Blue Ridge District February 2013 Community Newsletter

Blue Ridge
Community Connection

February 2013

Dear Friends,

Here is my February update.

Budget

Our County Administrator, Tim Hemstreet, presented a proposed fiscal plan of about $1.8 billion in appropriations for the general county government and Loudoun County Public Schools. The Board provided guidance to the County Administrator to prepare a budget at the equalized tax rate, inclusive of all needs. The Board also directed that the budget maintain the current split in new local tax funding between the public schools and the general government.

Also, anyone who wishes to speak at public hearings or public input may sign up in advance for one speaking slot by calling 703-777-0200. Comments may also be provided to the Board of Supervisors by e-mail at loudounbudget@loudoun.gov; by calling the Citizen Comment Line, 703-777-0115; or by writing to the Board of Supervisors, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177.  
Following the public hearings, the Board will hold budget worksessions in March with adoption of the FY14 budget expected on Wednesday, April, 3, 2013. More information about the proposed FY 14 budget and the budget process is online at www.loudoun.gov/budget .

Transportation
 
Loudoun Portion of the Northern Virginia North-South Corridor Road – If the road is determined to be limited access, I only support it going up Route 50.  Route 50 has been in the Countywide Transportation Plan to be ultimately designed as a six-lane, limited access, principal arterial road with grade-separated interchanges at North Star Boulevard, Arcola Blvd/Relocated Gum Spring Road, Loudoun County Parkway, South Riding Boulevard, and Tall Cedars Parkway since 1995.  All at-grade access between North Star and the Fairfax County line are ultimately planned to be terminated.
 
With the completion of the collector roads north and south of Route 50 to handle local traffic (Tall Cedars and Glascock Boulevard), six-lanes of limited access road to the airport should be enough to handle additional cargo traffic.  VDOT is currently conducting traffic modeling and studies to see if six lanes would handle additional traffic coming from Prince William County to Dulles Airport and Loudoun’s employment centers.

If the traffic studies determine there is a need for Route 50 to be expanded to eight lanes, I believe a cost-effective solution would be to add additional lanes using available land in the median of Route 50 and possibly obtaining added right-of-way (if needed).  However, I DO NOT support widening North Star to six lanes south of Route 50 and making it a limited access road.  I DO NOT support making the limited access portion of Route 50 a toll road, and I DO NOT support building a road through the southern portion of Brambleton. 

Route 287/Route 7 Bypass Intersection Improvements  – I brought forth an item in February asking the Board to approve funding for safety improvements to the intersection of Route 287 and Route 7 Bypass. People who travel westbound on the Route 7 Bypass to Purcellville and points beyond can’t help but be aware of the traffic backups onto the right lane of the Bypass at the 287 exit ramp during morning and evening rush hours.  Improvements include:

1. Extending the right turn lane on southbound Route 287 from its intersection at the Route 7 Bypass off-ramp all the way to the intersection of Hirst Road.
2. Restriping the westbound 7 Bypass off-ramp to provide for dual left turn lanes onto southbound 287.

This will alleviate the backup that often ends in a traffic standstill on the westbound Route 7 Bypass by getting more cars onto 287. One of the left turn lanes would also be a thru lane to get back on to the westbound Route 7 Bypass. The item was passed by the Board at the February 20th meeting.  To learn more details about these improvements, click here. VDOT anticipates completing these safety improvements sometime this fall.  I will keep you updated on the construction schedule.  

Route 9/287 Intersection - I am working with VDOT on some promising options for improving this intersection.  I will keep you posted on the progress.

Public Safety
 
Public Safety Firing Range -  The Board voted at the February 6th meeting to co-locate a Public Safety Firing Range and the Leesburg South Fire and Rescue Station on a proffered parcel of land south of the Leesburg Airport in the Catoctin District.  The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has proposed utilizing the site for an indoor public safety firing range which was funded in the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for design and construction in FY 2007, FY 2008 and FY 2009.

Arcola Fire and Rescue Station – Brambleton Public Safety Center - Arcola Fire and Rescue will be moving to a brand new facility called the Brambleton Public Safety Center, Company Number 9. This new fire and rescue station is located at the intersection of Shreveport Road and Belmont Ridge Road in Brambleton (Shreveport runs between Evergreen Mills and Belmont Ridge and will eventually be the new Evergreen Mills – realigned, once it is completed).  This station will also house the County Fire Marshall and is expected to open in May. The Arcola Volunteer Fire Department has developed an agreement with the County to move into the new station and will serve alongside the career staff.

Neersville Fire and Rescue - It is with tremendous disappointment that I report to you that a majority of the Board voted to revoke the Neersville Volunteer Fire Department's charter and to take away their funding. The County is building a new station south of Sagle Road in the Blue Ridge District which will replace Neersville Company No. 16's present location.  The new station, Loudoun Heights Station No. 26, will be staffed with all career fire and rescue personnel.

I want to thank the hard working fire and rescue volunteers in Neersville for their service to the community since 1976 and for their respectful attempt to maintain their charter, although they were not considered “stakeholders” and were never allowed to address either the Board of Supervisors or the Government Reform Commission except in two minute segments during Public Input sessions.  I also want to thank Supervisors Higgins and Reid for supporting not only the members of the Neersville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company but in essence, the rights of all our fire and rescue volunteers as well.

Aldie Fire Station - We are expecting staff to come back to the Board shortly with additional information on the available sites for the new Aldie Fire Station. 
  
Parks and Recreation
 
Round Hill Trail to Franklin Park –  After many years, there is finally an end in sight!  This month, County staff gave a presentation to the Town of Round Hill on the status of this project and are now moving forward with acquiring the right-of-way needed to construct the trail.  If everything goes as planned, the best case scenario for completion is sometime in 2014.

Purcellville Trail to Franklin Park – This much needed trail connection from the end of the W&OD Trail in Purcellville to Franklin Park has been planned for over 20 years but due to several different issues, has not been completed.  I am putting forth a request during our budget talks to have this added to our Capital Improvement Plan.

Franklin Park Lighting – Funding was available in July of 2012 for the installation of lighting for the four ballfields at Franklin Park which I got approved during last year’s budget negotiations.  The contract to install lighting on the remaining baseball diamonds was awarded on February 21st.
 
Land Use
 
PUGAMP –  During the February 13th Public Hearing, the Board of Supervisors voted to forward CPAM 2012-0002, Amendments to the Policies of the Revised General Plan to Revise and Supersede Policies in regard to the Purcellville Urban Growth Area Management Plan (PUGAMP), to the March 6, 2013 Business Meeting for action.  Click here to read my newsflash on PUGAMP.

Utilities

Water Towers - I met with Loudoun Water this month to discuss alternative locations for the water tanks that are needed for the 600 pressure zone. Loudoun Water has stated that two additional water towers are needed to support growth in the 600 pressure zone which serves, in general, portions of the Leesburg, Brambleton, and Aldie areas.  The land parcel they initially chose to place the towers was at the edge of the Transition Policy Area where it meets the Rural Policy area.  Citizens in the Rural Policy Area are not allowed to hook up to public utilities, yet would have to view these extremely large towers, which would also be in the viewshed of the historic Mount Zion Park. 

I am pleased to report that Loudoun Water is exploring four additional sites that would meet their height and acreage requirements that are in more sensitive locations.

Natural Gas Compression Substations – There are two gas compression stations located in the area of Watson Road and Evergreen Mills Road.  These substations were approved and built years ago before the residential developments surrounding it were approved. They carry natural gas through our county to Dominion’s terminal port on the Eastern Shore.  These stations have been a concern for surrounding residents.  I am hosting a Community Meeting for interested residents.  Delegate Minchew, representatives from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, and Dominion Cove Point will be in attendance. The meeting will take place at John Champe High School tonight, March 5th at 7 pm.

Application for Expansion of Utility Substation on Lightridge Road - A special exception (SPEX-2012-0044) and commission permit (CMPT-2012-0006) to allow the expansion of an existing utility substation transmission facility has been submitted by Dominion Virginia Power.  The location is 25986 Lightridge Farm Road in Aldie. 

Dominion has also filed with the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to seek approval to construct a new 500kV switching station (Pleasant View South Switching Station) and a new 500 kV transmission line in Loudoun County and also to relocate existing facilities (Pleasant View-Brambleton Line and Pleasant View Doubs Line).  Click here to see documents.

Community

Summer Employment for Teens - Loudoun County has posted their job openings for summer jobs at county pools and daycamps. Click here for more information about all county job openings and more information on the Loudoun County Workforce Resource Center.

Food Pantries – There is not a central listing of food pantries on the web, but here is a list of the organizations we have found that serve residents in in the Blue Ridge District.  These organizations also have a need for volunteers as well as monetary and food contributions.

Round Hill UMC Food Pantry
Located in Round Hill
Provide food for individuals as well as work with Round Hill ES families
Stop Hunger Now - meal packaging event - 150,000 meals for Africa on Saturday, April 6 from 10 - 2.
540.338.1836
www.roundhillumc.org

Loudoun Interfaith Relief
Located in Leesburg
703.777.5911
binman@interfaithrelief.org
Website:  http://interfaithrelief.org

Tree of Life Food Pantry
Located in Purcellville
703.554.3595
treeoflife@purbap.org or call.
Website:  http://www.purbap.org/pages.php?name=foodpantry

Seven Loaves Services
Located in Middleburg
540.687.3489
info@sevenloavesmiddleburg.org

Prom Wishes Program - Prom Wishes is an annual Junior Women’s Club of Loudoun (JWCL) event that began in 2003. Through Prom Wishes, JWCL collects prom dresses, shoes, purses, jewelry, accessories, and cosmetics from the community. These items are then made available to high school girls in the community at a one-day boutique where they can select prom attire free of charge. 

The 2013 Prom Wishes event will take place on Saturday, April 6th, 2013 from 10 am - 2 pm at the Teen Center at Rust Library in Leesburg, VA.   Click here for more information.

Old Fashioned Fun – The Bush Tabernacle is a great resource for old fashioned fun for children and adults alike.  The Bush Tabernacle, built in 1903, was originally an amphitheater style auditorium that hosted politicians, evangelists, and performers. The Town of Purcellville purchased the facility in 2007, and in 2009 closed the building because of safety concerns. An extensive renovation was completed in 2010.  The Bush Tabernacle hosts the Purcellville Roller Rink, the Purcellville Teen Center, the Franklin Park Big Band Swing Dance, Salsa on Sundays, Toddler Time, and is host to many birthday parties!  If your kids have never been to a roller rink, here’s your chance. They even have skates to rent, just like in the old days!  For more information, click here.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) for elderly as well as limited-income residents is a free, tax preparation assistance service for Loudoun County residents. The Internal Revenue Service trains volunteers to provide assistance with preparing certain federal and state income tax forms. This program operates at various sites throughout the county during February, March, and early April.
 
For more information, click here or call 703-777-0257 (TTY 711) and ask to speak with the VITA Coordinator. For a list of free tax assistance sites in Loudoun County, click here.
 
Safe Sitter Classes - Inova Loudoun Hospital will offer Safe Sitter® classes for girls and boys age 11 to 13. The Safe Sitter® classes will be taught on the first Saturday of the month from 8 am – 4:30 pm at the Lansdowne Campus, 44045 Riverside Parkway, Leesburg.
 
Safe Sitter® is a medically accurate, competency-based, highly structured babysitting preparation course designed for 11-13 year olds. The curriculum, written by a pediatrician includes: babysitting as a business, success on the job, childcare essentials, safety for the sitter, injury management, preventing problem behavior, care of choking infant and care of the choking child. The class will provide expanded information on preventing injuries and behavior management.
 
The cost is $75 and includes the student handbook, snacks during the day and a tour of the Mobile Health Unit. To register your son or daughter or your child’s babysitter, call 571-308-5794. Advanced registration is required.
 
Respectfully,

Janet


Janet Clarke
Supervisor, Blue Ridge District
540.303.9689 (cell)
janet.clarke@loudoun.gov