November 2013 Newsletter

Dear Neighbors, 

Welcome to the November edition of the Broad Run District Newsletter. As the holiday season approaches, this is a good time to remember those in need in our community. Included in this edition you will find information about: 

• Local food banks and charities that are collecting holiday donations. 
• Proposed new transit bus schedules/planned opening of the Metrorail Silver Line at Wiehle Ave. in Reston early next year 
• Results of the November 5th bond referendum, 
• Board’s 2014 Virginia General Assembly legislative program, 
• The status of the data center Zoning Ordinance Amendment and 
• A transportation update on the intersection of Waxpool Road and Farmwell Parkway 

I hope you enjoy the November issue of my newsletter and as always, I appreciate your feedback. It is my honor to represent you on the Board of Supervisors and I consider it my highest priority to be responsive to constituent issues. 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 

Proposed New Transit Bus Schedules 

The proposed bus schedule for service to the Silver Line Metro stations, anticipated to begin early 2014, is now available for public comment. In April, I wrote you about the two additional transit buses I was able to add using proffer funds and commuter bus revenue to match a state grant. These two bus routes will run between Loudoun Station and the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Stationwith eleven morning and twelve evening peak service runs. Loudoun Station is a brand new 300 space park & ride lot located at the intersection of Loudoun Station and Gramercy Drives, on the site of the future Route 772 Metro station. 

The Silver Line feeder service also includes additional stops and access options for Harmony, Leesburg, Goose Creek Village and Broadlands South Service, Dulles North Transit Center Service, and Potomac Falls Service (Broad Run Farms, Cascades, and Lowes Island). For more information on the Silver Line, including a list of the park & ride locations in Loudoun County and Metro stations that will be served, please visit the Loudoun county website. 

Bond Referendum Results 

Very good news! The four items on the bond referendum that I detailed in last month’s newsletter were passed by the voters on November 5th. Here are the results (percentage indicates votes in favor): 

• Parks and Recreation: 54.20% 
• Fire and Rescue: 76.85% 
• Road Construction: 68.03% 
• School Construction: 67.56% 

I was especially pleased to see strong support for the Belmont Ridge Road improvement bond item. In the Broad Run District, most precincts voted over 70% for this item and even one over 80%. I see this as a strong sign of support for the Board’s Capital Improvement Program and our focus on solving pressing transportation issues. 

To see the full results and individual precincts, click here. 

2014 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Program 

Before the annual Virginia General Assembly legislative session, the Board puts together a legislative program detailing Loudoun County’s priorities. Last week, the Board sat down with Loudoun’s delegation to the General Assembly to go over our 2014 legislative program. For the Broad Run District, highlights of our program include our transportation priorities for state funding such as accelerating the widening of Belmont Ridge Road, expanding Waxpool Road to six lanes to Ashburn Road, completing Loudon County Parkway through to Route 50 and Sterling Boulevard extended. The Board is also seeking new legislation go fully restore Northern Virginia’s ‘cost of competing’ funding for teachers, make the public procurement process of road building more efficient and ethical reform to remove the ‘part-time’ exemption from Virginia’s misuse of public funds statutes, among other initiatives. The delegation was very receptive of our proposals and I look forward to working closely with our state legislators in the upcoming session on these important issues. To review the Board’s entire 2014 legislative program, click here. 

Data Center Zoning Ordinance Amendment 

As I mentioned in my July newsletter, the Board initiated a Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOAM) to specifically define data centers as a separate use in the zoning code. During September and October, the Planning Commission worked on this ZOAM and received input from residents who are impacted by data center development. Among many recommendations, the Planning Commission recommended new requirements for noise testing and more significant buffering requirements when data centers are adjacent to residential development. 

The Board held a public hearing on this issue on November 13th and it was well attended by both impacted residents and the data center industry. I want to particularly thank my constituents who came out to testify before the Board on this issue. I also want to thank the data center industry for their participation and investment in Loudoun County, an industry which provides tens of millions of dollars in commercial tax revenue annually. The Board heard concerns from residents impacted by noise and also heard concerns from the industry that some of the Planning Commission’s recommendations may not be feasible. Currently, the Board has forwarded the ZOAM to Loudoun’s Zoning Ordinance Action Group specifically so they can sit down with the impacted residents and work out a solution. Through this process, I will be working for a solution that protects residents who are adjacent to data centers, while ensuring Loudoun remains a highly competitive location for the data center industry. I expect action on this ZOAM no later than March 2014. 

Cub Scout Pack 1483 Visit 

Earlier this month, Cub Scout Pack 1483, from Broadlands, visited the Government Center in Leesburg to learn about the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. I enjoyed discussing my work on the Board with the scouts and answered a wide range of questions. 

Transportation Project Spotlight: 

Dual-Right Turn Lane at Waxpool Road/Farmwell Road/Smith Switch Road Intersection 

At the November 6th Business Meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted on my recommendation to study the feasibility of installing adual-right turn lane at the Waxpool Road/Farmwell Road/Smith Switch Road intersection by converting a through lane to a through/right turn lane. As you know, traffic at this intersection can back up multiple light cycles during rush hour. There are currently two through lanes to Smith Switch Road that do not have much traffic. Converting the right through lane into a right turn lane would allow the traffic capacity for the right turn to increase without the county expanding the road or laying down more pavement. I will keep you updated as the study progresses. 

Local Food Banks 

Local Food Banks – Holiday Donations 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. from December 10 through the 14th. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit the LINK homepage or visit their facebook page. 

Loudoun Interfaith Relief: Loudoun Interfaith Relief (LIR) is a food pantry in Loudoun County. In the last year, LIR has served over 75,000 individuals (more than 19,000 families). LIR is hosting multiple events this month to raise awareness and funds to assist Loudoun families in need this Thanksgiving season. Upcoming events include Thanksgiving Basket Distribution, “Freeze Your Gizzard” 5k race, Turkey Shoot, and their “Holiday Bazaar.” To view all upcoming events and find out how you can donate/volunteer, visit their website. 

Salvation Army: The Salvation Army, serving Loudoun County since 1865, strives to offer an array of services for people in need in the community. This holiday season, they will be hosting their annual Thanksgiving meal. This nourishing, warm meal is served at the Salvation Army Corps building and is available to all who ask. Many local Loudoun restaurants and families assist by donating, preparing, and serving the food. The Salvation Army’s “Angel Tree Program” (hosted by many local churches and businesses) provides families and individuals an opportunity topurchase 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 Community Holiday Coalition seeks to bring the holidays to low-income Loudoun families during the holiday season. 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 hosts Thanksgiving and Christmas Programs to bring people together from all walks of life and creates an atmosphere of giving for those who want to serve and those who need assistance. To donate and/or volunteer, visit their webpage or email info@givingothers.org. 

Community Events and Information 

Loudoun Symphony Orchestra: The whole family can enjoy this holiday season with the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra as they celebrate the holidays with their annual “Holiday Concert.” The performance is December 7th, 7:30 p.m. held in The Concert Hall at The Virginia Academy/Community Church located on the eastbound side of Route 7, across from the Inova Hospital. The 50 person orchestra will perform a variety of light Christmas music including traditional Christmas selections from Bach and Tchaikovsky as well as Silvestri’s Polar Express, Nelson/Rollins’ Frosty the Snowman, Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, and much more. To view concert details and to purchase tickets for this production, please visit www.loudounsymphony.org. 

Lights of Love Ceremony: The Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital will celebrate the gift of loved ones at the annual Lights of Love tree lighting ceremony on Sunday, December 1 at 5 p.m. in the atrium at Inova Loudoun Hospital’s Lansdowne campus. At the ceremony the Lights of Love tree will be lighted, the names of those honored will be read and those present will light candles as names are read with music provided by the Loudoun County High School Chamber choir. The project raises funds for nursing scholarships for Loudoun County residents. To place a light on the Lights of Love tree, donation forms can be found in the atrium of the hospital next to the Book of Remembrance, at Twice Is Nice thrift shop in Leesburg, or by going to the website and clicking on Lights of Love. For additional information please call 703-771-2985. 

One Loudoun Holiday Tree Lighting: The first holiday tree lighting ceremony at Loudoun County’s newest retail community, Downtown One Loudoun, is expected to attract hundreds of community residents to a traditional holiday celebration with a modern twist.The event will be held on Saturday, December 7 from 5:00– 8:00 pm and is free to the public. There will be a variety of food and beverage samplings made available by the Downtown One Loudoun merchants, along with kids’ photos with the Loudoun Hounds mascot, Fetch, free holiday photos for families and friends, and children’s crafts and entertainment. For more information please visit One Loudoun’s website or click here for driving directions. 

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