Leesburg Town Council Meeting – September 8, 2026

The Leesburg Town Council met on September 8, 2026, for a combined work session and regular meeting. The council adopted a proclamation, approved several consent agenda items and a water pump construction contract, made appointments, and conducted a detailed discussion on the proposed zoning ordinance rewrite, Articles 5 and 6. Several future agenda topics were identified.

Proclamation

• Find the Good Day – The council proclaimed September 17, 2026 as Find the Good Day. Kirin Kennedy and Aaron (president of the Junior League of Northern Virginia) accepted the proclamation. The Junior League, a group of ~300 women, completed nearly 2,000 hours of community service in the prior year and encourages volunteerism. The proclamation passed 6-0-1.

Consent Agenda

• Items A (King Street improvements design task order), B (illumination display for Domestic Violence Awareness Month), and D (appointment of Jan Hepburn to the Police-Directed Tow Advisory Board) were approved by consent (6-0-1). Item C was removed for separate discussion.

Separate Discussion and Vote – Water Pump Contract (Item C)

• Councilmember Cummings moved to approve a supplemental appropriation of $1.145 million from the utility reserve fund to the utilities fund and award a construction contract of $1.645 million to WGK Construction LLC for upsizing of raw water pump #1 and finished water pump #3. Staff clarified the pumps increase operational redundancy but do not increase overall plant capacity. The motion passed 6-0-1.

Resolutions / Appointments

• Voting Delegate for VML: Councilmember Steinberg was appointed as voting delegate for the 2026 Virginia Municipal League Business Session (6-0-1). Mayor will serve as alternate.
• Residential Traffic Commission: David Mercado was appointed (6-0-1).

Discussion Items: Zoning Ordinance Rewrite – Articles 5 and 6

• James David (staff) presented highlighted revisions:
  • Article 5: Eliminated the “land development official” title, replaced with “zoning administrator.” Described roles of Town Council, Planning Commission, Board of Architectural Review (BAR), Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), floodplain administrator.
  • Article 6: Added optional neighborhood meeting (strongly encouraged but not mandatory due to state code), a new concept plan and proffers amendment application to streamline process, and new application requirements for high energy use facilities (e.g., data centers) per Senate Bill 94 (2026). Also revised timing of BAR applications (must receive first submission comment letter on site plan before applying for certificate of appropriateness).
• Councilmember Nacy raised numerous concerns:
  • Reduction of public input: limited uses approved administratively without hearing; pre-application meetings changed from required to encouraged; mandatory neighborhood meetings removed for rezoning.
  • Removal of explicit prohibitions on administrative amendments for sites with pending code enforcement or increased intensity.
  • Change of substantial change threshold from 5% to 15% for residential units and non-residential floor area (she preferred 5%).
  • Missing 12-month council decision deadline for rezoning; sign proffers due date changed from 21 days before hearing to day of hearing (due to state code).
  • Requested adding discussions on fence heights and parking to the deep dive list.
• Councilmember Steinberg asked about the BAR process: the new requirement for a site plan comment letter before BAR review would prevent wasted effort when use is not defined. He also suggested adding a provision that decisions by a designated representative bind the applicant, but staff indicated that may not be possible.
• Staff agreed to review several items: add back “no increase in intensity” and code enforcement criteria, re-examine the 12-month deadline, consider adding a timeframe for appeals, and clarify the term “significant.”

Key Outcomes

• Consent items A, B, D approved; water pump contract awarded.
• Appointments made.
• Zoning rewrite discussion to continue with future meetings on nonconformities, enforcement, and word usage.
• Council agreed to add a future work session on the Dominion/NextEra merger (before November 9 public comment deadline) – Councilmember Cummings, supported by three others, will draft a letter for council input.
• Staff will prepare a proposal for increasing fines for zoning violations (e.g., up to $25,000 for egregious violations) to be circulated electronically.
• Councilmember Nacy’s request for a work session on flock cameras received four supporting votes.
• Vice Mayor Simono Johnson’s suggestion for a Saturday meeting to discuss remaining zoning articles did not pass (fewer than four votes).
• A proclamation request for Town Manager Kai Dentler’s retirement (to be presented September 22) was noted but not voted on as it was in the work session phase.