Eugene Delgaudio

The matter came up during the Board of Supervisors meeting in Leesburg Oct. 6, when supervisors decided to ask state lawmakers for the same authority as towns and cities to impose these taxes. Loudoun is also looking to raise its transient occupancy, or hotel, tax, which now stands at 5 percent.

The proposal came up during what’s been a months-long process to change language in Loudoun’s ordinance with respect to the use of guns on public land, so it agrees with state law.

Now making its way through county government officials’ hands is a proposal to amend local zoning regulations to ban the practice of residents parking their cars on lawns in Loudoun County’s suburban areas.

The problem is most prevalent in Sterling Park, which, for the most part, does not have a homeowners’ association to monitor such activities.

In August, former Sugarland Run planning commissioner Michael Keeney stepped down from the job over conflicts with his work schedule. During his time on the commission, Keeney missed some meetings due to travel related to his job.

Report: ‘Crash Pad’ Investigated

Loudoun County zoning officials recently investigated a Sterling Park house used by pilots as a boarding house, according to The Washington Post.

Earlier this month, the Post published a lengthy story about how some regional airline pilot share homes near airports in order to reduce their living expenses. The residences are called “crash pads,” according to the article.

 On Monday, July 7, an 18-year-old woman was able to fight off her attacker and escape from an attempted abduction in the parking area of Sterling Park Mall. Her attacker asked for directions and when the woman approached, the attacker grabbed her and attempted to pull her into the vehicle. What makes this assault even more frightening is that it wasn't late at night—it was 6 p.m., in full view of other shoppers.

Loudoun’s Board of Supervisors decided July 21 to endorse a decision by the county’s Library Board of Trustees to allow alcohol at special events held at county-owned libraries. The board also voted to schedule a public hearing for Sept. 8 on allowing the same practice at two parks and recreation facilities.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead July 21 to making a sign-removal pilot program launched earlier this year a permanent fixture in Loudoun.

Starting immediately, developers applying to rezone property will have to contribute $59,470 to the county for each single-family detached home it desires to build in eastern Loudoun. This is an increase of nearly $13,000 per home from the previous proffer requirements. In addition, proffers for town homes in the east went up by about $11,000 under the board’s decision, while proffers for apartments increased by about $5,000 per unit.

Before one opened in Leesburg in May, Lydia Best, owner of a dog-walking and pet-sitting company called Everything & the Dog, fought for a decade to bring a dog park to Loudoun. Only thing, Fido, Rover and the rest of man’s best friends have always been legally allowed to run off leash at any park owned by the county.