Purcellville, VA – The Purcellville Planning Commission convened on May 1, 2025, to continue discussions on the state-mandated five-year review of the Town’s comprehensive plan and to receive updates on various projects in and around Purcellville.
Mayor Bertaut, serving as a liaison on the Planning Commission, along with staff, provided a crucial update regarding utilities for the Western Recreational Complex. The Town of Purcellville and Loudoun County are currently in negotiations to supply water and wastewater utilities to the new Loudoun County Western Recreation Center, which is being constructed adjacent to the town limits.
While Purcellville has the capacity to handle additional wastewater inflow, there is currently insufficient water supply for this facility. The Town has requested that Loudoun County explore additional water sources. A key point of discussion centers around whether the utilities will be provided at “out of town rates,” which are double the rates for Purcellville residents, or if the Town will adjust its rates accordingly. Additionally, there is the possibility of initiating a boundary line adjustment to bring the facility within town limits; however, following the Fields Farm process, the likelihood of this being acceptable to Loudoun County remains uncertain.
Comprehensive Plan Review and History
The Planning Commission has embarked on a significant five-year initiative to update Purcellville’s comprehensive plan, a process that first began ten years ago and has seen changes in commissioners, staff, and council members. In June 2020, the Town Council adopted the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Subsequently, in January 2022, Purcellville contracted ZoneCo to update the zoning ordinance to align with the comprehensive plan vision. The Town Council approved the new zoning ordinance on April 8, 2025, with a narrow vote of 4-3.
The five-year review is expected to commence before June 2025. While a significant rewrite like the previous comprehensive plan revision is not anticipated, this update will focus on several key elements, including changes made in the new zoning ordinance, the new Western Recreational Center, updates to focus areas, a historic survey, and an assessment of economic changes.
The comprehensive plan update will be implemented in two phases: Phase I will refresh maps and update historic mapping, while Phase II will cover broader updates, including planning focus areas and the vision for Main Street. The Planning Commission aims to have the updated Comprehensive Plan ready for public hearing by the end of 2025.
One of the more contentious points in the new zoning ordinance is the Historical Home Overlay. The last historical review conducted by Purcellville took place 20 years ago. To assist with an update of historical homes, the Town had enlisted a university student, but due to scheduling conflicts, the student was unable to present his findings at the meeting. This agenda item is expected to be rescheduled for the next Planning Commission meeting.
Significant changes have occurred since the last review in 2007, including the demolition of homes deemed “historically contributing” like the Pullen House. Additionally, several homes have surpassed the 50-year mark, making them eligible for historical significance review. The criteria for inclusion on the Historical Homes map are anticipated to be retained in the comprehensive plan. Residents continue to express ongoing concerns that additional government reviews may be imposed on historic homes.
Purcellville News will continue to provide updates on the comprehensive plan review. We encourage all citizens to engage with this process and share their concerns early on to ensure that community voices are heard.
For further details, residents are encouraged to attend future meetings and review the presentation.