the future of the town, Hill said. The planning commission has spent June 2010 to October 2011 completing the review. The public hearing will be held on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers where officials will discuss seven major issues: protecting resources and residential areas, preserving and expanding town character, protecting the airport, maintaining supply of land for high wage employment, phase timing of development with adequate facilities and accommodating future growth, according to town documents. The purpose of this town amendment is to look at the plan comprehensively and update it per the guidance of the state code but also to look to ensure that the policies that have been changed over the last few years and future changes are all working together, Hill said. Hill said the purpose of the public input meeting is to hear comment on the proposed changes. The staff will give an overview of the what the changes are that are proposed in the plan, Hill added. The planning commission will hope to hear from members of the public regarding any additional changes that they think are necessary or comments on the proposed changes. Natural resources The proposed changes involve the protection of resources through town ordinance and code revisions, implementing objectives in the towns Urban Forestry Management Plan and establishing street standards that better accommodate street trees. Within that, establishing standards for trees within the town will help with managing storm water and erosion control. This section of the plan is also aimed at improving air quality, protecting people and property from flooding and keeping the towns ordinances within the Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines. Town staff also recommends the planning commission to make changes regarding Lyme
Most Popular in News
Wednesday, Dec. 28 | 13325 views Tuesday, Dec. 27 | 9092 views

Chapman selects new leadership

Residents unhappy with results Leesburg elementary re-zoning

Wednesday, Dec. 28 | 8914 views

UPDATE: Suspect in custody for attempted robbery at Middlebur

Thursday, Dec. 29 | 6997 views

Morven Park cancels annual Steeplechase races

Friday, Jan. 6 | 6610 views

Six students found intoxicated i Loudoun Middle School

Stay Connected

www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/leesburgs_town_plan_seeks_citizen_input123/

1/4

4 3acei. 2 2ptho / 1_eol unsn piopu ntu/lict __p/ nisei egd. _wu zbn /nlrrw celo esx wm ee/d se/s km tiaw _n s tw .

mnie2 mw 1 oeu 7 Tce 1 eielt / czb / ser nsL uk on dto us op Ln uig pts .|s ni a
Disease. The natural resources element of the plan encourages the protection and restoration of natural open spaces systems like water resources and surrounding floodplains, wetlands, forest and vegetative resources and wildlife habitat. Parks and recreation
Follow Us on Twitter News | Sports

Proposed policy changes to the parks and recreation section of the plan include naming funding sources for the purchase of land north of and adjacent to Ida Lee Park, recommendations from the Southwest Trails Committee report and implementing them and updating the parks master plan at least every five years. The goal of revisiting this section of the plan was to create a comprehensive town-wide park system that meets the needs of the community in the most cost effective and environmentally safe way possible. Heritage resources

Like Us on Facebook News & Sports

Subscribe via RSS News | Sports

With input from the Board of Architectural Review, the Preservation Planner and the County of Loudoun Planning Department, town officials are pushing forward the development of a preservation plan with regard to the heritage resource polices in the town plan. The goal is to protect and interpret heritage resources like buildings, districts and structures and have them contact Leesburgs character and identity. Districts in question include Old and Historic District, Crescent District (Form-based District) and the H-2 Corridor District. The proposed policy changes would removal portions of each district that overlap into the other districts, creating defining district lines. There is also a plan to adopt a comprehensive preservation plan in regards to the policy guidance in the town plan. Community design The town plan is also encouraging attractive and functional community design throughout the town. The plan states recognition that art is an important economic and aesthetic component of community design and the need to encourage private commercial development to incorporate art into projects if possible is needed throughout the town. Land use Leesburg is divided up into four planning areas: central, northeast, southeast and southwest. This section of the plan addresses future development. According to town documents, updates include encouraging the provision of adequate community facilities for new development and capitalizing on existing and new business trends in the region and within the Route 7 corridor. The central area of Leesburg will see a integration of historic and suburban development patterns, according to documents, for mixed used purposes. A big part of the central area is the Crescent District. With the town plan, the town has the idea to promote development of a neighborhood northeast of the district. Northeast and southeast areas of Leesburg new changes will promote the development of neighborhoods in the East Market Street corridor outside of the bypass, along with the increase of new businesses and industrial use. In the southwest area, changes would include land to be used for community commercial use around the northeast or southeast part of Evergreen Mill Road. Housing Part of the town plans changes will encourage high-quality housing stock that accommodates future populations and is diverse in terms of building types and affordability. Economic development The town wishes to strive for a diversified economy that will provide the town opportunities for entrepreneurship and well-paying jobs resulting in a fiscally strong community. The town also

Join Our Email List Sign up for weekly updates

The Loudoun Times-Mirro

is an interactive, digital r of the printed newspaper

Open the e-edition now

View our other print publications available o

Weekly Homes Guide

2011 Guide to Loudoun

Health and Wellness

Bridal Guide

Taste of Loudoun

Senior Lifestyles

Health Resolutions

Future Leaders

wants to make Historic Downtown Leesburg a central hub to act as the activity center. The Economic Advisory Commission said that they are striving to make Leesburg the best place to do business in the country. The Public Arts Commission also aims to encourage art related businesses in Leesburg. Transportation One proposed change is the widening of of East Market Street outside of the Bypass by increasing from six lanes to eight lanes. Other changes include neighborhood traffic calming and safety measures within the Residential Traffic Management Plan, monitoring the parking demand making sure needs are met and creating a multi-modal transportation system that is safe and accessible to housing, work sites, schools and community services - including connections to park and ride facilities and other adaptions to be made to the transit system as land is developed. Community facilities and services The Environmental Advisory Commission recommended setting recycling goals and the Technology and Communications Commission recommended a new plan for high quality technology and communication services. New street design would also take into consideration what the Tree Commission suggested for street trees. To learn more about the town plan go to leesburgva.gov.

2 Siemens Urban Development

Building sustainable cities - Worth building a future in.
usa.siemens.com/sustainable_cities

Comments
Fri, Dec 16 at 02:17 PM by Mary Harper | Report this comment

Dear Middle Class Every citizen of Leesburg , irregardless of income, has a voice when it comes to input into the Town Plan. This is the Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Leesburg. The Planning Commission is mandated by the Commonwealth of Virginia to review the Plan at least every five years. I speak for the entire Planning Commission when I extend a personal invitation for you to attend our January 5th meeting and give us your ideas. We appreciate the input. Mary Harper Chairman Leesburg Planning Commission
Thu, Dec 15 at 09:53 PM by Middle Class | Report this comment

Im going to guess I dont make enough money for my opinion to matter.

Thu, Dec 15 at 09:17 AM by Potomac Station NE Neighborhood Res | Report this comment

Sounds agreeable in theory; however, in practice it sounds crowded. NE has severe water pressure problems, and with new affordable mini-mansions, mere trickles will be coming out of the faucets. Thanks for all the new traffic ignoring Fort Evans 35 mph speed limit, too!

Comments express only the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of this website or any associated person or entity. Any user who believes a message is objectionable can contact us at moderator@timespapers.com.

Post a comment

4 3 /

m.uuziisoe mio|etnlse onpicagL conswts ednenu sut kpb TL e r

3_sal_relr/h.miol 2tzienucind/.o. 1eti_oewmnw ui_ng apou /ncs sels/ni d p ewts/tp cu nkpb eeet _ xsw w

2// 1 7 1