Update: On Tuesday, July 21, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 6-2 to approve a special exception for Kincora, the 5,500 seat baseball stadium at Rt 7 & Rt 28. Because a number of environmental issues and traffic concerns were still unresolved, Supervisors Andrea McGimsey (Potomac) and Jim Burton (Blue Ridge) voted to deny the special exception.

A rendition of Kincora's baseball stadium proposed along Rt 7 & 28, across from Dulles Town Center in Loucoun County.

Kincora's Proposed Baseball Stadium
The minor league baseball stadium would be built at Rt. 7 & 28, just across from the Dulles Town Center (see map). The developer also wants to include 900,000 sq ft of office and 74,000 sq ft of retail and service space with the 5,500 fixed seat stadium. The stadium could hold up to 10,000 people--and would include office, retail and 1,400 multiple family residential units added in Phase 2.

Because the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball wants an answer ASAP, the Board has been asked to vote on the special exception for the stadium before the combined impacts of the entire proposal, including traffic impacts, can be fully analyzed. Numerous impacts related to transportation, the environment, and inconsistencies with the county's Comprehensive Plan & Zoning Ordinance remain unresolved and are detailed in the county staff report, linked below.

Risky Financing
The developer proposes to finance the stadium and road improvements with a Community Development Authority (CDA) Bond, which would be paid back through premiums placed on residential units. County staff and the Finance Committee has indicated concerns regarding the viability of the proposed CDA financing. If the CDA repayment plan fails, the County will have to repay the debt, which will impact taxpayers and the County's AAA bond rating.

Since this plan seems too risky for the County, the Finance Committee voted 3-2 to recommend suspending work on the proposed CDA. Supervisors Burton, Kurtz, and Miller, also members of the committee, voted to recommend suspension to the Board. If the Board votes to suspend the CDA next Tuesday, the applicant would have to find alternative sources to fund the stadium and roads. More information and reports are linked below in the additional resources box.

Environmental Concerns
In addition to the questionable financing, significant environmental concerns still exist regarding mitigation efforts for this development. The parcel with the proposed stadium does not have space for mitigation measures, so they are proposed to take effect on the adjacent parcel planned for Phase 2 development. Since these phases are actually separate applications, the stadium may be constructed before mitigation efforts could take place. Concerns also exist on steep slopes, environmentally sensitive areas, river and stream corridors, wetlands, and wildlife habitat located on these parcels.

Gather the Facts First
Many of us love baseball, but this is not about whether a baseball stadium belongs in Loudoun. It's about whether the proposed location makes sense for a stadium and whether it conforms to the Comprehensive Plan designed to protect and enhance the communities of Loudoun. Will this type of land use ultimately benefit us, or will we pay with more time in traffic, higher taxes, and environmental degradation?

Early this year the Board promised to do an analysis of the Route 28 corridor in order to figure out what type of development would most benefit the county and its residents. Deciding on this stadium, before the promised analysis has taken place, just doesn't make sense.

Baseball could be a great fit for Loudoun where it is planned and easily accessible by highway and metro. But not where it means more out-of-county traffic hitting our already crowded Rt 7 and Rt 28 at rush hour multiple nights a week. There is no plan for transit at this location, even in the long-term.

For more information, please contact Loudoun County Field Officers Gem Bingol, 703-431-6941 & Ed Gorkski at 703-727-9632.

News Articles

Play Ball! Stadium Approved For Kincora (Leesburg Today 7/23/09)

Zoning Changes for Stadium Approved(The Washington Post, 7/23/09)

Ballpark Developers Drop CDA Financing Plan (Leesburg Today, 7/17/09)
Committee Suspends Work on Kincora Financing Plan (Leesburg Today, 7/15/09)