At the December 13, 2023 Town Council meeting, the Town Council made a motion to have the Planning Commission evaluate the 7/690 interchange.  The motion states “The Town must evaluate easements and associated land development activities to occur (interchange construction) as a part of the easement change request process, to ensure compliance with the Town of Purcellville municipality ordinances governing such items as open space, floodplain, steep slope, stream and creek buffer requirements as examples.”   

At their March 23, 2023 meeting, the Planning Commission passed Resolution No. 23-03-23:

A RESOLUTION: OF THE TOWN OF PURCELLVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION, RECOMMENDING TO THE PURCELLVILLE TOWN COUNCIL, REJECTION OF ANY SUPPORT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RT. 7/690 INTERCHANGE UNLESS AND UNTIL THE FLOODPLAIN ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY LOUDOUN COUNTY OFFICIALS AND IS SIGNIFICANTLY MITIGATED.

Resolution No. 23-03-23 is included as Attachment 1.

This report will consider the Planning Commission findings in the context of the request made by the Town Council, information presented by Loudoun County during the Planning Commission meetings, and conclusions by the Town Staff.   

The discussion at this meeting will be the start of further considerations that will require action by the Town Council, as discussed in more detail below.  Through the submission of and easement plat and deed to the Town, the County has requested the following of the Town:

--Acceptance of drainage easements totaling 1,677 SF (0.038499 AC)

--Vacation of the existing floodplain easement in the location of the eastbound off ramp and located on Parcel A of Catoctin Meadows.  The vacation of this easement would require a public hearing. 

Some background information regarding the genesis and progression of the project is also included in this report.  This report will provide a brief history of the legislative approvals of the Interchange, the public input opportunities that have been advertised, and the issue of the effective floodplain mapping boundaries that may change due to the combination of changed flows, changed topography, and changed physical features. 

The review of the Construction Plans followed the normal Town process.  Because the interchange improvement is recommended in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan (Map 25, Recommended Roadway Improvements, pg. 98), and because the concept was approved by the Town Council in 2013, the construction plans for 7/690 has followed the administrative process for approval.  Roadway plans, in general, are not reviewed by the Planning Commission if the Comprehensive Plan shows the roadway or improvement.  

As noted in the Staff Report to the Planning Commission on February 16, 2023, the 7/690 Interchange is a Loudoun County Project that has been planned by Loudoun County and supported by the Purcellville Town Council for many years.  The Route 7 and Route 690 Interchange is an adopted transportation improvement project identified in our 2030 Comprehensive Plan (Map 25, page 98) and has been supported publicly by numerous Town Councils. 

Town of Purcellville Legislative Actions

The Town’s support of the project is memorialized in the following resolutions & plans:

March 1, 2005.  Town Council Resolution 05-03-04: Requesting the Board of Supervisors include Route 690/Bypass 7 interchange project as part of the County Transportation Bond Issue.  States “Whereas, said project is the number one transportation priority of the Town of Purcellville”.  Adopted March 1, 2005.

November 26, 2013 Town Council meeting, motion: “I move that the Town Council endorse a new interchange located at Route 7 and the existing Route 690 (conceptually represented as Alternative 1 in the Route7/690 (Hillsboro Road) Interchange Alternative Analysis Technical Memorandum Submission by Dewberry Consultants, LLC dated October 9, 2013.” Motion passed 6-1.

June 30, 2020. Adopted Town Comprehensive Plan shows the 7/690 Interchange as a recommended improvement.

April 13, 2021.  Town Council Resolution 21-04-03: Supporting a submission to Congresswoman Wexton’s office for consideration under the Transportation and Infrastructure bill, a joint request with Loudoun County for Multi-use Trail improvements, connecting pedestrian improvements associated with the Rt. 690 Interchange with amenities and trails located within the Town of Purcellville, and authorize the Town Manager to apply for and execute such agreements relating to the project.  States “Whereas, Loudoun County is working toward a comprehensive transportation Project to provide an interchange between Rt. 690 (21^st Street/Hillsboro Rd. and the Harry Byrd Hwy. to mitigate traffic congestion within the Town of Purcellville; and Whereas, the town and county are desirous of connecting Fields Farm Athletic Complex, Park and Commuter Parking, Sue Kane Trail, W&OD Trail and historic downtown;”

Loudoun County has followed all requirements for Public Notice with the following: 

Loudoun County Project Administration – Public Notice

July 24, 2013.  Loudoun County is the Local Administrator for the 7/690 Interchange Project, and as such is responsible for the required public notices, design, right-of-way and construction of the project.  In 2013, as noted above, two alternative locations were under consideration.  A public information meeting was held by Loudoun County on July 24, 2013 in order to obtain public input. 

November 15, 2013.   After deliberations, the Town Council made a motion “that Council endorse a new interchange located at Route 7 and the existing Route 690 (Hillsboro Road) conceptually represented as Alternative 1 in the Rout 7/690 (Hillsboro Road) Interchange Alternative Analysis Technical Memorandum Submission by Dewberry Consultants, LLC dated October 9, 2013”.

September 27, 2016. Town Council voted to support use of 70% NVTA Regional for 7/690 Interchange.

April 16, 2018.  A Location and Design Public Hearing was hosted by Loudoun County at Woodgrove High School on April 16, 2018.  

January 24, 2020.  Public Notice regarding the revised Environmental Assessment approved by FHWA.

January 7, 2021.  A Notice of Willingness for Public Comments associated with the Proposed Limited Access Control Changes was advertised in by Loudoun County.  This Notice regarding the changes invited the public to comment on the Project.

January 26, 2021.  Loudoun County Staff presents updates regarding all Loudoun County projects in Purcellville to the Town Council in their public meeting.

March 24, 2023.  Public Information meeting held by Loudoun County at the Purcellville Train Station. 

Planning Commission Findings and Staff Conclusions

The issues that were considered by the Planning Commission were extensive, and much thought went into the findings in Resolution 23-03-23.  The 7/690 project was discussed at three separate Planning Commission meetings;  Loudoun County representatives were in attendance at each of the meetings to answer questions posed by the Planning Commission.  To compare the Planning Commission findings with Staff conclusions, a table showing them side-by-side has been prepared and is included in Attachment 2. 

Staff Reports (February 16, 2023, March 2, 2023) that were presented to the Planning Commission as a direct response to the Town Council’s request are included in Attachment 3 and 4. 

Summary of Possible Requests from the Town for Mitigative actions to be completed by Loudoun County

1.      Floodplain Overlay District:  Possible mitigation – increase size of 21^st Street stream culverts; stream modeling performed by Loudoun County would decrease Town costs for modeling to update the FEMA floodplain maps. 

2.      There are several items that may be causing hydraulic inefficiencies in the channel and floodplain, such as an old road berm (cut it down to increase floodplain capacity), split stream channels, box culvert alignment which causes a pinch point just upstream of the culvert.  Grading and/or stream restoration to mitigate the effects.

3.      Implement property protections such as site specific/minor fill to mitigate floodplain change.

4.      Loudoun County performs the Floodplain modeling, treating the changes in floodplain as if it were a Conditional Letter of Map Revision, with all public input and notifications needed.

5.      Loudoun County submits all information for the final Letter of Map Revision.

6.      Loudoun County provides elevation certificates for the three structures that are expected to be within a revised 100-year floodplain.

7.      Request USACE final jurisdictional determination prior to construction.

8.      While not found to be critical habitat for the Northern Long-eared Bat, enforce time of year restrictions associated with tree removal.