20 Nov 2025 — The Winchester Star
BERRYVILLE – Clarke County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Weiss has sent his Loudoun County counterpart a letter voicing concerns about a $20 million hotel complex proposed for construction near the counties’ border.
“The board wishes to share the feedback received from Clarke County residents” for Loudoun officials to take into consideration, Weiss told Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Phyllis Randall in his Nov. 12 correspondence.
Eastwind Blue Ridge is to be developed on about 147 acres in the vicinity of Paris Mountain. Most of the property is in Loudoun County, where all of the development is to occur. Still, about 38 acres of the hotel grounds are to be in Clarke County, near U.S. 50 (John Mosby Highway) and Route 601 (Blue Ridge Mountain Road), and about 15½ acres are to be in Fauquier County, a site plan shows.
Plans call for the complex to include 40 guest rooms within two prefabricated buildings. Amenities are to include an 88-seat restaurant, a lounge, a spa and multi-purpose areas. During a work session earlier this month, the Clarke supervisors discussed potential adverse effects of the development, including increased traffic on nearby roads and the hotel’s potential water use.
In his letter, Weiss told Randall there already are safety issues at the U.S. 50/Route 601 intersection because of topography, a narrow off ramp with no deceleration lane going east and the volumes and speeds of traffic along U.S. 50.
“The impact from an increase in traffic from the proposed development should be thoroughly studied,” Weiss wrote, to ensure safety at the intersection isn’t further compromised.
“Our board already routinely hears concerns about traffic speeds and volume on all of Route 601,” he continued, “and this will only be further exasperated if (hotel) customers choose to use Route 601 to reach Route 7.”
The two routes’ intersection already have “significant safety issues,” he mentioned without elaborating.Weiss also noted environmental matters that Clarke residents have voiced concerns about.
“The lack of consistent precipitation (during) the past couple years has put a strain on private wells in our county,” he wrote. “The proposed development would likely draw a significant amount of groundwater to supply the daily uses of a country inn, restaurant and spa.”
Weiss told Randall that “the impact on our underground water aquifer should be completely understood before the development is permitted to ensure there is no impact on residents of the mountain.”
Furthermore, “the steep slopes on the property will also cause challenges for stormwater management, septic system installation and maintenance, and emergency response,” he wrote.
He noted that Clarke County fire and emergency medical services personnel would provide Loudoun crews mutual aid, should any emergencies occur at the hotel.
Weiss concluded his letter by telling Randall, “We hope that you will take the comments we have received in(to) consideration when you review the proposed development.”
During their meeting Tuesday afternoon, the Clarke supervisors learned the letter was sent.
Loudoun County Administrator Tim Hemstreet acknowledged his county receiving it, Clarke County Administrator Chris Boies said. He added that Hemstreet told him the letter will be distributed among his county’s supervisors via regular communications channels.
A groundbreaking ceremony for Eastwind already is tentatively scheduled for late April.
Construction is targeted to be finished in March 2028, plans show.
THIS STORY IS PROVIDED FREE COURTESY OF THE WINCHESTER STAR.
“Clarke sends Loudoun letter voicing concerns about proposed hotel complex” The Winchester Star 20 Nov 202