We are writing to the Board of Supervisors to object to a vote slated for Sept. 1 regarding the board member initiative to improve rural cluster development and prime agricultural soil amendments.
We do not believe the Board of Supervisors has given the public enough information about this proposed regulation or allowed the public an opportunity to provide feedback on the regulation. Indeed, until two weeks ago, very few, if any, landowners had been made aware of this proposed regulation.
The Board of Supervisors’ move to fast-track this proposal for a vote at the Sept. 1 meeting goes against Loudoun County’s commitment to fair and transparent governance. In addition, during the introduction of this board member initiative from Supervisor Tony Buffington (R-Blue Ridge), Supervisor Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) requested a “friendly amendment” to the initiative that would include notifying landowners and encouraging a discussion about their concerns. This request was met with comments from Chairwoman Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) regarding whether it was “really necessary” to be redundant and ask staff to “do what they normally do anyway” in reaching out to the public. This is not only extremely concerning but also raises questions about whose interests are driving the Board of Supervisors to fast-track this regulation.
We request the board postpone voting on this proposal to allow more time for the public to review and comment.
Thus far, the Board of Supervisors has failed its public duty in the following ways:
• Chair Randall concluded no one objected to the proposal because she had not received any notice of objections; however, this conclusion was based on the false assumption that county staff had undertaken efforts to inform landowners about the proposal. County staff members have not initiated contact with landowners to inform them about the proposal, the scheduled vote, or to solicit feedback.
• Chair Randall referred to a meeting with “40 some organizations … all in support of this agenda,” but she failed to make it clear that these organizations were either land conservancy groups or businesses — wineries, breweries, B&Bs — that attract customers by capitalizing on Loudoun’s rural atmosphere. Further, participation in this meeting appears to have been by invitation only, making this a focus group rather than an opportunity for the public to learn about and respond to the proposed regulation.
• The fast-tracking of this proposal ignores the advice of Supervisor Buffington, who authored this initiative. When introducing the proposal, Buffington stated, “The item here tonight simply directs the staff to begin a very long and very public process that will have plenty of opportunity for the public to provide input to begin protecting our prime agricultural soils and also ensuring that we have improved cluster development guidelines.”
Although it seems unlikely that anyone might object to protecting the natural resources of Loudoun County, it is foolhardy to enact regulations without due diligence given to examining the potential intentional and unintentional consequences.
This issue affects the lives of all who live in Loudoun and the lives of future generations. Therefore, the Board of Supervisors must take the time to carefully research the impact of this proposal on those lives. Please postpone the vote on this issue until you have given your constituents complete information and sufficient time to ask questions so they understand the immediate and long-term impacts of this regulation on life in Loudoun.
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This letter penned by Wyant and Wyant Rockwell was sent to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in mid-August.
