Loudoun County supervisors approved the rezoning of nearly 246 rural acres for a housing development of nearly 1,100 homes, a major tennis facility, and the new headquarters for the U.S. Tennis Mid-Atlantic Section.
The approval of the Village at Clear Springs last week paves the way for a mix of single-family homes, over age 55 homes, and Habitat for Humanity homes that would be affordable rental units and affordable for sale units. In total, 18 percent of the homes would be affordable and 25 percent would be for those 55 and older.
The property is on Evergreen Mills Road, south of Leesburg, west of the Dulles Greenway, and north and south of Shreve Mill Road. While the property is not within the overlay area for the Leesburg airport, the proximity to the airport will be disclosed to buyers.
As part of the deal, the tennis association will build a 36-court state-of-the-art facility to host tournaments and other events. It would be the largest of its kind in the mid-Atlantic division and could open in 2025, according to the Washington Business Journal. About 50 tennis events would be held there, generating $8.5 million for the region, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Section said.
The tennis courts also would be open to the public.
A public hearing for the Village at Clear Springs on April 10 drew mixed reactions to the proposal.
The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce backed it saying it would diversify the economy, but the Town of Leesburg did support the proposal. Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg said that the town receives complaints about airport noise even from people who knew they were buying near an airport.
John Ellis of Save Rural Loudoun also spoke against it. He said the additional housing would bring more congestion, further overcrowd schools, and increase county spending and taxes.
Feature image courtesy Loudoun County Government
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