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Clydes Farm Area Construction

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by Mr Rogers, Mar 27, 2016.

  1. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    Well, it appears that the wooded lot at the corner of Claiborne and Broadlands will be developed. A couple of questions.
    1) It appears that the development will impact the farm field, the pond and the HOA trails. Any way to see the plans?
    2) What is the expected impact on the pond, wildlife and area streams? Is there any talk of preserving some of the forest? There are old farm stone fences that appear to be pre-civil war. Any plans for those?
    3) Can we harvest plants and lumber since the forest will be demolished?
     
  2. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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    Trees Razed to Start Construction of 6 Broadlands Buildings
    ASHBURN, VA: Numerous trees have been cut down alongside the paths leading from Clyde's Willow Creek Farm restaurant to the adjacent working barn/farm in order for the construction of the first of 6 office buildings and parking lots to begin.

    A spokesperson for Total Development Solutions, the project contractor, said that the presently ongoing work began on March 21.

    "Van Metre currently has an approved site plan for Section 104 - approximately 60 acres from Clydes to Claiborne Parkway. We are approved for six offices buildings – and up to over 600,000 square feet of office. Right now, we are in the process of clearing the site to extend sewer, water, utilities and roads that will serve the first building – the new Van Metre Homes offices," said Denise Harrover, vice president of Van Metre Planned Committees.

    "This building is 20,000 square feet and will be under construction this summer. We anticipate moving the offices into the building sometime in early 2017," Harrover added.

    The Broadlands site was the location of theEarthDay@Loudoun Family Festival that was held annually for the past 7 years. During the festival, environmental information and activity booths for children and adults were set up on the grass next to Clyde's and alongside the paths stretching to the barn/farm.

    A portion of Stream Valley Park, 150 acres of natural land with wooden trails, wetlands and wildlife preserves in Broadlands, runs through this area. Broadlands is aCertified Wildlife Habitat Community by the National Wildlife Federation, the 25th community in the nation to achieve this certification.

    "The barn/farm that is being used by Clyde's, and the ponds and walking trails that are part of Stream Valley Park will remain," said Ty Hausch, Vice President of Commercial Leasing, Van Metre Companies.

    "We've always known that eventually the Earth Day event space would be developed in some form," said Oya Simpson, founder and organizer of the EarthDay@Loudoun Family Festival. "Based on the information on the county website, the commercial land Van Metre owns is under development with the existing permits they have. On the other hand, there is an application for an amendment to their Concept Plan and other modifications which would affect the existing proffers for recreational space planned for this area."

    "I am hoping that our community will get involved in the decision making process to voice their opinions about losing recreation space and the new plan that now proposes to include mini-storage, townhouses and more. I look forward to the analysis that County staff will provide regarding impacts to our already struggling school system and potential future boundary line adjustments," Simpson added. "My hope is that the public process will work as intended and our county planners and the decision makers will consider public input as they determine what’s best to maintain the quality of life in Broadlands and the surrounding communities."
     

    Attached Files:

  3. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    The townhouses are located is Section 108, which is north of Broadlands Blvd and adjacent to the Greenway on the east side.
    I have voiced my opposition to this to Van Metre. Wedging townhouses up against the Greenway and surrounded by a church and a daycare is not a good place for residential units, in my opinion.
    The storage unit facility will not impact the open space area where the pond and Clyde's barns are located.
    If I recall correctly, the development of Section 104 does not affect this area.
     
    SK8R likes this.
  4. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    I enjoy the scenic Broadlands Blvd. drive. Alas, it will all come to an end just like the other treed areas around the reservoir. :(
     
  5. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Have these rezoning requests been addressed by the county yet?
     
  6. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Mini-storage being built too? Unbelievable. Sad that this nice area now being commercialized! Ugh.
     
  7. aloha

    aloha New Member

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  8. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, that 45 second drive is a highlight of mine.
     
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  9. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Maybe that commercialization will help some local businesses stay open longer than a year or 2.
     
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  10. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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    On the attached document I posted, you can see the modifications VM is asking for. Those are not yet approved. Well, Earth Day event will find a new home.
     
  11. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Hmmm, I'm surprised you enjoy anything in any given day;)
     
  12. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    But the reality is, if that land wasn't slated for commercial development from the time Broadlands was created, you wouldn't have a home to live in.
    Without the taxes generated from commercial development to offset the cost to the county of residential housing, communities such as Broadlands would never be approved.
     
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  13. lissa84

    lissa84 New Member

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    Ok, completely get that. And all are entitled to their own opinions and emotions about a particular situation. But thanks for that little bit of unnecessary trivia.
     
  14. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Golf, coaching baseball and vacations... that is about it. :D
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2016
  15. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    "Unnecessary"? When you bought, that land was already slated for commercial. Hell, When I bought in 95 that land was slated for commercial. Maybe your expectation that it would remain undeveloped is naive.
     
  16. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Things can change in 20 years...
     
  17. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    True, but in this case... not.
     
  18. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Did people expect a land fairy to come flying in, buy up all the land, and then put it into a trust?

    These spaces have been on the map to be developed forever. My guess is maybe many of these threads originate from second hand buyers not seeing the community plans as part of a sales pitch like original buyers did.... even tho the maps all are still right there in the nature center.

    And some people just expect others to never develop their land...
     
  19. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    I'd like to invite everyone to see the effect already on the pond. Sorry, I have a lot of fond memories of taking my kids and dogs through those woods. DEVASTATING!
     
  20. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    I grew up in Loudoun County, the effects of, well, EVERYTHING built where we live... DEVASTATING! ;)

    This entire area use to be farm land. Call it progress or whatever you want but no one should be surprised about the development of that parcel of land. Honestly, I am surprised it took this long.
     

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