Loudoun Now for Jan. 2, 2020

■ LEESBURG

Pg. 16

|■ EDUCATION

VOL. 5, NO. 7

Pg. 8

| ■ PUBLIC SAFETY

Pg. 10

| ■ TOWNS

Pg. 12

| ■ PUBLIC NOTICES

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JANUARY 2, 2020

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A Decade of Change

2010

County Population Number of Schools County Budget School Budget Number of Students Median Household Income Unemployment Rate County Property Tax Rate

2020

288,556 76 $347.5 million $732.6 million 59,490 $107,207 2.8% $1.245 per $100

423,953 94 $597.3 million $1.282 billion 83,762 $135,842 2.5% $1.045 per $100

Bob McDonnell (R) Ken Cuccinelli (R) Scott K. York (I) 5 Democrats, 2 Republicans, 1 Independent Mark Warner (D), Jim Webb (D) Frank Wolf (R)

Ralph Northam (D) Mark Herring (D) Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) 5 Democrats, 3 Republicans

Politics Governor Attorney General County Chairman Board of Supervisors U.S. Senate House of Representatives (10th District) VA House of Delegates VA Senate

Tag Greason (R-32), Joe May (R-33), Barbara Comstock (R-34), James LeMunyon (R-67), Tom Rust (R-86) Jill Vogel (R-27), Mark Herring (D-33)

Mark Warner (D), Tim Kaine (D) Jennifer Wexton (D) Wendy Gooditis (D-10), David Reid (D-32), Dave LaRock (R-33), Kathleen Murphy (D-34), Karrie Delaney (D-67), Ibraheem Samirah (D-86), Suhas Subramanyam (D-87) John Bell (D-13), Jill Vogel (R-27), Barbara Favola (D-31), Jennifer Boysko (D-33)

Plotting Loudoun’s Future

Leaders Enact New Comprehensive Plan; The ZOO Begins

BY RENSS GREENE

rgreene@loudounnow.com

After three years of work on a project that may come to define their impact on Loudoun, the outgoing Board of Supervisors finally passed the first new county comprehensive plan in nearly 20 years.

Begun in April 2016 and originally envisioned to take a year and a half to complete, the project ground on until June.

Work began in a 26-member stakeholder steering committee, which ended up working on the plan for two years. During that time, both the project manager and the director of planning and zoning left

their jobs with the county. Deputy County Administrator Charles Yudd was put in charge of getting the work back on track, newly hired Planning and Zoning Director Alaina Ray dove into the project, and the committee wrapped up work in June 2018, sending it to the Planning Commission.

The product of that body’s work, finished early in 2019, generated massive outcry in Loudoun. The commission had focused on getting as much new housing into the plan as it could, which commissioners and development interests argued COMP PLAN continues on page 34

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 4

JANUARY 2, 2020

Also in 2019:

Loudoun

Loudoun Bears the Shutdown

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Loudoun NAACP President and newly elected Soil and Water Conservation District Director Michelle C. Thomas embraces victorious incumbent County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) following their victories in the November 2019 elections.

Democrats Seized Control in 2019

BY RENSS GREENE rgreene@loudounnow.com

In November, as state Democrats were busy seizing control of the state legislature, Loudoun Democrats flipped Republicans’ 6-3 majority on the Board of Supervisors, taking control of the county board for the first time since the 2007 election.

It was also one of the most expensive elections in Loudoun’s history and attracted attention from people on the national political stage.

Republican nominee for county chairman, John C. L. Whitbeck Jr., alone raised nearly a million dollars, tallying big donations from state Republicans, wealthy people in and out of Loudoun, and even Reince Priebus, former Republican National Committee Chairman and briefly White House Chief of Staff.

His opponent, victorious incumbent Democrat Phyllis J. Randall, raised almost three-quarters of a million dollars, also showing major donations, including from the state

party, progressive organizations and labor unions.

And the Democratic-leaning Justice and Public Safety Political Action Committee, a Super PAC based in Washington, DC and funded by billionaire investor George Soros, spent almost $659,000 supporting Leesburg attorney Buta Biberaj’s campaign for Loudoun Commonwealth’s Attorney. Biberaj would go on to be the only Democrat to flip Loudoun’s otherwise Republican-controlled constitutional officer seats.

The day before the election, former Vice President and current Democratic presidential primary candidate Joe Biden, along with former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, rallied voters in Sterling. Biden told the people at the rally “as Virginia goes, so goes the nation.”

Even President Donald J. Trump weighed in, tweeting the night before the election: “Great Republican Geary Higgins has my complete and total Endorsement for Virginia Senate, 13th District. He is strong on Crime,

the Border, our Military, Cutting Taxes, and protecting your 2nd Amendment. Dem John Bell will take your guns & raise your taxes. Vote for Geary Higgins.” Higgins, a county supervisor who sought to replace retiring state Sen. Richard H. Black (R-13), said he was “very honored” to be endorsed by the president. The next day, state Del. John J. Bell (D-87) won the race, one of the victories that helped Democrats take the majority in the state senate.

Locally, independent candidate for Catoctin District supervisor Sam Kroiz may have brought in a Loudoun campaign fundraising first: his logo on craft beer cans. Crooked Run Brewing, which hosted a fundraiser for Kroiz in Leesburg, created beer cans labelled with Kroiz’s campaign sign. However, Kroiz finished behind both party-backed candidates in that three-way race, Republican Caleb A. Kershner and Democrat DEMS TAKE CONTROL continues on page 32

Loudoun entered 2019 in the midst of the longest federal government shutdown in history, as local businesses, governments and nonprofits rallied to help federal employees and contractors.

Congress and the president had deadlocked in late 2018 over the president’s demand for $5.7 billion in federal funding for a border wall. With no budget adopted by midnight Dec. 22, the federal government shut down all non-essential services, and would not reopen for more than a month. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the shutdown cost the American economy at least $11 billion.

That loss was felt keenly in Loudoun, where many people work for the federal government or federal contractors. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 federal employees live in Loudoun. A group of 22 local business groups, including the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, signed onto a letter urging Congress and the president to reopen the government.

On January 11, the date of the first missed paycheck of the shutdown for federal employees, Easterns Automotive Group Director of Marketing Joel Bassam announced that his company had committed to donate $10,000 a week to the food banks each week the shutdown continues. It was only one of many businesses that stepped up—for example, attorneys at the law firm of Dunlap, Bennett & Ludwig, which has an office in Leesburg, offered free consultations to federal employees and contractors who were worried a drop in their credit ratings after missed paychecks—and missed bills—would affect their security clearances. Many other businesses offered their clients flexible payment plans, and restaurants offered free meals to people affected by the shutdown.

Local governments helped, as well—waiving bus fares for federal employees, sending money to food pantries, and deferring utility bills.

And as always, the first line of defense for people in need, the county’s nonprofits, geared up to help. Food pantries in particular swung into action to make sure nobody went hungry, and the county’s largest hunger nonprofit, Loudoun Hunger Relief, offered a pop-up market in Purcellville.

The shutdown ended with a new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives and Trump relenting on his border wall budget demand on Jan. 25.

Loudoun Lawsuit Sets First Amendment Precedent On Jan. 7, a federal appeals court upheld a decision that County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large) had violated a Loudouners’ constitutional rights by blocking him on Facebook. Randall did not appeal the decision any higher, and the case would prove to be an important decision in the murky rules around the First Amendment on social media.

It closed a battle that began in February 2016 when Brian Davison posted on her “Chair Phyllis J. Randall” Facebook page with allegations of conflicts of interest by School Board members and their families, a complaint Davison had made in other public forums. Randall deleted the post and blocked him to prevent him from making additional postings. She then unblocked him the next day.

The appeals court affirmed the lower court’s ruling that Randall was acting “under color of state law” in running that LOUDOUN 2019 continues on page 5

JANUARY 2, 2020

Loudoun 2019 continued from page 4 Facebook page and in deleting Davison’s comment and banning Davison from it.

Randall said she had “no idea” whether Davison’s allegations of corruption were true, but banned him anyway, viewing his allegations as “slanderous.”

Judge James A. Wynn Jr. wrote in the court’s ruling that “put simply, Randall unconstitutionally sought to ‘suppress’ Davison’s opinion that there was corruption on the School Board.”

The case would go on to be cited in July in a ruling against President Donald J. Trump, in which a three-judge panel from the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled unanimously that Trump may not block his critics on Twitter. The court found that because Trump uses his Twitter account for government business—often announcing policy, arguing politics or haranguing other users and world leaders to his nearly 62 million followers—he cannot block other Twitter users from accessing his social media feed.

A Year for Parks Loudoun set hundreds upon hundreds of acres aside for new parkland in 2019.

Perhaps appropriately, the year began with county supervisors embracing an concept for a system of linear parks and trails throughout the county called “Emerald Ribbons.” A conceptual map envisions parks and trails tracing the paths of waterways, the existing W&OD Trail, and reaching to the site of Loudoun’s future state park at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship near Harper’s Ferry. But the park will be a long-term project, and the plan does not propose using eminent domain to acquire land, instead relying on voluntary donations.

Then in February, after plans for a state park in Loudoun seemed at risk of being halted for another year, that proposal was included in the General Assembly’s budget.

That cost the state no money up front— the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, which maintains the land, has agreed to keep taking care of it until the state moves in with its resources. The nonprofit center currently manages the 600 acres at no cost to the state, and also is managing a 281-acre county-purchased parcel, which is held by the Old Dominion Land Conservancy.

Eventually, that will mean close to a thousand acres of state parkland in northwest Loudoun.

In July, construction began on the

2019 IN REVIEW

long-awaited Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, kicking off work on a 257-acre park near Arcola that will offer everything from wooded trails, to a skate plaza, to cricket fields. The property was acquired in a land swap in 2008, and the park had been in design—and sometimes in doubt—since.

In September, supervisors agreed to buy 106 acres between Round Hill’s Sleeter Lake Park and the county’s Franklin Park for $1.2 million, creating 320 continuous acres of parkland stretching almost from Round Hill to Purcellville. That purchase will expand Franklin Park, which could allow it to host a future western Loudoun parks and recreation facility that last year was added to the county’s Capital Improvement Program. But in the meantime, it will remain largely undisturbed as a passive recreation park.

And as supervisors neared the end of their term in December, they made plans for one last big park. They approved a 224-apartment development on Ashburn Village Boulevard that also came with a land swap adding to plans for a 230-acre park. The developer contributed 71 acres at Commonwealth Center, the still largely-undeveloped project on the south side of Rt. 7 across Loudoun County Parkway from One Loudoun, to join more than 160 acres of land proffered by Kincora for a 230-acre park in the heart of Ashburn.

Meanwhile, Loudoun Water’s Beaverdam Reservoir is refilling. Drained for maintenance last year, when the utility was ready to reopen the 622-acre reservoir again, the county entered a dry spell in a previously record-setting year of rain.

When it refills and reopens, the reservoir will again host fishing, boating, paddling and other activities. Sometime this year, it is expected, construction on new park facilities will begin, on 71 acres of NOVA Parks’ adjacent Brambleton Regional Park.

Washington’s Will Comes to Leesburg for a Day The Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Historic Records Division brought the last will of the United States’ first president to Leesburg’s First Friday in May. It was one of the office’s most popular displays of historic documents, packing the old courthouse in Leesburg. The display also included a 1774 deed for church pews from the Pohick Church in Lorton, which contains the signatures of both Washington and George Mason, along with other records signed by James Madison, James Monroe, John Tyler, J. Edgar Hoover, and the Last Will and Testament of five-star general and Nobel Peace Prize winner George C. Marshall.

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ite TheLeesburgVADentist.com at: at: TheLeesburgVADentist.com and wet weather pond. Well installed. Potential to have million dollar views with further clearing. Approved for 5 bedroom drainfield. Base driveway installed. A nature lovers dream. No HOA. Convenient to commuter train.

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The New Year could bring some familiar faces, though. The council recently denied a rezoning application for the former Westpark Golf Club property, which would have netted the town an additional 96 townhomes, but ambiguity remains on the future for that land. Lennar Homes, the contract purchaser for the property, appeared inclined to pull out of the purchase, though the property remained under contract at year’s end. Nearby residents largely voiced support for commercial, rather than residential, development on the property, with a portion of the land zoned for a hotel use. Many had desired to see as much of the open space retained as park land, too.

The approval of a downtown residential development could see dirt moving in the historic area in 2020. Council members approved the Church & Market development, which will bring 116 rental apartments, over a structured parking garage, along with retail and office uses to the former Loudoun Times-Mirror property.

A new entrant to the fray could be the redevelopment of the Virginia Village shopping center. Property owner Brian Cullen has unveiled his plans for a large-

scale rezoning for a mixed-use development that includes up to 70,000 square feet of ground floor retail; 105,000 square feet of office uses; 490 multi-family residential units; 68 condominium units; 47 townhouse units; and 42 two-over-two dwelling units. The development also includes a significant amount of structured parking for the uses envisioned. The plan is currently working its way through town staff review.

Leesburg looks to be growing not just in population, but in overall size, assuming a boundary line adjustment between it and the county goes through. The council initiated that process in late 2018 and it has had its bumps along the way, not the least of which was a summer 2019 Board of Supervisors’ decision to designate Loudoun Water the utility provider of choice in the Joint Land Management Area. Should the BLA go through, it would bring more of the burgeoning Compass Creek development into town. That property already includes the ION International Training Center and Walmart, and will soon include a 300-plus-acre Microsoft corporate campus and data centers. Early in 2020, the council will consider special exception applications on the property that would permit construction of four drive-through restaurants to the development. It will be interesting to see how the council handles that request as Peterson Companies, the property owner, has made approval of the special exceptions a condition of their own approval for agreeing to the BLA. Loudoun GROWING PAINS continues on page 7

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

PAGE 7

Council Signs Off on Microsoft Non-Disclosure Agreement

BY KARA C. RODRIGUEZ krodriguez@loudounnow.com

The Leesburg Town Council has signed off on a non-disclosure agreement with Microsoft to shield some of the corporation’s development plans from public disclosure.

The agreement was approved on a 4-21 vote during a special meeting Dec. 23.

Microsoft has proposed to construct a data center in the Compass Creek development that is eyed for annexation into town by way of a boundary line adjustment between the town and Loudoun County. Last year, the company purchased 332 acres—a majority of the land in the mixed-use development—from Peterson Companies for a reported $73 million.

Although the staff report on the non-disclosure agreement listed only one data center in the first phase of the project, an additional report lists up to four data centers planned in the project’s second phase. Town Attorney Barbara Notar emphasized, however, that the non-disclosure agreement deals only with phase one of the project. She said Microsoft has not

shared its plans for phase two with town staff.

The Town Council first discussed signing the agreement at its Dec. 10 meeting, but held off on action to review the proposed document in more detail. The signing of such an agreement would preclude certain information from being released publicly via the Freedom of Information Act. Notar said the council was up against a bit of a time crunch, as information sought in a FOIA request, filed by an unnamed individual, had a Jan. 6 deadline.

According to a staff report, Microsoft requested for a non-disclosure agreement, at least in part, to protect proprietary information related to its security systems included in its engineering and construction plans as well as utility usage information.

Council members Neil Steinberg and Ron Campbell voted against the resolution authorizing the town manager to execute the agreement. Steinberg put forward a motion to include within the agreement the six items Microsoft listed it considered proprietary. Only Campbell supported that motion. Economic Development Director Russell Seymour said the proposed

Growing pains continued from page 6 County requires property owner consent prior to the supervisors considering BLA approval.

How to handle all this growth expects to be a big part of conversation on the Town Council dais, in both the budget process and the consideration of two major plan adoptions. Town Manager Kaj Dentler, as recently as this fall, has warned the council that it may need to consider fee or tax rate increases to accommodate the needs of the growing town, with the addition of homes to service, lane miles and additional residents.

The council is also expected to consider the adoption of a small area plan for its Eastern Gateway District, which includes some of the last major redevelopment or development opportunities in town, as well as an update to its Town Plan.

Another Year, Another Election November’s presidential election will also bring with it another Leesburg Town Council race, as the seats of Mayor Kelly Burk and council members Josh Thiel, Ron Campbell and Tom Dunn will be on the ballot.

Burk will be gunning for her third twoyear mayoral term. In both of her previous runs, in 2016 and 2018, she convincingly topped a field of three candidates. She has always faced familiar foes, with challenges from sitting or former Town Council members. In her most recent run, she won just under 60 percent of the vote over challengers Dunn and Campbell.

Dunn and Campbell this go-around will find themselves defending their council seats. For Dunn, a win would net him a fourth four-year council term. It will be the first re-election bid for Campbell and Thiel, who won their seats in 2016 and in a February 2018 special election, respectively.

Political party endorsements have become practically essential in the nonpartisan council races. Since the Town Council elections moved from May to November, a move that occurred in 2012 following a successful voter referendum, no candidate has been successful in winning a seat without the endorsement of either of the two major political parties.

None of the candidates with seats up in November have announced whether they will seek re-election.

agreement was broad for a reason.

“The more we limit the non-disclosure agreement the more we limit [information] staff has access to,” he said. “This non-disclosure agreement doesn’t set parameters. To limit us to a list is a limit more to the town than it is to Microsoft.”

Campbell opposed the length of the agreement, which Notar said is for five years.

In addition to the Microsoft campus, the 550-acre Compass Creek development includes the ION International Training Center and a new Walmart Su-

percenter. AtHome, a home decor store, has also purchased property in the development. The development is approved for the construction of 2.5 million square feet of office space, 550,000 square feet of retail development, 300,000 square feet of flex-industrial uses, and a hotel.

The Town Council is expected to review early in the New Year a rezoning and special exception applications that would bring four drive-through restaurants to the development.

Councilman Tom Dunn was absent for the meeting.

PAGE 8

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

Education

Push for Equity Gains Traction

BY NORMAN K. STYER

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

nstyer@loudounnow.com

For decades, parents of minority students have worked to document and address racially-based achievement gaps and student discipline disparities. In recent years, students in the LBGT community and their parents have pressed for more equitable treatment. Those forces combined in 2019 to make “equity” one of the most frequently used words in the School Board meeting room.

The conversation started early, with the School Board voting to add $200,000 to the Fiscal Year 2021 budget to create a position tasked with overseeing equity issues throughout the school system. That allocation was in addition to $100,000 Superintendent Eric Williams had requested to hire an equity and cultural competence specialist. Each School Board member supported creating an equity task force— made up of staff members, parents and outside experts—to provide a thorough review of the school system’s equity practices.

In February, the school district made national headlines when teachers at Madison’s Trust Elementary School put students through an offensive history lesson—having them reenact chasing slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad. The incident got widespread media coverage and the school principal issued a formal apology acknowledging its “culturally insensitive” nature in a letter to students. Williams then joined with the Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee, the Loudoun County Chapter of the NAACP and The Loudoun Freedom Center to issue a formal statement on the issue, saying the concerns go beyond the “inappropriate and culturally insensitive” elementary school exercise.

“We acknowledge that this incident at Madison’s Trust is a symptom of a broader issue,” he wrote. “The diversity in Loudoun County is one of our greatest strengths, but Loudoun County is also a place where equity has proven a challenge for many decades. We have struggled with inequities in student achievement gaps, discipline disproportionality, underrepresentation of minority students in advanced programs and courses, and the lack of a diversified teacher workforce.”

Weeks later, the School Board voted to appoint members to a 25-seat Ad Hoc Committee on Equity, and administrators

Teachers From Classrooms to Courts

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Opponents of the School Board’s decision to added sexual orientation and gender identity protections to the district’s equal opportunity policy display signs during a meeting in February. The policy was changed as one of the board’s final actions in 2019.

hired a consultant group to conduct a system-wide examination of equity concerns.

The final appointments were made March 26 following an hour of public comments during which speakers criticized the proposed selection of new ninth-grade history textbooks that link Muslims and terrorism, and calls from members of the Loudoun County NAACP to investigate systematic shortcomings that they said have resulted in fewer than 10 black students gaining admission to the Academies of Loudoun and in gifted and talented programs generally.

Ultimately, the books were removed from consideration and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office opened a formal inquiry to review the admissions criteria at the academies.

In May, Williams introduced Lottie Spurlock as the school system’s first equity director. Spurlock, who was serving as principal at Cardinal Ridge Elementary School in South Riding, was already working as a facilitator during the Ad Hoc Committee on Equity meetings.

The consultant’s system-wide equity assessment of the school division was released in June. The Equity Collaborative completed a series of focus group sessions and interviews at 24 schools across the county. Williams noted that the report found that school system staff members showed a low level of racial consciousness and racial literacy, and were unclear and fearful on how to participate in conversations about race, let alone respond to racially-charged incidents. “We must make

it clear throughout Loudoun County Public Schools that we reject this painful, racist language that encourages discrimination, hatred, and violence. Addressing these needs and others identified in the report will allow us to better fulfill our mission of empowering ALL students to make meaningful contributions to the world,” Williams wrote in a statement at the time.

Among the first actions in response to the findings was the adoption of a policy statement crafted by the equity committee: “Loudoun County School Board and its division superintendent publicly declare the condemnation of White supremacy, hate speech, hate crimes, and other hate-based acts of violence, and any instances of hate, discrimination, and violence based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, appearance, and socio-economic status.”

While many members pushed to make the ad-hoc panel a permanent standing committee, a School Board majority opted to leave that decision to the next board, although the term of the panel was extended beyond the original December deadline to complete its work.

At year’s end, the board was embroiled in another controversy, as a vocal group of parents mounted a months-long protest to some of the books selected for diverse library collections to be available in all school classrooms. At each meeting, EQUITY continues on page 9

Whether the result of increased transparency or a spike in bad behavior, a number of Loudoun educators made headlines in 2019 for allegations of criminal acts.

May was a particularly bad month for administrators. Two elementary school teachers were charged with being intoxicated on campus. Also, a high school marketing teacher pleaded guilty to sexting—sending racy photos of herself and solicitations for sex to students. Then, an elementary school teacher was charged with a misdemeanor assault and battery for allegedly kissing a student on the month and cheek.

Administrators also came under fire in a federal lawsuit filed May 24 that claims there was a conspiracy to coverup an alleged sexual relationship a middle school teacher had with a 13-year-old student. In the case, school administrators, Sheriff ’s Office investigators and Child Protective Services officers concluded that allegations the teacher had groomed the student for a sexual relationship that included a forceable rape inside a locked classroom were unfounded. The child’s mother filed a lawsuit seeking more than $14 million in damages.

In July, a former Loudoun County Public Schools teaching coach was sentenced to spend two years in state prison after being convicted of unlawful filming of female students at three Loudoun high schools. He was caught on surveillance video closely following behind the students, activating his camera, and positioning his camera under their skirts in an attempt to film their undergarments.

Also in July, a longtime Loudoun high school English teacher was placed on leave after an investigation at a private school in Washington, DC found credible assertions of sexual misconduct with students there in the 1970s and 1980s. He was one of four teachers identified in a report contracted by the Maret School to investigate claims made by former students there.

Eugene Legg is a popular teacher at Rock Ridge. He was nominated for the Loudoun County Outstanding Teacher Award three years ago and selected to deliver the keynote address during the school’s graduation ceremony a month earlier.

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

PAGE 9

Safety Was Among Top Concerns of 2019

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Improving school safety was a constant theme heard during 2019, amid reports of mass shootings nationally and a few local scares.

Starting in January, the issue became a campaign theme by two countywide candidates, incumbent Sheriff Mike Chapman and Republican County Chairman nominee John Whitbeck, who rolled out a plan to expand the School Resource Office program to 56 elementary schools. Officers already are assigned to middle and high schools. While Chapman said the program expansion could

Equity continued from page 8 parents lined up to read graphic sex scenes found in the pages of some of the books.

Parents questioned whether the books were age-appropriate, whether they conflicted with material presented in Family Life Education classes or should be provided at school at all.

The diversity collection totals 3,400

be phased in over a four-year period with $10.5 million in start-up costs, he did not propose it in his budget request to supervisors. Chapman laid out a $13 million plan during a detailed briefing to members of the School Board and Board of Supervisors.

County leaders agreed to consider it, along with other security measures while working on next year’s budget.

Two incidents that occurred in March amped up pressure on school leaders to improve controls at school entrances. Early in the month, parents and students at Madison’s Trust Elementary School got a scare when men claiming to be affiliated with the Black Panthers staged a protest inside the school.

Three weeks later, a man planning to set up

an Air Force recruitment table was arrested for carrying a sidearm inside Tuscarora High School.

Two months later, school district administrators unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at improving security measures and procedures, including a three-year plan to construct new security vestibules at every school.

In July, the school district created two new staff positions to address the concerns.

Former U.S. Secret Service executive John Clark was named director of safety and security. Rob Doolittle was hired as director of communications and community outreach with the expectation of improving the crisis communication with parents.

Concerns heightened again in August when 31 people were killed in mass shootings in Texas and Ohio. While the shootings did not happen at schools, a group of Tuscarora High School students organized a vigil on Leesburg’s town green to read the victims’ names and advocate gun control legislation.

“This could have been us,” said Kaylynn Breland, one of the organizers. “You can’t predict when something like that is going to happen, so I feel so blessed and so lucky to have this.”

At the start of the new school year, the Sheriff ’s Office and school division rolled out a new app—Safe to Talk—designed to allow students to anonymously submit information about suspicious or criminal activity directly to dispatchers.

books, 600 in elementary school classrooms, 1,200 in grades 6 through 8, and 1,600 in high schools. Of those, the vast majority of the books—98 percent at the elementary level and 92 percent in high school—were selected to help students explore differences of race, culture, language and religion. The other two categories of books are intended to address disabilities/ abilities and LGBTQ subjects. The larger of those two collections is focused on LGBTQ matters, with five books in the elementary

collection, 44 in middle schools, and 82 in high schools.

Under school policy, the appropriateness of the books is being reviewed on a case-by-case basis once a formal complaint is made. At year’s end, some titles had been administratively shifted in grade level, but only one had been restricted by a School Board review panel.

Among the final actions of the School Board in December was to amend its anti-discrimination hiring policy to include

protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. The change had been debated many times over several years. Critics worried that it could have the unintended consequences of changing the division’s policies regarding the use of bathrooms and locker rooms or accommodations during overnight field trips by possibly granting new gender identity rights. Supporters said the expanded protections were important to the division’s efforts to hire the best teachers available.

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2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 10

JANUARY 2, 2020

Public Safety

Suspected DWI Driver Charged in Christmas Day Fatality LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

The year ended on a tragic note with a Christmas morning crash that took the life of a 79-year-old South Riding women.

It was the third Loudoun highway death of 2019 that resulted in charges of driving while intoxicated.

According to the Sheriff ’s Office, the crash occurred around 8:20 a.m. Dec. 25 on Rt. 50 near South Riding Boulevard. A sedan with five occupants was stopped at a red light when it was struck from behind by a pickup.

Rashida Begum, a passenger in the sedan, died at the scene. Four other occupants were taken to the hospital, two for treatment of injuries described as life-threatening and two for injuries described as not life-threatening. A passenger in the pickup was hospitalized with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening.

The driver of the pickup, Martin V. Chavez, 56, of Sterling, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. He was held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

Alcohol use also was cited in the year’s first fatal crash on Jan. 4. In that case, an 18-year-old Purcellville man was charged with involuntary manslaughter and DWI after he hit a woman walking along Morri-

Martin V. Chavez

sonville Road around 7:30 in the morning.

While the case is set for trial in March, the crash sparked a community effort to improve safety on the rural road.

A 31-year-old Ashburn man was charged with involuntary manslaughter and DUI after an early morning crash on Nov. 16. Investigators said he lost control of his SUV on Ashburn Farm Parkway and crashed into a utility pole and fence. He and his female passenger, 31-year-old Heather Wren, were thrown from the vehicle. Wren died at the scene.

An involuntary manslaughter charge also was filed in a July 4 crash on Randolph

Drive in Sterling. In that case, investigators said a 30-year-old Ashburn man lost control of his car on a curve while speeding and crashed into a tree, killing his 31-yearold girlfriend.

Several highway fatalities in 2019 did not result in criminal charges.

A 61-year-old Martinsburg, WV man was alone in his car when it crashed into the woods along Harpers Ferry Road on Feb. 17. A 30-year-old Manassas man was killed on Rt. 15 on May 6 after he drove off the side of the road and then overcorrected into the path of a pickup. A cyclist was struck and killed on Sycolin Road on June 1. A 61-year-old woman crossing Waxpool Road in Ashburn at 5 a.m. Aug 27 was struck and killed. A 34-year-old Aldie mother was killed and her 4-yearold daughter seriously injured on Aug. 14 when an 18-year-old driver lost control of his Volkswagen on Belmont Ridge Road and struck her car head on. On Oct. 18, a driver was killed after driving into the side of a tractor-trailer on Rt. 7 in Sterling.

On Nov. 22, when a tree fell on top of an SUV traveling northbound on Purcellville Road, a father and his 12-year-old daughter, Lindsey Jane Carmello, were airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment. Less than three weeks later, Lindsey Jane died from her injuries after being in a medically induced coma.

3 Sent to Prison on Murder Convictions in 2019 LOUDOUN NOW STAFF REPORT

The Loudoun Courts handled several murder trials during 2019, including a 31-year-old cold case that resulted in a conviction.

Three decades after Henry E. “Ricky” Ryan’s body was found on the Blue Ridge near the Loudoun County border west of Hillsboro, Timothy William Warnick was convicted of killing him. The case had been investigated several times over the years, but it was the first time prosecutors had filed charges.

During a week-long trial in April, prosecutors presented evidence that Warnick,

60, was one of the last people seen with Ryan the night of his death. Amid a night of partying near the Shenandoah River in West Virginia, the two went on a beer run with a third, unknown man. Warnick’s son and ex-girlfriend testified that Warnick had confessed to them that he had killed Ryan. A pill bottle with Warnick’s name was found in Ryan’s hand when his body was recovered by Loudoun County Sheriff ’s deputies in 1989.

Judge Douglas L. Fleming Jr. upheld the jury’s recommended sentence of life plus five years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Warnick continues to deny responsi-

bility for Ryan’s death. The case is under review by the Virginia Court of Appeals.

In May, Michael Bowles, 22, was given two life sentences for first-degree murder and arson after fatally shooting his father, 52-year-old Mario Bowles, with a sawedoff shotgun in the face, chest and back and then burning his parents’ Lucketts-area home down on July 25, 2017.

In July, Michael Moreno, 59, was sentenced to 38 years in prison for driving his car into his sister, 54-year-old Nancy, on the side of Rt. 28 and killing her on July 21, 2018. He received 33 years for first-degree murder and five years for leaving the scene of an accident causing a death.

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Leesburg Attorney Lorrie Sinclair was supported by Loudoun leaders to fill a vacant Circuit Court judgeship, but was not selected by the General Assembly.

Two New Judges Elected, Two Announce Retirement Plans Loudoun’s legal community recorded a hard-fought victory during the 2019 General Assembly session when funding was restored for a vacant Circuit Court judgeship.

The vacancy was created two years earlier with the retirement of Burke F. McCahill just after a long-awaited new Circuit Court judgeship was created by the General Assembly to handle the growing and complex docket of cases in Loudoun. Defunding McCahill’s seat kept the Loudoun bench at three judges.

With funding finally in hand to seat the fourth judge in this year’s state budget, a new controversy emerged over filling the seat.

In 2017, with the endorsement of the Loudoun Bar Association and bipartisan support of other local leaders, Leesburg Attorney Alexander N. Levay was vetted by the Assembly and certified for the post just before the surprise funding cut. He remained the leading candidate as Loudoun’s delegation worked to restore funding during the 2018 session. However, by the time money was authorized in 2019, Levay withdrew from consideration.

The Loudoun Bar Association’s review process resulted in two leading candidates—Leesburg Attorney Lorrie Sinclair and Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Sean Morgan. But, while Loudoun leaders conducted their candidate reviews, Fauquier County Commonwealth’s Attorney James P. Fisher already was under consideration for the post in Richmond with the backing of influential Republicans.

Despite objections from members of the Loudoun delegation—and protests from Loudoun NAACP leaders who pushed for Sinclair to be elected as Loudoun’s first black judge—Fisher got JUDGES continues on page 11

JANUARY 2, 2020

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 11

Beyond Lockups: Loudoun Court Programs Seek to Transform Lives

BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.com

Something different was happening in Loudoun’s courts last year.

Each week, judges would talk with defendants about the challenges in their lives and offer words of encouragement, while a team of prosecutors, probation officers and mental health specialists created personalized treatment plans designed to build life skills and self-discipline needed to keep them on the straight and narrow.

The General District Court’s Mental Health Docket program launched in 2018 and celebrated its first graduate last summer.

In Circuit Court, the county’s Drug Court program was revived in April.

The Mental Health Docket, led by District Court Judge Deborah C. Welsh, is designed to reduce recidivism and improve both individual clinical outcomes and public safety, by offering an individualized, comprehensive, community-based treatment plan with court supervision, for each participant. Starting with weekly Friday afternoon meetings with Welsh and a rigid schedule of therapy sessions, group meetings, employment requirements and drug testing, participants undergo a transformation that makes it less likely they’ll return to court for future violations. After a year of operation, the program started celebrating graduations this summer.

On Wednesday mornings since May, Circuit Court judges have been meeting with a growing roster of drug offenders who are provided the opportunity to avoid jail time by participating in the intensive outpatient treatment program.

Judges continued from page 10 the appointment.

Weeks later, Judge Jeffrey Parker, who presided over cases in Fauquier and Rappahanock counties that are part of the 20th Circuit with Loudoun, announced his plans to retire. Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney James E. Plowman was selected by the Assembly to fill that seat starting in November, again with little consultation with local leaders.

Although the 20th Circuit is not expected to have another vacancy until 2022 at the earliest, Sinclair is expected to be back at the head of the line for consideration of a judgeship in 2020. Two of Loudoun’s District Court judges will step down this year.

James Frank Buttery announced he will retire Feb. 1 and Dean S. Worcester plans to retire March 1.

It is Loudoun’s second attempt at a drug court. The last drug court ran from 2004 to 2012, but county supervisors shuttered the program when they decided they weren’t getting their money’s worth. With restrictive policies both on who could enter the program and how easily they could be kicked out, few people entered the program, and fewer successfully completed it.

Neither program is easy for the participants, many of whom battle with mental illness, addiction and challenging family situations and lack the coping skills need

to break the cycle that landed them in court—most not for the first time. Those who violate the programs’ terms—missing a required morning or evening curfew checkin, skipping a therapy meeting or failing one of the frequent drug tests—face sanctions ranging from writing assignments to community service hours to a couple of days behind bars. But the programs are built with the understanding that participants will face setbacks, and more than one has been helped to find monthly residential treatment services.

Those devoting the extra time and effort to support the program—from the judges to the probation officers to the deputies monitoring curfews—know the stakes are high, although they were hit with a tragic reminder this summer when one of the first enrollees died from an overdose.

But more often there have been successes, with participants rebuilding strong relationships with their children, spouses and parents; landing and holding better jobs; and stacking up months of sobriety—one day at a time.

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 12

JANUARY 2, 2020

Hillsboro Road Project Begins This Month, Extends All Year

Towns

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now

The Town of Purcellville in 2019 was hit with the effects of a data breach and $33.2 million in damages claimed by two lawsuits stemming from a 2017 failed investigation.

Purcellville Looks Toward Brighter 2020 After Lawsuits, Data Breach and Diversity Dilemma

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

It’s been more than two years since the Town Council launched an investigation that led to the firing of its police chief—but ultimately resulted in her re-hiring— the firing of the town manager and employee lawsuits seeking millions in damages.

Moving into the new decade, the town staff is hopeful it can resolve those lingering issues once and for all, in addition to stepping up its diversity hiring, focusing on public safety needs and bolstering its rapidly shrinking utility funds.

In late 2017, then-interim Town Manager Alex Vanegas was fired after it was found that he mismanaged an investigation into now-discredited claims of misconduct against Police Chief Cynthia McAlister, and that he was involved in an inappropriate relationship with the human resources consultant he hired to help with the investigation, Georgia Nuckolls. McAlister, who was reinstated to her position, filed a $16 million lawsuit against the town on July 22 this year. Her lawsuit claims that Vanegas, Nuckolls, the town and six police officers conspired to defame her and take her job and that Vanegas hired Nuckolls to control the outcome of the original investigation.

On Sept. 19, Police Cpl. Kristopher Fraley filed a $9.1 million against the town for similar claims. Less than a month later, Fraley amended his complaint to include six additional allegations seeking an additional $8.1 million in relief.

According to sources within the town, a third lawsuit filed by another town employee was recently settled out of court.

McAlister said that while she couldn’t talk about the details of her lawsuit, she said it hasn’t hindered her work within the Police Department. She said she’s hopeful that she and the town can BRIGHTER 2020 continues on page 14

In Hillsboro, the long-planned Rt. 9 Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety Project will get underway this month, but not without lingering concern that area business owners could lose out on sales during the 12-14 months of construction.

Mayor Roger Vance signed a $14.33 million contract with Archer Western Corp. on Nov. 25—a contract that will see the construction company install a roundabout on either end of town along Rt. 9, install sidewalks through the town and bury utility lines underneath the highway.

After receiving and rejecting three construction bids that came in millions of dollars over the town’s budget, the town collaborated with VDOT and found that closing Rt. 9 in its entirety through town for longer periods of each day would reduce construction time and costs.

Part of that new traffic plan calls for the highway to be closed in its entirety through the town for up to 60 non-consecutive days, which has incited outrage among

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance and Archer Western Corp. Vice President EJ O’Neill shake hands after signing a $14.33 million construction contract that will see Archer complete the town’s Rt. 9 road project beginning January 2020.

area residents and business owners, some of whom claimed that they will lose at least 60 percent of their normal business because visitors will avoid the area once construction begins.

Area residents are also worried that many West Virginia commuters will use Loudoun’s rural roads to navigate around the town, rather than take the Rt. 340 to Rt. 7 regional detour.

Vance, the project manager, and Vice Mayor Amy Maras-

co, the deputy project manager, have assured residents and business owners that by closing Rt. 9 through town for prolonged periods of time, the project will take about two years less time to complete, which will ultimately inconvenience stakeholders for less time overall.

Construction on the project is set to begin this month. Before then, Archer is expected to present the town with a draft construction schedule this week.

Lovettsville Council to Adopt New Rules of Conduct Following 2019 Controversy

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

The Town of Lovettsville was predominantly quiet for nearly all of 2019, but it was sure to make an appearance atop the headlines this summer during a period of controversy surrounding the actions of a Town Council member and the mayor.

When the Town Council was interviewing candidates interested in filling a vacancy on the Planning Commission, Councilman David Steadman purposely missed a July 9 special meeting to effectively block a vote to appoint a candidate. He posted on his

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

Lovettsville Mayor Nate Fontaine and Councilman David Steadman found themselves at the center of a July controversy that heard calls for the town to initiate an ethics investigation and for Steadman to resign.

Facebook page that it would have been unfair to make an appointment without first interviewing all candidates. At that point, the

council had interviewed two of three candidates.

NEW RULES continues on page 13

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

New rules continued from page 12 Because Steadman missed the meeting, and two other council members were also absent, the council was denied quorum—the four-councilmember minimum required for a meeting to proceed. That prompted Mayor Nate Fontaine to cancel the meeting before calling it to order.

Two days later, residents called Steadman’s actions an “egregious” abuse of power and requested Town Manager Rob Ritter to initiate an ethics investigation to look into the reasons why Fontaine cancelled the special meeting without first gaveling it in to give council members a chance to engage in an informal discussion.

On Aug. 22, the Town Council voted 5-1 to take no further action on the ethics complaint.

That’s because the town didn’t see Steadman’s or Fontaine’s actions as violations of the town Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, which establish that elected officials should “provide high quality of service to the public … in a responsible, conscientious, ethical and professional manner.”

Fontaine said that while he can want council members to be present at meetings for votes, the most he can do if he feels a council member unreasonably misses a

PAGE 13

CABINET SHOWPLACE

meeting is censure them. “Legally, you can’t compel a council member to come to a meeting,” he said.

For the past six months, the Town Council has been working to amend the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct.

Fontaine said the council could vote to adopt the new version of that document at its Jan. 9 meeting.

Under the proposed new code, elected or appointed officials who intentionally or unintentionally violate the code would be required to make the violation known to the town manager.

The council on Jan. 9 could also vote to adopt a new set of Town Council Rules and Procedures, following a year of work on them. While that document currently establishes that the Town Council must have quorum “to conduct official business,” it doesn’t mention that quorum is required to initiate a meeting to discuss informal matters.

Under a new “Duty to Vote” subsection in the proposed Rules and Procedures document, while all council members present at meetings are required to vote on action items, “a member who wishes to be excused from voting shall state his or her reasons for abstaining.”

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2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

Brighter 2020 continued from page 12 resolve matters soon. “As we come into the new year, I hope we get this behind us,” she said.

Town Manager David Mekarski, who was hired in March 2018, said his outlook on the lawsuits are the same. “I am highly confident that we will achieve settlement on all the pending litigation,” he said.

The lasting effects of the failed investigation don’t end with the possibility of a multi-million-dollar payout from the town.

During Vanegas’ initial investigation, he obtained a 9.1-gigabyte flash drive with McAlister’s entire email box. After Vanegas was fired, Brian Reynolds, the publisher of the Loudoun Tribune—the newspaper where Nuckolls formerly worked as an HR director/business manager—claimed to be in possession of McAlister’s emails.

The town at that point realized the flash drive was missing and filed an insurance claim, prompting a forensics investigation into the data breach. Of the 1,800 individuals affected by the breach, 1,740 were found to be associated with the Fairfax County Police Department.

While the McDonald Hopkins law firm sent letters to the breach victims in October, those letters were sent on town stationary with the firm’s Harrisburg, PA address and phone number, leading many recipients to believe the letters were inauthentic.

A month later, Mekarski sent new letters to the 1,800 affected individuals to verify the legitimacy of the first letter. He said responses have been positive.

Mekarski said the town is also working cooperatively with the Fairfax County Police Department to sort through the aftermath of the breach. “I think things are going forward in a 100-percent positive format,” he said.

At year’s end, the town government came under another staffing criticism.

On Dec. 2, Phillip Thompson, the former President of the Loudoun County NAACP, informed the town he was concerned that its 89-person staff wasn’t diverse enough. A week later, Thompson called out the Town Council, pointing out that nearly all of its seven members are white males.

In a Dec. 5 email to Town Clerk Diana Hays, Thompson claimed the town is “working under pre-1964 employment standards.”

On Dec. 17, Thompson, Mekarski and Town Attorney Sally Hankins met to discuss how the town could improve its diversity hiring. The town is now working

to advertise job openings with black organizations. Human Resources Director Sharon Rauch said she would request the Town Council to approve funding in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget for her department to make those advertisements possible.

The town is also looking into implementing an apprenticeship program to recruit diverse candidates to work in the town’s water and wastewater departments and is working on a more general strategic process to increase diversity within the town staff—a process Mekarski said he plans to introduce to the Town Council by or before March.

Thompson and Mekarski are expected to meet again this month to discuss updates.

In 2020, the town will also work to relocate its Police Department to a new temporary headquarters in preparation for the expiration of its current lease early next year. Mekarski said the town might look to lease a new temporary location for five years while evaluating options to build a permanent home for the agency.

He said the town staff would be making a “real dramatic move” on that initiative in the first half of 2020.

McAlister said the town is looking to spend a minimal amount on the temporary headquarters so it can pay to design and build a permanent location in the next few years.

Aside from a focus on public safety, Mekarski said the town in 2020 would also continue its drive to achieve structural balance within its utility funds. Already, the Town Council has met on five occasions to discuss the possibility of replacing the town’s 17-tier water rate structure with a four-tiered structure.

From Fiscal Year 2019-2020, the town’s water fund shrunk by 39 percent and the sewer fund shrunk by 16 percent, all while the town needs to pay down $31 million in sewer debt and fund $21 million worth of water projects—$13 million of which the town staff feels should be completed by 2030.

Mekarski said the town is looking to implement a “fair and equitable system” for its 2,900 utility customers.

In all, Mekarski said the town has moved beyond the “culture crisis” that was the botched 2017 investigation and subsequent controversy.

“We’re confident about the next year,” he said.

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

PAGE 15

Round Hill Could Set Up Utility Extension, Grow Town Limits in 2020

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

In Round Hill, many area residents spent the much of the year concerned about the impacts of new development proposals, and the latter portion of the year learning about a possible town expansion.

On Feb. 7, Tree of Life Ministries Executive Director Paul Smith proposed to build 32 micro cottages on the 7-acre Weona Villa Motel property just east of town to lease to low-income residents. That proposal included a request for the Town Council to consider extending municipal utility service to the property. A month later, developer John Clark proposed to build 20 energy-efficient homes for seniors and first-time homebuyers on a 20-acre property along Airmont Road just south of town. Clark also requested the town consider serving that property with water and sewer.

Many area residents voiced their opposition to the development proposals, citing traffic and public safety as their main concerns. Concerning the micro-cottages, residents living in the Lakepoint Village com-

munity, which abuts the motel property, said they were worried the project would bring in low-income residents who would increase crime rates in the area. Residents were also concerned about increased traffic making turns onto Business Rt. 7 difficult.

Residents living along and around Airmont Road also claimed that if the town were to extend utility service to Clark’s property, it would allow him to build 1,000- to 2,800-square-foot homes that would further diminish the town’s historic character.

But the Town Council in March voted to direct the Planning Commission to review and consider amending the town’s 20172037 Comprehensive Plan to prepare for a possible extension of water and sewer service to properties outside the town limits.

Following an Oct. 10 public hearing, the commission is now scheduled to continue its review of resident comments at its Jan. 14 meeting.

Town Administrator Melissa Hynes said that if and when the commission forwards the amendment to the Town Council for approval, and if the council votes to approve it, utility service extensions to the

Weona Villa and Airmont Road properties would take at least two years to accomplish.

“Both [Smith and Clark] have long roads ahead of them to make anything happen on their properties,” Hynes stated.

“This comp plan amendment is step one in a 3 to 5 step process—with each step taking 9 months to a year each.”

Either way, Smith said Tree of Life’s plans remain unchanged and that he and his team hope to continue progress in the new year.

“We are continuing to work through the concept plan process with the Town of Round Hill in support of their efforts to meet growing unmet housing needs,” he stated. “We have been humbled by recent support for this initiative by many different groups across our community.”

On Nov. 20, Mayor Scott Ramsey also rebooted community talks about a potential town expansion via a boundary line adjustment.

That expansion could initially bring the 45-home Fallswood neighborhood, the 67-hime Brentwood Springs neighborhood and eight homes along Mystic Lane into the town limits in 2020, followed by

a neighborhood-by-neighborhood inclusion throughout the next few years of the entire 1,400-home Joint Land Management Area—an area surrounding the town where county policies allow the town to provide water and sewer service.

Ramsey said the 240-home town can’t continue managing utility services for the 3,400 utility users outside the corporate limits.

In addition to providing the town of about 600 residents with a larger candidate pool to fill town government positions, the expansion would also benefit the wallets of both existing and new residents.

It would provide incoming households with reduced utility rates and existing intown residents with decreased property taxes. Still, some residents remain skeptical about how the expansion might benefit them.

Ramsey is scheduled to meet with Brentwood Springs residents Jan. 8 to further discuss expansion plans. Residents are also encouraged to request personal meetings with the mayor to go over the details of a town expansion. Ramsey said he would begin scheduling those meetings this month.

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2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 16

JANUARY 2, 2020

TOWN Notes HAMILTON Sidewalk Construction Resumes Next Week Beginning Monday, Jan. 6, construction on the town’s Pedestrian Improvement Project will continue to install 1,200 feet of sidewalk between St. Paul Street and North Laycock Street along Colonial Highway.

Residents and motorists should be aware of potential temporary traffic delays.

The project began in September, when the Town Council voted to authorize Mayor Dave Simpson to execute a $457,931 contract with M&F Concrete to complete the work.

For more information on the project, call the town at 540-338-2811.

HILLSBORO Firm to Present Road Project Construction Schedule Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance said this week that Archer Western Corp., the construction company the town hired for $14.33 million to handle the construction portion of the town’s long-planned road project, would present the town with a

draft construction schedule at some point this week.

That schedule will outline the 12-14-month work Archer will complete beginning this month, which includes the construction of sidewalks through town and a single-lane roundabout on either end of town on Rt. 9 and the burying of utility lines underneath the highway.

The schedule should prove useful for area residents and business owners, as it will inform them when Rt. 9 through town will be closed in its entirety—at which point they will be required to use local detours to get around town.

For updates on the project, go to rethink9.com.

LOVETTSVILLE 2019 Light Up Lovettsville Winners Announced The Town of Lovettsville’s 2019 Light Up Lovettsville holiday light display winners have been announced.

The Most Traditional award went to 6 Loudoun St., with 4 Red Bud Lane the runner up. The Most Outrageous award went to 13 Lovett Dr., with 8 Daniel Keys Lane runner up. Best New Display went to 20

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Black Forest Lane, with 13 Cooper Run St. runner up. Willows Vintage Charm took home the Best Business lighting display.

Best in Show went to the Cahill family at 30 Tritapoe Pl.

Community Center Plans Endof-Month Princess Party The Lovettsville Community Center will host an Ever After Princess Party from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Princesses aged 3-10, accompanied by their parents, are invited to the party dressed in their fanciest princess dresses, where there will be wand- and tiara- making stations, light refreshments and more.

The community center will be transformed into a castle to host the activities. Early registration is encouraged. Admission is $15 per princess and free for parents.

For more information, or to register, call 540-822-5284 or email lovcc@loudoun.gov.

MIDDLEBURG Tierney to Kick Off Wellness Weekend with Keynote Laura Tierney, the founder and CEO of The Social Institute, will keynote the launch of the Foxcroft School’s Wellness Weekend at 7:30 p.m. next Thursday, Jan. 9 in the school’s Audrey Bruce Currier Library.

Tierney, who was recently named the school’s 2019-20 Alison Harrison Goodyear ’29 Fellow, will talk about the #WinAtSocial Program for Teens, which The Social Institute created to empower students to navigate social media and technology in a positive manner. Admission to the talk is free, but space is limited. For more information, call 540-687-4510.

The Social Institute’s gamified social media curriculum has been implemented with 50,000 students at more than 60 schools nationwide in the last three years. Learn more at thesocialinstitute.com.

For more information on Tierney’s talk, call Foxcroft at 540-687-5555 or go to foxcroft.org.

PURCELLVILLE Council to Discuss Town Plan with 7 January Meetings

We’ve got you covered.

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The Purcellville Town Council will meet for seven work sessions throughout the month of January to discuss the town’s new comprehensive plan, which the Planning Commission on Dec. 5 voted to recommend to the Town Council for approval.

All meetings will be held at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall. The first will be Thursday, Jan. 9, followed by Wednesday, Jan. 15; Thursday, Jan. 16; Wednesday, Jan. 22; Thursday, Jan. 23; Monday, Jan. 27; and Thursday, Jan. 30.

The proposed Town Plan restricts growth in town by planning for no future annexations and limiting development. The Town Council has 90 days, or until March 4, to take final action on it.

For more information on the town plan, go to planpurcellville.com. Call the town at 540-338-7421 for more information on the meetings.

Planning Commission January Meetings Cancelled The Purcellville Planning Commission has cancelled all of its meetings in January because it has no new business to discuss, according to a town statement.

Those cancelled meetings were originally scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 2 and Thursday, Jan. 16. The commission’s next meeting is set for Feb. 6.

For more information on future meetings, call the town at 540-338-7421 or email the commission at planningcommission@ purcellvilleva.gov.

ROUND HILL Resident Input Sought on Town Plan Amendment Before Jan. 8 The Round Hill Planning Commission is soliciting resident feedback on a possible comprehensive plan amendment that would set the stage for a potential town utility service extension to properties outside the town limits.

Per the Town Council’s direction, the Planning Commission has been reviewing an amendment to the town’s 2017-2037 Comprehensive Plan to prepare for such an extension—specifically to the 7-acre Weona Villa Motel property, where Tree of Life Ministries proposed to build a 32 micro-cottage community, and to a 20-acre property off Airmont Road, where a developer has proposed to build 20 energy-efficient homes.

The commission held a public hearing on the town plan amendment in October and continues to welcome resident input.

To do so, go to roundhillva.org or email Town Administrator Melissa Hynes at mhynes@roundhillva.org.

The deadline to provide feedback is Jan. 8. The Planning Commission will continue to review comments at its Jan. 14 meeting.

JANUARY 2, 2020

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 17

Developer Pulls Plan for 130-Home Lovettsville Project

BY PATRICK SZABO

pszabo@loudounnow.com

Lovettsville residents who spent part of 2019 worried that a proposed development might crowd the town with hundreds of new residents can breathe a sigh of relief, as those plans have fallen through.

According to a spokesperson for Metropolitan Development Group, the purchase contract for the Engle Tract has been terminated and the firm’s application for a town plan amendment to change the land use designation of the 35-acre property to allow for mixed uses has been withdrawn. Metropolitan had previously proposed building 130 single-family homes, a 12,000-square-foot farmers market, 6,000 square feet of office space, a 6,000-square-foot restaurant and 5,000 square feet of retail space on that property by 2025.

Metropolitan representatives said the deal fell through because the Engle Tract owners opted to re-market the property rather than extend the purchase contract.

Jacque Hansbrough, principal broker with

Patrick Szabo/Loudoun Now

The 35-acre Engle Tract in Lovettsville is back up for grabs after a deal between the property owners and Metropolitan Development Group recently fell through.

the Landmark Group Commercial real estate company, said that Landmark is busy completing that remarketing initiative and already has a few parties interested in a purchase.

To achieve its development plans in town, Metropolitan in August requested

that the Town Council consider amending its comprehensive plan to prepare for the property to be designated for mixeduse, rather than light industrial. Because Metropolitan is no longer considered a contract purchaser, the firm lacks legal standing to proceed with that request.

In May, Metropolitan held its first community meeting to provide residents with information on the proposed development, at which point a majority of attendees voiced concern and opposition to the project.

Some town residents asked where the development’s new children would attend school, seeing that Lovettsville Elementary is already at capacity. Metropolitan had previously estimated that its development would have brought in about 400 new town residents, given its proposed 2,400-2,700-square-foot home sizes.

Other residents asked if the development would increase traffic to the point where the town would need to install traffic lights. According to a July traffic impact study completed by Wells + Associates, the proposed development might have generated more than 3,400 new daily vehicle trips.

Moreover, residents said they were worried that the development would grow Lovettsville more than they were comfortable with, with some referencing their opposition to commercialization such as Purcellville has seen in recent years.

PAGE 18

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

THINGS to do

LoCo Living

NIGHTLIFE

Loudoun’s Jazz Scene is Jumping—And Jamming

BY JAN MERCKER

jmercker@loudounnow.com

The ’20s are officially in full swing, perfect timing for a mini jazz age right here in Loudoun. Downtown Leesburg’s restaurants are home to an increasingly vibrant jazz scene. And one of the hubs is the Loudoun Jazz Society’s monthly jazz jam at Trungo’s on Loudoun Street.

The Loudoun Jazz Jam was launched in 2018 to give younger musicians a chance to play on stage with seasoned pros, bringing a longtime jazz world institution to Leesburg.

Every third Thursday, professional musicians welcome new players to jump in and get the hang of playing on stage.

“It’s kind of a fixed tradition. … It’s how younger musicians learn from older musicians onstage in a real situation with an audience,” said Loudoun Jazz Society member and jazz jam organizer Matt Trimboli. “It’s a valuable part of the way jazz is taught.”

The idea is to throw young musicians, including high school and college students, together with seasoned professionals and educators to help them develop their performance chops. As is standard for jams of this kind, the organizers hire a professional rhythm session including drums, bass, piano and guitar to provide solid musical ground and give newbies a chance to shine. Trimboli, who’s known by other participants as the “air traffic controller,” keeps it all flowing smoothly on stage. Trimboli underscores that the jam is open to musicians of all levels.

“We get high school freshmen who are just learning what jazz is. They know maybe one song and they make their first attempt at playing melody with a professional rhythm session and improvising a short solo. They get a feel for what that’s like,” he said.

The jam attracts pros including music educators from jazz programs at Northern Virginia Community College, Shenandoah University and George Mason University, along with teachers from Leesburg-based Catoctin School of Music, creating a multi-generational vibe with participants from 13 to 79. Trimboli said the seasoned musicians, including the house band, are all about supporting new talent.

“They really remember being young and nervous. Everybody has to have a first time onstage,” he said. “I think we’ve succeeded in making a really welcoming nurturing envi-

Credit: Ben Timmins

Live Music: Melanie Edwards Friday, Jan. 3, 6-10 p.m.

Clyde’s Willow Creek Farm, 42920 Broadlands Blvd, Broadlands Details: clydes.com/willow-creekfarm Singer, songwriter and pianist Melanie Edwards performs in the Audubon Bar Friday nights.

Girlfriend in a Coma: Tribute to Morrissey and The Smiths Friday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Celebrate the art of one of the most influential bands of the ‘80s.Tickets are $15 in advance.

Live Music: Acid Mt. Raven Rock Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

Loudoun Jazz Society members play the Loudoun Jazz Jam at Trungo’s in Leesburg.

ronment.”

Started in early 2018, the Loudoun Jazz Society is the brainchild of NVCC music professor John Kocur, who brought on Trimboli to run the jams. Trimboli is a Berklee College of Music graduate and guitarist who played professionally in New York before jumping into a career in technology that brought him to Northern Virginia. While working at AOL in the ’90s, Trimboli met Mike Koch, who went on to open Trungo’s in the former Leesburg Brewing Company space on Loudoun Street in the summer of 2018. One of Koch’s goals at Trungo’s was to bring more jazz to downtown Leesburg. Koch welcomed the jazz jam shortly after opening, and the restaurant also hosts a monthly second Tuesday show from Trimboli’s 18-piece big band Swing Shift.

For Trimboli, with more professional and semi-professional musicians moving into the area, Loudoun is ready for a consistent and professional jazz jam.

“I think the county is already very sophisticated in terms of the residents. I think they need to connect with one another to realize the pool of talent and sophistication that

there is.” he said. “I feel like we’re creating a center for that.”

And downtown Leesburg is the perfect place, Trimboli said, with its bustling restaurant scene and increasingly urban vibe. It also allows the jam to catch professional musicians on their way out of dinner gigs. “It’s irregular, it’s organic. The entrance to Trungo’s is down that little alleyway that gets you out on King Street to the other venues there,” Trimboli said.

Trimboli’s son Benjamin, a saxophonist studying jazz at West Virginia University, sits in on college breaks, and the jam is a haven for dozens of other young performers.

“It’s definitely a high caliber of music-making. The house band is always fantastic,” said Mathuin Smith, a 17-year-old saxophonist from Fairfax County who attends Chantilly High School. Smith, a longtime oboe student, got started on saxophone three years ago for his school marching band and fell in love with his second instrument. He started jamming in Fairfax county and found the Loudoun Jazz Jam in its early days.

LOCO JAZZ continues on page 20

Friday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m.

Crooked Run Brewing, 205 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg Details: crookedrunbrewing.com It’s a groovy evening of psychedelic, ambient and experimental pop in downtown Leesburg.

Live Music: Shane Hines

Credit: Jenny Cruger

Friday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m.

Social House Kitchen and Tap, 42841 Creek View Plaza, Ashburn Details:

socialhouseashburn.com Indie pop from a local singer/ songwriter. No cover.

Live Music: Max Redding and the Dogwood Gospel Friday, Jan. 3, 7 p.m.

Wild Hare Cider,106 A South St. SE, Leesburg Details: wildharecider.com Redding brings a hard-driving blend of alt-country, blues, hard rock, and surf punk

THINGS TO DO continues on page 21

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

PAGE 19

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY

FOR APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION OF ELECTRIC FACILITIES: EVERGREEN MILLS 230 KV LINE LOOPS AND EVERGREEN MILLS SWITCHING STATION CASE NO. PUR-2019-00191

Copies of the Application and other supporting materials also may be inspected during regular business hours at the following locations: Dominion Energy Virginia 10900 Nuckols Road, Suite 400 Glen Allen, Virginia 23060 Attn: Laura Meadows

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PROPOSED EVERGREEN MILLS SWITCHING STATION Dominion Energy Virginia Lincoln Park II 3072 Centreville Road Herndon, Virginia 20171 Attn: Tim Sargeant Loudoun County Planning Department 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia 20175 Attn: Alaina Ray, Director Interested persons also may obtain a copy of the Application by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, David J. DePippo, Esquire, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. If acceptable to the requesting party, the Company may provide the documents by electronic means.

Any person or entity may participate as a respondent in this proceeding by filing, on or before February 28, 2020, a notice of participation. If not filed electronically, an original and fifteen (15) copies of the notice of participation shall be submitted to Joel H. Peck, Clerk, State Corporation Commission, c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. A copy of the notice of participation as a respondent also must be sent to counsel for the Company at the address set forth above.

Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (“Rules of Practice”), any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise statement of the interest of the respondent; (ii) a statement of the specific action sought to the extent then known; and (iii) the factual and legal basis for the action. All filings shall refer to Case No. PUR-2019-00191. For additional information

about participation as a respondent, any person or entity should obtain a copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing.

On or before April 7, 2020, any interested person wishing to comment on the Application shall file written comments on the Application with the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above. Any interested person desiring to file comments electronically may do so on or before April 7, 2020, by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: http://www.scc. virginia.gov/case. Compact discs or any other form of electronic storage medium may not be filed with the comments. All such comments shall refer to Case No. PUR 2019 00191.

All documents filed with the Office of the Clerk of the Commission in this docket may use both sides of the paper. In all other respects, all filings shall comply fully with the requirements of 5 VAC 5-20-150, Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice.

The Commission’s Rules of Practice may be viewed at http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case.

A printed copy of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and an official copy of the Commission’s Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding may be obtained from the Clerk of the Commission at the address set forth above.

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY 12/26/19 & 1/2/20

Attachment V.A

The Proposed Route would originate from the existing Brambleton-Yardley Ridge Line #2172 / Brambleton-Poland Road Line #2183 double circuit system at a tap point approximately 0.1 mile west of the Yardley Ridge Switching Station, which is located near Loudoun County Parkway and Evergreen Mills Road. The new 230 kV double circuit transmission lines would extend approximately 0.6 mile to the proposed Evergreen Mills Switching Station, with the circuits being

Copies of the Application and documents filed in this case are available for interested persons to review in the Commission’s Document Control Center, located on the first floor of the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Interested persons also may download unofficial copies from the Commission’s website: http://www.scc.virginia.gov/case.

606

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Description of the Proposed Project

The Commission entered an Order for Notice and Hearing in this proceeding that, among other things, scheduled a public hearing in Richmond, Virginia, on April 14, 2020, at 10 a.m., in the Commission’s second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, to receive testimony from members of the public and evidence related to the Application from the Company, any respondents, and the Commission’s Staff. Any person desiring to testify as a public witness at this hearing should appear fifteen (15) minutes prior to the starting time of the hearing and contact the Commission’s Bailiff.

YARDLEY RIDGE SWITCHING STATION

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The Company states that the expected in-service date for the proposed Project is May 1, 2021, for Part A, and in 2025 for Part B. The Company states that the estimated cost of Part A is approximately $21.2 million, including approximately $11.4 million for transmission-related work and approximately $9.8 million for substation-related work. The Company states that the estimated cost of Part B is approximately $9.1 million, which includes $4.1 million for transmission-related work and $5.0 million for substation-related work.

A more complete description of the Project may be found in the Company’s Application.

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Dominion states that the proposed Project is to serve the load growth of “Data Center Alley” in Loudoun County; maintain reliable service for the overall growth in the Project area; and to comply with mandatory North American Electric Reliability Corporation Reliability Standards.

The Commission may consider a route not significantly different from the routes described in this notice without additional notice to the public.

Proposed Transmission Lines

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The Company proposes to construct the proposed Project in two parts. The Company proposes to first acquire the 160-foot ROW for the full Project, construct the Evergreen Mills Switching Station, and to construct the #2172 Loop (“Part A”). The second part of the proposed Project will consist of the construction of the #2183 Loop and the installation of the remaining breakers at the Evergreen Mills Switching Station (“Part B”).

All distances, heights, and directions are approximate. A sketch map of the proposal accompanies this notice. A more detailed map may be viewed on the Commission’s website: https:// www.scc.virginia.gov/pur/elec/transline.aspx.

Existing Transmission Lines

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Dominion proposes to construct: (i) a new 230 kilovolt (“kV”) switching station on land owned by the Customer (“Evergreen Mills Switching Station”); (ii) a new approximately 0.6-mile 230 kV double circuit loop of the Company’s existing 230 kV Brambleton-Yardley Ridge Line #2172 on new right-of-way (“ROW”), supported by seven structures, from a tap point along those lines (the “Evergreen Mills Junction”) to Evergreen Mills Switching Station (the “#2172 Loop”); and (iii) a new approximately 0.6-mile 230 kV double circuit loop of the Company’s existing 230 kV Brambleton-Poland Road Line #2183 on new ROW, supported by nine structures, from Evergreen Mills Junction to Evergreen Mills Switching Station (the “#2183 Loop”) (collectively, the “Project”).

constructed in two parts as further described in the Appendix to the Application. From the tap point, the Proposed Route would extend for approximately 0.3 mile southwest to Evergreen Mills Road within a forested stream valley associated with an unnamed intermittent tributary to Broad Run. The alignment in this section is constrained by planned commercial development to the east and an existing sanitary easement to the west that parallels the stream. Angling to the south, the Proposed Route would span Evergreen Mills Road and extend for approximately 0.3 mile to the proposed Evergreen Mills Switching Station.

This segment would span two unnamed intermittent tributaries to Broad Run and a storm water management basin, then extend into the proposed station adjacent to the Customer’s data center facility within Arcola Center. The minimum, maximum, and average proposed structure heights are 35’, 130’, and 100’, respectively.

A

On December 2, 2019, Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion” or “Company”) filed with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) an application for approval and for a certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct and operate electric transmission facilities in Loudoun County, Virginia (“Application”). Dominion filed the Application pursuant to § 56-46.1 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”) and the Utility Facilities Act, Code § 56-265.1 et seq.

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 20

JANUARY 2, 2020

Wellness Staycation Option Right Here at Home

BY VISIT LOUDOUN

TRIBUTE TO MORRISSEY & THE SMITHS: GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA 01/03/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

10 Years 01/04/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

The four horsemen 01/10/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

The unlikely candidates 01/11/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

beatlemania now!

01/17/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

Tribute to rush: Sun Dogs

Fifteen years ago, Dallas native Brooks Brinson was looking for ways to recover from his PTSD when he read about a strange method for stress reduction called Floatation Therapy or REST: Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy.

It required lying on one’s back in a dark 10-inch deep tank of warm saltwater and floating, Dead Sea-style, for 90 minutes.

Brinson purchased a tank and discovered the weightlessness induced a calming meditative state that eased his anxiety.

He’s used one ever since.

Fast forward to 2016 and Brinson and his wife Amy, now living in Northern Virginia, opened Om Float, a five-tank floatation therapy center in Ashburn that offers people a chance to rest, rejuvenate and reconnect.

With the holidays over, it is the perfect time to focus on a Loudoun “wellness” staycation to ease some anxiety. Om Float is a good place to start, but there are multiple other options, too.

Take modish ARIA MediSpa in Sterling. Opened in 2013 by Russian-born cosmetologist Valeria Gunkova and specializing in technology-driven body shaping, weight loss and anti-aging treatments, it expanded in 2018 to include a 15,000-square-foot yoga studio and wellness center, the latter with a five-room hotel or ‘sleep lab’ within it. Guests can recalibrate body, mind and diet during one, three or seven-day stays, cared for by doctors, dieticians, estheticians, massage therapists and yoga and Pilates instructors.

Everyone joins a gym in January, but sleek LifeTime Athletic in Ashburn is a cut above. It has all the fitness options (gym, cardio, Pilates, swimming) but also a nutritional, weight loss and medical element, with teams of experts to advise you.

All this, and multiple staff-led sports options for kids.

Of course, yoga is arguably the simplest way to rejuvenate body and mind, and Loudoun has multiple downward dog options. Try Flow Yoga, the chic, intimate

Lansdowne space of dynamic duo Lauren Christian and Colure Caulfield where instructors from other studios show off their moves. For something more holistic, visit Five Stones Healing Arts & Wellness Center in Leesburg, centered around the “Five Stones” of optimal health. Come for the massage but leave with a life-changing diet or a cure for chronic pain.

Of course, we’re not saying to completely forego all the fun parts of the holidays. Loudoun’s breweries and wineries offer exercise options too. Check out breweries like Twinpanzee for “Plank and a Pint” and keep an eye out for the dates of Bluemont Vineyard’s “Vineyasa” yoga program.

Who needs a retreat in New Mexico when you can get well on a Loudoun staycation?

BEST BETS

01/18/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

01/24/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

10 Years with In the Whale

BETTER OFF DEAD

Saturday, Jan. 4, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com

TRIPLE RAIL TURN 01/25/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

the elo show 01/31/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

cowboy mouth 02/01/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

CRIS JACOBS 02/07/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

JOURNEY TRIBUTE: TRIAL BY FIRE 02/08/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

THE WAILERS 02/13/20 DOORS: 7:00PM

LoCo jazz continued from page 18 “They do a great job of kind of taking me in and treating me as a musician as they would the other musicians at the jam—just someone who’s a student of the art form,” Smith said.

Alex Lopez, a 2019 Loudoun County High School graduate who’s now studying music at Shenandoah Conservatory, found the jam while in high school thanks to Lisa Fiorilli, a professional jazz musician and Lopez’s teacher at the Catoctin School of Music.

“It’s definitely a little nerve-wracking at first. You’re kind of in an echo chamber

at school, and everyone’s basically on the same level. Then walking in with all these professionals who are much older than you, and they seem to have these unnatural ears where they can hear where everything’s going,” Lopez said.

Lopez still makes the trip from Winchester and is now in his comfort zone and trying to bring in new musicians.

“It became a lot more fun, and a really gratifying part is trying to get some of my friends who are still in high school to go through it,” he said.

In 2020, the jam will become even more accessible to young musicians. Thanks to a grant from Reston-based Coker Logistics Solutions, organizers will be able to ditch the small cover charge they had put

Kristy Cox Band Saturday, Jan. 4, 7 p.m.

Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org

in place to pay the house band.

For Trimboli, it’s another step toward fostering Loudoun’s blossoming jazz culture.

“I kind of feel like we’re creating a culture just by showing up every month,” he said. “Every month we meet another fantastic musician we didn’t even know was in the area.”

The Loudoun Jazz Jam takes place the third Thursday of every month at Trungo’s, 2C Loudoun St. SW in Leesburg. The next jam is Thursday, Jan. 16 from 7 to 10 p.m.

For more information on the Loudoun Jazz Society, go to loudounjazz.wixsite. com/home or facebook.com/loudounjazz.

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

THINGS to do continued from page 18

Kristy Cox and her band at their Lucketts Bluegrass premier. Tickets are $17 at the door, $5 for youth 3 to 17.

Dragon’s First Friday Pride Night

Live Music: 10 Years

Friday, Jan. 3, 8-11 p.m.

Dragon Hops Brewing, 130 E. Main St., Purcellville Details: dragonhopsbrewing.com Dragon Hops’ monthly Pride Night features drinks, dancing, appetizers and friends in downtown Purcellville.

Saturday, Jan. 4, 7 p.m.

Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg Details: tallyhotheater.com Alternative rock from Knoxville, TN. Tickets are $20 in advance.

Open Mic with Bill Rose and Laurie Blue

Saturday, Jan. 4, 7-10 p.m.

Crooked Run Brewing, 22455 Davis Drive, Sterling Details: crookedrunbrewing.com Northern Virginia native Chris Timbers draws inspiration from soul, contemporary jazz, blues, rock and country for an eclectic sound all his own.

Friday, Jan. 3, 9 p.m.

King’s Tavern and Wine Bar, 19 S. King St., Leesburg Details: kingstavernandwinebar.com Two of the area’s favorite musicians host a downtown open mic. No cover.

Live Music: Ginada Pinata

Live Music: Chris Timbers Band

Friday, Jan. 3, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com Ginada Pinata taps the influences of jazz, funk, rock, fusion, trance and drum and bass for organic and entertaining sound. No cover.

Live Music: Short Hill Mountain Boys

Lucketts Bluegrass: Kristy Cox Band

Live Music: Teddy Chipouras

Saturday, Jan. 4, 7 p.m.

Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Lucketts Details: luckettsbluegrass.org Check out Australian bluegrass phenom

Saturday, Jan. 4, 8 p.m.

1836 Kitchen and Taproom, 34 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville Details: facebook.com/1836kandt Up and coming songwriter Teddy

Saturday, Jan. 4, 8 p.m.

B Chord Brewing, 34266 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill Details: bchordbrewing.com Shake off the post-holiday blues with old-time picking and singing from a local favorite.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE We are pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.”

This newspaper will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

For more information or to file a housing complaint call the Virginia Fair Housing Office at (804) 367-9753.

fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov • www. fairhousing.vipnet.org

Credit: Mimi Albano

Chipouras is known for original songs that are catchy yet thoughtful and rich in imagery in his signature folk/ Americana style. No cover.

Live Music: Ted Garber Saturday, Jan. 4, 8 p.m.

Monk’s BBQ, 251 N. 21st St., Purcellville Details: monksq.com Singer/songwriter Ted Garber returns to Monk’s with his genre-bending, multiinstrumentalist approach to what he calls BluesAmericanaRock.

Live Music: OTR Saturday, Jan. 4, 8:30 p.m.

Spanky’s Shenanigans, 538 E. Market St., Leesburg Details: spankyspub.com Off The Record is a mash-up of several long-established DMV cover bands performing hits from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s plus classic rock and R&B deep cuts from Adele to Aretha to Journey to Zeppelin.

Science on Tap: Engineering Our Wicked Problems

PAGE 21 Tuesday, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Old Ox Brewery, 44652 Guilford Drive, Ashburn Details: oldoxbrewery.com Guru Madhavan, Director of Programs for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the author of “Applied Minds: How Engineers Think” discusses an engineering vision and approaches to exploring health and medical problems that don’t yield to solutions.

Thursday Night Jazz with Caleb Nei Thursday, Jan. 9, 6 p.m.

Travinia Italian Kitchen, 1605 Village Market Blvd SE, Leesburg Details: traviniaitaliankitchen.com Love songs and jazz standards from Caleb Nei’s piano/bass duo.

SIP AND GROOVE Live Music: Emma Rowley Saturday, Jan. 4, 1-5 p.m.

Doukenie Winery, 14727 Mountain Road, Hillsboro Details: doukeniewinery.com Country/pop rising star Emma Rowley kicks off Doukenie’s Saturday Sounds series for 2020.

Live Music: Jason Masi Saturday, Jan. 4, 1 p.m.

Breaux Vineyards, 36888 Breaux Vineyards Lane, Hillsboro Details: breauxvineyards.com

Relax with acoustic soul and R&B from a winery circuit favorite.

Live Music: Joey Hafner Saturday, Jan. 4, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Wheatland Spring Farm and Brewery, 38506 John Wolford Road, Waterford Details: wheatlandspring.com Catch the frontman for favorite cover band Ghost Pepper playing solo at a fun Saturday afternoon show.

COMING UP Guided Battlefield Tours at Mt. Defiance Saturday, Jan. 11, 1 p.m.

Mt. Defiance Historic Park, 35945 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg Details: novaparks.com Preservationist Bryan Robbins leads tours of Mt. Defiance Historic Park with a focus on battle events, landscape features and human interest stories.

Event is free and open to the public.

Songs, Stories & Gas Money: Mike Meadows Saturday, Jan. 11, 7 p.m., doors open; 8 p.m., listening room show begins The Barns At Hamilton Station, 16804 Hamilton Station Road, Hamilton Details: thebarnsathamiltonstation.com The Songs, Stories & Gas Money concert series kicks off its fifth season with Nashville-based singer/songwriter Mike Meadows. Tickets are $15 in advance.

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 22

JANUARY 2, 2020

Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE ARTICLES 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, and 18 TLOA-2017-0006 Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the LEESBURG Town Council will hold a public hearing on TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, 20176 to consider various amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. On an annual basis staff presents various zoning text amendments in a “batch” that primarily address changes to the Code of Virginia, zoning interpretations made by the Zoning Administrator, corrects errors, and responds to minor improvements to the usability of the ordinance. The proposed amendments affect the following sections of the Zoning Ordinance: A revision to incorporate Personal Services in Business Districts.

19. Sec. 9.3.11.2 Homestay [Airbnb] 1.

Sec. 2.3.3 [Board of Architectural Review] Composition A revision to establish certain performance for temporary short-term lodging A revision to not require a liaison from the Planning Commission and Town Council.

20. Sec. 9.3.19 Personal Services [Doggie Daycare] 2.

Sec. 2.3.4 [Board of Architectural Review] Required Qualifications A revision to permit “Doggie Daycare” as a Personal Use. A revision regarding Board of Architectural Review membership requirements.

21. Sec. 9.4.3.C Home Occupations 3.

Sec. 3.4.6 [Special Exception] Submittal Requirements A revision to include At-Home Doggie Daycare and “Homestay” as Home Occupations.

A revision permitting the Land Development Official to request additional information for 22. Sec. 9.4.7 [Accessory Uses] Family Day Homes historic preservation purposes at the time of a special exception pre-application meeting.

A revision to incorporate changes made to the Code of Virginia regarding by-right uses.

4.

Sec. 3.4.14 [Special Exception] Conditions and Safeguards 23. Sec. 9.4.8 [Accessory Uses] At-home Doggie Daycare A revision to permit special exception conditions for historic preservation purposes.

A revision to incorporate standards for At-home Doggie Daycare.

5.

Sec. 3.7.5 Site Plans 24. Sec. 9.4.9 [Accessory Uses] Vending Kiosk A revision to remove the Planning Commission’s review of site plans.

A revision to permit Vending Kiosks subject to certain performance standards.

6.

Sec. 3.10.12 [Certificate of Appropriateness] Lapse of Approval 25. Sec. 10.4.5.C.1 [Minimum Yard Requirements] Accessory Structures A revision to establish a limitation on the number of Certificate of Appropriateness extensions A revision to reorganize the section and include a limitation on the amount of accessory strucfor approved improvements and signs. tures in residential districts.

7.

Sec. 3.10.13 Change of Plans after Issuance of Certificate of Appropriateness 26. Sec. 10.4.5.C.4 Balconies, Chimneys, Porches, Bay Windows, Steps, and Landings A revision to revise the terms “Permit” and “Certificate of Appropriateness”.

A revision to remove a dimensional requirement.

8.

Sec 3.13.9 [Variance] Approval Criteria 27. Sec. 10.4.5.C.5.c Decks and Patios A revision to incorporate language in the State Code regarding approval criteria.

A revision to exempt patios from the underlying dimensional standards in the Old and Historic 9.

Sec. 3.13.12 [Variance] Conditions and Safeguards District.

A revision to incorporate language in the State Code regarding the expiration of certain variance 28. Sec. 10.3.3.H.2 [Traditional Design Option] Additional Development Standards approvals.

A revision to correct the garage setback.

10. Sec. 3.16.8 [Town Plan] Planning Commission Review and Recommendation 29. Sec. 11.3 Number of Parking Spaces Required A revision to clarify the Planning Commission’s review and recommendation to match Code of A revision to exempt the parking requirement for the first 20 outdoor seats.

Virginia requirements 30. Sec. 11.6.1.L [General] Employee Parking 11. Sec. 3.16.9 [Town Plan] Town Council Review and Decision A revision to require the delineation of employee parking with pavement markings.

A revision to clarify the Town Council’s review and decision to match Code of Virginia require31. Article 18 Definitions ments.

A revision to revise the definitions for Brewpub, Family Day Home, and Microbrewery; and 12. Sec. 3.16.10 Request for Time Extension adding Homestay.

A revision to remove a conflict with the Code of Virginia.

13. Sec. 5.5.3 [R-6] Minimum Yards and Setbacks Copies and additional information regarding each of these proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments are A revision to the dimensional standards regarding interior setbacks for duplex dwellings. available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 14. Sec. 5.6.3 [R-HD] Minimum Yards and Setbacks 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.

A revision to the dimensional standards regarding interior setbacks for duplex dwellings. to 5:00 p.m.), or by calling 703-771-2765 and asking for Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator. This 15. Sec. 5.7.3 [R-8] Minimum Yards and Setbacks zoning ordinance amendment application is identified as case number TLOA-2017-0006.

A revision to the dimensional standards regarding interior setbacks for duplex dwellings.

16. Sec. 5.8.3 [R-16] Minimum Yards and Setbacks At this hearing all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard. Persons A revision to the dimensional standards regarding interior setbacks for townhouse dwellings. requiring special accommodations should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in 17. Sec. 7.10.2 [Crescent Design District] Applicability advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

A revision to incorporate interpretations made by the Zoning Administrator regarding applicability of this section.

01/02 & 01/09/20 18. Sec. 9.2 Use Table [Personal Services]

Notice of Public Hearing Town of Lovettsville Planning Commission The Lovettsville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the following item at their meeting at 7:30 pm on January 15, 2020 at the Lovettsville Town Office located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue: LVZA 2019-0005 Zoning Ordinance Amendment Adding Criteria for Consideration of Conditional Use Permit and Rezoning Applications Consideration of an amendment to Section 42-33 (Conditional use permits) and Section 42-34 (Amendments) in order to add criteria for consideration of applications for conditional use permits and zoning map amendments (rezonings). The amendment adds six (6) criteria to paragraph (j) of Section 42-33 and five (5) additional criteria to paragraph (k) of Section 42-34 for the Planning Commission and Town Council to use in evaluating and acting upon conditional use permit and zoning map amendment applications, respectively.

The proposed zoning amendment is available for review at the Town Office between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm during weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call (540) 822-5788 for more information or contact Joshua A. Bateman, Planning Director at jbateman@lovettsvilleva. gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularlyscheduled meeting at the same time and place.

01/02 & 01/09/20

[

]

In the mail weekly.

Online always.

LoudounNow LoudounNow.com

JANUARY 2, 2020

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 23

Legal Notices PUBLIC HEARING The LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will hold a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, at 6:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, January 15, 2020, in order to consider:

AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 860 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Personal Property and Real Estate Tax Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-1427 the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage an amendment to Chapter 860, Personal Property and Real Estate Tax, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County. The proposed amendment expands what constitutes a filing in 860.04 (d) for motor vehicles, boats, and trailers with situs in the County to include the voluntary full payment of prior year taxes as another method of filing, and makes amendments to 860.06 to comply with updates to the Virginia Code §58.1-3505 (A)(8) which expands the definition of farm machinery to include qualifying equipment and machinery used by a nursery, and a qualifying farm tractor, regardless of whether the tractor is used exclusively for farming, Virginia Code §58.1-3505 (A)(12) which now exempts for taxation purposes motor vehicles used primarily for agricultural purposes, and Virginia Code §58.1-3505 (A) (13) which now exempts for taxation purposes certain trucks or tractor trucks used primarily by farmers in the farming operation A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendment(s) is on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the County Administrator, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 5th Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at www.loudoun.gov/ bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 209 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Change of Polling Place (Affects the Lovettsville Precinct in the Catoctin District) Pursuant to Virginia Code Sections 15.2-1427, 24.2-306 and 24.2-307, et seq., the Board of Supervisors gives notice of its intention to propose for passage amendments to Section 209, Voting Precincts and Polling Places, of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County.

In the Catoctin District: 1.

Effective prior to the March 3, 2020 election and for all subsequent elections the existing Lovettsville precinct will be moved to the Lovettsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue, 12837 Berlin Pike, Lovettsville, 20180 A complete copy of the full text of the above-referenced proposed amendments to Chapter 209 of the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County and maps showing precinct boundaries and polling places are on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the County Administrator, County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 5th Floor, Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call 703-777-0200. In addition this information is available for inspection at Loudoun County’s Office of Elections website at www.loudoun.gov/vote.

APPROVAL OF A BOUNDARY LINE AGREEMENT TO CHANGE THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA, AND THE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA Pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-3106 et seq., the Board of Supervisors hereby provides notice of its intention to approve a Boundary Line Agreement with the Town of Purcellville (“Town”) to change the existing boundary line between the County of Loudoun (“County”) and the Town. The proposed boundary line change would incorporate a land area containing approximately 4.8595 acres, more or less, identified as Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN) 522-29-6381, a portion of PIN 522-29-5928, and a portion of right of way dedicated per Instrument No. 20151103-0073698, into the municipal limits of the Town. A land area containing approximately 4.4197 acres, more or less, being a portion of PIN 522-295928, will be removed from the Town’s corporate limits. The new location of the boundary line between the County and the Town will correspond generally to the alignment of the proposed future segment of Mayfair Crown Drive that will intersect Hillsboro Road and will expand the limits of the Town boundary at the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Hillsboro Road and Allder School Road. The property to be incorporated into and removed from the Town is located adjacent to the current northern municipal limits of the Town, and to the east of Hillsboro Road, in the Blue Ridge Election District, and is shown on the map provided below.

Full and complete copies of the above-referenced proposed Boundary Line Agreement, and a plat including the metes and bounds description of, and depicting the proposed new location of the boundary line between the County and the Town are on file in the Office of the County Administrator, who serves as the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Government Center, 5th Floor, 1 Harrison Street, SE, from 9:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or call (703) 777-0200. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

SPEX-2019-0026 HAMILTON SERVICE STATION (Special Exception)

M S M Holdings, L.L.C., of Hamilton, Virginia, has submitted an application for a Special Exception for the termination of a non-conforming status of an existing Automobile Service Station use and establish this use as a lawfully existing use and install a canopy over the fueling stations in the AR-1 (Agricultural Rural–1) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance, and a non-conforming use or structure may be deemed to be in conformity with the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and allowed to continue and to expand as a lawfully existing use or structure through the issuance of Special Exception approval in accordance with Section 1-405. The subject property is located in the AR-1 (Agricultural Rural–1) zoning district. The subject property is approximately 0.485 acres in size and is located on the north side of East Colonial Highway (Business Route 7), east of Northwoods Place (Route 1132) at 39258 East Colonial Highway, Hamilton, Virginia in the Catoctin Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 382-39-6715. The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Rural Policy Area, Rural North Place Type), which designate this area for complementary Agricultural, Rural Business, and Tourism uses that constitute Loudoun’s Rural Economy and low-density Rural Residential uses at a density of up to one dwelling unit per 20 acres.

ZCPA-2019-0011 & ZMOD-2019-0028 HEIFETZ LANDSCAPE BUFFER

(Zoning Concept Plan Amendment & Zoning Modification) Andrew Heifetz and Amy Heifetz of Chantilly, Virginia, have submitted an application to amend the Concept Development Plan (CDP) and Proffers approved with ZMAP-1991-0005 and ZCPA-1995-0006, South Riding, in order to eliminate the 25-foot-wide landscape buffer to allow for the construction of a sport court, with no resulting change in density in the PDH4 (Planned Development-Housing) zoning district. This application is subject to the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance. The Applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): Zoning Ordinance Section §4-109(C)(2), Planned Development – Housing, Site Planning – External Relationships, Uses adjacent to single-family, agricultural, or residential districts or land bays allowing residential uses.

Proposed Modification Reduce the permanent open space buffer along the rear boundary of the subject property from 50 feet to 0 feet.

Continued on next page

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2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 24

JANUARY 2, 2020

Legal Notices The subject property is located in the PDH4 (Planned Development-Housing) zoning district. The subject property is approximately 0.294 acre in size and is located on the east side of Mink Meadows Street (Route 2210), east of Iverson Drive (Route 2244) at 43651 Mink Meadows Street, Chantilly, Virginia, in the Dulles Election District. The subject property is more particularly described as PIN: 099-46-4205.

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area, Suburban Neighborhood Place Type), which designate this area primarily for Single Family detached and attached Residential uses that are integrated in a walkable street pattern at a recommended density of up to 4 dwelling units per acre.

ZMAP-2019-0012, ZMOD-2019-0030, ZMOD-2019-0031, ZMOD-2019-0032, ZMOD-2019-0033, ZMOD-2019-0034, & SPEX-2019-0025 CATTAIL RUN (Zoning Map Amendment, Special Exception, and Zoning Modifications)

Cattail Leesburg, L.C. of McLean, Virginia, has submitted an application to rezone approximately 95.26 acres from the JLMA-3 (Joint Land Management Area -3) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance and the RC (Rural Commercial) zoning district under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance to the PD-H3 (Planned Development – Housing 3) zoning district administered as R-8 (Residential -8) under the Revised 1993 Zoning Ordinance in order to develop up to 250 dwelling units, which may include between 175 and 200 single family detached dwelling units and between 50 and 75 single family attached dwelling units. A portion of the subject property is located within the FOD (Floodplain Overlay District).

The applicant also requests the following Zoning Ordinance and Land Subdivision and Development Ordinance (LSDO) modification(s): Zoning Ordinance Section

The modification of the lot and building requirements for affordable dwelling unit developments is authorized by Special Exception under Section 7-803, pursuant to which the Applicant requests the following Zoning Ordinance modification(s): Zoning Ordinance Section §7-803(B)(1), R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Lot width, Single family detached, suburban.

Reduce the minimum lot width from 40 feet to 5 feet for pipestem lots.

§7-803(C)(1)(a), R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Front.

Reduce the minimum front yard from 15 feet to 12 feet.

Reduce the minimum side yard from 8 feet to 5 feet for principal structures

§7-803(C)(1)(b), R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Side.

Increase the maximum length/width ratio from 6:1 to 7:1.

§3-507(E)(2), R-8 Single Family Residential, Lot Requirements for Traditional Design Option for Single Family Detached, Lot Design Requirements.

Reduce the minimum required garage setback from 20 feet to 10 feet behind the front line of the unit.

§3-511(A), Development Setback and Access from Major Roads, Private Streets.

Include single family detached units in the list of uses permitted to be served by private streets

§4-110(B), Planned Development-Housing, Site Planning – Internal Relationships.

Include single family detached units in the list of uses permitted to be served by private streets.

§5-102(C), Accessory Uses and Structures, Use Limitations.

Permit accessory uses and structures to be within the required side and rear yard setbacks.

And Eliminate the minimum side yard requirement for accessory structures.

§7-803(C)(1)(c), R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Rear.

Reduce the minimum rear yard from 25 feet to 5 feet for accessory structures.

§7-803(C)(2)(a), R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Front.

Reduce the minimum front yard from 15 feet to 12 feet for rear load units.

Proposed Modification

§3-506(D), R-8 Single Family Residential, Lot Requirements, Length/Width Ratio.

Proposed Modification

Reduce the minimum side yard from 8 feet to 5 feet for end units §7-803(C)(2)(b), R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Side.

And Eliminate the minimum side yard requirement for accessory structures.

§7-803(C)(2)(c) R-8 Single Family Residential District, Lot and Building Requirements, Yards, Rear.

Reduce the minimum rear yard from 15 feet to 5 feet for accessory structures.

The subject property is approximately 95.26 acres in size and is located on the east side of Battlefield Parkway, north of Fort Evans Road and south of Edwards Ferry Road in the Catoctin Election District.

The subject property is more particularly described as follows: PIN

Property Address

147-16-4251

N/A

147-19-1857

N/A

147-27-7012

N/A

147-28-4907

N/A

147-37-7210

N/A

§5-200(B)(6)(a), Permitted Structures in Required Yards and Setbacks, In any yard or setback, except the front yard or setback.

Reduce the minimum distance between structures from sixteen feet to minimum ten feet.

§5-1404(B) Buffer Yard Table

Eliminate the requirement for the landscape buffer yard and screening along the northern limits of rezoning and along the border of ZMAP2018-0007.

The area is governed by the policies of the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan (Suburban Policy Area), in the Leesburg JLMA Residential Neighborhood place type which designates this area for predominately residential uses at a density of four dwelling units per acre.

Proposed Modification

Unless otherwise noted in the above notices, full and complete copies of the abovereferenced amendments, applications, ordinances, and/or plans, and related documents may be examined in the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, County Government Center, 2nd Floor, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, Virginia, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or call 703-7770220 or electronically at www.loudoun.gov/lola. This link also provides an additional opportunity for public input on active applications. Documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically 72 hours in advance of the public hearing at: www.loudoun.gov/bosdocuments (for Public Hearing documents, follow the link for “Board of Supervisors Business Meetings, Public Hearings and Special Meetings”).

LSDO Section §1245.02.1 Development Standards, Private Access Easement Roads and Private Streets, Class III Roads.

Permit all lots to be served by private access easements or Class III Roads in the PD-H4/R-8 Zoning District.

All members of the public will be heard as to their views pertinent to these matters. Citizens are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the public hearing. For this public hearing, advanced sign-up will be taken after 8:30 a.m. on January 3, 2020, and no later than 12:00 p.m. on January 15, 2020. If you wish to sign-up in advance, call the Office of the County Administrator at (703) 777-0200. Citizens will also have the option to sign-up at the public hearing.

Hearing assistance is available for meetings in the Board of Supervisors’ Meeting Room. If you require any type of reasonable accommodation as a result of a physical, sensory or mental disability to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200. At least one business day of advance notice is requested; some accommodations may require more than one day of notice.

FM Assistive Listening System is available at the meetings.

BY ORDER OF:

PHYLLIS RANDALL, CHAIRMAN LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

12/26/19 1/2/20

JANUARY 2, 2020

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 25

Legal Notices TOWN OF LEESBURG NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION TLSE-2019-0004, LEESBURG SOUTH FLOODPLAIN ALTERATION/RECLAMATION

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the Leesburg Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider Special Exception application TLSE-2019-0004 Leesburg South Floodplain Alteration/ Reclamation.

The subject property consists of a total of 47 acres situated at the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Evergreen Mill Road SW (Route 621) and South King Street (Route 15) and is zoned R-1 – Single Family Residential District and partially zoned Floodplain, Creek Valley Bufferyard and H-2 Historic Corridor Architectural Control Overlay Districts, and is further described by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Numbers (PIN) 232-15-9304, 232-25-3300, 232-25-2590, 232-25-1880, and 232-151070.

Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0004 is a request by Washington Virginia Traditional Development Sites, Inc. to permit the alteration of floodplain boundaries, and reclaim acreage incorporated thereunder, resulting from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) revisions approved in 2017.

Additional information and copies of this application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Christopher Murphy, Senior Planning Project Manager, at 703-737-7009 or cmurphy@leesburgva.gov.

At this hearing, all persons desiring to express their views concerning this matter will be heard. Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of the Commission at (703) 771-2434 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

01/02 & 01/09/20

ATTENTION LOUDOUN COUNTY VEHICLE OWNERS FILING DUE FEBRUARY 3 Notification of 2020 Personal Property filing requirements has recently been mailed to all owners of record in order to establish accurate assessment information for the 2020 tax year. Automobile, truck, motorcycle, camper, trailer, boat, motorhome, aircraft, or mobile home owners should report changes online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile A filing notification with instructions about online filing has been mailed to each household of record. The notification will indicate whether a filing is required or is optional for any personal property owned in Loudoun County based on the property type, the date the property was located in Loudoun, and whether a filing was previously made on the property.

Unless otherwise instructed, please report corrections, unusually high mileage, unrepaired body damage, serious mechanical defect, address changes or the sale, move or disposal of any personal property by February 3, 2020, online at: www.loudoun.gov/efile Newly acquired personal property or personal property recently entering Loudoun County must be reported to my office within 60 days of purchase or move to Loudoun County or one of its incorporated towns to avoid a 10% late filing penalty.

Beginning January 1, 2020, owners of vehicles displaying out-of-state license plates not otherwise exempt from obtaining Virginia license plates will be charged an additional annual license fee of $100. A $250 penalty may also be imposed on owners of vehicles that are not registered with DMV within 60 days of the owner’s having established residency in Virginia.

Also beginning January 1, 2020, Loudoun County will be administering the personal property tax and vehicle license fee (VLF) for owners of motor vehicles in the incorporated towns of Leesburg and Round Hill. For the incorporated towns of Middleburg and Lovettsville, Loudoun County will be billing and collecting the VLF only. Owners of motor vehicles located within the incorporated towns of Hamilton, Hillsboro, and Purcellville should contact their respective town regarding tax and decal requirements.

For information or assistance, please visit www.loudoun.gov/vehicle or contact my office at ppdcor@ loudoun.gov or 703-777-0260 weekdays 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Robert S. Wertz, Jr. Commissioner of the Revenue Loudoun County Leesburg Office 1 Harrison St. SE, First Floor Sterling Office 21641 Ridgetop Cir., Suite 100 Mailing Address PO Box 8000 Leesburg, VA 20177-9804 Phone: 703-777-0260 E-mail: ppdcor@loudoun.gov 01/02 & 01/09/20 01/02, 01/09, 01/16, 01/23 & 01/30/20

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

ORDER OF PUBLICATION

Case No.:

Case No.:

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

JJ038587-24-00 , Loudoun J&DR-Juvenile

01/02 & 01/09/20

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA VA. CODE § 8.01-316

JJ035094-04-00 , Loudoun J&DR-Juvenile

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Malachi Knight

Commonwealth of Virginia, in re Isabel Sarai Cruz

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Ikeya Knight, mother

Loudoun County Department of Family Services /v.

Manuel de Jesus Salamanca, putative father

Hold a 5th permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Malachi Knight.

The object of this suit is to hold a permanency planning hearing and review of Foster Care Plan pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 16.1-282.1 and 16.1-281 for Isabel Sarai Cruz.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Ikeya Knight, mother appear at the above-named Court and protect her interests on or before February 4, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Manuel de Jesus Salamanca, putative father appear at the above-named Court and protect his interests on or before February 4, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.

12/26/19, 1/2, 1/9 & 1/16/20

01/02, 01/09, 01/16 & 01/23/20

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 26

Legal Notices

JANUARY 2, 2020

[OBITUARY]

TOWN OF LEESBURG

NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER REZONING APPLICATION TLZM-2019-0003, SHOPS AT COMPASS CREEK, and TLSE-2019-0005, RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-IN (Building F), TLSE-2019-0006, RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-IN (Building G), TLSE-2019-0007, RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-IN (Building H), TLSE2019-0008, RESTAURANT WITH DRIVE-IN (Building J)

Accounting/Taxes ROBERT BEATSON II

Pursuant to Sections 15.2-1427, 15.2-2204, 15.2-2205 and 15.2-2285 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, the Leesburg Town Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, to consider the Shops at Compass Creek project that includes the following applications: • Rezoning Application TLZM-2019-0003, Shops at Compass Creek, a request to rezone 4.6 acres from I-1 (Industrial/Research Park District) to B-3 (Community Retail/Commercial District) to allow four (4) eating establishments with drive-in facilities up to a cumulative 10,500 square feet.

• Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0005, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building F, an eating establishment with drive-in facility.

• Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0006, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building G, an eating establishment with drive-in facility.

• Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0007, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building H, an eating establishment with drive-in facility.

• Special Exception Application TLSE-2019-0008, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building J, an eating establishment with drive-in facility.

The applicant is also requesting the following modifications: • Alternate screening requirements of the buffer-yard adjacent to the Leesburg Executive Airport to comply with FAA requirements.

• Reduction of the number of required stacking spaces associated with special exception application TLSE-2019-0007, Restaurant with Drive-in, Building H. • Reduction of the required side-yard setback The 4.6 acre property is located adjacent to Compass Creek Parkway approximately 825 feet south of the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Compass Creek Parkway, and is further identified

by Loudoun County Parcel Identification Number (PIN), 234-48-8819. The Town Plan designates the subject property as “Regional Office” on the Planned Land Use Policy Map. The recommended density, expressed as a Floor Area Ratio (FAR), in Regional Office is 0.35 to 1.0. The applicant is proposing a 0.05 FAR. Additional information and copies of this rezoning application are available at the Department of Planning and Zoning located on the second floor of the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or by contacting Michael Watkins, Zoning Administrator, at 703-737-7920 or mwatkins@leesburgva.gov.

At these hearings, all persons desiring to express their views concerning these matters will be heard.

Persons requiring special accommodations at the meeting should contact the Clerk of Council at (703) 771-2733 three days in advance of the meeting. For TTY/TDD service, use the Virginia Relay Center by dialing 711.

01/02 & 01/09/20

Notice of Public Hearing Town of Lovettsville Town Council The Lovettsville Town Council will hold a public hearing on the following item at their meeting at 7:30 pm on January 9, 2020 at the Lovettsville Town Office located at 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue: LVCU 2019-0002

Application for a Conditional Use Permit to Install Wireless Communication Equipment on the Town of Lovettsville Elevated Water Tank Located at 14-A Quarter Branch Road

Consideration of an application for a Conditional Use Permit filed by MasTec Network Solutions on behalf of Verizon Wireless to install wireless communication equipment on the Town of Lovettsville elevated water tank located at 14-A Quarter Branch Road within the R-2 Residential Zoning District.

The property is owned by the Town and is more particularly described as Parcel Identification Number 333-45-9227. The application proposes to install at total of six (6) antennas, remote radio heads (RRHs) and related cables and equipment on the water tank in addition to ground-level cabinets, a generator, and propone tank on the site.

The proposed zoning amendment is available for review at the Town Office between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm during weekdays or by special appointment, holidays excepted. Call (540) 822-5788 for more information or contact Joshua A. Bateman, Zoning Administrator at jbateman@lovettsvilleva. gov. In the event the meeting is postponed, the public hearing will be convened on the next regularly-scheduled meeting at the same time and place.

12/26/19 & 1/2/20

Resource Directory

Rev. Leonard James Polk, Sr., of Herndon, VA age 89 Departed this life On Tuesday Dec. 26, 2019 at the Reston Hospital Center, Reston, VA He leaves to mourn his wife, Thelma T. Polk, five sons, Leonard Wilkerson (Pamela) of Cleveland, Ohio, George R. Polk (Linda) of Pompano Beach, FL, Leonard J. Polk, Jr. (Cynthia) of Sterling, VA, Angelo D. Polk, Sr. (Lolitta) of Leesburg, VA and Patrick F. Polk (Heather) of West Hartford, CT; three daughters, Linda Strickland of Manassas, VA, Denise L. Polk of Upper Marlboro, MD and Kim L. Martin (Gerald) of Charlottesville, VA; one sister Mary Kathleen Crooms of Indianapolis, IN; brothers-in-law Wesley E. Wooden Jr., of Myrtle Beach, SC, John M. Wooden of Vienna, VA; sister-in-law Mary McCargo of Herndon, VA; a host of grandchildren; great grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Saturday January 04, 2020 from 9:00 a.m., until time of service 11 a.m. at the First Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 216 Loudoun Street, Leesburg, VA 20175.

Interment will be at the Sons and Daughters Cemetery, Vienna, VA. Arrangements by LYLES FUNERAL SERVICE, Serving Northern Virginia, Eric S. Lyles Director, Lic. VA/DC/ MD 1-800-388-1913.

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2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

PAGE 27

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2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 28

Resource Directory

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2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

PAGE 29

Home Care Agency needs CAREGIVERS in Vienna!

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Resumes may be submitted as supplemental only. EOE/ADA. Regular Full-Time Positions Position

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To review Ida Lee (Parks & Recreation) flexible part-time positions, please visit www.leesburgva.gov/jobs.

Most positions will be filled at or near the minimum of the range. Dependent on qualifications.

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2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 30

JANUARY 2, 2020

Opinion More Than A Conversation From the opening month of 2019 until the year’s end, Loudoun leaders found themselves wrestling with the local actions of white supremacists, embarrassments of racially offensive behavior, and challenges to better address long-standing inequities.

The year began with new instances of Ku Klux Klan recruitment flyers being distributed in the driveways of homes. Then a series of blackface scandals threatened to unseat Virginia’s top political leaders, including Leesburg’s Mark R. Herring, who built his political career locally as a voice defending civil rights and protecting minorities before his election to statewide office. And some of Leesburg’s Town Council member also faced calls to resign for disrespecting the efforts of minority community groups.

As work continued to preserve and restore African-American gravesites and to record and protect the history of the county’s black

LETTERS to the Editor

communities, a new lynching memorial was placed in Leesburg to call attention to actions that communities would prefer to bury.

And there is talk of memorializing the achievements of a renowned

Unfounded

black lawyer who won a landmark case in Loudoun’s courthouse—a

Editor: Having come out of retirement in mid-November to be the new pastor at Hillsboro United Methodist Church in Purcellville, I want to clarify and expand upon several items in the Dec. 26 story (“After Pastor Resigns, Hillsboro Church Works to Commemorate Slave Graves”).

Contrary to former pastor Mark Jagoe’s disappointing and unfounded accusations, there is no structural racism at Hillsboro UMC. The church is actively and vigorously engaged in finding ways to honor and dignify the slaves and freedmen now in an unmarked grave. We are also proceeding deliberately in order to get this important matter right and to promote healing and education.

This includes positive and encour-

courthouse where a black judge has yet to sit, but there is a push to break that barrier, as well. In the schools, leaders have undertaken the most in-depth effort yet to improve the learning climate for minority students and to remove the biases, conscious and unconscious, that impose hurdles to their success.

The national political climate has spurred similar conversations in many communities—often with racial divides growing rather than closing. Here, during the past year, it has been more than a conversation. There are tangible results and the community is getting stronger together.

Norman K. Styer, Publisher and Editor nstyer@loudounnow.com Published by Amendment One Loudoun, LLC 15 N. King St., Suite 101 Leesburg, VA, 20176 PO Box 207 • Leesburg, VA 20178 703-770-9723

EDITORIAL Renss Greene, Deputy Editor rgreene@loudounnow.com

Jan Mercker, Reporter jmercker@loudounnow.com Kara C. Rodriguez, Reporter krodriguez@loudounnow.com Patrick Szabo, Reporter pszabo@loudounnow.com

aging discussions with the Loudoun Freedom Center, which identifies and memorializes historic African American heritage sites, sacred burial grounds and communities throughout Loudoun County. Those wishing to support the organization’s important work can make online donations.

Hillsboro UMC is also undertaking research within the community to see if some of those buried can be identified.

If so, we will also welcome suggestions from descendants about how to best honor their ancestors.

We are working to obtain federal grants for this project and exploring other funding sources. It is important to recognize that the church is small, with an average of only 22 attendees each LETTERS continue on page 31

ADVERTISING Susan Styer, Advertising Manager sstyer@loudounnow.com Tonya Harding, Account Executive tharding@loudounnow.com

Loudoun Now is delivered by mail to more than 44,000 Loudoun homes and businesses, with a total weekly distribution of 47,000.

JANUARY 2, 2020

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 31

Learn from the Past Through Inclusive, Informed Dialogue

BY JIM DIEHL AND BEN TRITTIPOE, Commander & Adjutant Clinton Hatcher Camp 21, SCV

As an organization criticized by a source in your article “After Pastor Resigns, Hillsboro Church Works to Commemorate Slave Graves,” Clinton Hatcher Camp 21 would like the opportunity to respond.

In this article, statements by recently retired Hillsboro United Methodist Church Rev. Mark Jagoe painted the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans as a group that influenced local Boy Scouts to place Confederate symbols against the wishes of the majority of the HUMC congregation during a restoration project at the church’s graveyard.

The accusation by Rev. Jagoe could not be further from the truth, and Clinton Hatcher Camp 21, the local chapter of the SCV in Loudoun County, would like to set the record straight.

In the article, Rev. Jagoe expressed his dissatisfaction with a portion of the current congregation at HUMC which “refused to acknowledge 72 graves on the church’s east lawn—the final resting places of slaves and black freedmen.” He further stated his concerns were heightened because some congregation members supported efforts to place Confederate markers on graves of Civil War veterans in the church’s white cemetery. Rev. Jagoe said that push was evidence “structural racism” exists within the Hillsboro church.

Later in the article, Rev. Jagoe stated Boy Scouts worked to place iron crosses

LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 30 week. In addition to our general ministry needs, we maintain two cemeteries: one with approximately 150 marked graves and the other where the unmarked graves are.

Unfortunately, we cannot do everything we would like to do. Over the years, Hillsboro UMC, like many churches, has welcomed assistance from the Boy Scouts and other civic organizations to help maintain cemeteries. And the Boy Scouts have performed important and honorable work, which unfortunately was all but omitted in the Dec. 26 article. This has included painstakingly restoring 22

and Confederate battle flags in the allwhite cemetery through the help and direction of the SCV and United Daughters of the Confederacy. He said he opposed this and accused the two organizations had “hoodwinked” the Boy Scouts into completing the project.

“It’s right or wrong – this is wrong,” he said.

Rev. Jagoe is wrong on several points of fact. A full account of the cemetery restoration proves this, and the account is documented online at arnoldgrove.weebly.com.

In 2011, the Craig family from Sterling discovered they were not the first members of their family to reside in Loudoun County. During a visit to North Fork Baptist Church (near Lincoln), the family found graves from earlier generations dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. This inspired Jack Craig to plan an Eagle Scout project where he would upright and restore several headstones which had fallen over and become buried under the ground. After he approached North Fork Baptist Church and planned part of the project, the church decided to decline the project during the summer of 2012.

Young Mr. Craig then learned of a similar situation at Arnold Grove Cemetery (as the stone wall-enclosed cemetery is known) in Hillsboro, where there was a need to restore graves that included those of veterans of America’s early wars. He contacted Rev. Philip Brumback at Hillsboro United Methodist Church and was welcomed by the congregation to improve the graves of veterans at the cemetery. A

total of 22 veterans from three wars – one from the American Revolution, six from the War of 1812 and 15 Confederates from the Civil War – are interred there and many of the graves were in great need of restoration.

For several months, Craig and other members of Boy Scout Troop 572 from Potomac Falls worked to restore the graves with the assistance of many supporters (all noted on the website), including several who donated valuable equipment and materials. By the time the project was completed, 45 graves in all had been restored, with a marker placed noting the appropriate war in which each veteran served.

On May 11, 2013, a ceremony was held to honor the 22 veterans. The living history event included participants from several heritage societies and re-enactors representing all three wars.

At the time, the Board of Directors for HUMC gave its complete blessing to the project and urged that each veteran’s grave be marked with appropriate symbols.

Clinton Hatcher Camp 21 was among the groups assisting with costs, including the UDC sponsoring a luncheon, and Camp members assisted with the actual restoration of graves and the placement of Southern Crosses of Honor on the graves of the Confederate veterans.

So, yes, Clinton Hatcher Camp 21 did assist young Mr. Craig and his colleagues in completing this project, but it was not done to “push an agenda” or extend “structural racism.” The graves of veterans from several wars in the infancy of the United States of America were cared for,

graves and cleaning up the surrounding area for veterans not only of the Civil War, but the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The Boy Scouts have made the cemetery, and our community, better.

I also want to be unequivocally clear that the United Methodist Church (UMC) deplores racism in all its forms.

Racism is diametrically opposed to what we believe as Christians and how we are to act. Many in the UMC were at the forefront of the Civil Rights movement.

In the weeks and months ahead, your readers and the broader Loudoun community have my commitment to persevering and addressing this situation. I welcome input from all in the community and especially want to hear from any who

believe they may have ancestors buried at Hillsboro UMC. And finally, I will be praying for wisdom and strength on how to best handle this matter. I would appreciate any prayers from people of faith.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. And best wishes to all for a joyous New Year.

— Rev. Larry Thompson, Interim Pastor Hillsboro United Methodist Church

Representing Us? Editor: I know that many members of our Board of Supervisors will not be returning next year, and I want to first thank

in addition to more than 20 other graves which needed care.

The pastor at the time and the congregation at HUMC supported the complete restoration and refurbishment of their decaying cemetery, which was done at no cost to the church. Rev. Jagoe was not serving HUMC when this action was performed, arriving later that fall.

Clinton Hatcher Camp 21 wishes to commend reporter Patrick Szabo for his balanced reporting in the article. His interview with current Interim Pastor Larry Thompson refuted much of what Rev. Jagoe had stated. Interim Pastor Thompson noted the congregation was seeking federal grants to help fund a Memorial Wall to honor the 72 slaves and black freedmen buried there, and he said he has experienced no such “structural racism” as purported by Rev. Jagoe.

Clinton Hatcher Camp 21 wishes to support the funding of the Memorial Wall at Hamilton United Methodist Church, just as it would support the establishment of a memorial to Loudoun slaves, U.S. Colored Troops and the Loudoun Rangers on the courthouse lawn in Leesburg.

In July 2018, the Camp made a significant contribution to the funding for an architectural survey to help the village of Willisville be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Let us learn to accept the past, respect the growth and advancement of the people here in Loudoun County and across these United States. Let us continue to learn from the past through inclusive, informed dialogue. It can be done.

them for their service to the Loudoun County citizens.

Over the past few weeks, the newspaper has been reporting what looks like will be the appointments to the Planning Commission for the next board. I have tried every attempt I know to try and reach out to the incoming Ashburn District supervisor and cannot seem to get a phone call, email or an opportunity to meet with him.

As someone who is a life-time resident—in fact, a fifth generation native— of the Ashburn area, (my father served as the chair of the Dulles North Plan and the BZA. I served both on the Planning Commission and chairman of the Board LETTERS continue on page 32

PAGE 32

Dems take control continued from page 4

J. Forest Hayes. Kershner will represent the Catoctin District, while Hayes was expected to be tapped for a county Planning Commission appointment.

Locally, Democrats held onto every seat they already controlled on the county board and added three more to their caucus. Randall and supervisors Koran T. Saines (D-Sterling) and Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) will be joined by fellow Democrats Juli E. Briskman (Algonkian), Michael R. “Mike” Turner (Ashburn) and Sylvia Russell Glass (Broad Run). Incumbent Republicans, Matthew F. Letourneau (Dulles) and Tony R. Buffington (Blue Ridge) successfully defended their seats, and will be joined by Kershner.

After the election, Randall said the shift

LETTERS to the Editor continued from page 31 of Supervisors) I cannot remember ever having a Planning Commission appointee who did not live in the district. The idea that one may live exactly at the opposite end of the county from where he may serve is just beyond belief.

To me, this is saying there is not a single adult person who lives in the Ashburn District who has the education, common sense, ability to plan, communicate or help direct the future of what our community should look like. Are we so uninformed that we need an attorney and chairman of the Middleburg Town Planning Commission to come down to Ashburn to do this for us?

We are not a community made up of AR-1 or AR-2; we have very little to almost no “rural roads.” We do not have private polo fields or fox hunting and we are not made up of a town surrounding by people trying to stop rural cluster development. So, the question with us being 20-plus miles apart is why do we need a Planning Commission from a western Loudoun town?

Are we to be the area that continues to have to take increased residential density around Metro areas and our community, so that the wealthy in the Middleburg can continue to enjoy their viewsheds?

The current Board of Supervisors rule on Advisory Boards and Commission is: “A portion of the advisory boards are comprised of appointees from each electoral district, requiring applicants to live in the district for which the adviso-

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

could mean revisiting some issues Democrats unsuccessfully pushed in the last term, including stricter gun safety rules, allowing unions to come into the County Government Center once a year to talk with employees, and taking stances on issues in Richmond like the Equal Rights Amendment, where before supervisors have stuck to taking positions on narrowly local issues.

She also immediately raised a topic that supervisors have discussed before, but never acted on: the possibility of a Loudoun County Police Department. Virginia’s constitution requires the county to have an elected sheriff, although in other large counties, the sheriff is only responsible for the jail and court security, with law enforcement left to a police department. In contrast to an elected sheriff, a police chief is hired by the Board of Supervisors or county administrator. Loudoun currently

has the largest sheriff ’s office in the state. If the Board of Supervisors pushes that idea, they will almost certainly face continued resistance from the county’s Republican sheriff, Michael L. Chapman.

Even the Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors—which is discussed little outside of agricultural and conservation circles, and which many Loudouners likely did not know existed— saw a battle this year. Six candidates ran for three seats, and the conflict between incumbent John C. Flannery and first-time candidate and Loudoun NAACP President Michelle C. Thomas pushed the race into local headlines. Both were endorsed by the county Democratic party, but Thomas criticized the lack of diversity on the board.

Flannery publicly denounced her campaign, calling her unsuited for office. Flannery and Thomas will now serve alongside

each other on the board, since both won a seat. Incumbent Marina R. Schumacher won the third seat up for grabs.

With November 2019 in the books, since President Donald J. Trump took office 2017, Democrats have gone from controlling almost no elected offices in Loudoun to almost all of them. Democrats have taken control of the Board of Supervisors, the Loudoun Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, and the U.S. House of Representatives. They already controlled Virginia’s governorship and Attorney General.

Republicans retain control of the local sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Commissioner of Revenue, and treasurer, as well as the U.S. Senate and the presidency.

ry position exists. Additionally, many advisory boards are comprised of at-large seats, which have no residency requirements and may also require appointees to have specific areas of expertise and/or representation.”

I would submit that the Planning Commission is one of the most important appointments made by a board member. This person should be an individual who is in the community, understands the community and works to help resolve community issues for his or her board member, not some out-of-the-area person who has never been a part of that community.

Lastly, the State Code concerning planning commissioners states: “A local planning commission shall consist of not less than five nor more than fifteen members, appointed by the governing body, all of whom shall be residents of the locality, qualified by knowledge and experience to make decisions on questions of community growth and development; provided, that at least one-half of the members so appointed shall be owners of real property. The local governing body may require each member of the commission to take an oath of office. One member of the commission may be a member of the governing body of the locality, and one member may be a member of the administrative branch of government of the locality.”

According to the Town of Middleburg website, the current chairman of the Planning Commission, who it seems the Ashburn District supervisor may appoint to the county post, is serving a town term that does not expire until Dec. 31, 2021.

The Blue Ridge District supervisor is appointing the mayor of Hillsboro.

The Leesburg District supervisor seems to be reappointing her planning commissioner who served during the last term and is still on the Leesburg Town Planning Commission.

It would seem to me that the “Planning Commission and a Mayor” would be part of a governing body seeing how they all govern under the FOIA Act, how can this be legal under the State Code?

— Dale Polen Myers, Ashburn

address that 100 murders were committed with anything other than guns.

• The majority of murders were committed by minorities in Richmond, Tidewater, Northern Virginia and several cities in southern Virginia, notably Petersburg. The root cause is lack of coherent family structure resulting in 15-19-year-old gang murders. Some of the murder weapons were stolen from policemen houses.

• The rest were committed with legally owned guns (mostly handguns).

• Most counties had no murders or one at the most.

• There were about 674 suicides in Virginia (I ignore them, as people own their lives and there is little that can be done about it).

Can Senator Boysko please tell me that she examined these murders and concluded that proposed laws will make changes? How many murders happened due to a “gap” that will be covered by proposed laws? Or were criminals violating already existing laws? Are current laws working? Was the analysis completed and were the approaches to reducing murder ranked by their impact as to which will be most effective?

If such analysis was not done, why not?

We live in an advanced society. We need to act based on logic. If Sen. Boysko is serious to reduce loss of life, I suggest she focus on smoking related deaths and car accidents.

Lastly, what laws are proposed dealing with mental illness?

— Matt Chwalowski, Leesburg

No Help Editor: I fail to comprehend how proposed state laws will do any good to reduce the number of murders in Virginia. It seems to me that this is a political gun grab and not a fact-based approach to reducing murders.

I do not see the connection between murders that were committed and proposed laws—they do not do anything to address them. These laws are like requiring air fresheners in cars to reduce automobile accidents; there is no connection between why murders happen and these proposed laws.

Here is why I reached that conclusion by reading the 2018 Virginia State Crime Report (some numbers are approximations): • There were about 50,000 deaths in Virginia in 2018 (plus about 20,000 abortions).

• There were 382 murders (280 with guns, the rest with other weapons) in Virginia in 2018; first, your laws do not

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

PAGE 33

A Tribute to My Father

BY LEONARD “HOBIE” MITCHEL

He was born Rolf Achiem Michelbacher, Sept. 16, 1924, in Berlin, Germany. He would never have siblings, which may have been a blessing because of what the future would unfold for him and his family. My father is Jewish and during his childhood he and his family were devoted to their faith, which would be tested beyond all measure.

The next 15 years would, by any standards, prove daunting. When the Nazis burned the Berlin Temple, he and others rescued the scrolls from the burning building. He would never forget. By the end of the war, he would lose every relative he knew, from every generation that lived in Europe.

His father was a World War I pilot, August Michelbacher, fighting in the elite squadron of Baron Manfred von Richthofen, consisting of 12 pilots.

When Hitler came to power, my grandfather warned the Allies of what was to come with Hitler, but his words fell on deaf ears. For this reason, he was later arrested, tried and later died in prison even though he had such a distinguished career. My father was able to see him one last time before he left for America. He escaped Nazi Germany in January 1940 through Belgium by ship, arriving in New York Harbor. He then traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, the place of my eventual birth. After arriving, his last name was changed to Mitchel.

He was fortunate to live with a distant cousin who by chance was a renowned ear nose and throat doctor. He became a second father to him. He treated the likes of Dizzy Dean, a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, who in turn taught my father how to pitch. He said when he first met my father “that he pitched like a girl.” That soon changed and eventually he became a part-time practice pitcher for the Cardinals and of all things struck out Enos Slaughter at one practice on three straight pitches, one of his claims to fame.

My father had a photographic memory. I suspect that was a great asset to him, but it also can bring back unforgettable vivid memories. When he became of age, he wanted to go back to Germany as an Allied soldier, 19 years old. To get Nazis, not Germans. There is a distinct difference.

As policy would have it, because he war German, he could not go to the Eu-

Courtesy

Rolf and Edith Mitchel

ropean Theater unless the President of the United States authorized it, which was generally unheard of. But my father, as he has a way with words, both written and verbal, wrote an eloquent letter to President Roosevelt pleading his case.

A short time later he received word that Roosevelt gave approval.

After basic training he was found to have an incredible talent as a marksman on all types of guns, but, in particular, was deadly accurate with a 75mm tank gun and was subsequently attached to the Fourth Armored Division on the Sherman Tank. After training in the U.S., he was transferred to London as a private.

After first arriving, it was found that his extensive knowledge of Berlin would prove invaluable for an allied bombing of a factory in Berlin. The military asked for soldiers who were intimately familiar with Berlin and he volunteered his services. While sitting in a briefing on that bombing raid, he made it known that the aerial picture of Berlin being shown on the screen was backward and upside down and mentioned it. He was very familiar with that part of Berlin where the target was. After thorough questioning by his superiors on the extent of his knowledge, he volunteered to be on the lead plane on a bombing mission that consisted of a cadre of many B-17 bombers. He directed the pilot and then the bombardier to the target, which was a factory that had escaped bombing in previous missions. This mission proved different and the factory was successfully destroyed. My father later found that the target they destroyed was a chemical plant that manufactured, among other things, the gas used in the concentration

camps. He received the first of many medals for being an integral part of that bombing mission.

He advanced in rank quickly and his unit, the Fourth Armored Division, became part of the Normandy Coast Invasion landing at Utah Beach. From that day on, it was about the liberation of Europe. In those battles, the loss of soldiers and friends was extensive, but the relentless pursuit for revenge against tyranny was foremost on his mind.

He fought throughout France and into Belgium. His last battle was the Battle of the Bulge to relieve the American Army in Bastogne. He was the first tank column to enter Bastogne. I now know one of the reasons why he is what he is: from fighting those battles and from the loss of lives in World War II. He became a favorite of Patton. Patton knew of his many battle successes and commendations. After the Battle of the Bulge, Patton had sent him home until the end of the war in Europe; he had been through enough. He spent the rest of the war training soldiers at Fort Knox. After the war, he was transferred back to Berlin, where he became part of the Military Police unit whose mission was to locate Nazis. Ironically, he was stationed in the old neighborhood he grew up in. He re-acquainted himself with my mother.

The rest is history.

My mother, who went through a lot herself, became his rock and helped him to find peace. When immigrating to the U.S. to be with my father, she ran into difficulties because of a slight medical issue. My father was livid. As he does, to get around red tape, he wrote to President Truman and when Truman was informed of the problem, he quickly resolved the issue and my mother was allowed into the U.S. Like I said before, my father was good at communicating—written or verbal.

When I was 10 years old our family met Harry Truman at his presidential library in Independence, Missouri.

Truman still had the letter and recalled to my mother that is was the worst ass-chewing he ever received.

During the next chapter of life my father discovered he had an incredible aptitude for computer programming.

We moved from St. Louis in 1963 to the Washington, D.C. area in Alexandria, Virginia. He worked at Fort Lee and Cameron Station in Virginia. He was part of the programing team that devel-

oped the program which now is a part of our daily lives, UPC scan codes.

Growing up as an only child was not easy in my house. Our household had a very disciplined environment, with a focus on service, accuracy, results and no acceptance of the status quo. Find solutions. As a child and a young man, I couldn’t understand those things, but later in life the light bulb would go off.

My father was an adventurer as well as pragmatic, and his example of service has had a great impact on my life. He later became a pilot like his father. He was a scoutmaster, a Lt. Colonial in the Civil Air Patrol coordinating search and rescue missions, a member of an airport authority, coordinated many community events where he lived and advised many political bodies wherever at their request. He walked the walk.

But above all he preached to me and others that prejudice is not acceptable in any form. Service is a responsibility.

Truth is the only message no matter the consequences.

One of his last words of wisdom to me was “you must learn to forgive, but never forget.” He was a disciplined man and he gave you his all. He found love hard to give but when he chose to give it, it was all the more meaningful.

He and my mother wrote a book “Challenges and Triumphs, The Memoirs of Rolf and Edith Mitchel,” an amazing story of their life growing up and then together. Their stories are forever etched in stone. They make for an incredible read and are such a gift to my family and for future generations.

I am so grateful that he was my father, I am so grateful to have learned so many life lessons from him, some more difficult than others, especially growing up. He was not perfect - but he was my father and I loved him. He passed away on this past Christmas Day. Ironic he would choose that day - the birth of Christ. I find it necessary to tell you some of my father’s stories. He was a dynamic individual, who gave of himself for the benefit of others.

My tribute to him is to honor him.

My tribute to him is to share his sacrifices and of those who gave of themselves from that “Greatest Generation.” Peace be with you my father.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Jan. 11 at Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg.

PAGE 34

2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020

Comp plan continued from page 3 was necessary to create more affordable housing. They more than doubled the number of residential units expected to go up in Loudoun, to 56,000, and more than half of that would have been in the Transition Policy Area, which buffers rural west from suburban and urban east and makes up about 7 percent of the county’s total land area.

County supervisors got that 500-page plan in May, determined to reverse much of the commission’s work, and were immediately on the clock. Under state law, they had only 90 days to pass a comprehensive plan from the time the Planning Commission voted on it—although that has no more consequences under the law than the law requiring localities to update their comprehensive plan every five years.

Because supervisors were determined to get the plan approved before the state deadline, they adopted a plan without the benefit of staff-prepared projections of that plan’s impacts. Ultimately, however, county planners projected supervisors had drastically cut the number of new homes that the commission’s draft would have allowed.

The final 2019 Comprehensive Plan is expected to allow only 5,840 more homes in the transition area, 2,180 more than the old plan. Across the county, the plan is expected to allow 40,950 additional homes by 2040, mostly in the suburban east and the county’s planned urban areas arounds its new Metrorail stops. That is 11,490 more homes than the plan it replaced.

The new plan is not expected to allow any more new housing in the rural areas than the old one—although 9,560 more homes are already expected there.

But more than that, the new comprehensive plan was about meeting the challenge of Loudoun’s, and the region’s, continued growth. Different interest groups and citizens sparred over how many new homes should be allowed in Loudoun, how to make homes more affordable, and how to protect Loudoun’s green spaces.

On affordability, the final plan describes the county’s housing affordability problems and the impact that has on people’s livelihoods and on the economy.

It also lays out a number of general strategies, calling for “innovative and flexible regulatory approaches” such as allowing manufactured housing and accessory units in more places, and allowing denser housing development. But supervisors also largely punted on the topic; the same night they voted to approve the new comprehensive plan, they also voted to launch

Renss Greene/Loudoun Now

County planners and area residents mix at Harmony Middle School near Hamilton during an Envision Loudoun open house.

an Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan.

That is planned to include a review of all of Loudoun’s housing policies and regulations, and discussions of government programs like down-payment assistance programs, the housing trust fund, and home purchase programs. It is meant to define how the county will address unmet housing needs in a systematic and comprehensive way.

Whether or not that plan works could in part determine whether Loudoun’s success stories continue. Already, Loudouners very often are spending large parts of their income on housing alone, and business owners have said they would like to expand in the county but can’t find employees.

The plan could also decide whether Loudoun’s rural reaches and green spaces stay as popular and attractive as they are today. Although one of the plan’s seven chapters is on “Natural, Environmental, and Heritage Resources,” supervisors left several options for protecting natural resources on the table.

The plan does call for public money towards a network of natural, environmental and “heritage” resources, as well as regulations on new development to help protect some of those resources. But two major programs other counties in Virginia have used to preserve green spaces, a majority of Loudoun supervisors said aren’t right for Loudoun.

In February, long before the plan came to the board, Republican supervisors voted down restarting a program to purchase some landowners’ development rights and retire them, permanently protecting that land from development. Purchase of Development Rights had existed in Loudoun’s books since 1999 but has been unfund-

ed since 2004. According to the office of County Chairwoman Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), who proposed restarting the program, that program protected more than 2,545 acres at a cost of $8.9 million, $4.2 million of which was from sources other than county taxpayer money. With the adoption of the new comprehensive plan, that program is off the books.

Another program, Transfer of Development Rights, would allow landowners in certain areas of Loudoun to sell the development rights on their property to landowners in other designated areas, allowing them to both profit off their own land’s development potential and permanently protect it from development.

Transfer of Development Rights is in fact mentioned briefly in the plan, described as one of the “tools available to the County and public and private entities to protect and preserve open space, farms, and natural, environmental, and heritage resources in perpetuity, allowing landowners to retain ownership of their property, while maximizing the economic value of the land.” However, there are no immediate plans to implement such a program in Loudoun.

The ZOO Begins The work on planning Loudoun’s future continues.

The next step is to put the principles and ideas laid out in the comprehensive plan into law by overhauling the county’s zoning ordinances. Privately, some people have begun referring to the zoning ordinance overhaul by its acronym—ZOO. Due in part to a complex system of proffers, Loudoun operates with three zoning

ordinances. Some parcels are still governed by the 1972 Zoning Ordinance, while others fall under the 1993 ordinances or “Revised 1993” ordinances from 2003.

While the Comprehensive Plan was hammered out mostly in public meetings by the stakeholder steering committee, Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, the more technical work of the Zoning Ordinance Overhaul will be largely internal to county planning staff. It will, however, still incorporate input from various advisory groups, county committees, community and industry groups, and the county’s Zoning Ordinance Action Group.

The county will hire consultants, but according to a staff report, they will be limited to technical research and similar tasks.

In fact, the project kicked off already, in October. The new zoning ordinance is expected to come to the Board of Supervisors for review by July 2021.

Some of that work will be focused on making government review and approval more streamlined and efficient, in part by expanding the number of things builders can do without seeking approval from the Board of Supervisors. That is to be balanced by performance standards on that development, to make sure it nonetheless meets the county’s standards for developing in Loudoun.

It also involves reviewing the process for earning legislative approval, which can last months and cost thousands or tens of thousands in fees.

Download the new comprehensive plan at loudoun.gov/compplan and read all of Loudoun Now’s coverage of the new comprehensive plan at LoudounNow.com/ compplan.

JANUARY 2, 2020

2019 IN REVIEW

PAGE 35

Loudoun United Kicked Off in 2019 burg—that drove the cost up by $12 million to $15 million. rgreene@loudounnow.com The young team struggled in its first seaCounty supervisors first announced they son, as players got accustomed to playing had been working on a secret deal to bring a with one another. The team recorded two professional soccer team to Loudoun in late losses and two draws until notching their 2017, but 2019 was the year that team took first win in their fifth game, on the road in New Jersey. As the team fought through the field.

In January, Loudoun United made its their first season together—with several first hiring announcement: head coach players joining the team after the season had Richie Williams. He would last until April, already begun—coaches and players emwhen he stepped down to take a job as assis- phasized the team’s steady, game-over-game improvement in tant to soccer hall of post-match interfamer Bruce Arena, views. the coach of the New The team reEngland Revolution. corded its first The team hired its win at home in former academy diJune.

Forward rector Ryan Martin Christian Sorto to take control. scored his first In February, the professional goals team announced its only two days affirst two players, inter being signed cluding goalkeeper to the team, scorCalle Brown, a 2010 ing twice in the graduate of Loudoun second half to County High School. lead the team to Brown came back a 2-0 victory over home to Loudoun Atlanta United 2. after one season with Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now But that win was the Seattle Sounders Loudoun United’s team celebrates a goal by Carlos at Audi Field in FC II. A Leesburg na- Alvarez during the team’s Aug. 9 home opener at DC—the team’s tive, he played soccer Segra Field near Leesburg. permanent home for Loudoun County was still under High School before construction. playing for the Northern Virginia Royals in The team played at their new home for the United Soccer League—the same league the first time in August, playing to a draw in which Loudoun United plays. He has also against Charlottesville Independence in played for the University of Virginia and front of a sold-out crowd. Coach Martin several other professional teams. credited “the twelfth man”—the hometown The squad would continue to fill out crowd—for helping the team score a tying its roster through March as the team ap- goal late in the game to avoid a loss. proached its first scrimmage on Feb. 21, deThe team gave the hometown crowd feating Bethlehem Steel FC in an exhibition their first win on Aug. 31, closing out a match, and then defeating the Richmond nearly month-long winless streak with an Kickers on Feb. 27. overpowering 4-0 performance against Following the deal with the Board of Su- North Carolina FC. pervisors to provide land for the facilities And the team finished strong, recordand approximately $15 million in financing ing four straight wins to close the season in for construction for D.C. United to build a October. The team ended its inaugural seaheadquarters and training complex at Philip son with its most dominant performance of A. Bolen Memorial Park just south of Lees- the year, defeating the New York Red Bull burg, construction began on the 5,000-seat Reserves 7-2 and ending the season with a Segra Field stadium in March. The stadium record of 11-17-6. hosted its first game in front of a sold-out And Loudoun’s pro soccer scene only crowd only a few months later in August. By keeps growing. year’s end, the county board agreed to ofIn November, Washington Spirit, a Nafer another $10 million in financing for the tional Women’s Soccer League team, anproject, helping the team cover unexpected nounced they would also move its training construction costs—including high wa- to the facilities at Bolen Park, as well as ter and sewer fees from the Town of Lees- playing four home games at Segra Field.

BY RENSS GREENE

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2019 IN REVIEW

JANUARY 2, 2020