Strong Communities

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.

aerial photo of data center with a residential neighborhood in the background. Overlaid text reads "Take Action: Tell DEQ to Protect Our Air Quality"

Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Air Quality in Jeopardy

The VA Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comment on an order that will temporarily allow data centers in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties to operate their generators for longer and more frequent …
An aerial view of a transmission line cutting through forest on left side of the photo. A large block of forest on either side of goose creek running through the middle of the photo. A suburban housing development can be seen on the right side of the image.

Loudoun’s Zoning Ordinance Rewrite – Weigh in on the New Draft

This Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Planning Commission will hold its second public hearing covering the rest of the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite …
Data center public hearing Feb. 14 / boundary line adjustment withdrawn

Data center public hearing Feb. 14 / boundary line adjustment withdrawn

I want to update you about two different land use issues that the Town of Warrenton took up at their meeting last Tuesday …
Jan. 10 Town Council Public Hearing on Amazon Data Center

Jan. 10 Town Council Public Hearing on Amazon Data Center

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, the Warrenton Town Council will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Amazon data center at the gateway to Warrenton on Blackwell Road …
conservation photo montage

Achieving Conservation Wins Together

As our 50th anniversary year comes to a close, we are taking stock in the effects of our collective efforts over the last half century toward meaningful conservation and better communities in Virginia’s Piedmont. We …
three people hike on an overgrown forested trail

Sperryville Trail Network

With funding provided by PEC’s Krebser Fund for Rappahannock County Conservation, the Sperryville Community Alliance has been able to complete a Trail Study and Invasive Species Management Plan …
Man paddles a canoe on the Rappahannock River

Video: Expanding Access to the Rappahannock River

PEC has been working with partners to make public access to the Rappahannock a reality for all who want to share in its bounty. In the past two years alone, three new boat launches have …
Connecting People and Place in a Built Environment

Connecting People and Place in a Built Environment

Through the Town to Trail initiative over the past few years, Gordonsville has doubled its public open space and multiplied everyone’s contributions, large and small …
Aerial shot of Gordonsville. Main Street on the left and Verling Park with its swimming pool in the middle in the middle interspersed with trees, houses and buildings. Mountains can be seen in the distance.

Town to Trail in Gordonsville

An effort by friends, neighbors, local businesses, and PEC to create an expanded park network in the Town of Gordonsville …