Leesburg staff previews FY2027–2032 capital improvements plan, flags stormwater, pedestrian and paving priorities

Doug Wagner, assistant director of capital projects and public works, presented the Town of Leesburg’s proposed FY2027–2032 Capital Improvements Plan to the Planning Commission on Jan. 15.

Wagner said the CIP definition used by staff applies to construction, renovation, demolition or acquisition of real property costing more than $60,000 with a useful life of at least five years. He summarized the draft plan as containing 98 projects totaling $1,030,000 as reported in the staff memo, up from 92 projects totaling $948,000 last year, and said roughly 50% of the proposed program is for streets and highways and about 24% for utilities.

Wagner walked commissioners through recently completed and active projects — including Morven Park sidewalk nearing punch-list completion and a police department expansion described in the presentation as about a $28,000,000 project that will be substantially complete in February — and noted eight new CIP projects and one new study (the Tavstock Pond Rehabilitation Study) that could convert to a capital project after study.

On transportation, Wagner updated several major efforts: Evergreen Mills Road widening (right-of-way and utility relocation nearly complete and expected to bid in spring), the South King Street interchange bypass (designer selected; design expected to start in February), and Route 15 Battlefield improvements (preliminary engineering complete; additional funding sought to finish final engineering and construction). He also noted a large Edwards Ferry interchange that staff estimated “over $250,000,000” and said staff are discussing phasing options with VDOT and VTA.

Wagner told the commission that schedule and funding pressures are driving many changes to project timing, citing staffing limitations, funding availability and long lead times for certain materials and traffic-signal equipment. He said the CIP remains a document “in flux” until anticipated adoption on March 24, and provided the public-process timeline: Planning Commission public hearing Feb. 5, town manager presentation Feb. 10, council public hearing March 10 and possible adoption March 24.

Staff asked the commission to lend formal support to pedestrian-safety projects, stormwater work tied to the town’s MS4/TMDL obligations (a compliance goal tied to Sept. 30, 2028), and maintenance of town assets — particularly a sizable paving program intended to address aging streets the town owns. Wagner also outlined downtown streetscape work and standard practice to investigate undergrounding utilities as part of major downtown projects.

In discussion, commissioners and staff clarified funding status for individual projects: the pickleball project is funded by a combination of town funds and proffers; Balls Bluff Veterans Park phase 1 is funded and under construction with phase 2 anticipated to be county-funded in FY28–29; a proposed new parking structure on the Liberty Lot is not funded. Commissioners pressed staff about intersection studies, proffers, and how the CIP aligns with the Transportation Improvement Program and regional funding partners (VDOT, NVTA, FAA). Wagner said staff will provide a clearer table separating active and future projects and indicated pages that show projects with future-funding columns for unfunded items.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the CIP on Feb. 5; staff requested a recommendation at the conclusion of that hearing if feasible so council could consider it in its Feb. 10 budget presentation.