Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting - July 15, 2025

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors held a business meeting on July 15, 2025, beginning at 4:00 PM. The meeting included a consent agenda, committee reports, public input, and votes on several significant land use and policy items. Key actions included approval of the Cross Mill Center data center (5-4), denial of the Hiddenwood Assemblage industrial rezoning (5-4), and approval of the Arcola Grove rezoning with a GIS substation (5-4). The Board also adopted the 2026 health plan with GLP-1 coverage, endorsed a BMI for transmission line transparency in staff reports, and deferred a vote on proactive zoning enforcement in Algonkian District to September.

Consent Calendar

• Approved consent agenda items en bloc, including:
  • Contract renewals for fuel services, architectural services, and construction support.
  • Contract award for next-generation bus farebox system.
  • Award authority increase for fire apparatus.
  • Award authority during August Board recess.
  • Contract award for construction management at risk for Western Loudoun Recreation Complex.
  • FY 2025 Section 8 Management Assessment Program certification and submission.
  • Scope modification for MHSADS group home replacements.
  • Route 50 and Northstar Boulevard crosswalks.
  • Safe Passage to Schools pilot location recommendations.
  • FY 2027 budget development preliminary CIP guidance and fiscal policy updates.
  • Appointments confirmations and nominations.
  • Administrative items report.
  • Incentive package for ORBCOMM retention and expansion.
  • Contract award for labor relations administration services.
  • Policies and procedures on advisory boards and bylaws template amendments.
  • Timeline extension for Dulles Technology Park (LEGI-2025-0056).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Data Centers and Cross Mill Center: Multiple speakers opposed the Cross Mill data center, citing environmental impacts, noise, energy grid strain, and complicity in human rights abuses. Some speakers supported the project, emphasizing economic benefits and appropriate location near existing infrastructure.
• Hiddenwood Assemblage: Residents from Hiddenwood Lane and Briarfield Estates spoke. Hiddenwood residents argued their application reduced data center use and mitigated impacts; supporters urged approval for industrial space shortage. Opponents cited conflicts with comprehensive plan and precedent.
• Arcola Grove: Public comment included opposition due to proximity to residential areas, concerns about substation emissions (SF6), and compatibility with planned mixed-use community.
• Transmission Lines (Dominion Route 3/3A): Several speakers opposed proposed routes through Broad Run watershed, near schools, and over conservation easements, urging use of existing rights-of-way.
• River Creek Parkway: A senior resident requested a traffic light at Olympic Boulevard for safer left turns.
• Leesburg Mobile Home Park: Residents described imminent mass eviction and requested Board assistance with relocation.
• Zoning Enforcement: A Broad Run Farms resident opposed proactive enforcement, arguing the current complaint system was sufficient.
• Procedural Issues: Chair Randall enforced rules against off-topic remarks; one speaker was directed to sit down for veering from the agenda item.

Discussion Items

• Health Plan Update (Item 1i): Staff presented 2026 health plan renewal with 12.2% premium increase for active employees and pre-65 retirees (including GLP-1 coverage for weight loss at 1.8% of plan costs). GLP-1 coverage would require a weight management program with weekly weigh-ins. Post-65 retirees would see 4.5% increase. The Board approved the plan design change, premiums, and renewal of vendor contracts.
• Street Name Selection (Item 7): Supervisor Kershner moved to direct staff to generate historic street names for a private right-of-way off Loyalty Road. Approved 9-0.
• BMI on Transmission Line Information (Item 14): Supervisor TeKrony and Chair Randall co-sponsored a motion to require narrative and mapping of high-voltage electrical infrastructure in staff reports for industrial/data center land use applications. Approved 9-0.
• DPZ Work Plan (Item 11): Staff presented quarterly update with 10 new or ongoing projects. Approved 9-0; an additional motion to add National Register nominations for Howardsville and First Baptist Church of Watson passed 9-0.
• Arcola Grove Rezoning (Item 13): Supervisor Letourneau moved approval for a GIS substation and additional 200,000 sq ft of data center (applicant had removed natural gas turbines and added tier-four generators). Staff cited concerns over building height, buffer, and setback non-conformance. Approved 5-4 (Turner, Letourneau, Kershner, Umstattd, Saines in favor; Glass, Brixman, Cronin, Chair Randall opposed).
• River Creek Parkway Study (Item 8): Supervisor Turner moved to conduct a multimodal and operational safety study without requiring a road diet as a specific task. Approved 9-0.
• Virginia Property Maintenance Code (Item 10): Supervisor Glass moved to direct staff to pursue adoption of remaining code chapters with effective date July 1, 2026, and implementation January 1, 2027. Approved 9-0. A second motion to prepare a resource request for additional zoning enforcement staff during FY27 budget passed 9-0. A third motion by Supervisor Brixman to defer discussion of proactive enforcement in Algonkian District to September 16, 2025, passed 9-0.

Key Outcomes

• Approvals:
  • Health plan design change for 2026 including GLP-1 coverage and premiums (approved).
  • Street name generation for Loyalty Road private right-of-way (9-0).
  • BMI requiring transmission line and substation info in land use staff reports (9-0).
  • DPZ work plan with projects and addition of Howardsville and Watson historic nominations (9-0).
  • Arcola Grove rezoning with GIS substation and proffers (5-4).
  • Cross Mill Center data center (ZMAP-2023-0002 & SPEX-2023-0007) (5-4).
  • River Creek Parkway safety study without road diet requirement (9-0).
  • Virginia Property Maintenance Code adoption direction and budget resource request (both 9-0).
• Denials: Hiddenwood Assemblage rezoning (ZMAP-2023-0004) denied (5-4).
• Deferred: Proactive zoning enforcement area discussion in Algonkian District to September 16, 2025.
• Other Actions: Approved incentive package for ORBCOMM, contract awards, and administrative items. Entered closed session for property acquisition (Ashburn/Little River), litigation (Catoctin code enforcement), and business expansion (Dulles/Sterling).