The Leesburg Town Council finally approved a resolution to update the Town Plan by a 6-1 vote with Mayor Kristen Umstattd dissenting, during their normally scheduled meeting June 26.

After more than a year of adjustments by town staff and the Leesburg Planning Commission, the Town Council approved future plans with hopes of ensuring Leesburg is headed in the right direction.

Throughout the long process, council considered amendments to natural resources, parks and recreation, heritage resources, community design, land use, housing, economic development, transportation and community facilities and services.

According to town staff there are several revisions worth highlighting including attracting new businesses, government sectors and higher education; developing neighborhood plans for the East Market Street corridor; encouraging growth of existing businesses outside the Bypass; Expanding high tech business uses near the Leesburg Executive Airport and along East Market Street; developing a historic resources preservation plan; implementing an Urban Forestry Management Plan; and adding smaller housing units to the area.

According to state law, towns are required to update their town plans every five years.

A major topic brought up during review was language regarding Lyme disease, which has become a major issue in Leesburg and Loudoun County.

Council member Dave Butler motioned to amend the language singling out Lyme disease specifically.

“I think it is very appropriate for us to addressing environmental health issues and diseases in land use. If a land developer had hazardous waste on their property, we would expect them to deal with it and the same thing if their property is over run with disease carrying ticks, I would expect them to deal with that as well,” Butler said. “So, I think it is very appropriate that we have that in there.”

After some discussion, Town Council unanimously voted to pass Butler’s amendment.

“We had a lot of good work done on the plan and the bulk of the heavy lifting was done by the Planning Commission and a strong supporting cast,” Vice-Mayor Kevin Wright said. “I would like to complement all the boards and commissions for their conscientious effort to reach out to everyone for this review.”