Media Release
Campaign for Loudoun's Future

For Immediate Release:
December 10, 2007

For more information
Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth, 202-244-4408 x121
Rebecca Perring, 202-244-4408 x122
Other civic group members available for interviews -- call for information

Controversial Development Proposal
Puts Drinking Water & Transition Area at Risk 

Outgoing Board of Supervisors to Vote on 1,800+ New Houses
Before End of Their Term

On Tuesday, December 11, 2007, the outgoing Loudoun Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on a proposal that would threaten the growth plan in Loudoun’s Transition Area, along the Goose Creek Reservoir.  The proposal is for 996 houses on land currently zoned for only 38 houses. 

This will be the last public hearing before the Board leaves office on December 31, making way for a new smart growth majority board.  The Board may vote on Ridgewater Park and Braddock Village at their business meeting on December 18.  Arcola Center was approved last week.

“We’re asking the Board of Supervisors to say no to the 1,800 new houses proposed in the Ridgewater Park and Braddock Village proposals,” said Ashburn resident Karen Ficker.  “We hope our elected officials will respect the will of the voters as they make the last major growth decisions of their term.”

There are currently 30,000 new houses approved but not yet built in Loudoun, of which the outgoing Board of Supervisors approved approximately 18,000.

“With 30,000 houses already in the pipeline, why rush to approve 1,800 more?” asked Lori Kimball, a Leesburg resident.  “Our roads and schools are already overwhelmed, and we know the county will face a severe budget shortfall next year.  We can’t afford to compound the problem by continuing to approve thousands of new houses.”

Residents, community groups and many others are extremely concerned about the Ridgewater Park proposal for four distinct reasons: 

1) The drinking water for Ashburn and City of Fairfax would be directly, negatively impacted by this development.
The proposed development is directly adjacent to the drinking water intake pipe in the Goose Creek Reservoir.  County staff told the Planning Commission that the County’s drinking water is at risk, because there is no chance for toxic chemicals, bacteria, and other pollutants to be diluted before they go right into the water intake.

2) It will set a dangerous precedent for suburban development in the Transition Area. 
If this proposal is approved, developers will likely argue that they should receive equal treatment, and could make open the entire Transition Area to suburban development. 

3) The traffic impacts will hurt both Ashburn and Leesburg.
Waxpool and Sycolin roads are inadequate today, and this proposal would put unplanned residential, commercial and school traffic to further burden commuters and local residents. 

4) This proposal was fast tracked by the Planning Commission even though staff have recommended against it. There are 13 outstanding issues preventing an accurate analysis and informed decision by the Board.

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