As we look to the future of Purcellville, it is essential to understand the pivotal decisions made in the past, particularly during the early 1990s when our town faced significant challenges and opportunities.
Purcellville in the Early 1990s
In the early 1990s, Purcellville was only 50% developed within its incorporated limits. Key developments such as Catoctin Meadows, Giant Food, Purcellville Ridge, and Old Dominion Valley were yet to come to fruition. During this period, the Greenway was being constructed, while Loudoun County began rezoning adjacent areas. A notable rezoning included 50 acres for what would become 492 affordable housing units known as Autumn Hills (now Mayfair). Additionally, Carlyle and Anderson were granted County zoning for industrial use.
The town was under a state mandate to enlarge its aging wastewater treatment plant to accommodate increased flows and meet new regulations. Unfortunately, at that time, there were no reserves available to fund this critical upgrade. Compounding the situation, John R. Wright submitted an annexation request to the Town Council for 600 acres, which proposed 1,800 homes and a 100,000 square foot commercial center. Concurrently, the owners of Autumn Hills sought annexation as well.
Decisions Were Needed
Faced with mounting pressure, the Town Council made the difficult decision to deny the annexation requests from John R. Wright and Autumn Hills in 1992. At this time, Purcellville confronted several significant challenges: securing land and funding for a new wastewater treatment plant (which the state required to be located south of Purcellville), devising a plan to alleviate commuter and school traffic from Main Street, addressing urgent structural work needed on Hirst Reservoir and Dam, and replacing aging pipes throughout the town.
Purcellville Joint Land Management Area and Annexation Plan
In response to these challenges, Loudoun County, Purcellville citizens, and the surrounding community engaged in a collaborative effort over three years to develop a comprehensive 50-year plan for the town, recognizing Purcellville’s role as the hub for Western Loudoun. This plan included future transportation needs, school and park locations, and designated areas for residential, industrial, and commercial development.
The phased approach allowed Purcellville to better manage its water and wastewater requirements. By 1995, the Joint Land Management Area and Annexation Plan was adopted, establishing a water and sewer agreement with each annexation to ensure consistent revenue flow.
Basham Simms Waste Water Plant and Southern Collector Road
The Town Council subsequently annexed Hirst Farm, which provided a proffer of 40 acres for a new wastewater and maintenance plant, along with a segment of the future Southern Collector Road (A Street). This was followed by the annexation of Phase 1 of Valley Springs and Village Case, which provided funds for the new plant and additional segments of the Southern Collector Road. In 2002, the Basham Simms Waste Water Plant was dedicated, and over 93% of the Southern Collector Road was constructed.
Loudoun County Purchases Field Farm
In September 2000, Loudoun County notified Purcellville of its purchase of over 200 acres known as Fields Farm, which was planned for lighted ball fields and an elementary school. Purcellville expressed concerns that this area was outside the Phase 1 utilities area. Mountain View Elementary opened in 2002 using well and septic systems, and plans for a high school on Fields Farm began to take shape, correlating with increased demand for the 690 Interchange.
Downtown Charrette
A shift in the Town Council brought new transportation priorities, leading to a focus on constructing the 690 Interchange rather than completing the Southern Collector Road through Crooked Run Orchard. The community came together for a three-day charrette to develop a plan for Historic Downtown (21st Street). In 2003, the Purcellville Charette Plan was presented to the Town Council, resulting in updated zoning ordinances aligned with the new plan.
By 2003, the town learned it had violated its VPDES permits due to exceeding permitted effluent limits, primarily caused by inflow and infiltration issues that still persist today. Plans were initiated to mitigate nitrogen levels and increase the size of the plant to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Act.
In the years following, Purcellville agreed to extend water and sewer services to Fields Farm schools due to overcrowding at Loudoun Valley High School. Loudoun County also assisted Purcellville in acquiring the land necessary to complete the Southern Collector Road, leading to an agreement to void the Joint Plan with the County.
With the extension of water and sewer services outside of Phase 1 and adjacent to what would become Autumn Hills, the town agreed to a modified development plan that included single-family homes and townhouses, which resulted in the creation of Mayfair.
By: Beverly Chiasson
