By a 6-2 vote, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning exemption Tuesday to allow for a minor league baseball stadium. The planned Atlantic League facility along with assorted office buildings will be part of the Kincora development at the intersection of routes 7 and 28 in Ashburn, Virginia.
Stadium supporters largely dominated the resident feedback during the review process, enthralled by the prospects of family-friendly entertainment and a new in-county venue for major school activities. Opponents worried about the extra traffic burden and environmental impacts. At least 50 amendments were added to the stadium bill to mitigate such concerns before its final passage.
Assuming the stadium financing comes through as promised, a Loudoun County-based franchise should be ready for play in the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball by 2011. The Loudoun team would be the second Washington, D.C. area entry in the league, to come three years after the launch of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
While affiliated baseball will likely fill a vacancy in Richmond, Virginia, the unaffiliated Atlantic League is still expected to seek further expansion possibilities in downstate Virginia and suburban Maryland.______________________Labels: ashburn, baseball stadium, development, kincora, loudoun county, minor league baseball, sports, virginia
