Novus Group outlines conceptual plan for 6‑lot subdivision on former Merrill gravel pit

Chris Nado, of Novus Group, told the Loudoun Planning Board the site is a 23‑acre former Merrill gravel pit on Laurel Ridge Road and that the firm is proposing a six‑lot subdivision with two‑acre minimum lots and a roughly 1,000‑foot cul‑de‑sac to connect to Lower Ridge Road. "We're here just for a conceptual review of a 23 acre parcel on Laurel Ridge Road," Nado said during the December meeting.

Board members focused on natural‑resource constraints and public‑safety infrastructure. The applicant and board said a conservation easement and a stream buffer run along the property; the board asked the applicant to verify which watercourse maps apply (discussed as Academy Brook vs. Bumpfagan/Bump Fagan Brook) and to confirm any shoreline or wetland protections. Members also recommended the applicant coordinate with the fire department on cistern placement and confirm where a future public road would be accepted by the town.

On permitting, Nado said the project will require an AOT permit and that the town may opt to use its own engineer for final reviews. The board agreed the conceptual package was adequate for initial feedback and advised the applicant to return with detailed road and subdivision plans, AOT permit materials and any wetland scientist certification before seeking preliminary approval.

Next procedural steps noted by staff and the applicant include preparing a road design, filing a formal subdivision application, obtaining state AOT approvals where required and confirming deed or conservation‑easement constraints that affect buildable area. The board did not take a formal vote on the conceptual review; it offered comments and closed the item for the applicant to refine technical details.