SUMMARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
Of the
LOUDOUN COUNTY PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION COALITION
Present: Al Van Huyck (chair), Bob Shuey (Vice Chair Heritage), David Nelson, Alysoun Mahoney, Henry
Plaster, Otto Guttenson, Gem Bingol, Martha Polkey, Patty Rogers-Renner, Mitch Diamond, and Jean
Brown.
1. Mitch Diamond presented the Rural Roads Report. VDOT has continued to work on the 11
priority projects and reports seven are complete. Henry Plaster joined Senator Black and
Delegate Minchew and Scot Kasprowicz on a tour of the projects. They also expressed interest
in attending a Rural Roads Committee meeting. There is a concern that the Annual Report VDOT
is supposed to make to the BOS be more detailed than just a listing of the work on the 11
projects. The committee needs to decide if any further action is required at the State level.
Henry Plaster is working with Joe May on defining standards for the care and condition of the
unpaved road network.
2. Doug Kemmerer (via Mitch Diamond) reported that the presentation of the Loudoun Rural
Roads paper was well received by 45 attendees at the session at the Georgia Historic Roads
Conference. The Power Point prepared by Ed Gorski and PEC was excellent. Mitch Diamond
suggests that it should be used to present the Rural Road Story to the Business Community and
other civic groups to build support.
3. Mitch Diamond reported that the draft Preliminary Information Form has been completed for
the Virginia Department of Historical Resources as a first step in possibly defining a Rural
Historic District in Western Loudoun for registration on the National Register. The next step will
be to hold discussions with the DHR.
4. David Nelson updated the status of the Featherbed Lane Bridge work. He has been able to
review the VDOT documents. There is a question as to what weight can safely cross the bridge.
More than 50% of the bridge is not original. There will be a public meeting before the end of
the year at which five options for the bridge will be available for review.
5. Jean Brown announced that the public meeting for the Crooked Run Bridge will be held October
14, 2014 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at either the Lincoln Elementary School or the Hamilton
Elementary School.
6. Al Van Huyck reviewed the letter to the BOS congratulating them on obtaining the grant for the
Balls Bluff Battlefield. It was decided to email it to the entire Coalition and if there was no
objection to send it on as a Coalition document.
7. Gem Bingol briefed the Coalition on the Mt. Weather DEQ application to release industrial
wastewater and storm water into streams in the Goose Creek Watershed and into streams in
Clarke County. This is a renewal of a previously issued permit. The Goose Creek Association has
written a detailed letter which stressed the problems associated with Mt Weather in the past
and recommended a fuller review of environmental impacts. Gem Bingol indicated that PEC has
been invited to make an inspection of the site. She will report back at the next Coalition
Meeting.
8. Alysoun Mahoney noted that at the meeting with Charles Yudd it was thought by Coalition
members present that a review of County lighting policies for ball fields would be reviewed in
the Fall. However, apparently this review will not take place this year.
9. Alysoun Mahoney also reported that the Lyme Disease Commission is making a case to broaden
their mission to include all tick carried diseases not just Lyme Disease.
10. Al Van Huyck reported that he was still trying to obtain information on Coalition member
organizations. This is needed for the new website which is nearing completion of the design.
11. Al Van Huyck noted a newspaper article suggesting the BOS might reduce telecommunication
tower regulations and allow more by right. Van Huyck will follow up with Staff to see if this is an
issue of concern.
12. Bob Shuey briefed the Coalition on the Banshee Reeks Artifact Collection. A meeting was held
at the site. Mr. Torpy, Director of Parks and Rec, recognized the problem an indicated he would
advocate for a new building to house the collection. The idea that developers would contribute
a fee for the preservation of their findings is being considered. If this makes the budget request
for Parks and Rec for 2016 the Coalition should support it.
13. Henry Plaster reported for Paul Ziluca that the Staff has made their first field visit under the new
Conservation Easement Stewardship program. The results were excellent and pictures taken.
There are 16 visits planned for this Fall.
14. The Red Hill Water Tower issue has been referred to the Land Use and Transportation
Committee meeting on October 17, 2014 for review and action at the next business meeting of
the BOS. The neighbors did a great job of presenting the case against the Towers. The Coalition
should see if the BOS takes any action about placing future water tanks underground.
15. The private heliport is moving forward to a PC public hearing. The staff is working on the
conditions. The applicant is seeking changes to allow flights up to 10PM, reduction in the
standard set back of 650 feet from all property lines, and a site size reduction below 80 acres.
16. Al Van Huyck reported that the ZOAG is completing their report on amendments to the steep
slopes and flood plain zoning. It is likely that the Coalition will be opposed to some of these
changes. It will be a topic at the next Coalition meeting. The PC public hearing is likely to be
held in November.
17. There has been no submission to the County regarding the Banshee Adventure Park.
18. Bob Shuey updated the Coalition on the Woods Road project which is now approved. There will
be a 10 acre taking from the Banshee Reeks Conservation Easement and this will need to be
replaced by an alternative area for VOF easement. The project is for paving in place for 1.4
miles at a cost of $4.4 million. The CTB needs to approve the project.
19. Mitch Diamond invited Coalition members to come to the Unison Heritage Day on October 25,
2014. The announcement was sent to all members by email.
20. Sustainable Development Conference will be held on October 24, 2014 and invites all Coalition
members to set up a table of their materials (starting at 5:30 PM). The announcement will be
sent out to all Coalition members.
The next meeting of the Coalition will be held on October
28, 2014 at 4:00 PM at the Purcellville Train Station.