Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is always actively involved in a variety of advocacy campaigns. In addition to working on the frontlines, Loudoun Wildlife works behind the scenes. Below are some of our active campaigns.
Loudoun Wildlife staff and volunteers also represent wildlife, healthy habitats, and green infrastructure on a variety of advisory boards and coalitions. In 2021, Loudoun County formed the county’s first Environmental Commission, and Loudoun Wildlife’s Executive Director, Michael Myers, serves as the Chair of the Natural Resources Committee.
Zoning Ordinance Rewrite
The 90-day public comment period for the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Process closes on July 18, 2022. Click here for Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s recommendations for revisions to the current draft text, and for information on how you can submit comments.
The completion of the 2019 Comprehensive Plan three years ago was the first step initiating a major update with the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite, which is nearing its final stages this year. As with the Comprehensive Plan process, Loudoun Wildlife is collaborating with nonprofit partners of the Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition to provide public input throughout this process, but it is vital that members of the public also submit comments and feedback.
There will be other opportunities in the future to submit public comments, but it is imperative to submit comments and concerns at this stage to be considered for inclusion. Once the public comment period closes, staff will make revisions and submit another draft for review by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will host a public hearing at that time followed by future work sessions. Once the Planning Commission has completed their work, the Zoning Ordinance will be forwarded to a Board of Supervisors public hearing and subsequent business meeting for action.
Route 15 N Widening Project
The Board of Supervisors has initiated the process for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPAM) to widen Route 15 north of Montressor Road to the Maryland State Line. One component of this project includes potential bypass options of the village of Lucketts.
In March 2020, Loudoun Wildlife purchased the 87-acre globally rare wetland now known as JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary. The potential western bypass option would go through our property and negatively impact the sensitive environmental resources of our property.
This item is currently scheduled to be heard at the July 5, 2022 Board of Supervisors business meeting. Your voice is needed to speak up to protect the unique natural assets that are at a high risk of local extinction at JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary.
We want to thank the members of the public who spoke up and overwhelming responded to protect JK Black Oak Wildlife Sanctuary during a survey in June 2021. Read the full survey results here.
On October 14, 2021, the Loudoun County Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of Bles Park Enhancements 5-2-2 (two commissioners absent), because the current proposal did not do enough to balance the protection of natural resources and the needs for active recreation and greater park amenities. This item is being forwarded to a future Board of Supervisors public hearing, likely December 15, 2021.
Loudoun Wildlife thanks our members who spoke up at the Planning Commission public hearing, and now is the time to voice your concerns to the Board of Supervisors. Together, we can keep the pressure on to ensure more modifications are made to adequately protect the exemplary wildlife habitat found at Bles Park.
Here are updates and position statements from Loudoun Wildlife:
Much of Loudoun’s drinking water comes from Goose Creek and the Potomac River. As Loudoun grows, it is essential that we preserve the forests, wetlands and meadows that serve as filters for our watersheds.
These natural resources not only protect our drinking supply, they provide valuable habitat for resident and migratory species, filter and retain storm water, increase resilience against storms and drought, and give residents and visitors a beautiful place to play.
The Goose Creek is home to many birds, fish, mollusks, reptiles, amphibians and insects including state-threatened species such as the wood turtle and loggerhead shrike.
A threatened species is one that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Luckily, there are measures we can take to protect both the quality of our water supply and the wildlife that shares the streams, forests, meadows and wetlands that make up our watersheds. We can advocate for policies in our new comprehensive plan that will:
Promote conservation easements, property development rights and County land acquisition to preserve land along our stream corridors.
Ensure ecologically valuable lands and waters are identified, monitored and maintained or restored.
Require green building practices such as limiting the amount of impervious surface that is created during development and redevelopment.
Imagining what Loudoun will look like decades down the road, one thing is clear: we must preserve our natural assets throughout the county. For all the benefits they provide, we can’t afford to lose them.
Transition Area Alliance’s Message to County: Value Land As an Asset, Not a Commodity
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy supports the Transition Area Alliance (TAA), a group of concerned Loudoun County residents dedicated to protecting open space and quality of life in Loudoun’s Transition Policy Area (TPA). The TPA provides a buffer between the high-density suburban areas to the east and north, and rural areas to the west. It is also home to three drinking water reservoirs, and a rich diversity of species and habitat.
As Loudoun County government drafts its new comprehensive plan, which will guide land use for years to come, the Transition Area Alliance advocates for policies that will protect the TPA from over development. Read TAA’s position paper.
