Leesburg BAR Business Meeting: March 18, 2026
Leesburg Board of Architectural Review Business Meeting – March 18, 2026
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 7:00 PM, the Leesburg Board of Architectural Review (BAR) held a business meeting in Council Chambers. The meeting covered two new certificate of appropriateness applications, a historic plaque presentation, a pre‑application conference for a proposed development, and routine business.
Consent Calendar
- No items were placed on the consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke on non‑agenda items. The public hearings for the two new cases had no speakers from the public.
Discussion Items
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Approval of Minutes (February 2 & 18, 2026): The minutes of the February 2 work session were approved 5‑0 with two abstentions (members who were absent). The minutes of the February 18 business meeting were approved 5‑0 with two abstentions. One typographical correction was noted.
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TLHPBR2026‑0005 – 230 South Street SE, Exterior Rehabilitation (H‑1 District): Staff presented an updated proposal from applicant Lisa Allen. The project involves exterior repairs, a minor rear addition, a wood deck, and alterations to an accessory structure (including a board‑and‑batten finish, not T‑111). The applicant agreed to simplify the front porch by removing ornamental columns and balustrades, replacing them with plain square posts (4×4 or 6×6 if consistent with neighboring properties). The applicant will use wood six‑over‑six double‑hung windows on the historic primary structure and white aluminum‑clad windows on the addition and accessory structure. The board discussed the size of porch columns and decided to match those approved for a nearby property (Mike Weber’s structure on the same street). A finding was added that the existing columns are not original and have been altered.
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TLHPBR2026‑0003 – 8 Wirt Street NW, Screened Porch (H‑1 District): Applicant Kevin Rudicelli (architect) presented a 144‑square‑foot screened porch addition to the side of a circa‑1878 house. Staff recommended adding one additional chamfered post to the west elevation, which the applicant incorporated. The porch is located in front of a 1950s non‑contributing addition; the board confirmed it is a side addition, not a front addition. The board found the design, materials (standing seam metal roof, wood trim, stone steps), and scale appropriate.
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Historic Plaque Presentation: A historic structure plaque for 208 South King Street was presented on behalf of the Loudoun Preservation Society. The plaque program is administered by the Society in partnership with the town. The plaque was accepted by the board.
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Pre‑Application Conference – 206 East Market Street (New Development): Kevin Ash presented an early concept for a mixed‑use building at the former piano store site. The proposal includes ground‑floor parking/retail, a second‑floor inn, and upper floors with office and residential space. The building is four stories on a sloping site. Staff and board raised concerns about massing, design style (noting a proliferation of similar brick/classical styles), and impact on the viewshed of Dodona Manor (a National Historic Landmark). The board suggested reducing the number of segmented building forms, simplifying the western end, and exploring more contemporary materials. No vote was taken; the presentation was for preliminary feedback only.
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Cancellation of April 8 Work Session: The board voted 7‑0 to cancel the April 8 work session due to scheduling conflicts with ongoing work in Council Chambers.
Key Outcomes
- TLHPBR2026‑0005 (230 South Street SE) – Approved 7‑0 with conditions (e.g., wood windows on historic block, aluminum‑clad windows on addition, wood 4×4 or 6×6 columns, blue color palette, board‑and‑batten siding, material submittals to staff).
- TLHPBR2026‑0003 (8 Wirt Street NW) – Approved 7‑0 with conditions (e.g., additional chamfered post, any hardscaping requires separate COA).
- Historic Plaque – Accepted.
- 206 East Market Street – Pre‑application discussed; no formal decision.
- April 8 Work Session – Cancelled by unanimous vote.
- Staff Announcements: BAR will participate in the Flower & Garden Show (April 18‑19, 2026) with a booth; volunteers sought.
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Scheuermann JP Andrew and Judd Futo. To begin, we'll need a motion to adopt the meeting agenda unless there are any corrections or changes to the agenda. Yes, ma'am. Yes. We have a request from the staff. Staff member who's ailing this evening to go first. So 8B on the agenda, which is TLH PBR 2026 0005, 230 South Street Southeast. We'll go ahead of 8 Warth Street, which is TLHPBR 2026 0003. Any other changes to the agenda proposed? No. Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the agenda? Agenda as corrected. Yes. Second. Okay. All in favor? Opposed. The motion passes 7 to 0. We will now look at the minute meeting. I'm sorry, the meeting minutes for the February 2 work session and the February 18 business meeting. I think we had different members absent at those meetings, so we'll have to approve them separately. I, for one, was absent at the February 2 work session, as was Judd Futo. Not to brag. I missed both February meetings. That was that was really that was really excellent, Judd. So if we could have a motion from someone other than me or Judd to approve the minutes, unless there are corrections. Anyone have any corrections? I move that the work session minutes for Monday, February 2nd be approved. Okay, all in favor? Aye. Opposed. So the minutes for February 2nd are approved by a vote of five in favor, zero opposed, and two abstent two abstentions. Okay, so now we'll take on the February 18 business meeting minutes. Not only was Judd absent from that meeting, but also Mr. Andrews was absent from that meeting as well. I move approval of the business meeting minutes of Wednesday, February 18th, 2026, with one minor typo that I've already given to the clerk. Okay, thank you. Second. Okay, we have the motion from Julie Pastor, second from Rick Brown. Um all in favor? Aye. Opposed. The minutes are approved for February 18 by a vote of five in favor and two abstentions. Uh with that done, we can now move on to BAR member disclosures. For those of you who haven't been here before, this is an opportunity for members to disclose any conflicts of interest they feel that they may have and recuse themselves as necessary and disclose any conversations they think are germane to the deliberations that will go on this evening. Do we have any disclosures this evening? Well, that's a first. Okay, so we have no disclosures. That's great.
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