Speakers at last night's public hearing before both the LoCo Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors were evenly divided between those who support the approval of an Ashburn hospital and those who don't.

About 115 residents used their two-minute allotments to debate the rezoning and what impact the proposed facility would have on our community.

Those in favor of the proposed Broadlands Regional Medical Center cited that this hospital would bring much-needed tax revenue, jobs, healthy competition and transportation proffers to Loudoun - and of course, extra hospital beds. (Many speakers complained of waiting in hallways at Inova Loudoun Hospital, because beds were not available).

Those opposed to HCA's application were neighbors in close proximity to the site who feel a hospital would "urbanize" what is a suburban community; residents in the Route 50 corridor who prefer that the next hospital be built there; and Inova Loudoun Hospital executives, affiliates and lawyers who said a hospital built so close to an existing one would be bad for business.

The most animated speaker of the night, in my opinion, was Broadlands resident Bruce Biggs. With dramatic pauses and wild gesturing he addressed the commission and board members: "You want to live where I do after the hospital is built? Please, buy my house!"

(Here's a link to the county's live broadcast of the hearing; Be warned: the sound isn't audible, and you can't fast-forward through the four hours of testimony!)

Biggs is the Broadlands resident who, with his wife, filed suit in early October with the community's homeowners association after the board members voted in favor of BRMC. Click here for a recent Loudoun Times Mirror story on the suit. Here's Living in Loco's bit.

(Interesting tidbit: the Biggs' attorney, Lawrence McClafferty and Inova Loudoun Hospital's hired attorney Stephen Price both work at the same Leesburg law firm, McCandlish & Lillard.)

At an injunction hearing yesterday, Circuit Court Judge Thomas B. Horne refused to give a temporary order which would restrict the Broadlands HOA board from voicing an opinion on the hospital. Click here for the full Leesburg Today story on the matter.

Back to the event.

Reminiscent of the Santa-letter scene from the holiday classic, "Miracle on 34th Street," Donna Fortier, a Broadlands resident and Inova employee, used part of her allotted time to bring out - with the help of five to six other helpers- eight stacks of petition signatures against BRMC, wrapped in pretty red bows - presumably one "gift" for each supervisor to peruse.

Next on the agenda? The Planning Commission will either vote to approve, deny or continue studying the application.

Can't get enough hospital chatter? Check out what local bloggers and online reporters are writing about the LoCo hospital controversy.

Loudoun Insider at Too Conservative declares that the "war" is close to an end.

Elise at Dulles South Online posts future Rt. 50 health care plans from both Inova and HCA executives.

Hooda Thunk? blogs about BRMC's plans to become LEED-certified - the first hospital in Virginia to go for green-certification.

And don't forget to check out LoudounExtra's story on last night's hearing.