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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2000_12_12_r245 Communicating Interim Comments on the County's Draft General PlanThe Town of Leesburg, Virginia RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION: 2000-245 PRESENTED December 12~ 2000 ADOPTED December 12, 2000 COMMUNICATING THE TOWN OF LEESBURG'S INTERIM COMMENTS ON LOUDOUN COUNTY'S DRAFT GENERAL PLAN AND DRAFT COUNTYWIDE TRANSPORTATION PLAN WHEREAS, Loudoun County is preparing revisions to its General Plan and 1995 Countywide Transportation Plan and is seeking comments from the Town of Leesburg with respect to these Plans; and WHEREAS, the Town of Leesburg Planning Staff has reviewed the proposed draft General Plan and the draft Countywide Transportation Plan and prepared a Memorandum outlining some of the impacts that the proposed Plans would have on the Town of Leesburg; and WHEREAS, the Town Council wishes to communicate to Loudoun County that while it appreciates the opportunity to have its comments considered during the review process, the Town still has a number of issues and concerns about the proposed Draft Plans and would like the opportunity to be briefed by County Staff on the impacts of the Plans on' Leesburg and its Urban Growth Area. . THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of Leesburg in Virginia that the Town hereby transmit the Town's Interim comments on the proposed draft General Plan and draft Countywide Transportation Plan. The Town expects to have additional comments submitted to Loudoun County after the Town Council works with staff to finalize its review of the proposed draft plans. Secondly, before the Plans are finalized the Town Council would like the opportunity to meet with Loudoun County staff before Planning Commission Certification of the Plans to be briefed by them as to how the revised General Plan and Countywide Transportation Plan impact Leesburg and its Urban Growth Area. PASSED this 12th day of December 2000. ATTEST: Mayor Town of Leesburg k of Council INTERIM TOWN OF LEESBURG COMMENTS December 12, 2000 o o The Town is pleased to note that the draft Plan maintains the boundaries of the Urban Growth Area (UGA) around Leesburg. The Town wants to reaffirm the Plan's intent to not take any action regarding the Town's Annexation Study until the Town's is complete. Throughout the draft Plan, reference is made to the potential use of communal water and wastewater treatment systems adjacent to the Town and adjacent to and in Urban Growth Areas. The Town's position regarding communal facilities is expressed in Town Resolution Number 2000-101 (Exhibit B), within which it is stated..."The Town hereby urges the County, for the reason stated in the recitals, to specifically exclude Leesburg from an comprehensive plan action related to communal water and wastewater facilities in UGA's." This Resolution is dated May 23, 2000. This comment should be reiterated to the County for their information and consideration. Throughout the draft Plan, reference is made to the extensive application of Green Infrastructure in general and in relation to new development. The County defines Green Infrastructure as being composed of interrelated natural and man-made features including: stream corridors, major and minor floodplain, mountainside, limestone areas, prime agricultural soils, view sheds, public trails, parks and open space, scenic by-ways, and public historic properties. The County is to be commended for making the effort to preserve its natural and man-made resources. Town staff would simply request that the Town be included in the development of the design guidelines and regulatory requirements that would implement this new policy. Staff is particularly interested in how the policy and regulations might be applied relative to view sheds and scenic vistas in and around the UGA. The draft Plan also advocates the creation of the River and Stream Corridor Overlay District (RSCOD) to protect streams and tributary streams located within the County's regulated 100-year floodplain and adjacent steep slopes. Staff agrees with the importance of protecting this valuable resource. Staff's only concern is that once the buffer setbacks are established (in addition to the existing Scenic Creek Valley Buffer regulations) that the application of such regulation does not significantly reduce available developable land in the UGA. The use of greenbelts around the Town and within the UGA is discussed in Chapter Eight: The Towns (note page 8-9). While these proposed greenbelts do not appear to encroach upon the UGA, staff recommends that these areas be clearly mapped to avoid any potential for confusion. Regarding the draft Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP), the following comments should be forwarded to the County to be incorporated into the draft; Provide the Westem Transportation Corridor along the power line easement per the previous CTP, Virginia Department of Transportation's 2020 Plan, and the Town's Transportation Plan. The CTP (Chapter 6) explains the current Loudoun County Board's formula for gas tax revenue distribution. However, it did not mention that the Town of Leesburg receives 20 percent of the gas tax revenue. o The Town Council requests to meeting with the County staff before Planning Commission certification to be briefed on how the revised General Plan and Countywide Transportation Plan would impact Leesburg. The T~wn of Leesburg, Virginia RESOLUTION NO.. A RESOLUTION: EXHIBIT B , ?RESENTED_May_23_2tm 2000-101 -- ADO~ May ~q. COMMENTING ON LOUDOUN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO AI.I.OW COMMUNAL FACII.ITtES FOR PUBLIC INSTITU~ONS IN UGAs WHEREAS, Loudoun County proposes a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) to allow communal water and wastewater facilities to serve public institutions in the town's Urban Growth Areas (UGAs); and WHEREAS, the county has requested comment on the proposed CPAM from the towns with UGAs; and WHEREAS, I) the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment is in direct conflict with Virginia State Water Control Board law regarding wastewater treatment in the Dulles-area · ,'atershed; 2) in conflict with previous agreements between the county and the town which state that if utilities are to be extended into the Leesburg UGA that the town be permitted to extend utilities and 3) if the town elected not to extend utilities it is the town's position that package plants not be permitted in the town's UGA for public facilities; and WHE~S, the Dulles-area watershed encompasses Leesburg and our surrounding UGA, subjecting Leesburg to special waste treatment policies inconsistent with the county's proposal. THERe':ORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as follows: The town hereby urges the county, for.the reasons stated in the recitals, to specifically exclude Leesburg from any comprehensive plan action related to communal water and wastewater ~'- qities in UGAs. A RESOLUTION: -2- COMMENTING ON LOUDOUN COUNTY COMPRP_,HISNSIVE PLAN AME. N"DMENT.). PAS$1~D this 23rd day of M~y, 2000. ATTEST: erk of Council .~es E. Clem, Mayor Town of Leesburg