[JYO] Leesburg Executive Airport Land Use Issue

Heads up..........Heads up..........<WBR>......we need your help on an issue
pilots in the DC area. Sorry for the long post, but there's a lot  of
details.

The Loudoun County Planning Commission will hold it's  first public hearing
on the Crosstrails development on June 19th at 6 PM in  Leesburg.
Crosstrails is a 490 acre 'mixed-use' development that combines  office,
retail, and residential development. It is located between the  Dulles
Greenway and Leesburg Airport. Between the Greenway and the Airport  means
that the development physically borders the airport  property.

The developer is proposing over a million square feet of office  space (good
thing), a bunch of retail space (that's OK, too), and 1,400  residential
units (bad thing). Beyond just bad, over 1/3 of the residential  units will
be restricted to 'active adults', age 55 and over. As you can  imagine, that
absolutely is our nightmare demographic for a neighbor that  borders the
airport property and sits right under the typical instrument  departure.

In order to make the sale, the developer is pitching a 'thru  the fence'
hangar operation, combining offices and hangars (cool idea) that  will
'support' the airport (not true). Of course, nothing could be farther  from
the truth, but that's what they're touting. A TTF contributes nothing  to
the airport but additional traffic, more headaches, and an  administrative
nightmare. There is no revenue to balance all the additional  headaches.
The FAA opposes such a set up, even though the developer is  claiming
otherwise.

The developer has favored the Airport Commission  leadership with one
meeting, nearly 20 months ago, in which he showed us  plans, heard our
concerns, and left. Little conversation has followed. The  application has
now wended it's way thru the staffs of both the Town and the  County.
Although the airport is owned by the Town, and sits on Town property,  it is
bounded by the County on three sides, so he's applying to convert  his
property, currently planned for key employment, to be primarily  residential,
with a commercial backing.

The Airport Commission has  passed a resolution recommending the County deny
the application. Town Staff  (including the airport staff) has spent months
researching the problems, and  has recommended denial. The Town Council has
passed a resolution,  recommending denial. And finally, at last Monday's
work session, the County  Planning Commission heard their staff recommend
denial, mostly because of the  residential component next to the airport.

The public hearing is the next  step. It will be very, very, very, very
important for folks to show up and be  counted.

For although everyone so far has weighed in against this plan,  there are
powerful political forces at work. The developer is a reputable  firm with a
track record of successful developments (Fair Lakes in Fairfax is  the most
often cited). They have long ties to the community, deep pockets  for
marketing their plan, and a professional staff that knows a thing or  to
about getting a plan approved. And, let's face it, what's a couple  of
airplanes here and there, when a developer is offering to commit to  a
project conservatively valued at half a BILLION dollars. And, they've  hired
a controversial aviation consultant with a long history at Leesburg who  has
a habit of presenting facts in a way that meets his view of the  world.

Bottom line: The Peterson Companies do not understand aviation,  and are
well-connected to get this project approved and build a bunch of  houses
right under the pattern.

The Airport Commission has three major  issues:
- Residential development has encroached enough. This plan is  directly
under the standard instrument departure off JYO (Rwy 17, right turn  when
able, direct STILL). Nothing good can come of this. The noise issue  alone
will be enough, regardless of whatever legal protections we finally get  with
easements, to create a situation where the airport, and it's  continued
existence, will become a continual issue at the polls.
- ILS:  The Town has some power here - the northern most tip of
Peterson's tract is  governed by the Town of Leesburg. The future ILS
transmitter site (which  sits, ironically, on a parcel we just bought from
Peterson) cannot have any  interference. So far, we're doing a good job of
protecting that.
-  Hangars: We offered on several occasions to discuss other options  for
building a hangar capability tied into the development. The  obvious
solution is to sell or proffer the land to the airport. The Town has  no
desire to spend additional money to build gates, taxiways, and  provide
services when we're not gaining any revenue. And, revenue is  something the
airport needs. On a cash basis, we came very close to breaking  even the
last two years.

The Airport Commission is extending yet  another invitation to the developer
to come discuss our issues. We'll see  what happens.

For another viewpoint on the discussion, go to
_http://www.loudounshttp://www.http://www.lohttp://www.http_ 
(http://www.loudounsfuture.org/issues/cpams/crosstrail.html)   . This is not an
endorsement of a position - just a fairly good description  of the
development (from a development opponent's position).

I tried  to find a proponent, but the only one on the web is:
_http://www.leadershhttp://www.htt_ (http://www.leadershipleesburg.org/)   . 
Click on 'Chicken Little at the Airport
(that's me, Chicken Little) and  then read on, if you can. The author is the
former FBO and part time airport  manager at JYO (went out of business in 92,
owing the Town tens of thousands  of dollars in back rent) who is currently
under contract to the developer of  the property as their aviation
consultant. To say I take exception with the  author's positions on just
about everything is somewhat of an understatement.  The airport has been
saddled with his legacy (some good, some bad) ever since  he left.

I especially take exception with the part about the airport  costing the
taxpayers half a million dollars last year. He knows that's not  true. We
depreciated that amount, but that's much different than writing a  check, and
he knows it.

Meanwhile, WE NEED YOUR PRESENCE. You do NOT  have to be a resident of the
County to speak - your presence as a local pilot  is important. In fact,
given that you're bringing your dollars to Loudoun is  even more important.

The hearing starts at 6 PM at the Loudoun County  Government Center, 1
Harrison Street, Leesburg. Crosstrails is first on the  agenda. Come early,
sign up, speak for two minutes, and you've done your  part. I'm handing out
lollipops to everyone who comes !

If you can't  make it, write a letter to each member of the Loudoun County
Planning  Commission. Info available at
_http://www.loudoun.http://www.lohttp://ww_ 
(http://www.loudoun.gov/planning/pcomm.htm)   . HOWEVER, I highly recommend
attending in person - it has much more  impact.

Meanwhile, individual members of the Board of Supervisors aren't  fully
engaged yet - so writing to them is a month or two away.

You  assistance is appreciated. Any questions, send them to me  off-list,
please.

Thanks for hearing me  out.........Than

Dennis Boykin
Vice Chair
LEAC
_boykin_dennis@xxxxxxxxxx (mailto:boykin_dennis@xxxxxxxxx)

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