Politics & Government

Ballpark at One Loudoun Approved

Supervisors OK stadium for Loudoun Hounds and Virginia Cavalry FC; teams shooting for 2014 seasons.

UPDATED: Changes are in italics.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a 5,500-seat ballpark at One Loudoun Wednesday night.

The request came to move the ballpark from Kincora to One Loudoun because of delays at Kincora. Supervisors expedited the request in an attempt to keep the .

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The Virginia Cavalry FC, an expansion team with the North American Soccer League, also plans to call the One Loudoun ballpark its home.

The conditions of the approval permit 12 fireworks displays per year, and those displays must end by 11 p.m. In addition, 17 concerts are permitted, and those concerts must end by 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 p.m. on holidays and 9 p.m. on Sundays. Loudoun County Public Schools also may have the opportunity to use the stadium for graduation ceremonies.

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While supervisors were comfortable with the stadium aspect of the applications, some expressed concerns about phasing changes that permit previously approved homes to be constructed earlier in the project’s development. The previous zoning required the construction of 1 million square feet of office space and 2.15 million square feet of non-residential development prior to the construction of the 900th home. The changes permit construction of 750 homes after the construction of 250,000 square feet of office space and 1 million square feet of non-residential uses.

Supervisor Matt Letourneau (R-Dulles) questioned that change from the application, but ultimately voted in favor of the application.

“In my mind, I don’t think the phasing issue has been resolved,” Letourneau said. “That’s a significant change.”

County planning staff said proffers submitted by the applicant clarified how the phasing changes could be administered. Still several supervisors in recent weeks have expressed concerns about changes requested by One Loudoun’s developers.

“There’s a lot of stuff in here other than the stadium,” said Supervisor Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn).

Bill May, of Miller and Smith, one of the development partners, said all of the changes have been part of the proposal since October.

“We feel that we have been totally up front in how we’ve dealt with this,” he said.

The board voted 7-0-2 to permit special activities at the development and then 7-0-1-1 to permit the associated land use changes and special exception. Supervisor Janet Clarke (R-Blue Ridge) was absent from the meeting. Supervisor Ken Reid (R-Leesburg) was absent for the first vote and abstained from the second.

Bob Farren, president and CEO of VIP Sports & Entertainment, quickly issued a statement following the vote. VIP is the group bringing the Hounds and Cavalry to Loudoun. Both teams have expressed confidence in starting play in 2014, even if early games are all played on the road.

“I want to profusely thank our fans who have supported us over these many years and I can’t wait to put a shovel in the ground and create a facility that will be a source of affordable, family fun for generations to come,” Farren said, adding that a number of events would soon be announced, from a ballpark to the next Hounds FanFest and new Cavalry FC SoccerFest. “The ballpark will serve as a community gathering point and is another example of why Loudoun County is a great place for families and businesses alike.”

Opponents questioned a recent noise test intended to demonstrate the sound level during fireworks displays, offering video from other professional stadiums of similar displays, but supervisors were unswayed.


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