# LDN-VOF Loudoun Water Conversion/Diversion Request Table of Contents

Transcription

1 # LDN-VOF Loudoun Water Conversion/Diversion Request Table of Contents 1. Conversion/Diversion Request Summary Sheet 2. Open-space easement deed 3. Easement location map 4. Aerial photo of proposed release and replacement land 5. The formal request for the conversion/diversion from Loudoun Water and supporting materials: A. February 21, 2013 Ryan Bucceri letter including: i. November 13, 2008 letter from Loudoun County Planning Department ii. January 4, 2011 Board of Supervisors approval of Water Treatment Plant iii. Current survey plat of the proposed release area and temporary construction area iv. Current survey plat of proposed replacement land B. January 7, 2013 Ryan Bucceri letter (without exhibits) C. August 3, 2012 Ryan Bucceri memo with attachments as follows: i. Program Facilities Overview ii. PWSP Vicinity Map Request Summary Sheet iii. FWT and Sanitary Sewer Alignment (South Crossing) iv. Proposed Geotechnical Investigation Plan (South Crossing) v. Typical Tunnel and Shafting Details (South Crossing) vi. Summary of Open-Space Easement Impacts (South Crossing)

2 Conversion/Diversion Request Summary Board Meeting: March 13, 2013 Owner/Property Name: Loudoun County County: Loudoun Total Acres: (smaller parcel of a ~ 30 acre easement) Applicant: Loudoun Water Property Features and Current Use: Property is wooded with frontage on Goose Creek. Original easement was donated to VOF as part of a proffer package offered to Loudoun County by the original owners, Allan and Helen McKelvie, to facilitate development of the residue of the Property. The easement property was recently given to Loudoun County in fulfillment of other proffer requirements. It is currently managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of Loudoun County. Although currently undisturbed, the Property may have public access for passive recreation in the future. Statement Of Public Benefit/Conservation Value: To preserve and enhance the water quality and scenic nature of Goose Creek Conversion/Diversion Request (describe proposed project): Loudoun Water is initiating the Potomac Water Supply Program (PWSP) which is part of the plan to ensure safe, dependable water for current and future customers in Loudoun County s Central Service Area (CSA). The PWSP anticipates the need for an additional water supply system in the CSA as the population of Loudoun County continues to grow. The facilities needed for the PWSP will allow water to be withdrawn from the Potomac River, conveyed to a new water treatment plant for processing either directly or after storage in retired rock quarries (including the Luck Stone quarries adjacent to easement #LDN-VOF ) and then the finished water will be transported to the CSA. The water must be connected to the CSA from the water treatment plant which will be located across Goose Creek from the VOF easement. Loudoun Water indicates that the most efficient way to get the the water across Goose Creek and to the CSA is to transfer it though pipes under the VOF easement (see 5C (August 3 letter), for descriptions and maps). The VOF easement does not allow for cutting of live trees, grading, blasting, earth removal or buildings and structures. Since the infrastructure required to move water from the water treatment plant to the CSA will necessitate permanent structures and live tree removal, Loudoun Water has asked for a conversion/diversion of 14,904 sq. ft. ( acres) of easement. In addition, a temporary construction easement will be necessary on approximately 35,627 sq. ft. ( acres) surrounding the conversion/diversion site. The temporary construction easement will require removal of live trees but Loudoun Water will try to protect the mature, healthy specimens. Any necessary tree removal in this area will be mitigated for by Loudoun Water after construction is completed. Project Essentiality (describe why project is essential to orderly growth and development of locality): The project is essential to provide potable water to the growing population in Loudoun County s Central Service Area. Compliance with Comprehensive Plan (include letter from locality): The November 13, 2008 letter from Julie Pastor with the Loudoun County Department of Planning indicates

3 that none of the proposed facilities or utilities required by the Potomac Water Supply Program would require a comprehensive plan amendment. In addition, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in 2011 approving the Special Exception and Commission Permit required for the water treatment plant and its distribution of water to the Central Service Area. Impacts to Conservation Values Future maintenance of the infrastructure will require permanent tree removal from an undisturbed forested area that is protected as a scenic area along Goose Creek, a Virginia designated Scenic River. Alternatives Considered (demonstrate why other alternatives to avoid easement would not work): Several alternatives were considered for the South Crossing : 1) North around easement more environmental impacts due to longer alignment and increased impacts to Goose Creek scenic area, indirect environmental impacts due to hydraulic (energy) inefficiencies, increased construction duration due to longer tunnel under Goose Creek 2) South around easement more environmental impacts due to longer alignment and increased impacts to Goose Creek scenic area, indirect environmental impacts due to hydraulic (energy) inefficiencies, increased construction duration due to longer tunnel under Goose Creek, requires multiple crossings under Toll Road 3) Through existing Toll Road easement supporting pipes from bridge structure so not technically feasible, potential negative impacts to bridge abutments, additional long-term negative impacts required for maintenance of pipelines over a water-way Replacement Land (describe location/usefulness and conservation values): Loudoun Water has offered to place an easement on 29,808 sq. ft. ( acres) of existing woodlands adjacent to Goose Creek across the Creek from the existing VOF easement property. The replacement land is twice the size as the proposed release land and will have greater linear frontage along Goose Creek.Although there are currently no detailed plans for public trails on the replacement land, the special exception conditions established by the County allow for the dedication of public trails in the same vicinity as the proposed replacement land. Total land proposed for conversion/diversion: 14,904 sq. ft. Total land proposed for replacement: 29,808 sq. ft. Fair Market Value Comparison of Replacement land with land converted/diverted: Appraisal of the diverted land: (appraisal expected to be completed in by Board Meeting) Appraisal of the replacement land: (appraisal expected to be completed by Board Meeting) Board Action/Notes:

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11 77 37'30"W 77 36'30"W 77 35'30"W 77 34'30"W 77 33'30"W 77 32'30"W 77 31'30"W 77 30'30"W 77 29'30"W 77 28'30"W Leesburg «7 39 7'0"N 39 7'0"N «15 «15 «267 «267 Ashburn 39 1'0"N 39 1'0"N 39 1'30"N 39 1'30"N 39 2'0"N 39 2'0"N 39 3'30"N 39 3'30"N 39 4'0"N 39 4'0"N 39 4'30"N 39 3'0"N 39 2'30"N 39 3'0"N 39 2'30"N 39 4'30"N 39 5'0"N 39 5'0"N 39 5'30"N 39 5'30"N 39 6'0"N 39 6'30"N 39 6'0"N 39 0'30"N 39 6'30"N Legend 39 0'30"N 39 0'0"N 38 59'30"N «15 LDN-VOF-451 northern property VOF Open-Space Easements Rivers - NHD primary roads VA_cities 39 0'0"N 38 59'30"N 77 37'30"W 77 36'30"W Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic GCS North America 1983 Datum: D North America '30"W Map created 02/21/2013 by ELR. Source data provided by VOF, VDOT, COV, NHD Release/Replace areas based on Urban Ltd. plats Aerial Imagery 2012 Commonwealth of Virginia This map is for general reference and display purposes only '30"W 77 33'30"W 77 32'30"W Location Map Loudoun County Control #LDN-VOF-451 ~ Acres March 2013 Board Meeting 77 31'30"W 77 30'30"W 77 29'30"W Feet :69, '30"W ±

12 Proposed Replacement Land 29,808 sq. ft. ( acres) «267 Proposed Release Land 14,904 sq. ft. ( acres) «267 Legend primary roads LDN-VOF-451 northern property release_replacementareas Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic GCS North America 1983 Datum: D North America 1983 Map created 02/21/2013 by ELR. Source data provided by VOF, VDOT, COV Release/Replace areas based on Urban Ltd. plats Aerial Imagery 2012 Commonwealth of Virginia This map is for general reference and display purposes only. Aerial Map Loudoun County Control #LDN-VOF-451 ~ Acres March 2013 Board Meeting Feet :2,100 ±

13 February 21, 2013 Erika Richardson Stewardship Specialist Virginia Outdoors Foundation 39 Garrett St., Ste. 200 Warrenton, VA RE: Potomac Water Supply Program Virginia Outdoors Foundation McKelvie and Luck Stone Easements Dear Ms. Richardson: I am writing to follow up on our conversations and provide you with an update to our proposal for easement modifications and replacement. This letter updates several items related to the documentation you plan to present to the VOF Board of Directors at the March Board Meeting. Namely, we have 1) revised the offered replacement land with land that maximizes frontage on Goose Creek and 2) we have provided an explanation on the feasibility of alternatives Loudoun Water explored during the location of our proposed pipeline. Each of the required application elements are discussed in detail below: 1. Essentiality We believe that this proposed diversion of open space land is essential to the orderly development and growth of the locality. Justification for the essentiality of our project (and this proposal) was previously sent to you in an August 3, 2012 memorandum and a January 7, 2013 letter. 2. Compliance with Local Comprehensive Plan Please find attached two letters from Loudoun County 1) confirming the approvals needed for the Potomac Water Supply Program (PWSP) including a statement that the proposed underground water mains are deemed a feature of the Comprehensive Plan and 2) approving the Commission Permit and Special Exception Permit for the water treatment plant. The Commission Permit establishes that the PWSP is in compliance with the Loudoun County Comprehensive Plan. Loudoun County is the underlying land owner where the existing VOF easement is. As such, we are currently working with the County to obtain the appropriate easements for the subject pipeline. They are aware of our proposal to VOF and they routinely review these types of easement requests from Loudoun Water. We have requested a letter from the County acknowledging their involvement with this process. We will also provide you with documentation of our easements with the County at such time that they are approved and recorded.

14 3. Proposed Replacement Land Economic Value Loudoun Water is in the process of obtaining an appraisal for both the easement property proposed for diversion and the proposed substitute land. We expect to have both appraisals in hand prior to the March Board Meeting and will send them to you as soon as they are available. 4. Proposed Replacement Land Conservation Value Loudoun Water has attached plats which describe the proposed easement modifications and replacement land. We have adjusted the boundary of the proposed substitute land so that it closer to the vacated easement area and now abuts the scar line of Goose Creek. The scar line is the approximate boundary of the City of Fairfax Reservoir Easement. We will include photographs of both the easement property for diversion and the proposed substitute land with the appraisal package. The proposed substitute land is of greater value to the existing open space for several reasons. First, the ecological conditions are equivalent or better. The substitute land maximizes frontage on Goose Creek and has forested slopes with mature trees. The substitute land is directly across the Goose Creek from the vacated easement with twice as much area. The conservation value of the existing VOF easement on the eastern shore of Goose Creek is not impaired since the underground pipeline will not substantially interfere with its function as a wildlife corridor nor will it adversely affect the adjacent land. The topographic features of the existing easement will remain generally as they exist today and non intrusive landscaping can be planted to enhance its scenic value while keeping the required maintenance access for the pipeline. The proposed substitute open space includes twice as much land area than the property for diversion and expands the VOF open space on the west bank of Goose Creek. Expanding the open space easement on both sides of Goose Creek will help protect the larger scale scenic and conservation value of the existing VOF open space lands. The restrictions on the proposed substitute land will be at least as stringent as those on the proposed property for diversion. We agree to incorporate the same terms as set forth in the McKelvie easement. While there are currently no detailed plans for public trails on our property, the special exceptions conditions for the property allow for the dedication of County trails in the vicinity of the area where the substitute land is proposed. 5. Location/Usefulness Please find attached two plats one for the easement property for diversion and one for the proposed substitute land. The proposed substitute land includes significant Goose Creek frontage, ensuring the public s scenic enjoyment of the land from Goose Creek. Although Loudoun Water does not own or control land adjacent to the McKelvie property, we do own land on the opposite side of Goose Creek. As stated above, the proposed easement will expand

15 VOF protection along both banks of this state scenic river. We have also included an aerial photo showing the substitute land for clarity. 6. Feasibility of Alternatives Loudoun Water has expended considerable effort to analyze the alignment of the Finished Water Pipeline and determine the most effective installation methods. A summary of this analysis is provided in our August 3, 2012 memorandum to VOF. Loudoun Water has now completed our field investigations and we have performed a construction method alternatives analysis, which has resulted in a proposal that includes the construction of the eastern tunnel shaft within the VOF open space easement and an open cut installation of a 42 inch water transmission main and a sanitary force main (8 12 ). The proposed open cut construction carries less construction risk (minimizing potential environmental impacts), is faster to construct (decreasing the duration of temporary environmental impacts of construction), and is substantially less costly compared to tunneling methods. Additionally, tunneling would still require the clearing of a maintenance easement above the pipe. Therefore, tunneling does not provide substantially less impact to the existing VOF easement. Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. Please feel free to contact me at (571) if you have any questions or comments on this information. Sincerely, Ryan Bucceri, P.E., BCEE Potomac Water Supply Program Manager Loudoun Water Cc: Kerry Hutcherson, Virginia Outdoors Foundation Jonathan Rak, McGuire Woods Tom Broderick, Loudoun Water Nicolle Boulay, Loudoun Water

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