Loudoun Properties, Including 2 Islands, Enter Conservation, Courtesy Of Kuhn Family

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — 745 acres in Loudoun County are now in a conservation easement, thanks to JK Land Holdings and the Old Dominion Land Conservancy. The land includes property along the Potomac River, farms, forest, and historic areas.

The properties are located in Lovettsville, Leesburg, Hillsboro, and Round Hill. JK Land Holdings purchased the properties, which were originally slated for development.

Conservation easements act as legal agreements that limit the development that can occur on a property. The goal is to preserve natural land and potentially historic areas, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.

"Easements allow for and encourage rural land uses, such as forest management, agriculture, hunting and fishing," the Department of Forestry says on its website. "An easement does not require landowners to provide public access to their land."

Chuck Kuhn is the CEO of JK Land Holdings. In a news release, he said the company puts 44 acres into easements for every acre it develops commercially.

"As a business owner and resident, I am happy that we can bring balance to our region—both in terms of growth and protecting the natural environments that make our county special,” Kuhn said. “By placing this land into conversation easement, these properties will be protected into perpetuity and ensure our region has more green space and habitats for plants and wildlife.”

The conserved properties include the Toll House Property in Lovettsville, the Lost Corner property in Leesburg, a property on Charles Town Pike in Hillsboro, and a property on Poor House Road in Round Hill.

The Lovettsville property features a pair of islands and more than 1,900 feet along the shoreline.

"Conservation easements are a key way that we can achieve balance between business and preservation," Kuhn said in a news release. "We hope that this remains a viable option into the future as zoning rules are revisited."