[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6562168,"mediaKeyId","3280068-39245d1cdeb47c8b52d03c35e380189e","parentId",3280068,"title","Leesburg staff outlines permanent vs. portable barricade options; council keeps rented units for now","audioSeconds",869,"startMs",139000,"endMs",1008000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280068-39245d1cdeb47c8b52d03c35e380189e&start=139&end=1008","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280068-39245d1cdeb47c8b52d03c35e380189e/thumbnail_139000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562168/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-staff-outlines-permanent-vs-portable-barricade-options-council-keeps-rented-units-for-now","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562168-5af372c920a90a1efa6f48745f82c366/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009874&Signature=BGScvaDca1TCJj4YWAE0~dPCj9VUN-pfOflQXeasZIXEK1PaGwWCoCVuwfO-Zs8BoDtBAV9vGnl9QZ-toHcLVSB5Mr~sgWyb4DmtDZe8KJWGvHJ3FMPeJgbU3T43sXxChEyfBQFLgcpaxK0EBMTU-E0njuVtTieLOvf0Y5kySdkhP4daJSWFDgV8B~aJvwAi-lbs5Ts928lX9~B04BlLLlusSMzrQAr401rit~vNqRna5QdqILfWhvXtS-2xSx0uIUrBdSC~6Cp139pA6I~zHaO6JuoGskcpiGvcEYx7RTsupefWoN7K85RTA6KAsIlZ90TAq6YQpp7JUq7~j0V5wA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leesburg","date","2025-05-12T00:00:00Z","article","Leesburg public works staff presented options for permanent downtown barricades at the Town Council work session on May 12, outlining industry crash-rating standards, equipment costs and likely construction impacts, and noting the town already purchased portable meridian barricades for events.

Chris Core, Deputy Director of Public Works, told the council the town bought three trailers containing 26 portable meridian barricades, six gates and accessories for just under $400,000 and expects delivery in June. \"They're very simple and quick to deploy,\" Core said, and the units can be used for both small events and larger events such as Taste or Flower and Garden.

Core reviewed ASTM crash-rating nomenclature the industry now uses, including vehicle weight classes (M ratings) and speed/penetration indicators (P ratings). He said the town's portable meridian barricades can meet C30 P2 and, depending on layout, M30 P3 levels. Core added the purchased meridians are also claimed to be ballistic rated for limited cover by first responders.

The presentation contrasted portable systems with several permanent options suitable for right-of-way installation: wedge barriers, retractable bollards and shallow removable bollards. Core said unit pricing varies widely — a single wedge closing one lane costs about $60,000 while bollards range from roughly $15,000 up to $60,000 per device — and utility relocation and site work would increase total project cost. \"Fifty feet of water line relocation can cost around $30,000 from a recent project we did,\" he said.

Core said removable shallow bollards (12-inch install depth) are a mid-point option because they avoid many underground utility conflicts; retractable units typically require 6–8 foot trenches, a large control cabinet footprint (roughly 5 by 5 by 3 feet) and higher maintenance costs. He said an equipment-only installation could take 90–120 days and relocation of utilities could extend construction to more than six months.

Council members pressed staff on liability, lifespan and local use. Core said some jurisdictions moved away from permanent installs because of long-term maintenance costs and potential liability when a high‑force impact damages a fixed system. He also said Loudoun County agencies and some nearby jurisdictions are purchasing the same portable meridian barricades the town bought.

After discussion about cost, construction disruption to businesses and utility conflicts in the downtown right-of-way, Mayor and council members indicated they did not want to pursue permanent installations at this time. The mayor summarized the council's direction: although staff will keep the information on permanent devices, the town will proceed with the purchased portable meridian barricades for events.

Next steps noted by staff: the portable units arrive in June; staff will continue to coordinate deployment for events and will return with further information if council wants to reconsider permanent devices.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Leesburg - Town Council Work Session - May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Leesburg public works presented permanent and portable barricade options at the May 12 work session and said the town already purchased portable meridian barricades for about $400,000; after hearing cost, utility and construction impacts for permanent systems, the council indicated it would continue with the portable units for now.","taxTitle","Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia","taxId",5641,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562158,"Council discusses downtown vision and metrics; staff points to meals-tax and cell‑phone data for measuring vitality",345,5640000,5985000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280068-39245d1cdeb47c8b52d03c35e380189e&start=5640&end=5985","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280068-39245d1cdeb47c8b52d03c35e380189e/thumbnail_5640000.jpg","/articles/6562158/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Council-discusses-downtown-vision-and-metrics-staff-points-to-meals-tax-and-cellphone-data-for-measuring-vitality","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562158-e87c04ff52daf8e335be7aa4bcf37d4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009874&Signature=Xvz6g9o~T8xJcm0ZLATILzEEdaWK3a1dppP8pA16RmF5zNRTcJ28kxcOfNtE18COJkeaFy2-t6yTa6dHVr1MHEBrRBmJLEuehe0ZEfnjI~xwQ1g9HpRBZPFlRiqcG99mUetpH6Touwe7IHF6M2EhzftCBMk~99zfxw8L1GhuaQDxD2POv0ZFlYdRaIbPi0XoKHBtA2lFRon6qus6TPfGewzmCXcC0mtDK7Nv3Ec-i-Yl6qpE1uTKuGpcR5kAJwAg3yCWBN6FnCSw71W2L7X~hxv-fKovZHVNoKWq9gYYqeU6YyFVlzDKyeUy2qeEDfOMCPA-JGxCtvi7Q5gTQFdLeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff presented options for defining a downtown economic-vision at the May 12 work session and offered tools to measure success, including meals-tax receipts and third-party mobility analytics.

The presentation framed the downtown Business District (core historic H‑1) and the adjacent Crescent District, which recently underwent a master-plan update. Staff told the council that decisions about the downtown's future should balance \"maintaining the historic character of Leesburg\" with questions about whether the town seeks incremental private reinvestment or larger public investment.

Staff noted available tools and incentives: enhanced services (trash, snow removal, wayfinding), façade improvement grants, the arts-and-cultural district, a potential tourism district and use of revenue sources such as meals tax, garage occupancy and BPOL to fund downtown initiatives. \"Here's one indicator: meals tax revenue — you can see the climb out of the pandemic and a dip in 2024,\" staff said while showing taxable-meals totals that peaked above $48 million in the downtown historic district year-to-year.

Staff also showed Placer AI mobility data that aggregates anonymized cell‑phone pings. That data indicated more than two-thirds of downtown visitors were local residents who traveled from home for destination shopping and dining; smaller shares traveled from or to workplaces. Staff suggested such data could help target marketing and assess visitation patterns.

Councilmembers asked about supporting retail with additional rooftops or corridor improvements and about the status of studies for corridor investments (Catoctin Circle and Market Street). Staff said corridor studies are under procurement and could take one to two years for completion, noting implementation of any large public investments would be a separate funding decision.

Staff recommended the council define the vision for downtown and the Crescent District, pick measurable indicators of success, and direct staff to work with stakeholders on implementation strategies. Council agreed to continue the discussion at future meetings.","Staff briefed council on defining an economic development vision for downtown and the Crescent District, showed meals-tax trends and Placer AI mobility data, and recommended choosing measurable success metrics and tools for implementation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6562163,"Leesburg staff proposes six-point plan to speed and simplify site plan review; council asks for measurable targets",4888,1048000,5936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280068-39245d1cdeb47c8b52d03c35e380189e&start=1048&end=5936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280068-39245d1cdeb47c8b52d03c35e380189e/thumbnail_1048000.jpg","/articles/6562163/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Leesburg-staff-proposes-six-point-plan-to-speed-and-simplify-site-plan-review-council-asks-for-measurable-targets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562163-8870a167f53059bb0345b037a5c8e98e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009874&Signature=gZM2ZQngo~E67vansrUmmZ1WkOrJYsuEwZ6zw9mxl29UWIwhkW0jDbk6BV3SCj4pZ8KK7WmW-ZDzrg7OsnN9IidC~Fr7iRasRC3ZK~87YNnfER5bKLAp~458rIAAmwDkuAnACOFtKNTD0XBKCXwMb7KYA9eaKZrhCXfgsgm-e-3y0nqw6eNqbbyCEowssvhh-E7eJMV7Nvq8Y~YeNuSTyhZO1BP6VsWO65l3wP7~-iI9gg~jUqVpQCVsmyWo50yBMwzt0zFBTkgshfEOLQvD8MHyB0JLVhdRWKUNVmtJd0hUkNA1fWY868fh9soTlhfBQmzfHQK05TsFfpF7sxlrHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","James David, Community Development Director, presented a summary of feedback and a six-point improvement plan for Leesburg's site plan review and approval process at the May 12 work session.

David said staff conducted off-site interviews with 12 developers and engineers and recorded about 390 comments, which were synthesized into 25 themes and eight summary statements. \"Out of all the people interviewed, they all expressed that your town staff is intelligent and your town staff is experienced and your town staff is knowledgeable about Leesburg,\" David said. He then listed top concerns including updates needed to the Design Construction Standards Manual (DCSM) and zoning ordinance, excessive review comments that seek \"perfection rather than solutions,\" and the need for greater certainty in early stages of projects.

David presented a six-point response plan: update regulatory documents (DCSM and zoning ordinance), behavior/culture changes to shorten comment letters and focus on compliance, collaboration and concurrency to avoid overly linear review steps, organizational strategy including staffing adjustments and possible ombudsman role, improved intake checklists to raise quality at submission, and an expedited-review program (\"2 submissions plus 1 signature\") for higher-quality initial submittals or qualifying projects.

David provided three recent site-plan timelines as examples: a Valvoline at Compass Creek took just over a year from application to site plan approval; a county government pump-station decommissioning took three months; and an infill project at the former Black Walnut Brewery took eight months. He noted those figures exclude pre-application meetings, which can make a project feel longer.

Bill Ackman, Chief Engineer, explained the technical review focus areas — stormwater, transportation (VDOT alignment), grading, erosion/sediment control, landscaping, utilities and floodplains — and said existing DCSM language was written for greenfield/suburban development and needs updates for urban infill and historic-district contexts.

Councilmembers asked for implementation details and metrics. Councilmember Wilkes asked which metrics staff will use; David said each of the six items will have its own success measures (for example, fewer DCSM modification requests, shorter comment letters, reduced time from application to approval) and staff will develop baselines and targets as micro‑teams further study each item. Wilkes and others urged that staff return with quantifiable expected impacts tied to each proposal.

Several councilmembers also discussed ESI (Engineers and Surveyors Institute) peer review, pre-application meeting improvements, and whether expedited review could be scaled with current staffing. Staff said DCSM and zoning rewrite work is underway, the SLDR (Subdivision Land Development Regulations) rewrite was proposed but not funded in FY26, and implementing expedited or staffing-intensive improvements may require additional budgeted resources. David said the six-point plan will be placed on the consent agenda for the council meeting the next day for conceptual approval and that staff will return with more detailed analyses and proposed metrics.","Community Development presented findings from interviews with 12 developers (390 comments) and recommended a six-point improvement plan addressing regulatory updates, culture/behavior change, organizational staffing and expedited review; council members asked for quantitative baselines and expected impacts before final adoption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Leesburg staff outlines permanent vs. portable barricade options; council keeps rented units for now

Council discusses downtown vision and metrics; staff points to meals-tax and cell‑phone data for measuring vitality

Leesburg staff proposes six-point plan to speed and simplify site plan review; council asks for measurable targets