Board of Supervisors looking eastward
By Jason Jacks
In a rare occurrence, the Board of Supervisors will meet outside of Leesburg so it can address a slew of concerns by residents living in Loudoun's older suburban communities of Sterling.
The meeting is scheduled for July 22 in the auditorium of Park View High School in Sterling Park, with a tentative start time of 6:30 p.m. Some time may be set aside for the public to address supervisors.
During the meeting, county staff members will present their findings from an extensive outreach program that took place this spring, when residents from mostly Sterling Park, Sugarland Run, Cascades and CountrySide opined on how the county can improve the quality of life in eastern Loudoun.
Sterling -- especially neighborhoods in Sterling Park -- has long been a source of complaints about crime, unkempt lawns and overcrowded homes. Of late, supervisors have been steering much of their attention toward the needs of residents living in this area.
Recently, supervisors decided to step up enforcement of zoning laws in Sterling, while some property owners were told to cut their lawns.
Supervisors are now considering a plan that would put some county employees in foreclosed properties. At nearly 700 foreclosures since the start of 2007, Sterling Park has been hit especially hard by the housing slowdown.
In addition, supervisors are scheduled to take up proposals that would restrict residents from parking cars on their front lawns and charities from soliciting donations from motorists stopped at intersections, both issues that are most prevalent in the east.
"In my opinion, it's about time we focus our attention on our existing suburban communities," said Supervisor Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac), who added that before she took office in January, the county was focusing much of its energy on development issues in western Loudoun and Dulles South.
Michael Salinas, the Planning Department staff member who is heading up the outreach effort, said about 500 people filled out surveys and another 300 took part in four community meetings in April and May.
Though a full report on the outreach will not be available until later this summer, he did say some trends already are noticeable.
Salinas said residents want a stronger Sheriff's Office presence in Sterling Park. They also asked for a teen center somewhere in eastern Loudoun, an arts and craft facility, additional bus stops and new pedestrian access either under or over Route 7. A few Sterling Park residents also said it was time for the community to create a homeowners association.
He said residents cited concerns about crime, graffiti, blight and empty storefronts in parts of eastern Loudoun.
Furthermore, Salinas said some residents confessed to worries that fewer residents are putting down long-term roots in their neighborhoods.
"They said the area is losing a sense of community that used to be there," he said.
Chairman Scott York (I-at large), who lives in Sterling, said supervisors have formally met as a group at least one other time outside of Leesburg during his 12 years on the board. That meeting also was held in Sterling Park.
"Four people showed up: Two residents and two from the media," he said.
As for this new gathering, at which he is hoping for a larger public turnout, York said Loudoun's elected leaders must not let residents' concerns go unheard.
"It's time for the board to put [residents' concerns] on our shoulders and do something about it," he said.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com