A thoughtful approach to land use planning, paired with decision-making that balances growth and development with natural and cultural resource protection, is vital to maintaining a healthy and vibrant Piedmont region.
Presentations from our 2017 Annual Meeting
On May 20, 2017, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted our annual meeting “Engage. Educate. Empower” at the Middleburg Agricultural Research Extension (MARE) Center. The event started with workshops in the morning led by PEC staff …
Expansion at Blackthorne Inn Site: Excessive in Scale
Blackthorne Inn is located in agricultural zoning along Rt 50 between Upperville and Paris. Until it was closed last year, Blackthorne operated as a restaurant and resort with a few small events. Since then, Easton …
Our Letter to Loudoun County re: Smart Growth Approach
Loudoun has the opportunity to provide clear and coherent direction on future investment. In a spring 2017 letter to Chairman Randall and the Board of Supervisors, we joined with partners in recommending: 1) The County’s …
On the Ground — Spring 2017
Updates from the around the PEC region, organized by county. Here’s the blurb from Culpeper, which actually applies to residents in multiple counties: The Culpeper Soil and Water District recently secured funding from the Virginia Department …
Trail Blazing
Pedestrian and bicycle trail systems can improve our health, increase property value, provide sustainable transportation choices and even strengthen a community’s economy — especially in an urban area. Something not everyone may know about PEC …
PEC Donates Land to National Park Service
Shenandoah National Park just grew a little bigger and a little more beautiful. This past May, The Piedmont Environmental Council donated a 17.2-acre property it owned in Rappahannock County to the National Park Service. A forested …
A small town with a lot to offer
Creating a community park takes quite a bit of planning, which is why the historic railroad town of Remington is about to receive support for adding recreational space for its residents and visitors. Situated on …
PEC Donates Land to National Park
Shenandoah National Park just grew a little bigger and a little more beautiful. This past May, We donated a 17.2-acre property of ours in Rappahannock County to the National Park Service. A forested and vacant …
Montpelier-Grelen Trail Receives “Virginia Treasures” Award
Part of a nine-mile trail system with old-growth forests and meadows, the Montpelier-Grelen Trail links the historic James Madison’s Montpelier with Grelen Nursery, a 25-year-old working tree nursery in Orange County …
A Trail of History
Walking downhill through the open meadow, one gets a sense of liberty that comes when exploring this tranquil, rural place. At the bottom of the hill, there’s an historic log structure, which provides a glimpse …
