Loudoun supervisors endorse 173-unit housing proposal

Juli Briskman, D-Algonkian, who represents the area, said the proposal is expected to help for the redevelopment of Cascades Marketplace as well as provide much needed foot traffic and address the housing crisis.

The property is located north of Route 7, east of Cascades Parkway (Route 1794), and south of Palisade Parkway (Route 1795) in the Cascades Marketplace shopping center, according to county staff. The site is directly accessible from McClellan Way, a private street.

Supervisor Kristen Umstattd, D-Leesburg, voted against the motion. She expressed concern with the nearly $1 million annual operating costs and $3.6 million in capital costs for the school system.

Additionally, Umstattd said she was concerned about the potential tax burden should more commercial property be rezoned residential.

“It is always tempting, I think, for elected bodies to rezone commercial to residential because there’s always a need and a good market for residential [but] eventually we run out of commercial land and eventually we become residential heavy, which just adds to our tax burden,” Umstattd said.

However, Chairwoman Phyllis Randall, D-At Large, said something must be done with the property.

“It doesn’t make sense to the land sitting there blighted and not making tax revenue; houses there will actually produce revenue,” Randall said.

“So instead of having a piece of blighted land sitting, not producing revenue, not being commercially developed, why not build homes so people can have some affordable homes, and produce revenue,” she said. “So, it’s a very logical infill property, and I’m happy to support it.”

In response to the financial impact, Briskman said understands that more homes will bring children, but emphasized the need for housing in her plea for passing the application.

Supervisor Caleb Kershner, R-Catoctin, was absent for the vote.