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Neighbors scrutinize Festival Lakes development plans
PMW Farms Partnership property, known as Festival Lakes, is seeking rezoning to build 275 housing units on 105 acres.And residents of neighboring properties are concerned about the impact the development would have on the area.
At Leesburg’s Planning Commission public hearing Oct. 4, they complained that Festival Lakes in northeastern Leesburg would be too much growth for their community.
Residents from neighboring Spring Lakes and Potomac Station expressed concern about increased traffic, tree and wildlife losses, and school overcrowding that could be brought on by the additional residents.
“All of the reasons that I moved to this area no longer exist,” said Roland Smith, the president of Potomac Station's homeowners association. He said overdevelopment of the area had led to dangerous speeding on River Creek Parkway. “We’re going to put another 200 houses in this development? What are we doing to ourselves here? At some point you’ve got to say the money ain’t worth it anymore.”
Many of the other residents who spoke at the hearing mirrored Smith's concerns.
“Traffic is bad” on Fort Evans Road, said Spring Lakes resident Larry Jannes. “There will be a choke point there.”
Besides traffic, residents also worried about the impact of more students in their schools.
The development would proffer about $4.8 million for schools, but neighbors complained that Loudoun's public schools were already strained by too many students.
Others were worried about the environmental strain the development would have on their community.
“I’m an animal activist. Animals come into my yard every evening,” said Potomac Station resident Dan Snovell. “Those animals will have nowhere to go.”
Some expressed concern about losing more trees.
“If you look, tree wise, at what's going to be torn down, it's significant,” said Charles Rash, a neighbor. “I know houses can be built in or among trees.”
The developers of the communities surrounding Festival Lakes had ripped out old trees to clear the land for development, he said, and planted new trees later.
Rash and other audience members said they believed many of the older trees could have been saved.
Other people who attended the public hearing asked the Planning Commission and the developer why they would build more housing when the housing market was slowing and many homes in their neighborhoods have been on the market for long periods of time.
“Homes are just sitting on the market,” said James Nuttal, another neighbor, adding that a house near his had been on the market for about two years. “So why would we add more homes.”
The Planning Commission said neighbors had raised many of the concerns that the commission had about the application.
“One of the general things we heard was trees, trees and trees some more,” said Councilman Kevin Wright, who is a non-voting participant on the commission. “We have HOAs within the county -- I won't name names -- that won't allow planting trees in their development.”
He said the county HOA residents complained that the county had failed to enforce tree-safe areas.
“Looking at the site plan, I still find [the development] kind of intense,” he continued.
The development's representative, Michael Capretti, said he sympathized with the neighbors' concerns and would work with the community to address the issues.
The Planning Commission asked the developer and the town's staff to look into the impact Festival Lakes could have on schools, traffic, the economy and environment for its next meeting Oct. 17.
Festival Lakes, a property owned by James Wordsworth, was designated a residential estate as an interim zoning tag when the property was annexed by the Town of Leesburg in April 2006.
If the plans are not approved, the owner could develop the plan by-right, or according to its current zoning, with 35 dwelling units. This would mean the developer would not have to provide any money for schools, roads or allow for open space preservation.
Contact the reporter at hhobbs@timespapers.com
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