Mountainside Overlay District

Type  File Geodatabase Feature Class

Tags  boundaries, elevation, environment, mountainside, critical elevation, soil, slippage, groundwater recharge, forest cover, slope, sensitivity, zoning, overlay, district, planning

Summary

The Mountainside Overlay District is a zoning overlay district (see Section 5.04 of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance) and regulates development on the mountainsides of the County. Mountainside data should be used for general planning purposes only and is not intended for use in delineating specific use or suitability of soils for a particular site. Areas prone to debris flow (slippage) may not be accurately delineated. The Department of Building and Development is responsible for final clearance and interpretation on zoning/building permits and land development applications for the Mountainside Overlay District.

Please contact the Department of Building and Development  to determine  a Preliminary Soil Review has occurred on a parcel, which may have updated the mountainside information.

Description

The MOD is a zoning overlay district administered by the Planning and Zoning Department, in conjunction with the Department of Building and Development, which was approved on December 13, 2023. Mountainside classifications are based upon the following criteria: critical elevation, soils, slope, and forest values. Critical elevation areas are determined from the County's digital topography, soil and slope values are based upon data from the County's soil layer, and forested areas are based upon the digital forest data.

As a result of the adoption of the new Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance on December 13, 2023, two new feature protections were added to the Overlay District, Spring and Ridge Feature Protection. They are subject to the Uses and Development Standards of Section 5.04.

March 9, 2020: MTNSIDE_POLY Features were updated by removing features where MT_SDE_VAL = 0, since they do not meet the Mountainside criteria. Mountainside value requires a value greater than or equal to 9.

The Mountainside Development Overlay District consists of three categories (identified in the field MT_SDE_VAL):

Somewhat Sensative = 9

Sensitive 10 to 13

Highly Sensitive >= 14

Please contact the Department of Building and Development to determine a Preliminary Soil Review has occurred on a parcel, which may have updated the mountainside information.

Credits

Use limitations

These data were generated for use by Loudoun County and are available to the public. These data are intended for use at 1:2400 scale or smaller. Acknowledgement of Loudoun County would be appreciated in products derived from this data.

Extent

West  -77.962730     East -77.533151
North  39.326040     South 38.940825

Scale Range

Maximum (zoomed in)  1:5,000
Minimum (zoomed out)  1:150,000,000

Topics and Keywords 

Themes or categories of the resource Environment

Content type Downloadable Data
Export to FGDC CSDGM XML format as Resource Description No

Theme keywords mountainside, critical elevation, soil, slippage, groundwater recharge, forest cover, slope, sensitivity, zoning, overlay, district, planning

Thesaurus 
Title none, Employe generated

Place keywords Virginia, Loudoun, County

Thesaurus 
Title none, Employe generated

Citation 

Title Mountainside Overlay District
Publication date 2009-02-05 00:00:00

Presentation formats digital map
FGDC geospatial presentation format vector digital data

Citation Contacts 

Responsible party - point of contact
Organization's name Loudoun County, VA, Department of Building & Development

Resource Details 

Dataset languages English (UNITED STATES)
Dataset character set utf8 - 8 bit UCS Transfer Format

Spatial representation type vector

Processing environment Esri ArcGIS 13.1.8.41833

ArcGIS item properties
Name MTNSIDE_POLY_SDE_EDIT

Extents 

Extent
Geographic extent
Bounding rectangle
Extent type
Extent used for searching
West longitude -77.962730
East longitude -77.533151
North latitude 39.326040
South latitude 38.940825
Extent contains the resource Yes

Extent in the item's coordinate system
westBL 11635727.443333
eastBL 11756448.250000
southBL 7027114.751667
northBL 7166437.651667
exTypeCode Yes

Resource Points of Contact 

Point of contact - point of contact
Organization's name Loudoun County, VA, Department of Building and Development
Contact's position Soil Scientist

Contact information 
Phone
Voice (703)777-0397
Fax (703)771-5522
Address
Type
Delivery point bad@loudoun.gov
City Leesburg
Administrative area VA
Postal code 20175
Hours of service
8:00-5:00 EST, M-F

Resource Maintenance 

Resource maintenance
Update frequency as needed

Resource Constraints 

Constraints
Limitations of use

These data were generated for use by Loudoun County and are available to the public. These data are intended for use at 1:2400 scale or smaller. Acknowledgement of Loudoun County would be appreciated in products derived from this data.


Limitations of use
Every reasonable effort has been made to assure the accuracy of these data. Loudoun County, Virginia does not assume any liability arising from the use of these data.  These data are provided without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular service.  Reliance on these data is at the risk of the user.

Spatial Reference 

ArcGIS coordinate system
Type Projected
Geographic coordinate reference GCS_North_American_1983_HARN
Projection NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Virginia_North_FIPS_4501_Feet
Coordinate reference details
ProjectedCoordinateSystem
WKID 2924
XOrigin -110512500.00000001
YOrigin -88858000
XYScale 4800
ZOrigin -100000
ZScale 10000
MOrigin -100000
MScale 10000
XYTolerance 0.0033333333333333335
ZTolerance 0.001
MTolerance 0.001
HighPrecision true
LatestWKID 2924
WKT PROJCS["NAD_1983_HARN_StatePlane_Virginia_North_FIPS_4501_Feet",GEOGCS["GCS_North_American_1983_HARN",DATUM["D_North_American_1983_HARN",SPHEROID["GRS_1980",6378137.0,298.257222101]],PRIMEM["Greenwich",0.0],UNIT["Degree",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION["Lambert_Conformal_Conic"],PARAMETER["False_Easting",11482916.66666666],PARAMETER["False_Northing",6561666.666666666],PARAMETER["Central_Meridian",-78.5],PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_1",38.03333333333333],PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_2",39.2],PARAMETER["Latitude_Of_Origin",37.66666666666666],UNIT["Foot_US",0.3048006096012192],AUTHORITY["EPSG",2924]]

Reference system identifier
Value 2924
Codespace EPSG
Version 6.3(9.0.0)


Spatial Data Properties 

Vector 
Level of topology for this dataset geometry only

Geometric objects
Feature class name MTNSIDE_POLY_SDE_EDIT
Object type composite
Object count 0
ArcGIS Feature Class Properties 
Feature class name MTNSIDE_POLY_SDE_EDIT
Feature type Simple
Geometry type Polygon
Has topology FALSE
Feature count 0
Spatial index TRUE
Linear referencing FALSE

Lineage 

Process step 
Description
Data was extracted from pctbase.topo in 1999 and edited to form polygons and coded as above or below the critical elevation.  Polygon topographic data was unioned with polygon data extracted from environment.soils and environment.forest in 1999.  The elev_val, forest_val, and soil_val items were populated with appropriate values from lookup tables and were then summed to determine the mountainside score (mside_val).

Process contact - 
Organization's name Loudoun County, VA, Department of Building and Development
Contact's position County Soil Scientist

Process step 
Description
This data set was part of a batch process that converted legacy data from ArcInfo coverage in Librarian to a single-tiled ArcInfo coverage in preparation for a final conversion to ArcSDE Geodatabase Feature Classes.  Data were extracted from Librarian using the EXTRACT TOPOLOGICAL command.
        Multi-tiled data sets were extracted into multiple coverages and then combined based on the feature type(s).  Layers with both polygon and arc feature classes were processed with the Arc commands MAPJOIN and DISSOLVE.  Arc feature classes alone were processed with the Arc commands, APPEND and DISSOLVE.  Layers with both arc and point feature classes and point feature classes alone were processed with the Arc command, APPEND.  When used, the arc command, DISSOLVE, was given with the <#all> option.
        All coverages were then reprojected to HARN83 using the following .prj file specifications:
        INPUT
        PROJECTION STATEPLANE
        UNITS FEET
        ZONE 5551
        DATUM NAD27 NADCON
        PARAMETERS
        OUTPUT
        PROJECTION STATEPLANE
        UNITS FEET
        FIPSZONE 4501
        DATUM HPGN NADCON
        PARAMETERS END

        The dataset was then converted to a feature class in a geodatabase in ArcSDE.

Process contact - 
Organization's name Loudoun County, VA OMAGI
Contact's position GIS System Analyst

Process step 
Description
As a result of the adoption of the new Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance on December 13, 2023, two new feature protections were added to the Overlay District, Spring and Ridge Feature Protection.   They are subject to the Uses and Development Standards of Section 5.04.

Source data 
Description
overlay of elevation, soils and forest established MDOD

Resolution of the source data
Scale denominator 2400

Source citation 
Title MDOD GIS overlay process

Responsible party - 
Organization's name Loudoun County, VA, Office of Mapping and Geographic Information (OMAGI)

Distribution 

Distributor 
Contact information - distributor
Organization's name Loudoun County, VA, OMAGI
Contact's position Public Information Counter

Contact information 
Phone
Voice (703)771-5778
Fax (703)771-5075
Address
Type both
Delivery point 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 2nd Floor
City Leesburg
Administrative area VA
Postal code 20175
Delivery point MS 65
e-mail addressmapping@loudoun.gov
Hours of service
Monday - Friday, 8:00-4:30 EST, M-F

Available format
Name GDB
Specification ESRI Geodatabase Feature Class

Available format
Name SHP
Specification ESRI Shapefile

Available format
Name DXF
Specification AutoCad Digital Exchange File

Ordering process
Terms and fees Loudoun County distributes spatial data in ArcGIS database or shapefile & DXF format for the cost of reproduction. Countywide spatial datasets may be purchased for $22 per DVD for up to 4.5 GB of data. There is a $100 surcharge to purchase countywide topography, and a $3 charge if the item is to be mailed. If the customer wants the data in DXF format and/or would like OMAGI to custom select specific geographic areas of the County, there is an additional $7 per 15 minute increment labor charge. Select aerial imagery is also available.

Instructions
Size limit: 4.5 GB. Visit our website at: http://www.loudoun.gov/omagi, click on "Loudoun County Mapping Documents & Order Forms."  The "Forms" directory will lead you to custom & standard (countywide) data order forms.  Hardcopy maps may also be available; please contact the Mapping Office Public Information Counter for more information regarding all data requests.

Transfer options
Units of distribution Tiles

Medium of distribution
Medium name DVD

Distribution format
Name File Geodatabase Feature Class

Fields 

Details for object MTNSIDE_POLY_SDE_EDIT 
Type Feature Class
Row count 0
Definition
Polygon  Feature Class

Definition source
ESRI

Field MT_ELEV_VAL 
Alias MT_ELEV_VAL
Data type SmallInteger
Width 2
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Critical elevation component value. Identifies if area is above or below.

Description source
Loudoun County

List of values
Value See Overview Description for data dictionary of attribute

Field MT_FOREST_VAL 
Alias MT_FOREST_VAL
Data type SmallInteger
Width 2
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Forest component value. Identifies if area is forested or not.

Description source
Loudoun County

List of values
Value See Overview Description for data dictionary of attribute

Field MT_SOIL_VAL 
Alias MT_SOIL_VAL
Data type SmallInteger
Width 2
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Soil component value of area based on groundwater recharge, slippage, slope, and whether it is a mountain soil. (see the Mountainside Development Overlay District Soils Worksheet for sub-totals of specific soil mapping units).

Description source
Loudoun County

List of values
Value 2

Value 4

Value 6

Value 8

Value 10

Value 14

Value 16

Value 18

Field MT_MSIDE_VAL 
Alias MT_MSIDE_VAL
Data type SmallInteger
Width 2
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Sum of MT_ELEV_VAL, MT_FOREST_VAL, and MT_SOIL_VAL, which is the overall sensitivity of the moutntainside area.

Description source
Loudoun County

List of values
Value See Overview Description for data dictionary of attribute

Field MT_UPD_SOURCE 
Alias MT_UPD_SOURCE
Data type SmallInteger
Width 2
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Source that created or edited feature class

Description source
Loudoun County

List of values
Value See Overview Description for data dictionary of attribute

Field MT_UPD_DATE 
Alias MT_UPD_DATE
Data type Date
Width 8
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Feature creation or modification date

Description source
Loudoun County

Description of values
User generated text

Field MT_UPD_USER 
Alias MT_UPD_USER
Data type SmallInteger
Width 2
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Not for public distribution.  Internal User ID of editor creating or modifying a feature.

Description source
Loudoun County

Field SHAPE 
Alias Shape
Data type Geometry
Width 0
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Feature geometry.

Description source
ESRI

Description of values
Coordinates defining the features.

Field OBJECTID 
Alias OBJECTID
Data type OID
Width 4
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Internal feature number.

Description source
ESRI

Description of values
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Field Shape_Length 
Alias Shape_Length
Data type Double
Width 8
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Length of feature in internal units.

Description source
Esri

Description of values
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Field Shape_Area 
Alias Shape_Area
Data type Double
Width 8
Precision 0
Scale 0

Field description
Area of feature in internal units squared.

Description source
Esri

Description of values
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Overview Description
Entity and Attribute Overview
MT_ELEV_VAL: Value that identifies if area is above or below critical elevation component value. Critical elevation for the Catoctin Ridge is 550 feet, critical elevation for Short Hill and the Blue Ridge is 700 feet.

Entity and Attribute Detail Citation
Value    Definition

0           Below critical elevation
3           Above critical elevation

Overview Description
Entity and Attribute Overview
MT_FOREST_VAL:  Value that identifies if area is forested or not.

Entity and Attribute Detail Citation
Value    Defination

0           Not forested
2           Forested

Overview Description
Entity and Attribute Overview
MT_MSIDE_VAL: Sum of MT_ELEV_VAL, MT_FOREST_VAL, and MT_SOIL_VAL, which is the overall sensitivity of the mountainside area. Mountainside consists of all polygons with scores of 9 or above.

Entity and Attribute Detail Citation
Value    Sensitivity

0           Non-mountainside
9           Moderately Sensitive
10         Sensitive
11         Sensitive
12         Sensitive
13         Sensitive
14         Highly Sensitive
15         Highly Sensitive
16         Highly Sensitive
17         Highly Sensitive
18         Highly Sensitive
19         Highly Sensitive
21         Highly Sensitive
23         Highly Sensitive

Overview Description
Entity and Attribute Overview
MT_UPD_SOURCE: Source that created or edited feature class

Entity and Attribute Detail Citation
Source  Definition

0            Unknown
1            Legacy
2            County
3            Contract

Metadata Details 

Metadata language English (UNITED STATES)
Metadata character set utf8 - 8 bit UCS Transfer Format

Scope of the data described by the metadata dataset
Scope name dataset

Last update 2025-12-12 

ArcGIS metadata properties
Metadata format ArcGIS 1.0
Standard or profile used to edit metadata FGDC

Created in ArcGIS for the item 2014-08-04 20:56:17
Last modified in ArcGIS for the item 2025-12-12 15:04:08

Automatic updates
Have been performed Yes
Last update 2025-12-12 11:35:00
Published to an ArcIMS Metadata Service Published

Metadata Contacts 

Metadata contact - originator
Organization's name Loudoun County, VA, OMAGI

Contact information 
Phone
Voice (703)771-5778
Fax (703)771-5075
Address
Type both
Delivery point 1 Harrison Street, S.E., 2nd Floor
City Leesburg
Administrative area VA
Postal code 20175
Delivery point MS 65
e-mail addressmapping@loudoun.gov
Hours of service
Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:30 EST

Metadata Maintenance 

Maintenance
Update frequency as needed

Metadata Constraints 

Constraints
Limitations of use
This metadata reflects the source Geodatabase format and specific elements may not apply if your data is exported to SHP, DXF, or .e00 products.  User must be aware that changes to data schema occur during data export that may not be reflected in this metadata, which represents Loudoun County's corporate geodatabase. Acknowledgement of Loudoun County would be appreciated in the use of this metadata.