Some of Kevin's Accomplishments...

Adoption of Comprehensive Process Improvement Resolution:

   Kevin introduced resolution 2007-165 to endorse improvements proposed by Town Manager John Wells and direct further enhancements to the town's development review process. Key language in this resolution, "Council endorses and calls on the Town Manager and Staff to create a culture that emphasizes getting projects built within our health safety and environmental guidelines AND in a timely and efficient manner.", makes clear council's focus on this key economic development issue.

Support for North Street Senior Center:

   Kevin voted to support Leesburg and Loudoun seniors by approving the county's special exception application to renovate the old school board administration building on North Street. This will provide a great center for seniors as well as needed revitalization to the structure.

Focus on Completion of Battlefield PKWY:

    Kevin has been working to complete Battlefield PKWY since prior to taking his oath of office on Town Council. During his time on the planning commission he voted to prioritize funding of the Battlefield PKWY segment between Ft. Evans RD and Edwards Ferry Road in the CIP, he also voted to prioritize the segment of between Evergreen Mill Road and Rt. 15. Since joining the council in 2006 Kevin has continued this focus to insure funding stayed in place for the critical link from Kincaid Forest Blvd to Route 7.

Cooperative and Open Consideration of Future Annexation:

    Together with fellow council member and AADP member Marty Martinez Kevin has reinvigorated the town and county AADP subcommittee. This committee has completed numerous joint planning exercises and is currently beginning the review of annexation of additional land located between Route 7 and the Dulles Greenway. Why is annexation important to Leesburg? It allows Leesburg to control it's own destiny in an area that both the Town and County Comprehensive Plans call for future commercial growth. As Kevin has said ""My comfort lies in the fact that seven folks elected by town residents have a better idea of what town residents want. Not everybody on the board of supervisors lives and breathes Leesburg."
 

Successful Lobbying to defeat Crosstrail Application

    Worked tirelessly with fellow council members, commission member, county leaders, and local citizens to ensure that the Crosstrail application was denied. This application was in conflict with both Town and County planning for this area, posed a threat to Leesburg Executive Airport, and failed to properly mitigate it's transportation and development impacts.

Successful Lobbying to maintain Town as provider of water and sewer in JLMA

   Kevin worked to ensure the County Board of Supervisors did not reverse years of planning and expense by both the Town and County for the town to provide water and sewer services to it's JLMA area. This effort helps Leesburg protect it's future annexation potential, future economic development potential, and long term investments in this area.

Working for fair and reasonable water rates

   Along with council member Kelly Burk, Kevin introduced the new Utility Rate Subcommittee to review the town's water rates. For years previous town council's had ignored the utility fund failing to properly monitor rates and expenses. When this neglect caught up to the council in 2005, they simply placed the burden on out of town users. This action has led to litigation and outcry that places Town taxpayers at risk. This subcommittee will provide a detailed and non-political analysis of the utility fund and it's operations on an ongoing basis. A key fact, the utility fund is supported entirely by water rates charged to users, not one penny of tax payer dollars funds the utility. Legal fees however = taxpayer dollars.

Full and comprehensive budget review and management

   Kevin won praise for his detailed and meticulous review of the Town's FY2008 & FY2009 budgets. Reviewing expenses is every department in detail to insure taxpayer dollars where spent wisely. Kevin has proposed over $1.6 million dollars in cuts. In both tax years while the tax rate has remained steady the average tax bill for Leesburg homeowners has declined each year.

Updating Town Ordinance to allow connection fees to be paid in installments

    Water and sewer connection fees for new restaurants and businesses are too high. As Kevin continues work to reduce the fees overall a key first step was taken by allowing new businesses to make the payments in installments. Reducing the burden on startup businesses.

Support for Construction of SW Connector Trail

    Kevin said during his 2006 campaign that Southwest Leesburg had too long been isolated and cut off from the rest of the town. Kevin supported the work of the trails task force that finally broke the political log jam and brought forward a consensus proposal for a trail to connect SW Leesburg to the rest of the community. Kevin further supported budgeting this project in the Town's CIP program and will follow through until this long overdue connection is built.

Fought for the rights of Churches to operate warming shelters during cold weather

    Kevin fought to simplify the process by which churches could operate a temporary emergency warming shelter during cold weather. As Wright said during the debate "I think this ordinance provides us a tool to allow the private sector, the faith-based community to fill a need."

Adoption of new Charter Powers for the Town of Leesburg

    Kevin had the vision to insure the Town focused on introducing a simple Charter amendment bill as opposed to a comprehensive rewrite. A comprehensive rewrite would have faced a more difficult time in getting approval from State Legislators. The simplified charter was endorsed by State legislators providing the town additional powers related to affordable housing programs, adoption of standard technical codes, and most importantly development of form based zoning codes.

Supported numerous amendments to regulations to update and streamline processes.

    Since taking office Kevin has voted for over 60 changes to the town's subdivision and development regulations. Some highlights of these changes include simplifying various site plan review requirements, streamlining bond approval process, allowance of waiver of traffic studies when not needed, allowance for concurrent plan review,  addition of Real Estate Broker to allowed home based occupations, added additional business districts where childcare centers can be operated by right.

Creation and adoption of the 2005 Town Plan & Crescent District Master Plan

    During Kevin's tenure on the planning commission he was deeply involved in the development of the 2005 Town Plan rewrite and the development of the Crescent District Master Plan. Kevin chaired numerous meetings of the planning commission as well as joint meetings with other boards and commissions to develop these plans. Kevin's ability to facilitate discussion and build consensus contributed to the success of these key projects.  As chairman of the Planning Commission Kevin shepherded both documents through review and adoption by the Town Council. Upon joining the council Kevin voted on the Town Plan Amendment that formally incorporated the Crescent District Master Plan into the Leesburg Town Plan. These documents serve as a guiding roadmap and vision for the Town's future.

Copyright 2008. Authorized and paid for by Kevin Wright for Leesburg Town Council