Topics

Comprehensive Plan/Zoning Ordinance. The Alliance mobilized to ensure that the 2019 Loudoun Comprehensive Plan retained and enhanced policies important to retention of village character. Following adoption of the 2019 Plan, it has worked to ensure that the Zoning Ordinance and other supporting documents include language to ensure that the goals of the Plan are achieved.

Small Area Plans. Establishing Small Area Plans for each of Loudoun's villages commenced following enactment of the Comp Plan and Zoning Ordinance. St. Louis was the first village plan undertaken. Based on the roll out of that plan, the Alliance is seeking a modification of the county's current approach, to both improve and expedite the process for all the villages. Alliance representatives have conferred with staff and Supervisors, and also began, in summer 2024, to make presentations to village area residents, to help them understand what a small area plan is and is not, and to encourage them to begin to work toward community consensus, prior to initiation of the county's official process.

Roads, Traffic, & Safety. While Loudoun village settings may be vastly different (Lucketts and Waterford contend with heavy commuter traffic; Lucketts deals with heavy, noisy truck traffic; Bluemont has no rush hour but sees traffic due to agritourism venues), most have issues with traffic and pedestrian safety. The Alliance is ready to assist with resources that can help villages navigate county and VDOT processes for addressing issues.

Natural Resources. Water quantity and quality has long been an issue for residents in and around many of Loudoun's villages, where residents rely upon individual wells and most have individual septic systems. Many villages are adjacent to streams and forested areas that support abundant wildlife and provide recreational opportunities, and prime soils that support a variety of agricultural enterprises. Alliance members are ready to assist with challenges that arise.

Historic Resources. Loudoun’s villages reflect hundreds of years of historic settlement patterns in the beautiful Piedmont of Virginia. Their buildings and settings document that history, through war and peace, growth and decline, changes in commerce, agriculture, and transportation. The social and cultural heritage they represent, and their vitality today, makes them a vital part of the overall character of rural Loudoun. LHVA encourages adaptive reuse of village historic structures, allowing growth and change that preserves each village's architectural heritage.

Schools. The small elementary schools that serve residents in and around our villages have faced repeated threats of closure from Loudoun County Public Schools, with parents joining together to fight for their retention. The Alliance supports parents in the preservation of these small schools.