Loudoun County
PEC stands with citizens to build excellent communities, relieve taxes and traffic, and protect open space in Loudoun. We work to maintain a balance between the towns, the suburbs and the country so residents can enjoy each of them.
Ask Your State and Federal Reps to Help Stop the Outer Beltway
Rather than solve traffic problems, a billion dollar Outer Beltway will spark higher levels of residential development within the Prince William Rural Crescent and the Loudoun rural Transition Area, adding more traffic to already congested east-west commuter routes. Send an email to your State and Federal Representatives >>
What's Happening In and Around Loudoun
How to Find Local Food in Loudoun?
As this year's growing season gets underway, the Piedmont Environmental Council's (PEC) Buy Fresh Buy Local guides are reaching every home in PEC’s nine-county region. In Loudoun County, the guides will be sent to 117,889 homes, and they feature over 125 local food producers and distributors. Among the listings are 65 local farms, 10 farmers’ markets, 27 wineries, 19 restaurants, and 9 grocers all in Loudoun County.
Loudoun Landowners Protect Over 700 Acres in 2012
PEC Press Release -- Jan 15, 2013
Seven properties in Loudoun County, totaling more than 730 acres, were protected by conservation easements in 2012. This brings the County’s total to nearly 51,000 acres or 15% of the total land.
Outer Beltway Issue Heats Up
VDOT is pushing to create a new major highway in Northern Virginia referred to (among other names) as the Outer Beltway. As we see it, this controversial new highway would cut through a National Park, open up over 100,000 acres to new development, and has the potential to actually increase traffic congestion on other roads. PEC and our partner groups are hosting community meetings on the proposed Outer Beltway.
Loudoun Clean Streams Coalition
The Clean Streams Coalition is a group of Loudoun County citizens and local organizations that want to protect and restore our streams. Water is a crucial resource, and will become more important and more scarce in years to come. By safeguarding Loudoun’s streams today, we help ensure that future generations of Loudoun citizens will have access to plentiful, clean water tomorrow.
Read more...
The Loudoun Outdoors Guide
The following articles appeared in PEC's Membership Newsletter -- The Piedmont View
Going Native
Protecting the Piedmont: Conservation Easements Preserve Over 357,000 Acres
Transportation: Virginia Has A Choice To Make
Find Events Near You
There are always a ton of great conservation-themed events happening throughout the Piedmont. Whatever your interests -- local food, nature, history, getting outdoors or learning something new -- there is sure to be an interesting event on the horizon!
Loudoun -- More Local Issues
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May 21, 2013
School Location Matters
Building a new school, like any major construction project, requires a lot of thought and planning. And with that planning comes the need to address the concerns citizens in the nearby area might have about its impacts -- traffic, noise and lights, just to name a few. Which is why it's concerning to hear that Loudoun County is considering changes to the Zoning Ordinance that would allow public schools to be built 'By-Right', pretty much anywhere -- removing the public's ability to give input. This text was taken from an email alert sent out on May 21st, 2013: Read More -
May 10, 2013
We Drink This Stuff
Loudoun, like all counties in our area, is taking steps to reduce the pollutants flowing into local streams and creeks, including sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, among others. The County's proposed plan aims to make local streams like Sugarland Run, Goose Creek, Catoctin Creek, Bull Run healthier, safer for recreation, a cleaner source of drinking water, and also do our part to restore water quality in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. We all need to participate to make it happen and your individual actions and support of the plan are important to its success. This text is from an May 10th email alert. Read More -
Apr 23, 2013
Food and Fun in Loudoun
All of a sudden it's spring! And with the season comes two important events: 1. The release of the 2013 Loudoun Buy Fresh Buy Local guide, your guide for where to find local food and drink in Loudoun, and 2. EarthDay@Loudoun at Broadlands, an annual event (happening on April 28th this year) that brings together eco-conscious folks from around the entire county and region. This text was taken from an email alert sent out on April 23rd, 2013. Read More -
Sep 11, 2012
Amendments to Facilities Standards Manual and Zoning Code
The Loudoun Board of Supervisors is considering changes to the Zoning Ordinance and the Facilities Standards Manual that would concede the local government’s ability to protect the County’s natural and historic resources from development, as well as limit the public’s ability to provide input as development is proposed in the community. Read More -
Apr 27, 2012
Belmont Ridge a Part of the Outer Beltway? Examine the Evidence
The Outer Beltway is a road proposal for a second beltway, further out than I-495, that has been repeatedly attempted since the 1980's. It has failed repeatedly because studies have again and again shown that the road would encourage more sprawl and not reduce traffic congestion. The reason for this is that most of the traffic congestion in our region needs to move east-west, while this road would be north-south through those areas. Read More -
Apr 12, 2012
Sustainable Landscaping Workshop Series
Did you know that in our region of the eastern U.S. mowed lawns represent the largest single crop, exceeding the total individual acreage devoted to row crops, pasture, hay/alfalfa or freshwater wetlands? That means that individual homeowners can have a significant impact on the environment just by adjusting our landscaping habits to be more sustainable. Come out to one of the four community workshops PEC is hosting this summer and learn how! Read More -
Apr 06, 2012
Myths and Facts about Widening Belmont Ridge and Northstar
5 Myths About 6 Lane Widening of Belmont Ridge Road and Northstar Boulevard Myth #1: This 6 lane widening scheme isn’t a step toward an outer beltway. Fact: Although many may claim loudly that it’s not an outer beltway, the road lines up with connections that are being promoted to move traffic from I-95 up to the airport and Rt 7. Advocates are looking for a highway AND a bridge to Maryland and it was recently in the news that Virginia is discussing a crossing with Maryland. Read More -
Apr 03, 2012
Belmont Ridge Expansion to Six Lane Highway Instead of Four
Update: On May 2nd, the Board of Supervisors voted on the proposal to further expand Belmont Ridge Rd. and Northstar Blvd. past the four lanes planned to six lanes. Residents along both roads, spoke out against the proposed changes via email, the public hearing, and at a public input session on May 1st. The Board voted 8-1 to expand Northstar Blvd. but retain the current four lane plan for Belmont Ridge with a 150 foot right of way, siting the importance of providing freight access to Dulles Airport and connecting Loudoun and Prince William. Janet Clark, representative of the Blue Ridge District, was in favor of maintaining four lanes on both Belmont Ridge and Northstar. She voted in opposition to this compromise, siting it's impact on Northstar residents and the inconsistency of the proposal with Prince William's plans of only four lanes. You can can read more about the decision in the Leesburg Today or watch the Telecast, click item 6. CPAM 2012 - 0001 Northstar Blvd./Belmont Ridge Rd. Read More -
Mar 20, 2012
Loudoun County Hosts Neighborhood Meetings for the Green Home Program
The Loudoun County Department of Construction and Waste Management will host a series of neighborhood meetings in March and April to engage communities throughout Loudoun on residential sustainability measures. All county residents are welcome and encouraged to attend the meetings. Read More -
Feb 16, 2012
Speaking at Loudoun Public Hearings
Board of Supervisor public hearing meetings are the Tuesday before the second Wednesday of the month at 6pm. Planning Commission public hearing meetings on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6pm. Meetings are held in the Board Room of the Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street, S.E. in Leesburg. Meeting dates are posted on the Loudoun County Government Master Calendar. Read More -
Mar 01, 2010
The High Cost of Unfocused Development
Loudoun's 2011 Debt Obligation Tops $175 million Years of unsustainable land use decisions have left Loudoun with substantial debt. In the next fiscal year alone, Loudoun has a debt obligation of $175.5 million (which equates to 24.2 cents of the tax rate). This astounding figure is expected to peak at roughly $240 million in 2015. Read More
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Loudoun Staff
Bingol, Gem
Clarke and Loudoun County
Land Use Field Officer
703-431-6941
Gorski, Ed
Loudoun County
Land Use Field Officer
703-727-9632
Kane, Mike
Loudoun County
Land Conservation Officer
703-371-4373
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