Leesburg leaders plan for town’s future
By Holly Hobbs
Leesburg’s strengths, weaknesses, upcoming opportunities and possible threats were listed by town council members at its annual strategic planning session Sept. 3 at Thomas Balch Library.Although council members were honest about the obstacles facing the town –like state funding cuts and a slowing economy -- they said they were optimistic that the agenda they worked to set will be completed within the next two to four years.
Among those topics discussed at the meeting included improvements to the historic downtown, economic development, transportation, land annexation and investigating the benefits of the town becoming a city.
Below is a list of priorities set by the council on each of these topics.
Historic downtown Leesburg
Implement the suggestions made by Leesburg’s Downtown Improvement Association, as recommended by town staff.
Complete revisions to the historic district building and design guidelines.
Create greater bicycle and pedestrian friendliness in the town.
Support targeted downtown development such as Waterford commercial development, which will be built on South King Street where it intersects with the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
Offer incentives to businesses to upgrade existing builds.
Economic development
Reduce the residential tax burden and increase town revenues from non-residential sources.
Increase “for-profit” job base.
Create a strategy to retain and recruit businesses that offer high quality jobs.
Successfully recruit two employers that will provide at least 150 local jobs each.
Participate in the location of a major university in or near the town, like George Mason University campus.
Annex land solely for economic development purposes, not more residential building.
Communicate office vacancies and opportunities to businesses.
Transportation
Complete Battlefield Parkway.
Prioritize funding for immediate congestion and safety solutions.
Continue to work with the state legislators for funding, possibly by hiring a town lobbyist.
Eliminate unfeasible road solutions from the Town Plan and ask county to do the same.
Provide bike lanes and more bike racks.
Complete the sidewalk network and provide crosswalks wherever a sidewalk ends at a road.
Improve U.S. 15 Bypass for pedestrian safety.
Increase police enforcement to fight speeding.