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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1982_03_10_R033 TOWN OF LEESBURG IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA PRESENTED March 10~ 1982 AMENDED March 10, 1982 RESOLUTION NO. 82-33 ADOPTED March 10~ 1982 A RESOLUTION: APPROVING A PLAN FOR ANNEXATION OF TERRITORY TO THE TOWN OF LEESBURG WHEREAS, this Council carefully studied expansion of the Leesburg corporate limits and secured information clearly demonstrating annexation is in the public interest and benefits the town, areas now outside the town and Loudoun County; and WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 82-0-9 adopted this date the Town of Leesburg initiated annexation of some 15.3 square miles of land in the Leesburg area; and WHEREAS, the residents of Leesburg and Loudoun County are entitled to an early explanation of the reasons for this action and a statement of this Council's policies with regard to annexation in addition to other supporting information which will be available later through filings with the Local Government Commission, the Special Annexation Court and required public hearings: THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as follows: SECTION I. This Council adopts the following statement on its plans for annexation of territory now outside the corporate limits. 1. Leesburg intends to pursue annexation under statutes giving towns the right and obligation to assume jurisdiction of urban and developing areas around its corporate limits under the well established principle of Virginia local govern- ment law that urban areas should be governed by municipalities and rural areas should be governed by counties. Appropriate resources of the town are to be assigned to vigorously and effectively seek equitable resolution of the annexation - 2- plan. Leesburg seeks only to govern those areas, in cooperation with Loudoun County, in which its vital interests lie, specifically those developing at an urban density, those surrounding important town owned facilities and those areas required to protect and preserve intact Leesburg's identity as a distinct urban area surrounded by country-side and agricultural uses. 2. Leesburg will not permanently renounce its rights to become a city in exchange for limited annexation authority. The price to be paid by future Leesburg residents for short-term annexation gains exceeds benefits derived from such an agreement with Loudoun County. Leesburg has no intention of studying or considering city status within the time frame of this annexation and considers the city status issue premature. This position is based on the following: (a) Permanent renunciation denies future residents a choice over their form of government. (b) Loudoun County could become a city in the future and unilaterally down-grade Leesburg to a "township". (c) The county could become overly expensive to Leesburg as demands for urban services in eastern Loudoun are met by new and expanded county programs. (d) Leesburg could grow to a population which makes city status more efficient than the combination of town and county governments. (e) The possibility of city conversion is a strong negotiating tool which should be retained in Leesburg's future dealings with Loudoun County. (f) Future state legislation could reduce the authority and resources of the town. (g) Leesburg gains little by permanently renouncing rights to future city status conversion. 3. Leesburg has previously expressed willingness to negotiate annexation issues with Loudoun County and to consider legitimate concerns Loudoun County has over issues specifically related to this annexation. The town's action to initiate annexation under Article 1, Chapter 25, Title 15.1 of the State Code begins a process which includes (1) formal notice to all affected local governments, (2) submission of detailed information to the Virginia Commission of Local Government by both the town and county and (3) -3- meetings between the town and county under the auspices of the Con~,~ssion all occurring during a period of up to six months before a formal suit can be filed. 4. Traditional annexation procedure involving the Virginia Local Govern- ment Commission and Special Annexation Court gives ample opportunity for agree- ment between the town and county. While both Loudoun County and Leesburg will inevitably incur expenses in the proceeding, costs will not become unreasonable unless a confrontation arises over procedural technicalities. Leesburg takes at face value the Loudoun County Resource Management Plan which advocates growth in and around Leesburg, expansion of the Leesburg utilities systems and extension of the town corporate limits. 5. Leesburg believes the proposed annexation benefits the existing town, the area proposed to be annexed and Loudoun County in these ways: (a) The existing town benefits by stabilization of tax rates, improved public service efficiencies, protection of utility service area, a larger voice in county affairs, extension of control over Leesburg area development, control of Leesburg Airport and airport development area and a broader opportunity for economic development. (b) Annexation area residents benefit from town services including ex- panded police protection, refuse collection services, street maintenance, snow removal, street lighting, citizen enfranchisement, improved de- livery and coordination of public services, prompt extension of cable television service, improved environmental protection and the future development of recreation facilities and elimination of the 50 percent utility surcharge. (c) Loudoun County benefits by a reduced demand on county services from the area proposed to be annexed, the strengthening of service capa- bilities of the town in an area the county has designated for develop- ment and by a strengthened town government which reduces the likelihood of future city transition. SECTION II. This resolution shall be published in full in the Loudoun Times Mirror March 18, 1982 edition. PASSED this 10th day of ATTEST March , 1982. ·, Ma~ Town of Leesburg