DAAR Weighs in on Loudoun County’s Housing Future
Holly Weatherwax, 2018 Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® (DAAR) President, and Lars Henriksen, DAAR’s representative on the Loudoun County Comprehensive Plan Stakeholders group, provided suggestions on ways to address the housing needs in Loudoun County. Speaking before the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on Thursday, July 19th, Weatherwax and Henriksen supported the effort to plan for the future growth and development in Loudoun County.
The County’s draft Comprehensive Plan, titled “Loudoun 2040,” is the result of a two-year endeavor and sets out a vision, goals, and strategy for Loudoun County’s future land use, development, and transportation policies. “DAAR supports the efforts of Loudoun 2040 and agrees with its goal to make well-designed places providing a full spectrum of housing,” said Weatherwax. That goal is supported by the inclusion of a housing chapter dedicated to articulating ways in which increased housing options could be provided in Loudoun County.
Loudoun 2040 also includes numerous goals and strategies designed to provide a diverse housing stock to meet changing needs, allow for higher residential density in certain areas, and incentives to increase the availability of housing that is affordable to households all along the income spectrum. Both Weatherwax and Henriksen provided recommendations on ways in which Loudoun 2040 could be strengthened. “DAAR is confident that through the strengthening of Loudoun 2040, the county will be able to develop a wide-range of urban, suburban, and rural housing choices at all price levels,” said Henriksen.
The Board of Supervisors approved sending the draft Loudoun 2040 Comprehensive Plan to the Planning Commission for review. County staff proposed that Commissioners begin their work on August 9th and hold public input sessions in early November. Staff’s goal is to have the Planning Commission recommendation presented to the Board in January 2019. If the Board agrees that the draft Loudoun 2040 Comprehensive Plan is ready for adoption, the draft Loudoun 2040 Countywide Transportation Plan will be forwarded to the Virginia Department of Transportation for review and return to the Board for adoption.
Questions: Contact Brenda Morton, Government Affairs and Communications Manager, at (703) 777-2468 or bmorton@dullesarea.com.