The Leesburg Environmental Advisory Commission agreed to revise a draft letter to the Board of Architectural Review (BAR), stressing general policy positions while asking for more facts before taking a specific position on the town-owned 16 Ward Street building.

Staff presented a draft that mixed broad recommendations — dark-sky policy and preference for reuse followed by deconstruction over demolition — with a case-specific discussion of 16 Ward Street. Commissioners said the document should be able to stand alone for BAR members and the public and flagged that it currently conflated separate issues.

Commissioners said they support reusing structures when feasible and favor deconstruction over demolition when reuse is not viable, but they repeatedly emphasized that 16 Ward Street presents unresolved hazards and cost questions. One member summarized the commission’s view as: the EAC supports reuse when possible, supports deconstruction over demolition, and seeks more information before a formal recommendation.

Members pointed to historic-group notes that suggest the property may contain asbestos and lead that could require significant remediation. Several commissioners said they need estimates for asbestos abatement, lead remediation and ADA upgrades before endorsing either reuse or deconstruction for that particular site.

Brooke (commissioner) volunteered to rework the letter and to research remediation-pathway costs and asbestos-mitigation issues so the revised memo can present clear, actionable recommendations and the specific data the EAC needs to make an environmental judgment.

Next steps: the commission expects a redraft circulated to members prior to the December meeting so the letter can be finalized and, if approved, sent to the BAR. Council-level action was not taken; commissioners noted that any final policy or funding decision would rest with Town Council.