COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR UPPER BROAD RUN AND UPPER FOLEY SUBAREAS AND THE ARCOLA AREA/ROUTE 50 PLAN

WHEREAS, The Town of Middleburg welcomes the opportunity to be an active participant in a process of significant influence to the character of Western Loudoun and the County as a whole; and

WHEREAS, the Middleburg Town Council, on August 17, 2006, unanimously voted to authorize members of Council to attend a Stakeholder's Meeting hosted by the Loudoun County Planning Commission on August 28, 2006, to speak on the Council's behalf in opposition to CPAM 2005-0003 & 0007; and

WHEREAS, the financial health and economic well being of the Town of Middleburg will be devastated by the increase in CPAM traffic that will isolate the Town. Middleburg is a tourist destination, whose budget is largely dependent on tourist revenue, which depends on reasonable access from public highways throughout Loudoun County. It is clear to the Town that the proposed CPAM would bring traffic to a halt and threaten businesses. It will also impede our resident's ability to get to and from work, county services, health care, hospitals and travel throughout the areas along Route 50; and

WHEREAS, a recent community assessment of Western Loudoun Towns, funded through the Main Street Loudoun Program, suggests encroaching suburban development and/or over-built revitalization efforts are liabilities to community character and the tourist experience of Western Loudoun; and

WHEREAS, The Loudoun Convention and Visitor Association has consistently determined through studies that the travel route to a destination is a critical part of its success; and

WHEREAS, issues most critical to the Town in relation to the proposed changes to the Loudoun County Transition Policy Area arise from the philosophy suggested by the Transition Policy; namely, a philosophy of distinct visual and spatial transition between the built and natural environment, a philosophy that lends itself to the unique and distinct character and charm experienced and expected by the residents and tourists of Western Loudoun; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Middleburg favors a cautious approach regarding amendments contradicting the intent and spirit of the Transition Policy Area; and

WHEREAS, potential construction of tens of thousands of new residential units and commercial businesses as a result of this amendment, primarily along the Route 50 corridor, would degrade the quality of life of the residents of Middleburg and the greater Middleburg area, dramatically increase the average daily vehicle trips along Route 50, require new schools to be built above those already planned and would further increase the County tax burden; and

WHEREAS, the East-West Route 50 corridor and its collector roads are reaching carrying capacity and will continue to decrease in their level of service should higher density development continue to encroach to the West;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Middleburg Town Council does hereby oppose requests for amendments to Loudoun County Revised General Plan that threaten the financial health and economic well being of the Town of Middleburg, diminish the visual and spatial transition between Eastern and Western Loudoun and erode the unique and distinct character and charm of Western Loudoun.

VOTE:
AYES: Council members Hyre, Kirk, Murdock, Patterson, Robinson, Snyder
NAYS: None