Loudoun Launches Rural Historic Villages planning process

Loudoun County has begun a planning exercise focused on Rural Historic Villages, places that reflect the county’s historic settlement patterns, while preserving and enhancing the social and cultural heritage that characterizes Loudoun’s Rural Policy Area.

The Board of Supervisors initiated a Comprehensive Plan Amendment in April to establish criteria for identifying communities as Rural Historic Villages to develop a current list of RHVs to incorporate into the Loudoun County 2019 Comprehensive Plan. Once an updated list of RHVs is identified in the Comprehensive Plan, the county will establish a process and timeline to create small area plans for each village.

Small Area Plans: A small area plan focuses on a particular unincorporated area of the county, such as a village; solicits input from that community; and considers each community’s vision for their village, addressing issues such as traffic, road networks, community spaces and amenities, historic preservation and land development that will be refined during the planning process. Small area plans should consider and reflect the distinct character of each village and establish a framework to guide and manage future growth within the village and its immediate surroundings.

The existing RHVs were established during the 18th and 19th centuries around historic mills, railroad depots or major crossroads, later developing as commercial and mercantile business centers that served the surrounding farming communities.

Current Village Planning Efforts: Prior to the approval of the RHV CPAM, planning had already begun for St. Louis, and that work will continue. In addition, Lucketts will retain its current place next in line for a small area plan. Work on the Lucketts plan will begin as the Board considers adoption of the St. Louis plan.

Next Steps: Community engagement is an important part of the Rural Historic Villages planning process. The county expects to hold focus group and community meetings in the future. Members of the public will also have the opportunity to provide comments on the CPAM at Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors’ public hearings. Information about opportunities for public input will be posted at loudoun.gov/ruralvillages.

More Information: Read the April 2, 2024 Staff Report (CPAM-2024-0004, Rural Historic Village Classification)