1/7/12

Business owners in Downtown Leesburg voice more improvement options | LoudounTimes.com

Mobile Website | Login | Register

Staff Directory | Advertise | Subscribe

News

Opinions

Sports

Entertainment

Blogs

Video

Classifieds

Advertise

Business owners in Downtown Leesburg voice more improvemen options

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 by Laura Peters | 52 comments | Email this story

2
The proposed changes the Town of Leesburg made would affect this block of Downtown Leesburg (between Market and Loudoun streets) by: having a delineated parking area, a bump-out area with three street trees, nine parking spaces, one loading zone, a mid-block crosswalk in the center where the bump out is and street lights adjacent to the streets. Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Beverly Denny

Most Popular in News

The Voices for an Amazing Place group, made up of more than 400 stakeholders in Historic Downtown Leesburg, held their third meeting on Dec. 5 to bring up plans the Leesburg Town Council had modified during their Nov. 28 meeting. The plan would revitalize South King Street between Loudoun Street and North Street. There would be 10 parking spots on King Street between Market and North streets. The plan calls for the area to only lose three parking spots on the two blocks. One controversial item centered on allowing the on-street parking to transform into outside areas for businesses to set tables and chairs or to allow other vendors space during special events. The councils problem with the proposed flex plan of the parking spots was determining who would schedule this change of usage. The Voices for an Amazing Place also met on Nov. 9 to discuss the King Street improvements that were decided on last spring for Historic Downtown Leesburg. Fourteen members of the group met at Lightfoot restaurant to address the much debated flex lanes. The improvements that were first presented to council on July 14 by the Voices were to be taken under consideration by the town. Last spring the plan outlining the design was signed by 100 stakeholders.

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

loudountimes.com//business_owners_in_downtown_leesburg_voice_more_improvement_options123/

1/12

2 munsil 1 3_t 2 2eou. / 1onb mnei/ nieino otc_ie s_oc po_n oretru mreo __m nwsd evsu ebo/ /tglm oe_o piw vws rd sn _s

mpoei1 mewi2 omrn7 Toetr1 eevs / cnwu / sipios nveB u|on oeo mbo dtrD uicn otge Lein mw nus . rs oL ss on
The flex spots would use underground markers that could be raised when the parking spots were being used for other purposes. The problems that were addressed during the council meeting in late November included decision making on when and who would be able to raise the flex spots. Also addressed was how long the spots would be used for non-parking activities and who would be able to use them.
Follow Us on Twitter News | Sports

The group concluded that one way to work out the issues of the flex parking would be to reserve all spaces for parking during the week and allow non-parking uses during weekends and holiday evenings and adjust from there. According to the Voices group, the flex lanes were intended to be used as more of a weekly occurrence to create a consistent, at least weekly, on-street cultural and entertainment venue, according to documents.

Like Us on Facebook News & Sports

Town Manager, John Wells said during the Dec. 5 meeting that he acknowledged that everyone is seeking a transformative concept but it still needs to be within the budget. The original plan, according to the town, would have cost under a million dollars whereas the Voices plan would cost more than $3 million. Town staffs new proposal would cost approximately $1.5 million.

Subscribe via RSS News | Sports

Peters Burnett, a member of Voices for an Amazing Place, pointed out in the meeting that a sense of place is important in Historic Downtown and the group wanted an active lingering in the area to keep people visiting downtown. The group came up with three provision that need to be followed going forward: have the project be within cost limits, have adequate safety and adequate flexibility. Wells said that it would helpful for the group to have specific recommendations by February to present to council. The Voices group proposed a work plan to meet Thursday nights starting with the topic of flex lanes.

Join Our Email List Sign up for weekly updates

2 Auto/Work Related Injury?

ACE is Focused on Getting you Back to Pre-Injury Level or Better!
www.Ace-PT.org

The Loudoun Times-Mirro

is an interactive, digital r of the printed newspaper

Comments
Sat, Jan 07 at 09:09 AM by Robin Beaver Klass | Report this comment

Open the e-edition now

for the record, Ive usually referred to those idiotic sandwiTch boards as just that, only I usually substitute a B for the W. I totally hate those stupid things and the problem they create when the town is full of tourists. If youre dumbe enough to have a kid in a stroller, you sometimes have to wait in line to get around them or get out in the road with the stroller because the tourists stand around like a gaggle of gease and wont move. If someone isnt bright enoughto see that a store is open, or read a menu on a window, then thats pretty stupid as well. Those signs should be outlawed.
Fri, Jan 06 at 03:31 PM by Robin Beaver Klass | Report this comment

View our other print publications available o

Weekly Homes Guide

2011 Guide to Loudoun

is my spelling and punctuation any better?

Fri, Jan 06 at 03:30 PM by Robin Beaver Klass | Report this comment

Health and Wellness

Bridal Guide

sorry, Frank, my stupidity put the wrong name on my comment. I was actually taking to somneone who doesnt have the nerve to put his name up here. Personally, i doubt he has much intelligence so it really doesnt matter. It was

Taste of Loudoun

Senior Lifestyles