Supervisors approve Greenfield Farm rezoning; preservation measures, road commitments included

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted Sept. 16 to approve the Greenfield Farm rezoning application, a 174.4-acre proposal that would rezone agricultural land east of Evergreen Mills Road for a mix of single-family housing, limited multi-family units and a small commercial parcel.

Under the approved plan, the developer would construct 518 residential units (primarily single-family) and provide proffers aimed at protecting archaeological and historic resources on the property. The applicant committed to a conservation area and a publicly accessible narrative history of the property; the developer also proffered to fund certain documentary and stabilization work for a historic house on the site and to record a maintenance agreement intended to stabilize and secure the structure while longer-term preservation or reuse options are pursued.

Transportation commitments accompanying the rezoning include construction of Evergreen Mills Road to its ultimate four-lane, median-divided configuration in the project area and construction of a half section of Crosstrail Boulevard. The applicant requested and staff supported credits against regional road contributions for two lanes of Evergreen Mills Road as part of their road-build commitments.

Board members who supported approval cited the applicant’s transportation commitments, the inclusion of attainable housing options and the preservation steps for known cultural resources on the site. Supervisor John Kirschner said the application included “a significant financial investment” and steps to preserve the historic house and surrounding land that otherwise might be developed differently.

Opponents on the board raised questions about operating costs to the school division associated with the proposed residential units, and some supervisors said the affordable/attainable housing commitments did not reach the 15% level that would apply under newer policies — the proposal used the previously applicable standard for projects grandfathered to the older zoning code. Supervisor Amy Umstead and Supervisor Saenz registered objections on budgetary and school‑cost grounds during the vote discussion.

The record shows the motion to approve included detailed proffers and conditions of approval; staff advised that the project is generally consistent with the county’s 2019 General Plan with specific caveats about heritage-resource mitigation and the appropriate amount and form of attainable housing. With the board’s approval, staff will proceed to draft the necessary documentation for recordation and implementation according to the proffers and conditions.