Board Asks For Changes In Leesburg Development

The Loudoun Board of Supervisors sent the developer of a major housing and commercial complex near Leesburg back to the drawing board Tuesday, asking for several more changes to the long-standing proposal before deciding once and for all whether to approve it.

The deciding vote on the Crosstrail project probably will be cast by Supervisor Bruce E. Tulloch (R-Potomac), who indicated Tuesday that he may support the rezoning if the Peterson Cos. agrees to the changes he wants. Tulloch said those revisions include some environmental measures and a different construction schedule.

"I think we have some more talking to do," he said, addressing representatives of the developer at Tuesday's board meeting. "Not to lead you down a path that is disingenuous, but I will tell you I have some misgivings at best."

Several other supervisors said the project needed major changes before it could gain their approval -- changes that they did not expect the developer to make.

The board has been sharply divided on the development proposed by the Fairfax County-based Peterson Cos., which would bring offices, shops and up to 1,000 homes to a 500-acre parcel southeast of Leesburg. Supervisors in December voted 5 to 4 to approve the Comprehensive Plan amendment needed for the project, but they agreed to defer a rezoning vote to give the developer more time to address critics' concerns about traffic and the site's proximity to Leesburg Executive Airport.

Although the company has offered several enticements, including land for a school and road improvements, the project continues to face stiff opposition.

Among the strongest critics is the Leesburg Town Council, which has said that the company's promised road improvements are not enough to offset the additional traffic the development would generate. Town officials also worry that the project would hurt business at the airport, especially if the new residents complain about the noise.

"Airports are noisy places," Town Council member Kelly Burk told the board. "Putting houses near the airport is bad planning."

The Federal Aviation Administration also has expressed reservations. In December, the agency wrote a letter to the board saying the property was so close to the airport that it was best suited to nonresidential uses.

"I myself cannot support residential [development] of any kind near the airport," Supervisor James Burton (I-Blue Ridge) said. "In my opinion, [the proposal] needs major, major restructuring. But I don't see that happening."

Crosstrail is also at the heart of a controversy over water and sewer rates. Leesburg officials have asked that they be allowed to provide water and sewer to the development if it is approved.

Though the Crosstrail site is outside the town's boundaries, the town has long planned to provide water to that area based on discussions with the county, Leesburg officials said. They said the town needs the fee revenue to offset the cost of building utilities.