We’re glad to see that the Loudoun Board of Supervisors reversed their prior decision on the Goose Creek Overlook development.

We lament that the affordable housing this development would’ve brought won’t be built, as we do consider ourselves affordable housing advocates. Loudoun Climate Project is working on building alliance w/ affordable housing advocates so that local organizing on conservation and housing affordability can both benefit from increased coordination.

Supervisors Reverse Course on Goose Creek Development, Deny Application

The banks of Goose Creek aren’t appropriate for development for a variety of reasons.

Affordable Housing – Loudoun needs a lot more affordable housing, but this is a highly sensitive location that isn’t suitable for increased development. There is also no access to public transportation and the location isn’t walkable to jobs or services people rely on, so every trip needs to be made by car. That makes it more expensive for residents who will live here. The county must take these important factors into account in order to create true, long-term affordable housing.

Impervious Cover – Roofs, parking lots and sidewalks block rain water from soaking into the ground so it runs off them at high velocities and volumes, carrying with it oils, metals, fertilizers, pesticides, salts and trash generated by human activity. The proposed density would double the impervious surface, and the steep slopes further increase the negative impact.

Trails and Parks – Loudoun needs more public trails and parks, but the county could make alternate plans to provide parking and build trails for this and other county-owned land under easement without approving this development.

Drinking water -The properties are located just upstream from a public drinking water intake. The cleaner the stream, the easier and less expensive it is to provide clean drinking water, so it’s important to minimize all types of development in drinking water & reservoir watersheds. Runoff from impervious surfaces, soil compaction and the loss of natural vegetation from intense development can have a detrimental effect on stream health.

Steep slopes – The steep slopes on this property make this a bad location for intense development. Major site disturbance will be needed. Creating huge potential for erosion. They will have to blast to put in both the housing and underground stormwater vaults, due to both the steep slopes and diabase rock underneath the site.

Comprehensive Plan – The county’s Comprehensive Plan that was developed over three years with input from residents calls for this area to be less densely developed than the proposal calls for. When we rezone, it has to be good for the county and good for residents. This site is neither. Before approving any more rezonings in this area, the county should create the source water protection plan called for in the Comprehensive Plan, with special attention given to more protective requirements to reduce development on steep slopes, limit clearing and increase setbacks from Goose Creek.

Climate change – We are entering a period where we know there are going to be more and more extreme weather patterns, including flooding. Yet, this proposal would remove natural cover and permeable ground on moderate and steep slopes right next to Goose Creek. If we also want to reduce people’s reliance on cars and fossil fuels, we need to be thoughtful about creating walkable, transit-oriented places to live.