The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded PEC a $200,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund this past October. With this grant, PEC will collaborate with Loudoun County, the Town of Lovettsville, Loudoun County Master Gardeners and Loudoun homeowners associations to implement projects that involve planting native trees and shrubs, improving stormwater facilities and reducing polluted runoff in Loudoun County communities.
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.
Loudoun Update — Dec 2014
Text from our Dec 2014 Member Newsletter:
One of the least heralded assets underpinning Loudoun’s wonderful rural character are the County’s 300 miles of unpaved rustic roads and bridges— the most of any county in Virginia. Most of these old roads follow routes laid out almost two centuries ago. Lined with mature trees and stone walls, the roads are key parts of our Civil War battlefields and connect our historic villages.
This is Big!
The opening of the Silver Line this past July was an important step toward a better future for the Washington metropolitan region and the Commonwealth of Virginia. For decades, Tysons has been an example of 20th century development, urban and suburban areas that don’t quite work—too many cars, no sidewalks and not enough green space.
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:
We Drink This Stuff
Loudoun, like all counties in our area, is considering ways to reduce the pollutants flowing into local streams and creeks, including sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, among others.
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.
What is the Connection Between My Home and My Drinking Water?
Although your property may not have a stream or pond on it, all land is a part of a watershed and has some effect on the condition of waterways. Land and water are intricately connected by the natural water cycle.
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.
Myths and Facts about Widening Belmont Ridge and Northstar
5 Myths About the 6 Lane Widening of Belmont Ridge Road and Northstar Boulevard.
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.