Purcellville youth football complex nears approval
By Shannon Sollinger
The Upper Loudoun Youth Football League's very own field of dreams – actually a 1,000-seat stadium -- is about to rise on 44 acres of the Fields Farm just north of Purcellville.
The town's Planning Commission approved putting a sports facility there in October 2006. The county, which owns the property, and the town have agreed that the property, on the southern edge of the Fields Farm, will be annexed into the town limits and be served by the town's utilities.
As soon as the town and county give final approval to a water and sewer agreement -- under which the town will serve the sports complex -- and the county holds two public input sessions with neighbors of the property, the Purcellville Town Council can give its expected blessing to the annexation.
Mark Novak, head of park planning for the county Parks, Recreation and Community Services, said he expects to submit within a week the complete package, with the water and sewer agreement, to the Department of Building and Development for approval.
As soon as that happens, Novak said, he will schedule the required community information sessions. That way, he said, he will be able to take the actual site plan to those meetings.
The site plan includes a high-school-size football stadium with artificial turf, a football practice field that also can be used for soccer and lacrosse, and two softball fields. All fields will be lighted. The project is a joint venture of the county and the Upper Loudoun Youth Football League, which will build the facilities on county-owned land and then turn them over to the county.
The county recently went through the same annexation process to bring the site of the new Purcellville safety center on Hirst Road into town. The water and sewer agreement worked out for that project provided a template for the one submitted for the football facility, said Purcellville Mayor Bob Lazaro.
Lazaro also pointed out that the county has been more than willing to cooperate with the town on these two projects – the safety center and the sports complex – but refuses to deal with the town as it moves ahead with plans to build a high school on the Fields Farm without abiding by the terms of the Purcellville Urban Growth Area Management Plan.
The Virginia Supreme Court heard arguments in that dispute the first week of June. A decision is expected in September.
"Everyone wants to see [the football complex] happen," said Town Manager Rob Lohr. "If the county gets these last two things done – the water and sewer agreement and the public input sessions – all that is left is a vote at the next council meeting."
For the last three years, the town has given money to the league. Proceeds of the September 2009 town golf tournament are pledged to the league.
Upper Loudoun Youth Football League board member Libby Stickman said she hopes to see bulldozers at work getting the site ready before the anticipated annexation date of Jan. 1, 2009.
The football complex will include a concession stand, restrooms, ample parking and a meeting room for league officials and board members.
Meetings now are in the press box at Fireman's Field, Stickman said. "We have significantly outgrown that space."
The volunteers of the league support 19 tackle teams and eight flag football teams this year. That adds up to more than 600 football players, and Stickman coordinates the nearly 200 cheerleaders.
If everything falls into place as planned, Stickman said, the first players will be on the field in the fall of 2009.
For now, flag teams and cheerleaders still need coaches. To get involved, go to www.ulyfl.com, or call 540-338-9431.
Contact the reporter at ssollinger@timespapers.com