Country Spirit – Spring 2018

Join our effort to send an appeal to the Loudoun BOS to DENY the rezoning of land along the Goose Creek for a Data Center. Please download the following letter, sign and email to all the Supervisors listed.

Thank you for your support. Click link for copy of letter.

True North Sample letter 12-18-17

To: The Honorable Members of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors

Phyllis J. Randall (Chair at Large): phyllis.randall@loudoun.gov
Ralph M. Buona, Vice Chairman (Ashburn): ralph.buona@loudoun.gov
Suzanne M. Volpe, (Algonkian): suzanne.volpe@loudoun.gov
Tony R. Buffington Jr., (Blue Ridge): tony.buffington@loudoun.gov
Ron A. Meyer Jr., (Broad Run): ron.meyer@loudoun.gov
Geary M. Higgins (Catoctin): geary.higgins@loudoun.gov
Matthew F. Letourneau (Dulles): matt.letourneau@loudoun.gov
Kristen C. Umstattd (Leesburg): kristen.umstattd@loudoun.gov
Koran T. Saines (Sterling): koran.saines@loudoun.gov

Re: True North Data Center Rezoning Request, ZMAP-2017-0003, ZMOD-2017-0011

Dear Supervisor

Protecting and preserving the environment and quality of life in the Goose Creek Watershed and ensuring the integrity of Goose Creek itself is a matter of critical importance to residents and visitors of Loudoun County. I am writing today to ask that you PLEASE VOTE TO DENY THIS REZONING APPLICATION, scheduled for final vote on January18, 2018.

The True North Data center rezoning decision now pits vital resource protection against potential revenues. This stream of revenue is likely be replaced by continued data center development in areas of the county now zoned and prepared to host such a use. To approve this untimely and ill-warranted rezoning request is to bow unnecessarily to accommodate an industry already provided with multiple site options available without resort to rezoning.

Goose Creek is a valuable source of drinking water for Loudoun and Fairfax Counties. I ask you, the elected representatives of the individuals and families who live in and love this County, please vote to protect our irreplaceable and threatened water resources, protect Goose Creek, Deny the True North rezoning application. All Loudoun residents and visitors will thank you for protecting our state scenic river.

With sincere regards,

November 8, 2017

Fauquier County Board of Supervisors
Warren Green Building
10 Hotel Street, Suite 208
Warrenton, Virginia 20186

RE: Comments On Resolution Supporting Rehabilitation of the Waterloo Bridge

Dear Supervisors:

The Goose Creek Association1 (GCA) is pleased to provide you with the following comments related to the Waterloo Bridge Resolution:

• GCA urges the BOS to vote in favor of the resolution supporting the rehabilitation of the Waterloo Bridge.

• Good citizens and the community have joined together to protect and preserve the bridge’s historic heritage in a cost efficient and economical manner.

• A vote in support of the resolution is a vote for preserving the historic character of our countryside and local roadways.

For these reasons, we urge the Board of Supervisors to vote in favor of the resolution supporting the rehabilitation of the Waterloo Bridge.

Sincerely yours,

Lori Keenan McGuinness
Chair for Fauquier County

VIA EMAIL:

Richard Gerhardt, Chairman – Cedar Run District – rick.gerhardt@fauquiercounty.gov
Christoper Butler – Vice Chairman – Lee District – chris.butler@fauquiercounty.gov
Mary Leigh McDaniel – Marshall District – maryleigh.mcdaniel@fauquiercounty.gov
Christopher Granger – Center District – chris.granger@fauquiercounty.gov
Holder Trumbo, Jr. – Scott District – holder.trumbo@fauquiercounty.gov
Board of Supervisors – Main – bos@fauquiercounty.gov

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1 The Goose Creek Association (GCA) is charged with monitoring stream water quality, proposed developments, zoning changes, and other actions that have potential impact on the environment and quality of life in the Goose Creek watershed in Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, VA. We are a nonprofit 501C3 organization with hundreds of members who share a determination to protect and preserve the natural resources, historic heritage and rural quality of life found in this beautiful part of Virginia.

To: The Honorable Members of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors:
Phyllis.Randall@loudoun.gov ; ralph.buona@loudoun.gov ; suzanne.volpe@loudoun.gov ; Tony.Buffington@loudoun.gov ; ron.meyer@loudoun.gov ; Geary.Higgins@loudoun.gov ; Matt.Letourneau@loudoun.gov ; Kristen.Umstattd@loudoun.gov ; Koran.Saines@loudoun.gov

From: Goose Creek Association
Re: True North Rezoning Application ZMAP-2017-0003, ZMOD-2017-0011

Date: October 25, 2017

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board:

This letter is written to you to express the strong opposition of the Goose Creek Association regarding the proposed rezoning application from True North Data, requesting 105.6 Acres to be rezoned from TR-10 to Planned Office Park, in order to accommodate a 750,000 square foot data center. We urge you to deny this application for the following reasons:

1. The proposed new use is NOT in conformance with and is a fundamental direction change from the existing Comprehensive Plan. Additionally, given that the County has entered into a public process, “Envision Loudoun,” to review and update its current Plan, the decision to approve the proposed rezoning would be premature and would be taken without proper consideration due such a significant use change.

2. Questions still remain regarding the protection of Goose Creek, a State Scenic River and an important source of clean drinking water for thousands of users in the Goose Creek and Potomac River watersheds. While we appreciate Low Impact Development practices have been proffered, there is no way to ensure that they will result in adequate, effective storm water management in an area immediately adjacent to a significant expanse of Goose Creek. Accidental chemical spillage, possible impact of flooding of Goose Creek onto the subject property, large expanses of asphalt and a 42% developed building site utilizing impervious surfaces generating significant water and pollutant run off, and the potential for a compromised riparian buffer zone may impact the integrity of Goose Creek and the acceptability of its waters as a public resource for consumption and recreation.

3. A globally rare Northern Piedmont Maffic Barren Rock Community has been identified by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation on the northeast portion of the proposed site. It is unclear what, if any effort will be taken to protect this important area.

It is well known that Loudoun County benefits economically from the development and operation of data centers. The County has wisely zoned for such development in areas within the Suburban Policy Area that can and do appropriately provide both an acceptable commercial environment and adequate infrastructure to serve data centers. According to the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development, the Route 606 corridor has current approved zoning for 43 additional data center sites of varying size where several data centers are now located. These already zoned areas can reportedly accommodate millions more square feet of development.

Rezoning in this particularly environmentally sensitive area of the TPA would send the wrong signal to residents in the TPA who have relied on the existing zoning, as well as prospective employers seeking locations in counties that choose to protect the environment.

Surely, given the wealth of space available and already zoned today to accommodate the growth of data centers in Loudoun, it is unnecessary to invade areas planned for less intensive use and scale within other Policy Areas, including the Transition Policy Area.

Thank you for your attention and we respectfully request that your vote to deny this rezoning application.

Sincerely,

Bonnie Mattingly Lori McGuinness
GCA Co-Chair Loudoun County GCA Co-Chair Fauquier County

________________________________
1 The Goose Creek Association (GCA) is charged with monitoring stream water quality, proposed developments, legislation, zoning changes, and other actions that have potential impact on the environment and quality of life in the Goose Creek watershed in Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, VA. We are a nonprofit 501C3 organization with hundreds of members who share a determination to protect and preserve the natural resources, historic heritage and rural quality of life found in this beautiful part of Virginia.

Date: October 25, 2017

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
1 Harrison Street, S.E., Fifth Floor
P.O. Box 7000
Leesburg, VA 20177-7000

To: The Honorable Members of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors
From: Goose Creek Association
Re: Transition Policy Area

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board:

On behalf of the Goose Creek Association1 (GCA) whose mission is to protect and preserve the environment and quality of life in the Goose Creek Watershed which includes a large portion of the Transition Policy Area in Loudoun County. We are submitting the following comments regarding the Transition Policy Area.

The GCA applauds your recognition of the citizens’ desire to retain a functional transition area that is true to its original definition stated in the Comprehensive Plan as a “…permanently defined policy area to provide a visual and spatial transition between the suburban development in the eastern part of the County and rural development in the West”. We are very encouraged by several of your recently published comments that denounce the direction the Stakeholder’s Committee has taken with the Transition Policy Area. This area has always been one of our biggest concerns due to its higher population density within the watershed and the current proposals have us extremely alarmed.

The purpose of the Transition Policy Area according to the current Comprehensive Plan established in 2001, is to serve as a buffer between the suburban eastern part of the County, and the rural western part of the County. The Transition Policy Area includes restrictions on housing and development specifically to protect and preserve Loudoun’s rural landscape and its natural resources. Now, after 15 years of unprecedented growth and development, these restrictions have become even more important for the preservation of our endangered countryside.

The proposal that we should remove our development protections because of “projected population growth” is only rational to those who stand to profit from the endeavor. This misguided approach would ultimately lead to losing the Transition Policy Area, and also eventually the Rural Policy Area, while further exacerbating all of our current population and congestion issues. The Stakeholder’s Committee should refocus their energy on solutions that operate within the current policy area boundaries, such as how to promote responsible growth in the Suburban Policy Area and how to manage appropriate growth in the Transition Policy Area.

The citizens of Loudoun County have come forward almost unanimously in the Envision Loudoun meetings with sentiments that mirror our convictions. The citizen comments have been overwhelmingly in favor of limiting future growth and implementing additional protections of our natural resources. Please put your constituents first and reinforce the policy area restrictions that help preserve our quality of life, scenic landscape, and limited resources, in particular water resources, including drinking water, for future generations.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Bonnie Mattingly Lori McGuinness
GCA Co-Chair Loudoun County GCA Co-Chair Fauquier County

VIA Email:

Phyllis J. Randall (Chair at Large): phyllis.randall@loudoun.gov
Ralph M. Buona, Vice Chairman (Ashburn): ralph.buona@loudoun.gov
Suzanne M. Volpe, (Algonkian): suzanne.volpe@loudoun.gov
Tony R. Buffington Jr., (Blue Ridge): tony.buffington@loudoun.gov
Ron A. Meyer Jr., (Broad Run): ron.meyer@loudoun.gov
Geary M. Higgins (Catoctin): geary.higgins@loudoun.gov
Matthew F. Letourneau (Dulles): matt.letourneau@loudoun.gov
Kristen C. Umstattd (Leesburg): kristin.umstattd@loudoun.gov
Koran T. Saines (Sterling): koran.saines@loudoun.gov

________________________________
1 The Goose Creek Association (GCA) is charged with monitoring stream water quality, proposed developments, legislation, zoning changes, and other actions that have potential impact on the environment and quality of life in the Goose Creek watershed in Fauquier and Loudoun Counties, VA. We are a nonprofit 501C3 organization with hundreds of members who share a determination to protect and preserve the natural resources, historic heritage and rural quality of life found in this beautiful part of Virginia.