The Loudoun County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) has another bite at the apple tonight to act on a controversial zoning application from Newport Academy/Institute, a national chain of mental and behavioral treatment facilities. Primarily owned by Canadian private equity group, ONEX, the company was not permitted to operate from three adjacent McLean homes in 2019 and has now purchased three adjacent Loudoun residences.
The BZA hearing scheduled tonight is the second public hearing. After four hours of testimony in April, the first hearing ended with a ruling that neighbors lacked standing and that their appeal should not have been allowed. After establishing standing in Circuit Court, the Judge agreed to halt proceedings in response to Loudoun Attorney Nicholas Lawrence insisting that the recent issuance of a “by-right” permit requires another hearing.
Public opposition is spearheaded by Protect Loudoun, a nonprofit organization formed by residents and property owners who have waged a 13-month battle to protect AR-1 zones, A Farm Less Ordinary, and their agricultural community from this precedent.
“Newport’s plan is inconsistent with the zoning designation for this area, it’s outrageous that residents have to wage a costly legal battle to object when Loudoun Zoning never even did a site visit,” said Leesburg resident, Bob Lentz. Like the Fairfax attempt, the three Loudoun homes share a common pipestem driveway, fencing, and function as a unified property. Newport also purchased an undeveloped 10-acre lot, bringing their neighborhood acquisition up to 25-acres. Read more.
