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
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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)
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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