This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Ashburn District Newsletter- June/July 2013

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope everyone has been enjoying the first days of summer 2013; I am so pleased that by summer 2014 we will be hearing the words “PLAY BALL” in Ashburn!  I recently had the pleasure of attending the ground breaking of Edelman Financial Field at One Loudoun, which will be the home to the Loudoun Hounds baseball team and the Virginia Cavalry soccer team.  This amenity will add yet another family-friendly entertainment opportunity to Loudoun.

By now those of you in my district should have received my annual constituent mailer detailing my views on the FY2014 budget as well as the status of transportation and economic development projects.  A copy of the mailer is available on my website

Find out what's happening in Ashburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Please be aware that while the Board will be in recess during the month of August my office will remain open.  Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.  Our door is always open!

 Warmest regards,

Find out what's happening in Ashburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ralph

 GOVERNMENT

 Government Reform Commission (GFC)

The Government Reform Commission was created in January 2012 and given an 18 month charge to perform a review of Loudoun County government operations.  The Board has already adopted several recommendations from the GRC including realigning the county’s real estate assessment function and professionalizing the Loudoun Water Board of Directors.  Other initiatives   in the process of implementation by the Board are the recommendations on modernizing the Fire and Rescue system and outsourcing and fees for other county services. I greatly appreciate the hard work and tireless dedication the commission provided during their tenure, especially the Ashburn District appointee, James Rohrbaugh and Vice-Chairman Scott Hamberger also one of my appointees.  Please feel free to review their final report

TRANSPORTATION

Ashbriar Parking District

My office has been working with residents of the Ashbriar community adjacent to Broad Run High School, to solve the issues they have been experiencing due to high school students parking in their community. The Board will be briefed on the implementation of a Residential Permit Parking District (RPPD) at the 10 July Public Hearing. The district will include Clivedon Court, Dorchester Way, Plymouth Place, Sheffield Court, Suzanne Hope Way, and Yorkshire Court and restrict parking between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on school days.

Ashburn Village Boulevard & Waxpool Road Traffic Signal

The Board just approved the contract to begin construction of Waxpool Road from Unbridled Way (at Verizon Business near Red Rum Drive) to Faulkner Parkway!  This also includes the much needed traffic signal at the four-way stop at Ashburn Village Boulevard and Waxpool Road.  Construction could begin as early as late-July.

Pacific Boulevard & Gloucester Parkway

During the 12 June BOS Public Hearing, the Board voted to approve changes to Kincora Village’s proffers in order to facilitate the granting of a $36 million loan from the Virginia Resources Authority.  This will allow the developer of Kincora Village to complete the four-lane extension of Pacific Boulevard from Gloucester Parkway to Russell Branch Parkway. This will occur simultaneously with the construction of Gloucester Parkway between Pacific Boulevard and Loudoun County Parkway. Construction is slated to begin August 2014.

Greenway SCC Public Hearing

 Last week I spoke at the second SCC Public Hearing concerning the outrageous tolls on the Dulles Greenway.  The third and final State Corporation Commission (SCC) public hearing to determine if the SCC should lower tolls on the Greenway will be held at the SCC headquarters in Richmond at 10 a.m. on 18 July.  Please consider speaking and let your voice be heard.  If you are unable to attend, please sign the petition.

 Riverside Parkway/Lexington Drive/George Washington Parkway

The Board of Supervisors will hear remarks at the 10 July public hearing regarding proffer “flexing” for the design and construction of Riverside Parkway between Lexington Drive and Loudoun County Parkway. A separate action was taken to move funds from the once planned Lexington Drive overpass to other transportation projects. The long-term goal in this vicinity it to connect Riverside Parkway from Lansdowne (near Janelia Farm, past Ashburn Village Boulevard)  to Lexington Drive near Blue Mount Nursery and then  Lexington Drive to George Washington Boulevard (near the Spring Hill Suites and Loudoun County Parkway). This road completion will achieve a complete east-west parallel road to Route 7 from University Center to Leesburg.

While the formerly planned Lexington flyover has been put on hold, there will be access to the north of Route 7 at the soon to be constructed Ashburn Village Boulevard Interchange and the existing Loudoun County Parkway Interchange.  We are also working to remove the light at Route 7 and Lexington as a part of this project.

 Traffic Signal Study at Belmont Ridge Road and Croson Lane

Funding has been approved to conduct a traffic signal warrant study at the intersection of Belmont Ridge Road and Croson Lane.  Conducting the study will assist county officials in determining the next step to improve traffic flow and safety at this intersection.  Construction of this section of Belmont Ridge Road is slated to begin in 2017 and is funded in the county’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

 ZONING AMENDMENTS

During the month of June, the Board initiated three zoning amendments. One addresses making data centers an independent use in the zoning ordinance, which will increase our economic development competitive advantage.  The second aims to resolve discrepancies between county code and State code governing the number of children allowed in home daycare. The third addresses the issue of special exceptions for public schools (see below).  The Board passed an ‘Intent to Amend’ for each issue which will send them individually to a future public hearing.

By-Right Public Schools: Loudoun is currently the only large jurisdiction in Northern Virginia which requires a special exception for public facilities.  For instance, Fairfax and Prince William Counties allow public facilities to be built by-right and do not require a legislative land use process.  The proposal before the Board is to allow public schools as a by-right use in all zoning districts (with the exception of certain commercial and active adult districts) subject to performance standards.  This will reduce the time and cost for new school construction but I have not yet taken a position on this issue as I have concerns about the effects schools have when placed in or near existing communities.

 ACTION REPORTS

The Board’s 5 June  BOS Business Meeting and Public Input Session, the 12 June BOS Public Hearing and the Board’s 19 June Business Meeting and Public Input Session Action Reports are posted on Facebook and my website.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?