Comments to the County of Loudoun, July 17, 2013 Public Hearing
Re: Proposed paving of County unpaved roads

I am Bonnie Mattingly, the Loudoun Chair of the Goose Creek Association.  Our membership includes more than 600 individuals and organizations in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties.

The County’s rural network of unpaved roads are an ASSET that draws visitors and residents with their disposable income and tax revenues to our area.  We are intensely concerned that these assets are not being properly and regularly maintained, and we strongly urge that the County insure that these assets be protected from ruin by neglect due to a lack of adequate funding or misallocation of otherwise available funds.

Properly maintained, the unpaved road acts as an organic traffic-calming feature.  Such roads are avenues to unite rather than separate communities and neighborhoods.  The rural unpaved road has always allowed and fostered a blend of uses. Safety is not an issue with maintained unpaved roads posted at reasonable speeds.  Importantly, these roads slow the run-off of storm water.  Gravel roads are more permeable than paved roads, allowing run-off and its impurities to filter through the gravel and ground before reaching our waterways.

We urge the County to work with VDOT to acquire funds to assist in proper and regular maintenance of all of Loudoun’s unpaved roads.

We support the County’s own excellent Rural Roads Policy as described in the 2010 Countywide Transportation Plan:   (Chapter 2-County Road Network, Unpaved Roads, Rustic Road Program and Pave in Place).

In addition, the published guidelines for the County’s Beaverdam Creek Historic Roadways District (the District), reflect these standards.  The District was established by the County in 2002 after a several years-long grass roots effort to gain official recognition of the historic, cultural, and rural character and value of this area comprised of a network of never-paved rural roads in southwest Loudoun County.  The District’s guidelines call for the preservation of unpaved roads within its boundaries.

We recognize that the current proposal to pave several roads does not list any of the roads within the District for paving, and we support that, HOWEVER, we urge that the communities within which any roads are proposed for paving be involved in and instrumental to the decision making process.  Consideration of historic value, contribution to our culture or heritage and historic resources, which will be impacted by the paving of roads, must be considered and weighed against perceived benefits.  We support the residents of the New Road who together oppose the paving of that road.

I appreciate the opportunity to comment on this matter in connection with development of the new 6-year plan.

Thank You.