Better Site Design Workshop

On November 18th, 2009, PEC sponsored a workshop in Leesburg in order to inform Town staff and decision-makers about the benefits of improving site design for water quality. The Better Site Design concept, which was presented by the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP), covers 4 categories of development including:

• Residential streets and parking lots
• Lot development
• Conservation of natural areas
• Stormwater management

The workshop focus was narrowed, however, to just the ways development could be improved by reducing the impervious cover of streets, sidewalks and parking lots, providing case studies and a hands-on exercise challenging participants to improve an existing site plan.

Although the workshop focused on the Town of Leesburg, PEC took the opportunity to reach a wider audience, inviting elected officials, Planning Commissioners and staff from the other Towns in Loudoun, Loudoun County, Clarke County, Fauquier County and the Town of Berryville.

Interest in the workshop was strong, with a total attendance of 64, including many Planning Commissioners from the various localities. This workshop not only informed those who would submit and implement better practices but also those who would evaluate and recommend approval or denial of plans. The feedback we've received has been very positive with many saying that the workshop exceeded their expectations.

The workshop builds on PEC's community-based work protecting the Leesburg watershed. It was made possible by a grant from Fairfax Water and additional support from the Town of Leesburg.

Background: Improving Leesburg's Urban Watershed
Starting in 2002, to supplement our long-standing conservation and land use work, PEC partnered with the Goose Creek Association to contract with CWP for a baseline and vulnerability analysis of the entire Goose Creek watershed in Loudoun and Fauquier, including 3 more in-depth sub-watershed plans as a pilot for our overall work. The initial focus was mostly on rural lands; however, the study indicated that the Town of Leesburg had the most impaired waters, so PEC launched an effort to help improve the Town's watersheds.

We were able to highlight the need for watershed protection as the Town was going through its Comprehensive Plan review. Because of the baseline data we had collected, watersheds were given attention that they had not previously received.

Based on the responsiveness of the Town Council, PEC again sought grant funds for water quality work in the area-this time for a more in-depth study of the major watershed in Leesburg. We received the endorsement of the Council which also initiated a Town-based steering committee to monitor the work. When the study was complete and recommendations in-hand, a permanent watershed committee was asked to make its own set of recommendations for actions on the part of the Town. PEC staff now sits on this committee and has helped shepherd the changes required to implement one major recommendation of the report-foresting dry ponds. With additional grants to support the recommendations in the CWP study, PEC has led one and supported another tree-planting effort, one in a highly visible riparian location in town and one in an HOA dry pond, remaining an involved and committed community partner.