[Va-bird] Problems with New Park in Rich Birding Area in the Lucketts area of Loudoun County

From: "Joe Coleman" <joecoleman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "VA-Bird" <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:08:28 -0400

We just heard, in the last couple of hours, that there is going to be a hearing
on a new Northern Virginia Regional Park, White's Ford, on Hibbler Rd in the
Lucketts area of Loudoun County .  This road is not only still very rural with
a lot of Potomac River border land, it is one of the few remaining places in
Loudoun Co east of Rte 15 where a lot of rural birds can still be found.  It
happens to have conservation easements on it that prevent its development but
the following email makes it sound like the park that the Northern Virginia
Regional Park Authority plans to build isn't going to be the passive facility
that was so widely publicized earlier this year.

This area is mentioned in ABA's Guide to Virginia's Birds and is always visited
when field trips visit Lucketts looking for birds.  While much of the rest of
the Lucketts area has become large house farms with lots of lawn, Hibbler Rd
continues to a place where both raptors, sparrows, and lots of other grassland
birds thrive.  It is also right across the Potomac River from parts of
Frederick County that also provide wonderful wildlfie habitat.

Its a pity that NVRPA didn't involve the natural history community while
planning this facility.  If you've been on Hibler in the past you know how
rewarding it can be - pls let the NVRPA Park Authority and the Loudoun County
Planning Commission know the park is a great idea but not all the uses they are
proposing.  We are losing too many of our precious resources to poor planning -
don't let this be one of them.

Thanks, Joe Coleman, President
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

From the NVRPA:

From: TODD HAFNER
To: TODD HAFNER
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:02 PM
Subject: Proposed New Park on the Potomac River Near Leesburg

RE:     White's Ford Regional Park - Hibler Road, Leesburg Virginia

Dear Friend of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA):

NVRPA is extremely excited to be working toward the acquisition of a new
passive park to be located on the banks of the Potomac River in Loudoun County
(see attached aerial photograph).  We have an option to purchase 275 acres of
land with more than a half mile of river frontage, subject to obtaining
necessary zoning approvals.  The purpose of this letter is to invite you to
provide comments on the proposed park to the Loudoun County Planning Commission.

Some facts and details about the park are as follows:

  1.. The property contains significant cultural resources including the home
of Elijah Viers White, Commander of the 35th Battalion of the Virginia Cavalry.
The property also abuts White's Ford in the Potomac River, the location of
several important troop crossings during the Civil War.  NVRPA intends to
preserve the Elijah White home and to provide interpretation of the events that
occurred at the site.

  2.. NVRPA intends to develop over a period of time a number of passive
recreation uses including:

·        Family camping and group camping for scout organizations, etc.
Camping will be restricted to tents and small pop-up trailers.  A handful of
camping cabins may also be constructed.

·        A boat launch area for canoes, kayaks and small fishing boats.  Any
motorized watercraft will be limited to smaller than 10 horsepower.  Jet skis
will be prohibited.

·        An onsite hiking and equestrian trail network that will include a
portion of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.  An equestrian riding
facility may also be constructed.

·        Picnicking facilities.

  3.. The land will be purchased with funds raised by NVRPA from non-tax
sources.

  4.. Loudoun County zoning laws require NVRPA to obtain a Commission Permit to
establish a public park use on the property and Special Exceptions for the
camping and boat launch uses.  Details about these permits can be found on the
Loudoun County Department of Planning website
(http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=815) by locating the Planning
Commission Public Hearing Staff Report for October 15, 2009.

NVRPA encourages you to provide comments on the proposed White's Ford Regional
Park by either speaking before the Planning Commission this coming Thursday,
October 15, 2009, or by sending an email (information about speaking directly
to the Planning Commission is at the end of this message).  You may comment on
any topic, including the entire White's Ford park concept, one particular use
or facility that may interest you, or how you feel about NVRPA as an
organization providing parks and open space in Northern Virginia.  If you would
like to discuss your comments with someone at NVRPA, please contact me at the
number or email address below.

A personal appearance at the public hearing is typically more effective than an
email or letter, so you are encouraged to come out and speak if you can.  The
hearing begins at 6 pm at the Board of Supervisors room at the Loudoun County
Government Center (1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg).  We suggest you arrive
by 7:30 since this item is not first on the agenda.

If you cannot attend the hearing, you can send your comments in an email to the
Planning Commission at loudounpc@xxxxxxxxxxx.  Please be sure to copy your
email to NVRPA at thafner@xxxxxxxxx.

Feel free to forward this message to anyone you believe may be interested in
this proposed new park.  To learn more about NVRPA, please visit our website at
www.NVRPA.org.  Again, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact me.

Sincerely,

Todd Hafner

Director of Planning and Development

Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

thafner@xxxxxxxxx

703-352-5900

[Va-bird] Problems with New Park in Rich Birding Area in the Lucketts area of Loudoun County

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