Leesburg Board of Architectural Review Business Meeting Summary – October 21, 2026

The Leesburg Board of Architectural Review (BAR) held its business meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA. Chair Helen Aikman presided, with Vice Chair Tom O'Neill, Parliamentarian Julie Pasteur, and members Rick Brown, Don Sheuerman, JP Andrews, and Lucas Mason present; all seven members formed a quorum. The webcast was unavailable, so speakers were asked to speak slowly and clearly for the record. No meeting minutes were available; this summary relies on the agenda and transcript. The board adopted the revised agenda (7-0), approved the September 9, 2026 work session minutes (6-0-1, O'Neill abstaining), and heard no member disclosures or general public comments.

Consent Calendar

• The revised consent agenda contained four items, all approved 7-0 with staff conditions:
  • TLHPBR2026-0043, 105 Rivanna Terrace SW, replace garage door and fan light window. This item was later reconsidered and deferred; see Key Outcomes.
  • TLHPBR2026-0048, 7 North King Street, wall sign.
  • TLHPBR2026-0049, 5 and 7 North King Street, door replacements.
  • TLHPBR2026-0050, 127 Chesterfield Place SW, door replacement.
• During the consent discussion, a board member asked about future griffin-style logos on the doors at 7 North King Street; property owner Megan Malone indicated they are planned for a future application.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Daniel Taylor, 231 Cornwall Street NW, came forward during the consent public hearing and said he had been told his case (TLHPBR2026-0044) would be heard that night; the chair explained it would be taken up later under new cases.
• On 106 Meherrin Terrace, Dory O'Brien of 105 Rivanna Terrace, an HOA member, said it was unreasonable to require exterior muntins when her own identical fanlight window with internal grids had just been approved on consent. She argued the community should not be in the Old and Historic District and was being held to an unfair standard.
• Carolyn Wine of 114 Meherrin Terrace said it was absurd to require adding adhesive exterior muntins after 14 years and noted the 1999-2003 townhomes are visibly contemporary and separated from downtown historic buildings.
• No public testimony was offered on the 210 Cornwall, 217 South Street, or 231 Cornwall cases.

New Cases in the H-1, Old & Historic District

TLHPBR2026-0045 – 106 Meherrin Terrace SW, retroactive window replacement

• Staff said a vinyl Palladian/fanlight window had been replaced retroactively in a circa 1999 townhome community. Because it has grilles between the glass, staff recommended adding exterior muntins, citing a prior approval at 207 South Street; staff also noted removal could damage surrounding wood.
• Applicant Donald Cooper agreed to install exterior muntins.
• After public comment, the board approved the case 7-0, with conditions requiring external muntins and staff approval of the product, but allowing Cooper to skip the muntins if a future work session decides grilles-between-glass are acceptable for this development.
• The board also agreed to address the broader issue of internal-grille Palladian/fanlight windows in the community at a future work session, with HOA input suggested.

TLHPBR2026-0047 – 210 Cornwall Street NW, exterior renovation and rehabilitation

• Staff summarized extensive repairs and minor alterations: chimney removal from the historic structure, replacement of a rear door with a window, French doors with sidelights on the rear, some Versatex trim, an accessory-structure chimney removal, and other repair/replacement work.
• Applicant Hallie Thompson, who also owns 241 West Market Street, said structural engineers had recommended removing the chimney due to severe water damage, but she was willing to support and retain the exterior chimney. She supported the revised French door design.
• The board approved 7-0 with conditions including retaining and repairing the exterior chimney, limiting Versatex trim to 24 inches from grade or allowing thermally modified wood, using the French door design shown at the meeting, and coordinating with staff if historic windows need replacement or field stone is needed.

TLHPBR2026-0051 – 217 South Street SE, rear deck replacement

• Staff described replacing a deteriorated existing deck with Trex decking and aluminum rails in the same location and size, plus a request for post-cap lighting and stair lighting. Staff supported the deck materials and had concerns about post lighting.
• Applicant Kim Ebbers said the contractor preferred low-output lights on all four stair risers, though code requires only the top step; she was flexible about the post-cap lights.
• The board approved 7-0, requiring that Trex cut ends be disguised and that all post and stair lighting be down-facing and approved by staff before installation.

TLHPBR2026-0044 – 231 Cornwall Street NW, retroactive window alterations

• Staff said the late-20th-century Colonial Revival house was built by prominent Leesburg architect Paul Reimer to mimic historic properties. Two windows had been replaced without approval: a three-part window above a stairwell and a bathroom window that was later frosted.
• Applicant Daniel Taylor said the original windows had rotted and could not be easily operated; he was willing to replace them with fixed windows that appear to be six-over-six double-hung windows.
• The board approved 7-0, requiring six-over-six style replacement windows for both locations, allowing fixed operation because of the stairwell and shower locations, allowing interior frosting for the bathroom window, and requiring final window selections to be submitted to staff.

TLHPBR2026-0046 – 114 Meherrin Terrace SW, door and sidelight replacements

• This case had been pulled from the consent agenda at the applicant's request. Staff explained that the H1 overlay requires BAR approval for all exterior changes, while the community HOA has independent design guidelines; the town cannot enforce HOA rules, but the applicant must satisfy both.
• Applicant Carolyn Wine wanted to replace the front door and sidelights and asked the board to identify acceptable sidelight options so she could take them to her HOA. She preferred a full-light sidelight for interior light and functionality; staff regarded the three-square design as too contemporary for the neighborhood.
• Board members said they could support the staff-recommended half-light options and the full-light option, but not the three-square design.
• The board approved 7-0 with conditions requiring the applicant to choose option 130, 140, or 160 from the staff report, to confirm the design with her HOA, and to provide the final selection to staff before installation.

Key Outcomes

• All substantive votes were 7-0: consent agenda; cases 0045, 0047, 0051, 0044, and 0046; reconsideration of consent item 0043; deferral of 0043 to the November 2, 2026 work session; and adjournment. The minutes vote was 6-0-1.
• Consent item TLHPBR2026-0043, 105 Rivanna Terrace SW, was reconsidered and deferred to the November 2, 2026 work session because of confusion about whether the approved scope included the fanlight/Palladian window. The work session will also address the broader issue of internal-grille fanlight/Palladian windows in the Meherrin/Rivanna Terrace community.
• Staff announced that four BAR terms will expire with the upcoming November council elections; reappointment requires a new application and notification to the appointing council member. Staff also asked board members to report training attendance for the state annual report.
• There was no old business or new business; the meeting adjourned by unanimous vote.