Meadowood Barn Environmental Study Coming in Two Weeks
BLM station manager Lynn Burkett leaving.
Within two weeks, the Bureau of Land Management will release its long-awaited Environmental Assessment of the horse stables at the Meadowood Recreation Area, a BLM official confirmed Wednesday. The report, which was due to be released last December, highlights the environmental impact of the area surrounding the barn and makes recommendations on its future use.
The report has not yet been made public, but the current station manager implied Wednesday that the barn is here to stay. "I'll tell you what I told the Mount Vernon Supervisor's office, which is that I think you will be pleased with the report," said BLM Station Manager E. Lynn Burkett, who recently put in her notice after getting a promotion. "[The stables are] a form of recreation that a lot of people enjoy and we just need to make it safe and a good place for everyone."
Burkett highlighted the work needed on the barn in an editorial to Patch last July. "The Meadowood barn currently needs several new interconnecting larger 'systems' such as a new roof, a new electrical system, a new plumbing system, a fire suppression system, and support structures/pillars, in addition to ventilation, accessibility and other needs," she wrote. "The level of the systems in need of rehabilitation is to the point of full reconstruction."
Cutting It Close
Allison Mills, the Meadowood stables manager, said Wednesday she was on the brink of going out of business in February and March. "It was dismal," she said. "I'm not allowed to add any more horses, and I have a boarder that just gave notice. Everyone pays $700 a month to stay in the stalls and I used every bit of that. And I had $1,000 in my checking account and if we closed down I'd have to sell everything I owned to get their money back."
Mills signed a contract last spring that says BLM can limit the number of privately boarded horses to 15 at the barn. Her contract was recently extended another year and she expects BLM to convert it into a concession contract.
"It would likely mean another bid process would hit the streets and there's a fear that anyone could bid for this job," Mills said. "But if they do a concession, then I would have a 20-year lease on the property and then I'm completely responsible for the barn and all of its programs. I would have total autonomy."
The stables are home to 29 horses; 20 are used for boarding, four horses (owned by Mills) makes up the lesson-riding program and five horses are used for the Simple Changes Therapeutic Riding Program.
Political Influence
U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th) is working to keep the structure from being torn down. “The Barn at Meadowood is a valuable part of the Northern Virginia community," he said in an email to Patch. "For years, it has served as a resource for families; as a therapeutic center for special needs children learning to ride and as a safe and loving home to dozens of horses. Working with Rep. Connolly (D-11th), [Mount Vernon District] Supervisor Hyland and an involved community, we are strongly encouraging the Bureau of Land Management to recommend the Barn’s restoration.”
Burkett, who became the Meadowood Station manager last summer, recently submitted her notice and will leave in June to manage 3.5 million acres and two BLM field offices in Lake View, Ore.
"My mother taught me a long time ago that when you leave a campsite it has to be better than when you found it," she said. "I'm hoping I've done the same thing here. There's a lot to transfer over [to a new station manager], and we have a lot of things going on."
The Environmental Assessment will outline various options for maintaining the environment surrounding the barn. Once it is released, the public will have two weeks to view the document before it is sent to the state director.
"They can take as much time as they need to make a decision, and that decision does not lie in my lap," Burkett said.
Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland wants the barn to remain. "The impression I get, and Congressman Moran's office feels the same way, is that the barn is going to survive," he said. "I'm finally glad that we're through horsing around with these problems and that we're all going to ride away in the marvelous sunset," he said.
Denise Crank
11:35 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
Awesome news! Now it's time to get the full use and allow management to fill the stalls.
Anna Gibson
9:21 am on Friday, April 27, 2012
The community has been loud and clear on this - they want the multi-use facility to continue with public boarding, lessons, pony parties, therapy. Looking forward to getting this moving and eliminating the questions hanging over those of us who pay fees use the property every day.
Cynthia Mitchell
10:18 am on Friday, April 27, 2012
This is very encouraging. The management, staff and boarders have lived with the spectre of closure hanging over their heads for far too long. Hopefully soon they will be able to put all this behind them and move forward with all the wonderful projects they have done and continue to do for the community. It is a shame they were put through this process in the first place and it has been shameful the way they have been treated throughout it. Let's hope this is done, once and for all!
Jane A
10:40 am on Friday, April 27, 2012
Keeping equestrian facilities in Fairfax County is an important part of keeping Virginia Horse Country available to all of it's citizens. Many people benefit from the life lessons learned through horses (compassion, loyalty, self-esteem to name a few) and the sense of freedom they so beautifully provide. Support Meadowwood in their endeavors to provide the wonderful services of Simple Changes and those services to local residents who want to keep and ride their horses nearby. In this day and age, it's just astounding to hear that some government entities seem to support the loss of existing jobs for the "little guys" when these businesses are viable and provide so much to their communities. In this busy area, just seeing horses in a field as you pass by is like a breath of fresh air.
Autumn Clayton
11:25 am on Friday, April 27, 2012
These are the types of places you want your children to be, and there are not many of them left in our area. Hopefully, once this is settled Meadowood can come back stronger than ever which would be a blessing for not only them but for the community that is lucky enough to have them in their midst. Ride on!
Shelley
12:30 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
What terrific news this is! It's nice to know, that after so much hard work, the active Meadowood advocates and horse community may finally have some good news on the horizon. Cheers to Reps. Moran, Connelly and Supervisor Hyland for working on behalf of their horse-loving constituents; our needs are often placed aside among the other more-popular recreational activities enjoyed in the County.
It's just sad to see that this issue has lost the barn vital income and held the barn management hostage from running efficiently and at full capacity. Hopefully, the barn will soon get the repairs that are so badly needed, and the boarders will get the facility that they paid for and promised many years ago. We will be awaiting the NEPA document and comment period , so we may stand behind Meadowood Stables continuing to be used by the entire community, which includes boarding services that are so badly needed to keep all equestrian activities in the local area.
Jaimee
9:39 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
This is great news. Over-development in Farifax County is and has been threatening too much open space, specifically equestrian space. Virginia is supposed to be for horse lovers, so it's good to see some of our local equestrian facilities (and local businesses, and local jobs...) fighting and able to remain. It's a shame that this has cost the stables so much, but I am encouraged that they have local and political support and and hopeful that they will be able to make a full recovery.
I stand behind Medowood.
Sue Hall
11:57 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Great news and I applaud every one of Meadowood's supporters, including Rep. Moran, Rep Connelly and Supervisor Hyland. The horse business is a labor of love - and a costly one, at that - and this stable is a wonderful asset to the community. I especially admire the therapy program - we need more of them. Local businesses such as this one have made a positive impact on so many lives and the area. I hope this is the start of a great new era for Meadowood!
Lynn Taylor
5:50 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
The Environmental Report is now out and it seems like less of a victory than hoped for. Without explanation, the Proposed Alternative to repair the barn permits the lesson and therapy horses to remain at Meadowood during the barn repairs, but not the boarded horses. Why can't all the horses remain onsite? Does BLM have a place to move the boarded horses during the repairs? While details may be missing, the report reads a lot like their original plan 2 years ago -- evict the boarders.