Smell the Waste? Yes, the waste that is wasted open space, wasted fresh water, wasted sewage capacity, wasted opportunities. While appearing disparate, there is a linkage.

As you read this, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is considering whether to uphold the AR-2 zoning passed by the former board of Supervisors. The minimum lot size allowed with AR-2 is 50 acres. The Board has been sued over the zoning and are determining whether to defend, settle or walk away from the suits. It doesn't look good for the AR-2 zoning. This means that what we thought might be one house per 50 acres, may become one house per 3 acres – a developer's dream come true.

If the Salamander Inn and Spa is built, that will result in 68 acres being developed and 202 acres put in a conservation easement. If the Inn is not built and the land sold, under AR-2 there is the potential for about five houses in the county property. If the AR-2 zoning is reversed, there is the potential for 90 houses on the county property. The topography of the land will not support the full build out, but you can visualize the impact of 60 to 90 houses with the associated roads, parking, septic fields, etc. The Inn is a by-right use up to 120 rooms - one owner, one responsible party. With R3 zoning there is the potential for 90 owners and 90 responsible parties. What would you rather see? Make yourself heard.

Whitman, Requardt & Associates submitted an "Evaluation of a Potential Extension of Water and Sewer Service to the Harriman Tract" report to the Middleburg Town Council on 21 June 2004. With the addition of Well 4 and the current growth projections, Middleburg has enough water through 2027. However, there are still major problems with the water system. The town is still paying to pump over 30% more water than reaches the houses and businesses due to leaks in the system. The citizens and businesses of Middleburg are paying for the cost of this water.

The report declares that wastewater is the bigger problem right now. Can your checkbook support a 10.% yearly increase in the water and sewer usage fees over an expected 3 year period at the very least? According to the Capital Improvement Plan, that is what it will take for the sewer system capacity to remain at status quo. That means no new taps – in other words, no new building.

The town has just released the report. It is available at http://www.middleburg.org/report.pdfs/wra.pdf. READ IT!

This report details where we are and where we are projected to be. It highlights the need for 4-5 million dollars of improvements to the sewer system, approximately $10,500 per water customer. The majority of these improvements aren't needed because of massive growth estimates, but due to modest growth projections based on Middleburg's Comprehensive Plan.

Don't just take my word for it, don't rely on someone else's seven second sound bite, read the report, get a copy of Middleburg's Capital Improvement Plan, educate yourselves.

Who will pay for these improvements? What happens when we have no more sewer capacity?

Find out; talk to your town council members; get involved. This is an issue to be addressed by the residents and businesses of Middleburg. We are at a turning point and need to wake up and smell the waste. The Salamander Inn will be built. The report recommends a partnership with the town and the Inn to address the sewer issues. Salamander can manage their sewer on their property, but as the report says it would be better to combined efforts.

Get in this game before it is over. Why should the residents and businesses of Middleburg be saddled with the total cost of the improvements? Sewage plant improvements are necessary with or without Salamander. It is time the Middleburg residents and businesses make their voices heard, and do what is best for the town. This is going to take courage and initiative from our elected officials. Why don't you help to motivate them?

Can you afford the Waste?