Members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors who were elected in 2019 closed out their four-year term with the Board’s final meeting December 19, 2023, and a long list of accomplishments. From taking on constituent concerns and changing countywide zoning policies to opening Metrorail service and responding to a global pandemic, the Board served an eventful term.
Eight of the nine members of the Board will return for another four-year term. Blue Ridge District Supervisor Tony Buffington, who did not seek reelection, leaves the Board after serving two terms in office.
“It's been an absolute honor and privilege to serve the residents and business owners of the Blue Ridge District for the past eight years,” said Supervisor Buffington. “Stepping down was not an easy decision, but I do so with a tremendous sense of pride in what we’ve been able to accomplish and I wish the next Board much success in ensuring that Loudoun remains a great place to live, work, learn and play!”
Laura TeKrony was elected as the first supervisor to represent the newly formed Little River District, created when the county’s magisterial district lines were redrawn during the redistricting process stemming out of the 2020 census and the Board’s decision to retire the Blue Ridge District name.
Highlights of the 2020-2023 Board of Supervisors
Many of the Board of Supervisors’ accomplishments during its term were driven by the Board’s adopted strategic initiatives that were established at the start of the term, which focused on five areas: open spaces and environment, connecting Loudoun, collective bargaining, equitable communities and economic development. The Board received an end-of-term update on its strategic initiatives (PDF) during the December 19, 2023, business meeting.
Open Spaces and Environment
In the focus area of open spaces and environment, the Board established the Environmental Commission, held the county’s first environment and energy summit, approved an Energy Strategy (PDF), and established a tax intended to dissuade the use of plastic bags. The Board also amended Loudoun’s ordinance on the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program to expand eligible properties and projects to align with the full extent of Virginia’s Clean Energy Financing law. More information about the county’s ongoing work in the areas of environment and energy is online at loudoun.gov/environment.
In addition, the Board’s commitment to ensuring open public spaces continued in this term. Examples include the opening of Lovettsville District Park, making improvements to Bles Park in Sterling and purchasing the Westpark property in Leesburg for a future park. Also, the county opened the award-winning Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, which straddles Evergreen Mills Road. In addition, the county’s new Ashburn Recreation and Community Center is currently under construction and expected to be complete in 2025.
Connecting Loudoun
In the strategic focus area of connecting Loudoun, the Board celebrated the completion of numerous improvements to the county’s transportation network. Road improvements continued to address the county’s “missing links,” providing new lanes and improvements to existing roads, such as Crosstrail Boulevard, Braddock Road, Belmont Ridge Road and Riverside Parkway. The opening of Northstar Boulevard from Route 50 to Tall Cedars Parkway provided an alternative north/south connection to Route 50. In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation, the George Washington Boulevard Extension and Route 7 Overpass opened in Ashburn. In addition, many sidewalks and shared-use paths were added throughout the county. The county is also addressing traffic safety through roadway intersection improvement projects. More information about these projects and the county’s ongoing road and facility projects, as well as links to sign up for email and text updates on projects, is posted at loudoun.gov/capitalprojects.
Among the key accomplishments during the Board’s term was the opening of the Silver Line Metrorail stations, linking Loudoun to Washington, D.C. and the region, as well as providing Loudoun residents with a new transportation option for accessing employment, entertainment and northern Virginia’s two major airports. The Silver Line extension also helps create successful new development opportunities for Loudoun, such as Rivana at Innovation Station (PDF), a mixed-use community approved during the Board’s term. More information about the Metro is posted at loudoun.gov/silverline.
The county’s work on the linear parks and trails system was initiated during the Board’s term and will continue in the coming years. The Board-approved plan will, in part, result in new trails that connect to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
Loudoun is also connecting its residents through the Board’s efforts to expand broadband internet services in western Loudoun, including the use of a Virginia Telecommunications Initiative grant and a partnership with All Points Broadband.
Collective Bargaining
In December 2021, the majority of the Board of Supervisors approved a labor relations ordinance, which established three bargaining units for employees and enabled collective bargaining with labor unions that are established as a bargaining agent for eligible county employees. The Board established an independent, contracted Labor Relations Administrator to serve as a neutral decision maker and who is responsible for implementing the ordinance and ruling on compliance issues. A change in Virginia law gave local jurisdictions the authority to engage with labor unions.
Equitable Communities
The Board passed a Resolution of the Board of Supervisors Regarding Social and Racial Equity as Fundamental Values, which identifies social and racial equity as fundamental values. The Board previously established the Office of Equity and Inclusion, which is working to apply the resolution to the county’s routine business. More information about these ongoing efforts is posted at loudoun.gov/equity.
The Board also renamed roads and facilities that were previously named after and in honor of Confederate or segregationist figures, symbols and slogans in Loudoun County. This effort, with support from the Commonwealth of Virginia, resulted in the new names for Route 50 and Route 7. The Board also renamed a number of other local roads and facilities in the county. More information regarding the Board’s renaming efforts is posted at loudoun.gov/roadrenaming.
The Board also approved an Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan, which provides a framework for addressing attainable housing needs in the county, including a dedicated funding source. The Board’s accomplishments during this term also have addressed the needs of Loudoun’s veterans, established specialty dockets that provide supports to individuals within the judicial and courts system who have experienced substance abuse or mental and behavioral health challenges, brought water infrastructure and resources to residents in historic Howardsville, continued and improved homeless and youth services, supported rural economic development, education and business needs, and more.
Economic Development
In the strategic focus area of economic development during this Board’s term, the county announced more than 400 economic investments amounting to more than $21 billion and more than 16,000 jobs. Loudoun’s economy also has continued to diversify. The Board has supported entrepreneurship and minority-owned businesses through targeted programing. In addition, the Board initiated the strategic redevelopment of areas in eastern and southern Loudoun and identified zones for revitalization opportunities. Learn more about the ongoing economic development efforts at biz.loudoun.gov.
Additional Accomplishments
The Board of Supervisors’ accomplishments over the past four years also include a number of other impactful initiatives. Examples include the adoption of a new Airport Noise Overlay District, a new ordinance prohibiting firearms on county property, transitioning the county’s health department from state to local administration, and improving public safety through a broad range of programs, such as funding the body-worn camera program in the Sheriff’s Office and the enhanced fire and rescue staff that has improved service delivery. The Board also established the county’s updated electoral district boundaries following the 2020 census, and lowered real and personal property tax rates while maintaining a AAA bond rating.
Among the Board’s heftiest tasks during the term was updating the county’s Zoning Ordinance. The Board completed a nearly four-year process that included extensive efforts by the Board-appointed Zoning Ordinance Committee and Planning Commission, and included significant public engagement with a broad range of stakeholders. The Board adopted a new zoning ordinance (PDF) in December 2023, replacing a 20-year-old ordinance.
Finally, the Board of Supervisors provided leadership during the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges experienced during the pandemic, the county remained open, providing services in new and innovative ways, and the Board of Supervisors continued to meet and conduct business during a state of emergency. The Board appropriated funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act. The county also provided COVID-19 testing and vaccine to thousands of residents.
About the 2024-2027 Board of Supervisors
The newly elected and reelected members of the Board of Supervisors will begin their four-year term on January 1, 2024. The new Board’s first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. More information about the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is posted at loudoun.gov/bos.
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