Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York (I-At Large) got an earful from western Loudoun citizens at his recent open meeting held at the Purcellsville town offices on March 31 at 7 pm. However, it often seemed that York, who was the chair of the previous smart growth board, was preaching to the choir. During discussions that ranged from secession to school siting, York told the approximately 70 citizens in the audience, many of whom were concerned about the recent Virginia Supreme Court ruling against the revised Loudoun zoning ordinance, and some of whom were supporting secession by the western county, "More growth doesn't solve growth-related problems."

Western town mayors from Purcellsville, Round Hill and Hamilton were on the dais with Chairman York, and Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) was in the audience. High on the list of issues that citizens wanted to talk about was the proposed siting for a second western high school. Citizens raised serious traffic safety concerns with a Hamilton location. Purcellsville Mayor Bill Druhan stated that the school board was being "reactive, not proactive" in considering western school sites.

Citizens raised serious traffic safety concerns with a Hamilton location. Purcellsville Mayor Bill Druhan stated that the school board was being "reactive, not proactive" in considering western school sites.

Western Loudoun resident and well-known activist Marcia Degarmo asked about the status of western land use policy given the recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned the revised Loudoun zoning ordinance. Chairman York, who was deprived of most of the traditional prerogatives of board chairman at the first meeting of the newly elected board in 2004, responded, "I'm not controlling the agenda so I can't promise anything. I hope the board will make a public statement about going forward, and that at a minimum there will be opportunities for public input."

Middleburg area resident Jean Ann Feneis asked about the court ruling's affect on the Salamander Inn project. York said "(Dr. Johnson) is in a predicament" because non-residential uses such as the inn, which were permitted under the revised ordinance, are now in limbo until the board responds to the Supreme Court decision.

York said citizens were let down when the Loudoun board refused to go back to the court for reconsideration, given that other jurisdictions might have joined a Loudoun appeal. When a citizen asked whether the western secession movement to create Catoctin County put pressure on the Loudoun board to moderate its actions, York and Burton said yes. York and Burton (who said he is familiar with the frustration that he heard voiced in the audience) also strongly urged citizens to contact the Board of Supervisors directly to make their concerns about issues known.

York promised that he would hold similar meetings in the future in other areas of the western county.