Loudoun County fines Trump golf course for cutting trees in Potomac floodplain

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Virginia Politics
Loudoun County fines Trump golf course for cutting trees in Potomac floodplain

By Patricia Sullivan
Reporter covering government, politics and other regional issues in Arlington County and Alexandria
March 6 at 6:20 PM

The cutting and disposal of a dozen mature trees into the Potomac River nearly two weeks ago at the Trump National Golf Course violated Loudoun County’s zoning ordinance, the county said, and could cost the organization at least $600.

The downed trees were spotted Feb. 23 by Steven McKone, director of the Calleva River School, as he kayaked the river. Subsequent paddlers and boaters saw about a dozen stumps 14 to 24 inches in width, and large tree trunks in the Potomac.

The removal of the trees from a flood plain along the river requires a permit, which the golf course did not obtain, county officials said in a news release Wednesday, and violates three sections of the zoning code.

The county ordered the golf course to stop all activity in the flood plain until it obtains the necessary permits. ... Trump golf course officials, who have 30 days to appeal the violations, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Patricia Sullivan covers government, politics and other regional issues in Arlington County and Alexandria. She worked in Illinois, Florida, Montana and California before joining The Post in November 2001. Follow https://twitter.com/psullivan1

Loudoun County officials say Trump National violated local ordinance by cutting trees on Potomac riverbank
By Nathaniel Cline, [e-mail] Mar 6, 2019 Updated 1 hr ago

Loudoun County officials say Trump National golf course violated a local ordinance by removing several trees along a major floodplain without a permit.

County officials this week issued a Notice of Violation detailing three violations, including operating without a zoning permit, altering the floodplain and removing trees without county approval. Inspectors observed that approximately 31,000 square feet of land had been altered during the removal.

According to Loudoun County, the violations included:

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