Where is Loudoun Going?

March 22, 2006

The Washington Post reports this morning that the Loudoun County Planning Commission voted 6 to 3 to relax the rules limiting growth in Western Loudoun. As we all know, the courts threw out the comprehensive plan devised by the previous board and the western two thirds of the county reverted back to roughly one house for every three acres. The Commission voted to recommend that anyone starting a home-building project this spring could do so under the previous relaxed rules. The full Board of Supervisors will have the final say.

Will there be a rush to get projects approved? Probably. Will approvals ruin Western Loudoun County in the short term? Probably not. I always thought it is not how many get built but, how you arrange it and what it looks like with an eye toward the common good. Growth is inevitable because of the regional economic engine and supply and demand. The real trick is to balance growth with quality of life. I don't envy the people we put in charge to make these decisions and judgements.

Here's what I see as contributing factors to our dilemma from a practical standpoint:

1. Developers have flooded the market with $1M mini mansions on 2-5 acre parcels the last few years.
2. The market slowdown has caused developers to give huge incentives to move these homes.
3. It remains to be seen if developers can make money in the current market.
4. The day of the quick buck speculating on real estate may be gone for quite some time
5. Traffic in Western Loudoun is becoming unbearable as families are moving further west to access affordable housing in Berryville, Winchester and Charles Town (WV) and commuting to work in Northern Virginia and Washington DC.
6. It doesn't appear anyone is doing anything of substance about affordable housing in Loudoun County.
7. Our politicians cannot agree on transportation solutions badly needed everywhere in Northern Virginia or how to pay for them.
8. Our Loudoun government announced a need to increase the car tax to cover shortfalls from Richmond.
9. The average 2006 property assessment went up an average 28%.
10. I am always surprised that anyone can afford to live here (including myself).

We are getting frustrated with the politics surrounding these issues and a total lack of compromise and common sense. Politics and special interest groups on all sides seem to be directing our government's inability to find reasonable solutions. Lets hope the next set of elected officials (probably new) will listen to the needs of the majority of us living, working and enjoying life here. We know it will cost us. Inaction will cost us more.

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