The 2025 Virginia General Assembly
The 2025 General Assembly has finally begun. This year’s session got off to a rocky start. The Richmond water crisis caused a delayed start from the original date of January 8, with no action on bills able to be taken until the de facto start date of January 13. Now that the session is in full swing, read about the details of this year’s session and the bills we’re supporting.
Leesburg W&OD Trail Lighting
A proposal is being discussed with the Leesburg Town Council to add lighting to a portion of the W&OD trail south of Leesburg. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has been working with our partners Northern Virginia Bird Alliance and Dark Sky NOVA to advocate for minimizing the impacts of the proposed lights on dark skies and wildlife as part of the collaborative Bird-Safe NOVA campaign. While specific designs are still being developed, we are pleased to see that the Town of Leesburg is demonstrating notable efforts to implement sustainable and minimally disruptive lighting for this project.
Greenlin Park Data Center Application
The rezoning application for Greenlin Park that was scheduled for the November 7 Board of Supervisors business meeting has been postponed indefinitely. This application would convert a forested area to data center use. As it currently stands, the application poses major dangers to forested wildlife habitat, steep-slope sensitive environmental areas, and the floodplain and the stream health of Sycolin Creek. Read more about Greenlin Park…
Western Loudoun Power Line
Data center expansion continues to fuel the need for more infrastructure. The Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (previously known as the Western Loudoun Line) is one example. Originally, this route was planned to construct new right-of-ways for 500 kV transmission lines across rural Western Loudoun. PJM announced at the beginning of August that this line is instead to be constructed along a northern corridor through West Virginia and Maryland before cutting south to reach Ashburn data centers. Read more about the power line…
See also policy recommendations regarding data centers and energy from the Sierra Club.
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendments
The Zoning Ordinance Rewrite (ZOR) process concluded with the adoption of the new Zoning Ordinance in December 2023. Upon completion, there were several outstanding issues which were to be addressed in separate Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendments (CPAM/ZOAM). Many of these outstanding issues followed by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy throughout the ZOR are being addressed in two CPAM/ ZOAM processes: Western Loudoun Rural Uses and Data Center Standards. More information about the amendments…
Dominion Energy Infrastructure Development Projects
To meet heightened energy demand coming from the increase of data centers in the county, Dominion Energy has started the process of building new major transmission lines, substations, and infrastructure linkages. This mult-year, multi-project expansion currently includes a new high voltage transmission line along Broad Run between Northstar Blvd. and Loudoun County Parkway; a series of substations adjacent to Goose Creek and Belmont Ridge Road; and new transmission lines along Route 7 and Loudoun County Parkway. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has grave concerns about these applications. The proposed locations of these infrastructure improvements would further fragment habitat within the Goose Creek and Broad Run riparian buffer and floodplain creating more challenges to wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole. Learn more about these projects and our recommendations:
- Twin Creeks to Apollo and Aspen to Golden projects (Updated August 23, 2024)
- Wishing Star to Mars project
Equestrian Use at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve
Discussion has begun to allow equestrian uses on the trails at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. At the March 21 Parks and Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Board Meeting, the PROS Board adopted a motion to recommend that the Board of Supervisors look into the impacts of equestrian uses at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy believes that the ecological impacts on Loudoun’s only nature preserve must be thoroughly examined before the consideration of opening trails to horses. More information about equestrian use…
Westpark Property
In August 2022 Loudoun County acquired 134 acres of what was previously the Westpark Golf Course in Leesburg. The land was placed under conservation easement, and the property is now slated to be a park for passive recreation uses. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy will be staying involved throughout the process to ensure that this new park stays conservation-focused and implements wildlife-friendly practices that enhance nature as it is cultivated for recreational use. More information about Westpark…
Franklin Park Master Plan
Franklin Park is expanding after Loudoun County acquired an additional 103 acres adjacent to the park grounds, and a new Master Plan of improvements is currently in the works. The park will be undergoing many changes, many of which have the potential to significantly impact wildlife and habitat. Among the most significant changes is the construction of a new office building and the installation of mountain biking and equestrian trails in what is currently a forested area of Sleeter Lake Park. We will send out an advocacy alert when the county begins accepting comments on the Master Plan drafting process through the Loudoun Online Land Applications System (LOLA). More information about the master plan…
Route 15 N Widening Project
At the Board of Supervisors July 5, 2022 business meeting, they approved a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) that includes the construction of a western bypass of Route 15 around the Village of Lucketts. This western bypass cuts through JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary, which is held under conservation easement by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy. Further evaluation and finalization of this decision will occur during the design phase of road construction. As of November 2022, the Board of Supervisors is considering short-term safety improvements to the road that may alleviate issues warranting the widening project. Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy continues to monitor this process and is striving to do whatever possible to protect the unique wildlife habitat of JK Black Oak. More information about Rt 15 widening…
Our Work
Advocacy News
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2025 Virginia General Assembly White Papers on Relevant Issues Below you can find links to the white papers of...
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The 2025 Virginia General Assembly The 2025 General Assembly has finally begun. This year’s session...
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Orme Farm Rezoning Application The Orme Farm application was originally similar to other data...
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