School Staff Has Examined 7 Potential
Western Loudoun High School Locations

(Copied from the School Board web site, http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/news/2004-2005/nov/potential_sites.htm)

Recently several potential locations for HS-3 (the new Western Loudoun high school) have been discussed in the media.

Loudoun County Public Schools’ staff has analyzed the suitability of all the properties that have been mentioned and have explored their potential as a school site. This work took place long before the potential school sites were mentioned in public. Following are the potential school sites LCPS has examined in no particular order:

1. Lonas Property (101) Acres (Map)

This property consists of two parcels of approximately 50 acres each that are zoned for residential use. This land is located north of Round Hill Elementary School and Woodgrove Park. The two parcels could potentially accommodate a high school, however, zoning and road construction issues preclude this land from consideration. The property fronts on Bell Road, a typical Loudoun dirt road. Bell Road would have to be improved, as well as Woodgrove Road from the intersection of Bell Road south to its intersection with Evening Star Drive.

In addition to the road construction, signal lights would likely be required at the aforementioned intersections.

The two lots contain serious restrictions that do not permit the construction of a high school. The restrictions can be enforced by the Board of Supervisors or by lot owners in the Woodgrove subdivision. The proffers associated with these two lots (ZMAP 89-04) require a perpetual open space easement. Even if the restrictions associated with the use of the property could be overcome, both the proffers and the county’s Zoning Concept Plan would have to be amended.

2. Brown Property (55 Acres) (Map)

This parcel east of Round Hill was brought to the attention of School Board staff by Round Hill Mayor Frank Etro more than a year ago.

Staff reviewed the property at the time and indicated that it would not be sufficient to house a 1,600-student school, especially given the restrictions proposed by the mayor. These restrictions included preserving the current house on the property and trees along the driveway. The mayor also proposed a series of buildings that would surround the existing house and serve as classrooms. Such a layout would leave little to no room for parking or athletic fields.

Staff met with Mayor Etro and a member of Blue Ridge Supervisor Jim Burton’s staff to examine the issue again on October 7th of this year. The basic concept of a “campus” environment remained.

Mayor Etro proposed using property north of Business Route 7 for athletic facilities. These facilities would be constructed and managed by a Public-Private Education Act (PPEA) corporation. Given the demands high schools place on athletic fields, plus the fact students would be crossing Business Route 7 to practice and compete in athletic events, this did not appear to be a prudent proposal.

To enhance the access to the site, Mayor Etro proposed using Franklin Park instead of Lake View Drive.

Since the Brown property is not contiguous to either Round Hill or Purcellville, staff inquired how Mayor Etro proposed to annex this land into the town, given current county and town policies regarding annexation.

Staff also asked if the current owner was a willing seller. Mayor Etro said he did not know and that he would ask the owner if they were willing to sell. At a November 13th meeting in Purcellville, Mayor Etro announced that the owner was not willing to sell the property. The School Board has indicated that it would be adverse to condemning property that someone was using for a residence.

All of this strongly suggests the parcel is inadequate to serve a high school.

3. Fields Farm (231 acres) (Map)

This property, located north of Purcellville on Allder School Road, was purchased by the County of Loudoun for use by the public schools and the Parks and Recreation Department. It currently houses Mountain View Elementary. The site was designed for both an elementary school and the proposed HS-3.

The well and drain field on the site would accommodate HS-3.

This site can serve the program needs for a high school. The strongest objections to using this site come from the Town of Purcellville, which is concerned about traffic passing through town (primarily from the Round Hill area) to get to the Fields Farm site. The town insists that an interchange be constructed at Route 690 if the site is to be used.

There are no funds currently set aside to acquire the necessary right-of-way or design the interchange, let alone initiate construction.

4. James Farm (90 acres) (Map)

Staff contacted the family that owns this property, located north of Allder School Road and west of Route 287, to see if they were interested in selling a portion of the farm to serve as the location for HS-3. The family is not interested in selling their property to LCPS.

Utilities are not to be extended to the property unless there is a public use associated with the property. Even though a school would qualify for a utility extension, the area north of the Route 7 Bypass is in Phase 2 of the Town of Purcellville’s plans. That means there would be no access to water and sewer service.

5. Roncaglione, et. al. (67 Acres) (Map)

This land, located northeast of Route 287 and the Route 7 Bypass, was considered as part of the land acquisition process for Harmony Intermediate School. The parcel is land-locked with only a small easement that permits access to it. This access was insufficient for a middle school, let alone a high school. Its proximity to the Route 7 Bypass also was an issue.

6. Harmony Intermediate School (79 Acres) (Map)

The School Board purchased this site for a middle school and an elementary school. At the request of Hamilton residents, School Board staff examined the possibilities of placing a high school on the property instead of an elementary school.

Staff concluded that it would be impossible to place a high school on the property given the current program. More importantly, routing traffic from both facilities in and out of one entrance was considered unsafe.

Discussions with the adjacent property owner also were pursued. Staff examined the possibility of acquiring additional property and a second entrance off of Business 7. The additional land and entrance were tied to a comprehensive plan amendment that failed. The offer to acquire the land was subsequently withdrawn.

7. Nichols Property (60 Acres) (Map)

The School Board staff examined this property, located on the eastern end of Hamilton, and believes that it will sufficiently serve the high school program needs. Compared to most other parcels examined by staff, this parcel has reasonably good access on Business Route 7.

The School Board acted to condemn this property in order to gain entrance to it. Once on the property, staff will conduct testing and evaluation to determine its suitability for a high school site. This action also will open a path that will enable discussions with the town of Hamilton to begin about issues such as utilities and traffic.