December Newsletter 2013

Dear Neighbors, 

Welcome to the December edition of the Broad Run District newsletter. The New Year will mark the half-way point in my term. I wanted to take a moment to again thank you for giving me the honor of representing you on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. I am very proud of my record to date and feel significant progress has been made on my priorities of transportation, economic development and education. In this month’s newsletter, I have information on: 

• Two residential development applications currently before the Board 
• The Loudoun County Public Schools’ budget 
• Construction beginning at the Waxpool Road/Ashburn Village Boulevard intersection 
• Economic development activity 
• Funding for the completion of Pacific Boulevard 
• Local food banks and charities that are collecting holiday donations. 

I hope you have a merry Christmas, happy holidays and a very happy New Year. As always, I appreciate your feedback to this newsletter. Feel free to call me at 703-771-5088 or email me at shawn.williams@loudoun.gov with any questions or comments. You can read regular updates about what I’m doing to represent our community on my Facebook page. 

Thanks, 

Shawn 

Residential Development 

At our December 11th public hearing, the Board was presented with two residential development applications to convert land zoned for commercial to residential. The first proposal was from Richmond American Homes to re-zone 33.5 acres of land located south of Brambleton (directly west of the new Brambleton Public Safety Center) currently zoned Planned Development – Industrial Park (PD-IP) to allow 90 new homes. The second proposal was from the Goose Creek Village development (located off Sycolin Road just west of Belmont Ridge Road) to re-zone 12.5 acres currently zoned for office development to allow 282 multi-family units. The Planning Commission heard both these cases earlier in the fall and is unanimously recommending denial. 

Both proposals were forwarded the Board’s January 15th business meeting for action. I plan to vote ‘no’ on both developments because I am very concerned about the fiscal impact of converting land zoned commercial to residential development. As I have noted many times before, according the Loudoun County Economic Development Commission, for every dollar in tax revenue residential development costs $1.62 in local government services versus $0.38 for commercial development. Additionally, I believe we need to slow down on residential development so we can finally catch up on infrastructure like roads and schools. To read the Leesburg Today's coverage on these residential development applications, click here. 

LCPS Budget – Letter to the Editor: 

I sent the following Letter to the Editor to local newspapers regarding the Loudoun County Public Schools in early December and also wanted to share it with you: 

The annual debate surrounding the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) operating budget has heated up early this year. I appreciate all the participants who are taking time to be active in this important process. I know we all agree that keeping Loudoun’s educational system top notch is of paramount importance. For me, this is especially important as the father of three children who are and will be going through LCPS. 

Unfortunately, some have put forward a false narrative that this Board of Supervisors has cut the LCPS budget over the past two years, while the facts are quite different. As we begin next year’s budget process, I believe it’s important to provide the background information on the two LCPS operating budgets since this current Board of Supervisors took office in January of 2012. 

Over the past two budget years (FY 2013 and FY 2014), the LCPS operating budget has increased from $745,946,877 to $843,672,450, a 13.1% increase. The local fund transfer, which is the amount of Loudoun’s local tax dollars spent on education, has increased from $494,025,867 to $553,615,482, a 12.1% increase. While it is true that a large portion of these budget increases was due to enrollment growth, the cost-per-pupil still rose from $11,014 to $11,638, a 5.7% increase. Over the same period, the cost-per-pupil only rose 5.1% in Fairfax County and 5.5% in Prince William County. 

The parents I speak to about the school budget are most frequently concerned with class sizes and teacher compensation. The past two LCPS operating budgets have allocated approximately $26 million for employee compensation increases, a $1,500 across the board raise in FY 2013 and a 2% raise in FY 2014. The operating budget has also been sufficient to keep class sizes constant, in line with the LCPS policy adopted in 2009. 

As we begin the FY 2015 budget process, it’s important to remember that preliminary budget numbers are a starting point and are subject to change. I am fully committed to ensuring the needs of our students are met, as the Board of Supervisors has done the past two years. 

Waxpool Road/Ashburn Village Boulevard Intersection: 

Construction is now underway to widen Waxpool Road to four lanes between the Verizon campus and Faulkner Parkway. This project will include a much needed traffic signal at the intersection of Waxpool Road and Ashburn Village Parkway. The project is scheduled for completion next summer. In late November, the Ashburn Patch wrote an excellent story on this project, which you can read here. 

Economic Development: 

Last week I participated in the groundbreaking for Glass Projects Resource’s (GPR) new facility in the Broad Run District. This $4 million investment in Loudoun County will re-locate 50 jobs from Fairfax County and provide 81,000 square feet of commercial office development when all phases are complete. It was also very gratifying to talk with GPR’s CEO Vito Germinario and hear how county government made the process very easy for him to locate his business here in Loudoun! 

Transportation Project Spotlight: Pacific Boulevard 

Today, I participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the extension of Pacific Boulevard. This project will connect Pacific Boulevard with Russell Branch Parkway, including 

a bridge over the Broad Run. The Pacific Boulevard/Russell Branch Parkway bridge connection will help alleviate congestion on the Route 7 and Route 28 corridors. Russell Branch Parkway and Pacific Boulevard are parallel links to Route 7 and Route 28. The completion of this link is projected to divert 4,000 to 6,000 vehicles per day off Route 7 on opening day. Traffic studies forecast that approximately 18,000 to 20,000 vehicle trips per day will be taken off Route 7 and Route 28 by 2030. 

Earlier this year, the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a loan of up to $36 million to fund the completion of Pacific Boulevard. The Kincora development is under a proffer obligation to build this road, and the loan from the state to the developer will allow this proffer to be fulfilled now instead of an uncertain date in the future. I want to especially thank Chairman Scott York for his tireless work to secure this state funding and his long-term advocacy for Ashburn area commuters. 

Local Food Banks - Holiday Donations Still Needed 

During the Holiday season, many in Loudoun County look for ways to serve their community and bring holiday cheer to families in need. I have included a list of local charity organizations that are currently working to raise food and financial donations to help individuals and families in need this season. Please consider the many opportunities to volunteer and/or donate during this Holiday season. 

LINK: LINK is an Association of 13 churches in the Sterling and Herndon area which cooperate to run the all-volunteer, nonprofit organization. LINK requests donations of nonperishable food, toys and other small gifts for needy families in the Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn areas. Donations may be brought to Community Lutheran Church, 21014 Whitfield Pl. in Sterling, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 10-14. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit the LINK homepage or visit their facebook page. 

Loudoun Interfaith Relief: The Loudoun Interfaith Relief (LIR) is a food pantry in Loudoun County. In the last year, the LIR was about to serve over 75,000 individuals (more than 19,000 families). The LIR is hosting multiple events this month to raise awareness and funds to assist Loudoun families in need this Christmas season. Visit their website for more information. 

Salvation Army: The Salvation Army has existed in Loudoun County since 1865, with the objective of providing an array of services for people in need in the community. This holiday season, the Salvation Army will be posting people at various business in the community to collect donations. The Salvation Army’s “Angel Tree Program” (hosted by many local churches and businesses) provides families and individuals an opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts of clothing, shoes, toys, personal items and other gifts for needy children and elderly during the Christmas season. For more information, visit their website or call 703-771-3371. 

Community Holiday Coalition: The coalition seeks to bring the holidays to low-income Loudoun families. They ask for donations of new items including toys, food, clothing, household goods (such as toilet paper and shampoo), Christmas decorations, and artificial trees. The Community Holiday Coalition state that they host Holiday Programs to bring together 

people together from all walks of life: “those who need assistance and those who want to help.” To donate and/or volunteer, visit their webpage or email info@givingothers.org. 

Community Events and Information: 

Toys for Tots: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program works to collect new and unwrapped toys to distribute to children in need around Loudoun County. Their objective is “to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.” 

Toys for Tots chapter in Loudoun County is run by coordinator Frank Holtz. You can drop off new and unwrapped toys at the Toys for Tots warehouse located at 45472 Holiday Drive, Sterling, Virginia 20166. The warehouse will be open December 19, 20, and 21 from 10:00AM - 4:00PM. For more information about times and donations, visit the Loudoun County Toys for Tots website. 

Gifts for Good: Loudoun Gifts for Good provides our community with a meaningful alternative for year round gift giving—one that celebrates personal charity in support of Loudoun nonprofits that strengthen our community and promote the common good. This year 17 Loudoun-based nonprofit organizations are participating in Loudoun Gifts for Good. Your gift through Loudoun Gifts for Good will not only honor the person in whose name you give it, but can support the charities in our community in programs that are making real impacts. Visit their website to learn more. 

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