Nestled along the rustic, historic single-lane gravel Oatlands Road—off Snickersville Turnpike and Route 15 in Aldie, Virginia—lies the long-standing Chudleigh Farms. This farm is rich in history and serves as part of a crucial gateway between the modern data centers and townhomes of eastern Loudoun County and the rolling, scenic hills of western Loudoun. Recognizing its significance, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted, at the taxpayers’ request, to place a portion of the historic Oatlands Plantation, including Chudleigh Farms, under a conservation easement to protect its rural character and natural beauty.

 

Recently, several lots were sold off to The Manor 1858 property. The Manor 1858 venue appears to be controlled by and affiliated with the Hotel Burg.  Its owner is listed as AC Stone Barn, LLC. The owners are now seeking a special legislative exception from Loudoun County to open an 8,400-square-foot commercial event center on Chudleigh Road—an access road off Oatlands Road. The proposed facility includes a banquet hall seating 250 guests, with plans to lodge visitors and host weddings and luxury events.   This is not a permitted use of a minimally modified structure such as a barn, but the full development of an event center.

 

Oatlands Road is located within one of Loudoun County’s most scenic and historic rural areas. It is a narrow gravel road that is already challenging and unsafe for residents and school buses to navigate. The county has acknowledged that expanding this road, or even installing safety guardrails is not feasible due to its terrain and historic status. Furthermore, heavy rains and frequent construction traffic related to this proposed development have caused ongoing erosion, further degrading the fragile road infrastructure.

 

Despite these safety concerns and the environmental impact on this historic corridor, Loudoun County granted The Manor 1858 a special exemption to hold up to 10 large events this year. With traffic volumes expected to more than triple, this development threatens to destroy one of the last remaining historic roads along Route 15.

 

We urge the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and planning authorities to reject the special legislative exception for this commercial event center. Allowing such a large-scale commercial operation on Oatlands Road violates the spirit—and potentially the letter—of the existing conservation easement designed to protect this land from overdevelopment.

 

If exceptions are made for this property, it sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to widespread erosion of protections on other conserved lands throughout Loudoun County. This would undermine efforts to preserve our rural heritage, historic landscapes, and community safety.

 

Please join us in preserving the historic part of the Oatlands Plantation, protecting the safety of our rural roads, and honoring Loudoun’s commitment to conservation.

 

Western Loudoun is unique—let’s keep it that way.  Let’s not open the door for big data and overzealous land developers.