Plan Change in Bealeton At the January, 2009, Fauquier County Board of Supervisors meeting, James Downey successfully argued for an amendment to the County’s Comprehensive Plan to allow 13 acres at the intersection of Independence Avenue and Route 17, adjacent to Liberty High School, to be used for “Office-Mixed Use.” The addition of this area to the Mixed Use Designation enables the entire 97 acres owned by the Donald R. Tharpe Family Trust to be planned and zoned for a mixed use development. This project has been under consideration for several years and will now be the subject of a rezoning application under the new mixed use zoning ordinance adopted in November, 2008. Tax Assessment Appeals filed The firm has filed numerous tax appeals before Boards of Equalization throughout Virginia in the current appeal cycle. James Downey delivered a seminar presentation, on Tax Assessment Appeals, to the 12th Annual Advanced Real Estate Seminar sponsored by Continuing Legal Education, in Williamsburg, February, 2008. The firm has handled assessment cases in more than 30 jurisdictions and has had notable success, as reported in two complex cases, HCA Health Services of Virginia v. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, 260 Va. 317 (2000), and WXIII Oxford DTC v. Loudoun County Board of Supervisors 64 Va. Cir. 37 (2004). The HCA case involved the assessment of Reston Hospital. The Oxford case involved the National Conference Center near Leesburg (formerly the Xerox Document University). Jonathan P. Lienhard Joins Downey & Mayhugh Law Firm WARRENTON, VA – Jonathan P. Lienhard recently joined the Warrenton, Virginia-based law firm of Downey & Mayhugh, P.C. as Of Counsel. Mr. Lienhard brings over a decade of experience to the firm, successfully representing and defending clients in commercial litigation, white-collar criminal cases and diverse commercial transactions. Prior to joining Downey & Mayhugh, he was in solo private practice in Warrenton, VA. Mr. Lienhard began his law career as a Navy JAG Corps officer. Later, in private practice, he represented individuals, private companies and large corporations in cases involving economic conspiracy, defamation, breach of contract, copyright infringement, product liability, and corporate governance. He also has counseled businesses and individuals on commercial loan agreements and leases, and has represented individuals under Federal investigation as well third-party witnesses in such cases. Mr. Lienhard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, and received his Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School. He is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1976, the law firm of Downey & Mayhugh, P.C. is a general civil practice law firm providing legal services to individuals, businesses and others primarily in the Northern Virginia counties of Fauquier, Culpeper, Prince William and Fairfax. The firm offers a broad range of personal and business legal services, with specific knowledge and experience in land use, zoning, real estate, tax assessments, environmental protection law, personal injury, wills, trusts and estate planning. “We’re thrilled to have an attorney of Mr. Lienhard’s calibre joining our team,” said partner James Downey. “Mr. Lienhard has distinguished himself both through his military law career and as a private-practice attorney in many high-profile cases. He will be a significant addition to our firm.”