[JYO] Fwd: Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Issue Regarding Leesburg Airport

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Ed:



Would you be so kind as to forward this to the JYO list?  I'll post to both
DC Pilot's lists..........



Thanks,




Dennis


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On February 1st, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will consider a

motion to 'join' Landsdowne Development in a joint petition (to themselves)

to rezone the land commonly referred to as Bolen Park, immediately east and

south of Leesburg Executive Airport (and I mean immediately, like right

across the street from the runway), from commercial to residential, in 
order

to build a mostly residential development known as Creekside.  The land is

currently shown in the County's own Comprehensive Plan as oriented to

employment centers.  Both commercial development and the already authorized

park are perfectly compatible land uses for this parcel, which lies 
directly

under the crosswind and downwind legs of JYO's Runway 17 pattern.



The County is considered 'swapping' the developers property alongside Goose

Creek for the county owned property.  Voters in Loudoun County authorized a

multi-million dollar bond referendum in 2001, but work is just now 
beginning

on the park.  Meanwhile, Landsdowne Development is proposing to fully fund

the park, and other improvements, at another location, in exchange for the

land swap.  Except, he's not really offering to fund all the improvements,

he's offering a 'public-private partnership'.



If you're confused why the county is petitioning themselves for this 
change,

it's because the plan currently shows something different than what the

developer wants, and he wants the county to swap parcels with him.  The

developer has already proposed an amendment to the County Comprehensive 
Plan

( CPAM 2004-0020) which would change the zoning on his current property,

which is much less of a threat to the airport.  Now he wants to pick up and

move the houses right under JYO's pattern.




All of that is very interesting, and there are many ancillary issues
regarding county/town relations, development rights, and urban sprawl.
There are many arguments regarding whether this is or isn't a good deal for
the County and it's residents because of ball fields, road infrastructure,
etc....  All of those points belong in other forums.


The over-riding issue for Leesburg pilots, which does belong in this forum,

is the notion that this plan calls for putting over 4,000 residences

directly under piston-powered aircraft that will be 800 feet AGL (or less)

above those houses.  Given our history at Leesburg Airport with aircraft 
not

quite making it to Runway 17, any development that puts thousands of people

at risk should be avoided at all costs.  Unlike the developments inside the

Town boundaries, which are closer than preferred but still have been

carefully vetted with the airport in mind, the Creekside Development is an

unnecessary risk.




Why is it unnecessary?  Well, the developer currently owns land outside the
traffic pattern area along Goose Creek (hence the Creekside moniker), but
he' s more interested in the more valuable county land closer to Leesburg.
He's applying to the County jointly with two other landowners who's parcels
are primarily inside the pattern, and therefore less risky.  It's ironic
that the Creekside development is trying to become the 'Bolen Park'
development, but that's the story.



What have I done?  First, the Leesburg Executive Airport Commission passed 
a

resolution, forwarded to Town Council, opposing residential development

within the airport's 'Area of Interest', roughly defined as anything within

7,500 feet of the runway (the airport traffic pattern, plus a little bit).

I have been briefed by both companies proposing development contiguous with

the airport; neither developer was aware of the concept of a 'traffic

pattern'.  They thought airplanes arrived and departed straight in and out,

just like Dulles.  While the Crosstrails development is just as bad, if not

worse, in proposing residential development, the developers have several

options that are probably workable, and they have a history of excellent

cooperation with the airport.  The Creekside development, as proposed for

Bolen Park, is just not workable in any context.



Second, as a Loudoun resident, pilot, and aircraft operator based at JYO, I

am corresponding with members of the County Board of Supervisors regarding

the safety and environmental dangers posed by this plan.  This land-swap

plan is clearly a dagger pointed directly at the heart of the airport.  If

it goes thru, we'll be in court 10 years from now, defending the airport's

right to exist.  Sound like I'm overstating the case?  I think 
not......I've

been down this road in another state.




What can you do?  I recommend you read the following sites:



http://inetdocs.loudoun.gov/planning/docs/comprehensivepl_/index.htm



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21064-2004Dec22.html



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18052-2004Dec21.html



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15066-2004Dec20.html



http://www.loudounsfuture.org


And then, I highly recommend you write, or send an email, to members of the

Board of Supervisors and state your position.

You don't have to be a Loudoun resident to write, but if you are, state 
your

address and state your position clearly.





Thanks for your help,




Dennis Boykin







From the Loudoun County website:


CPAM 2004-0018, Crosstrail. Located on the east side of the Dulles 
Greenway,

west of the Leesburg Airport, between the planned Battlefield Parkway and

Crosstrails Boulevard interchanges adjacent to the Town of Leesburg in the

Leesburg JLMA.  Proposes change to planned land use from Keynote Employment

to a mix of uses to include Town Center, retail, office, multi-family and

age restricted housing and airport related uses and to permit the Town of

Leesburg and the LCSA to provide utilities within the JLMA. (Approximately

508 acres; Catoctin Election District)




CPAM 2004-0020, Creekside. Located south of the Town of Leesburg, east of
Sycolin Road, and north of Goose Creek.   Proposes to expand the Leesburg
JLMA, and to change planned land uses from Keynote Employment, JLMA, mixed
use Business, and Transition Policy Area to Town Center and low density
residential, and to permit the Town of Leesburg and the LCSA to provide
utilities within the JLMA. (Approximately 1,076.50 acres; Catoctin Election
District)



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