Leesburg Town Council Meeting – July 14, 2026

The Leesburg Town Council held its regular meeting on July 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. All seven council members were present. The agenda included two proclamations, a consent agenda, a resolution for a concert event, and a public hearing for a hotel and mixed-use development. Council also discussed future topics including fee waivers for a domestic violence center, public art vandalism funding, and data center regulations.

Consent Calendar

• Work Session Minutes (June 22, 2026): Approved with a vote of 4 in favor, 0 opposed, and 3 abstentions.
• Regular Session Minutes (June 23, 2026): Approved 7–0.
• Adoption of the Meeting Agenda: Approved 7–0.
• Consent Agenda Items (approved 7–0 without discussion):
  • Church Street, South Street, and Harrison Street Improvements Project – Design Task Order Authorization
  • South King Street Improvements Project from South Street to Royal Street – Design Task Order Authorization
  • Evergreen Mill Road Widening Project – Construction Management and Inspection Services
  • Fiscal Year 2027 Snow and Ice Removal Services Contract Award
  • Approval of Awareness Ribbons for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
  • Awareness Display Illumination for World Fragile X Day

Proclamations

• Disability Pride Month – July 2026: The council proclaimed July as Disability Pride Month. Tom Sweitzer, founder of A Place to Be, accepted the proclamation and noted the organization serves over 250 families per week and has never turned a child or family away in 16 years. Approved 7–0.
• Rotary Club of Leesburg – 100th Anniversary: The council recognized the Rotary Club for a century of service. Dariusz Swielek (president) and Phil (past president) accepted, announcing a legacy project to install a fountain. Approved 7–0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brendan Murphy (493 Marshall Drive, NE Leesburg) spoke during the Petitioners section. He addressed the zoning ordinance rewrite, urging the council to establish performance-based standards for data centers that address noise, water use, energy efficiency, electrical resilience, and peak electrical demand. He advocated for requirements that reserve space for future energy technologies. No other public speakers signed up.

Discussion Items

• Resolution – Performing Artist Selection for Concert Event “Music George Washington Heard”: Council Member Cummings, the liaison, supported the selection. The concert, part of the 250th anniversary of Leesburg’s history, will be held August 15, 2026, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., using $3,000 from the Performing Arts Commission’s funds. The event was dedicated to the late Dr. Stephen Cox Cooksey. Approved 7–0.
• Public Hearing – TLZM 2022-0004 and TLSE 2022-0004 (Liberty at Russell Branch Hotel and Mixed Use):
  • Presentation: Scott Parker, Senior Planning Project Manager, presented a rezoning and special exception request for an 8.25-acre site at Russell Branch Parkway and Route 7. The proposal includes a dual-brand four-story hotel (up to 86,500 sq ft, 56 ft height, 140 rooms) and two mixed-use commercial buildings (10,000 sq ft each). Three modifications were requested: (1) relocation of side buffer yards due to utility easements; (2) adjustment of the Route 7 buffer to accommodate Dominion power line restrictions; (3) use of a shared-use time-of-day parking factor (243 spaces required by the factor, 272 provided, vs. 281 under standard calculations). A cash proffer of $60,000 for public safety and off-site transportation was included. The fiscal impact analysis showed a net positive cash flow of $388,166 per year to the town. The Board of Architectural Review (BAR) reviewed and had no concerns. The Planning Commission recommended approval (one commissioner dissented on phasing). The phasing plan allows the hotel to be occupied before the retail buildings, provided all site improvements (landscaping, parking, pedestrian trails) are completed.
  • Council Questions: Council Members Kurkowski, Steinberg, and Nacy asked about buffer design, existing vegetation, parking calculations, and phasing commitments. The applicant, Brian Miller, answered and reaffirmed the provision of a 1,700 sq ft meeting space for public use.
  • Public Hearing: No members of the public signed up to speak, and none appeared. The hearing was closed.
  • Votes:
    • Rezoning (TLZM 2022-0004): Motion approved 7–0.
    • Special Exception (TLSE 2022-0004): Motion approved 7–0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda and Resolutions: All consent items and the performing artist resolution were approved unanimously.
• Hotel/Mixed-Use Project: The rezoning and special exception for the Liberty at Russell Branch development were approved 7–0.
• Fee Waiver for LAWS Domestic Violence Center: Council Member Cummings requested waiving $160,243 in fees for a new LAWS center. The council consented to place the waiver on the next consent agenda, with funding to come from the general fund balance.
• Public Art Vandalism Prevention and Funding: Council agreed to hold a future work session to discuss protective measures and a dedicated fund for repairing vandalized public art.
• Data Center Lifecycle Discussion: Council Member Kirkowski raised a topic from the VML meeting about repurposing data center buildings after their lifespan. The council agreed to schedule a work session on this issue.
• Future Meeting Topics: Discussion on downtown parking study scope and parking zone district was noted; adjustments may be made to accommodate a council member’s absence on September 8.