One Loudoun Ballpark Panned at Town Hall

During County Chairman Scott K. York’s (R-At Large) town hall Tuesday, several residents raised concerns about the proposed stadium at One Loudoun.

Opinions about the move of the stadium from Kincora to One Loudoun – which requires land use changes now under expedited review – have been mixed, with recent letters for and against (here, here and here). But many doubters have criticized the move and wonder what impact it will have on their communities because of increased noise and traffic, among other things.

“My neighbors and I are big baseball fans, but this venue is wrong,” said Potomac Green resident John Gannon. “We’re not crazy about having it in our backyards, not to mention concerts and soccer.”

The stadium would be home to the Loudoun Hounds and an as-yet-unnamed North American Soccer League team. Both hope to begin playing in 2014. In addition, the applicants, Virginia Investment Partnership (VIP), hope to schedule concerts at the ballpark.

One speaker said home plate would be 2,500 feet from his front door.

“It causes me a great deal of concern,” he said.

York told those gathered, most of whom attended the town hall to discuss the investigation of Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling), that the Loudoun Board of Supervisors would not necessarily approved all of the requested stadium uses.

Another residents questioned campaign contributions supervisors have received from individuals within VIP.

“It goes to the appearance of conflict,” he said.

When York explained that he was fully compliant with campaign finance law, which restricts elected from accepting donations from applicants within 12 months of a proposed project, another speaker who works with the federal government suggested a higher standard.

“Do you think technical compliance with the law is the threshold by which you want to be judged?” he asked.

The stadium cannot move forward unless supervisors sign off on a series of land use changes. Current construction at One Loudoun includes the Alamo Cinema Drafthouse, other commercial buildings and lots of new homes.