Rural Loudoun at Risk: “No-Limits” Plan Fuels Commercialization

By David Verhey, President, Friends of Paxson-Airmont

Supervisor Caleb Kershner (Catoctin) is advancing a proposal to remove key limits on so-called “agri-business” uses in rural Loudoun, allowing effectively unlimited event activity with real consequences for nearby residents and family farms. Kershner’s industry-favored concept reflects a broader push to commercialize rural Loudoun at the expense of its land, water, and residents.

At the January 29, 2026 Transportation and Land Use Committee meeting, Kershner advanced this proposal to allow wineries, breweries, and distilleries to host events with no limit on the number of visitors. There is no cap tied to property size. There is no requirement that water, septic systems, or roads can support the demand. It is open-ended growth.

This is not a minor change. It accelerates a shift toward turning rural Loudoun into a venue economy where commercial operators host frequent, large-scale events. With no limits, wineries and breweries could host events at all times, bringing continuous traffic, noise, and disruption to areas that were never designed for that level of activity.

Most people support local wineries and breweries. They are part of Loudoun’s identity. But this goes far beyond agritourism. It opens the door to high-intensity commercial use on rural land, with repeated events that can change the character of entire communities.

Let that sink in. A rural property could host hundreds or even thousands of guests across ongoing events, day after day, week after week. That means more traffic on narrow roads, more noise at all hours, and more strain on infrastructure that was built for rural use, not commercial-scale operations.

A “no limits” rule for so-called agritourism places heavy costs on our rural landscape and forces local communities to bear those impacts. Residents deal with the traffic, the noise, the wear on roads, and the strain on shared resources, all so individual business owners can expand their commercial base and increase profits. That is not a fair deal. Rural communities should not be expected to absorb these impacts so others can make more money.

Speak Up Now

The Board of Supervisors is expected to consider this on May 4. Residents who care about their roads, their communities, and their quality of life should speak up and ask the Board to reject it.

Once commercialization reaches this level, it is very difficult to reverse. The same is true for the impacts on roads, neighborhoods, and the rural character of Loudoun.

Citizens of western Loudoun care deeply about our rural way of life. We should work together now to stop commercialization and unlimited uses that put our land and water at risk.

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Friends of Paxson-Airmont is a 501(c)(3) community organization based in Round Hill, Virginia, advocating for the protection of rural Loudoun County’s natural resources, agricultural heritage, and quality of life.