The Paxson-Airmont region is one of the most intact rural landscapes in Loudoun County. Generations of families have worked its fields, built its stone walls, and protected its scenic beauty – not just for themselves, but for the future. Today, one of the most important tools for protecting this heritage is the conservation easement.

A conservation easement is a permanent legal agreement between a landowner and a public agency or charitable organization in which the landowner agrees to limit what can be built on their land. In exchange, the landowner receives valuable tax benefits from both the state and federal government.

As the Attorney General of Virginia has stated, such a transaction is not private but is a public investment. The landowner receives financial benefits, and the public receives long-term conservation. The conservation easement ensures that a property remains in agricultural, open space, or natural use forever. Easements are held by qualified conservation organizations such as the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) and the Land Trust of Virginia (LTV). Their duty is to enforce easements in a way that protects public values: clean water, working farms, historic places, scenic views and open space.

The Paxson-Airmont region is one of the most intact rural landscapes in Loudoun County. Generations of families have worked its fields, built its stone walls, and protected its scenic beauty – not just for themselves, but for the future. Today, one of the most important tools for protecting this heritage is the conservation easement.

A conservation easement is a permanent legal agreement between a landowner and a public agency or charitable organization in which the landowner agrees to limit what can be built on their land. In exchange, the landowner receives valuable tax benefits from both the state and federal government.

As the Attorney General of Virginia has stated, such a transaction is not private but is a public investment. The landowner receives financial benefits, and the public receives long-term conservation. The conservation easement ensures that a property remains in agricultural, open space, or natural use forever. Easements are held by qualified conservation organizations such as the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) and the Land Trust of Virginia (LTV). Their duty is to enforce easements in a way that protects public values: clean water, working farms, historic places, scenic views and open space.

Conserving Paxson-Airmont

A defining feature of the Paxson-Airmont Community is the breadth of land under permanent conservation easement. Numerous properties are protected by easements held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the Land Trust of Virginia, and other conservation partners. (View Loudoun County’s Conservation Easement Map by clicking here).  These agreements prevent subdivision and intensive development, ensuring that agricultural use, natural habitat, and scenic views are preserved for future generations. 

Allowing development that violates an easement, such as a commercial venue, breaks the public trust. That’s why FPA strongly advocates for the protection of conservation easements and the enforcement of their terms as required by Virginia law.