Loudoun County Planning Commission Public Hearing - September 23, 2025
Loudoun County Planning Commission Public Hearing - September 23, 2025
The Loudoun County Planning Commission held a public hearing on September 23, 2025, at the Loudoun County Government Center. The meeting included the review and adoption of minutes, disclosures, and public hearings on seven legislative applications and one administrative item. The Commission voted on each item, forwarding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of July 29, 2025, PCPH Draft Minutes: The minutes were approved unanimously (7-0-2, with Commissioners Banks and Jasper absent).
Disclosures
- Commissioners disclosed meetings and communications related to several applications, including the Commonwealth Center Motor Club, Cochran Tech, Auto World Substation, Pantovic Property Rezoning, and Cleremont Farm Pond Renovation. Commissioner Combs and Commissioner Frank recused themselves from specific items due to conflicts of interest.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Cochran Tech: Emily Johnson (Piedmont Environmental Council) expressed concerns about environmental impacts and questioned the energy storage proposal. Abdallah Alkwala (resident) described noise and dust issues from existing industrial operations and opposed further development.
- Pantovic Property Rezoning: Emily Johnson (Piedmont Environmental Council) opposed the rezoning, arguing it conflicts with the comprehensive plan and harms Briarfield Estates residents. A resident of Briarfield Estates submitted written comments.
- Commonwealth Center Motor Club: No public speakers.
- Franklin Park West: Samantha Wall (Round Hill resident) noted lack of neighborhood notification and requested privacy buffers. Another resident raised concerns about bike trails, parking, and property boundaries.
- Other items: No public testimony.
Discussion Items
1. LEGI-2025-0008: Interim Additions to Agricultural and Forestal Districts (Catoctin, Little River)
- Staff presented four parcels totaling 40.71 acres for addition to existing AFDs. The Agricultural District Advisory Committee recommended approval. The Commission unanimously recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors (7-0-2).
2. DOAM-2025-0002: Facilities Standards Manual Amendments (Countywide)
- Amendments to implement the Virginia Stormwater Management Handbook, extend preliminary soils review timeline from 30 to 60 days, and adopt updated technical standards. Staff and the FSM Public Review Committee supported the changes. The Commission recommended approval (7-0-2).
3. LEGI-2024-0037: Cochran Tech (Leesburg)
- Proposal to rezone 17.52 acres from JLMA3 to IP for data center and energy storage uses. The applicant committed to prohibiting lithium-based batteries, using graphene technology, and providing road improvements. Staff raised concerns about building height (70 feet vs. 48-foot general plan guidance) and suggested additional conditions. The Commission recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors (7-0-2).
4. LEGI-2024-0026: Pantovic Property Rezoning (Little River)
- Rezoning 4.4 acres from CR1 to IP, expanding development area to include Evergreen Meadows parcel. Staff cited inconsistency with the suburban neighborhood place type and incomplete traffic analysis. The applicant agreed to proffer out several intensive uses except flex industrial. The Commission recommended approval (5-2, with Commissioners Motoretti and Frank opposed; Banks and Jasper absent).
5. LEGI-2024-0016: Commonwealth Center Motor Club (Broad Run)
- Proposal for a high-end car club on a 5.49-acre site, including a restaurant, event space, and car storage. The applicant sought to modify a setback to accommodate a drive aisle, which required a ZCPA amendment. Staff supported Option A but not Option B without further review. The Commission voted to continue the item to the November 20, 2025, public hearing for consideration of the ZCPA (6-0-2-1, with Commissioner Combs recused; Commissioners Banks, Miller, and Jasper absent).
6. LEGI-2023-0014: Franklin Park West (Catoctin)
- Rezoning and special exception to expand Franklin Park westward, adding 130 acres of passive recreation, trails, and pavilions. Staff supported the proposal. The Commission recommended approval, including a friendly amendment to hold an outreach meeting with adjacent neighbors (7-0-2).
7. LEGI-2024-0020: Cleremont Farm Pond Renovation (Little River)
- Four special exceptions to renovate existing farm ponds, including expansion from 5.3 to 9 acres and improvements for agricultural use. Staff found the proposal consistent with rural policies. The Commission recommended approval (6-0-2-1, with Commissioner Combs recused; Banks and Jasper absent).
8. LEGI-2024-0031: Auto World Substation (Sterling)
- Rezoning and special exceptions for a Dominion Energy substation on a 2.5-acre site. Staff recommended conditions for screening and pollinator habitat. The applicant agreed to work on conditions. The Commission approved the commission permit and forwarded the application to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval (7-0-2).
Key Outcomes
- Approved (recommended to BOS): AFD additions, FSM amendments, Cochran Tech, Pantovic Property Rezoning (5-2), Franklin Park West, Cleremont Farm Pond Renovation, Auto World Substation.
- Continued: Commonwealth Center Motor Club to November 20, 2025, public hearing for ZCPA consideration.
- Recusals: Commissioner Combs recused from Commonwealth Center Motor Club and Cleremont Farm Pond Renovation; Commissioner Frank recused from Commonwealth Center Motor Club.
- Absences: Commissioners Banks and Jasper were absent for all votes.
The meeting adjourned after the final vote.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. The September 23rd, 2025 Loudoun County Planning Commission public hearing will now come to order. And as is our custom, let us stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. Members of the public who wish to comment on any item on the public hearing legislative agenda may do so. If you are in the boardroom, please fill out a speaker slip and hand it to the assistant deputy clerk of the planning commission at the end of the dais to my left. If you are participating electronically, please call the number on the bottom of the screen. If you signed up to speak after 1230 p.m., please confirm your name is on the speaker list as public comment sign-up closes at 12 noon. Indicate your name and the agenda item that you wish to address. Each speaker, whether speaking on behalf of an organization or as an individual, will have three minutes. Written comments may be submitted to the assistant deputy clerk who will make copies for the planning commission members. Hearing is then open for public comment, three minutes for each speaker. After everyone has had a chance to speak, the hearing is closed. The applicant and staff will have an opportunity to provide any response to public comment. All right, we do have uh the minutes from our July twenty-ninth uh public hearing. So if Commissioner's had a chance to review the minutes, um any corrections or I'll accept a motion. Okay, a motion to approve the minutes made by Commissioner Meyer, seconded by Commissioner Combs. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. That appointed motion will carry seven zero two with Commissioner Banks and Jasper absent for the vote. Uh next item would be uh for disclosures. And I will start to my right. No disclosures. Okay, Commissioner Mod ready. I meant with um Ed Swisham and Anna Ritter from uh Commonwealth Center Motor Club Application on September 19th. That's the only one I have. Okay. Commissioner Combs. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. I had a phone call with Aaron Swisshelm regarding the Commonwealth Center Motor Club application before us tonight. Uh had that call today. And then I have a statutory disclosure to make as well. Uh pursuant to Virginia Code sections two point two-three one one two A and two point two-three one one five F. I'm recusing myself from any discussion or vote concerning leggy twenty twenty-four zero zero two zero, the Claremont Farm Pond renovation. And I'll not participate in the public hearing of this application because my law firm and I provide legal counsel to the applicant, Claremont LLC, located at 2085 Trap Road in Upperville, Virginia, in con in connection with its ownership and operation of land that is the subject of this application. Uh identified as parcel ID numbers six, six, seven two seven seven four six three and six six eight four eight zero two one eight. Okay, thank you. Commissioner Frank. Uh yes, on September 22nd, I had a meeting with Aaron Swiss Helm and the applicant team for the Commonwealth Center Motor Club application. I'm enjoying the singing down here. That music down my end. Um I met with the applicant representatives where on a nation um were told uh last night. And then this morning I had a phone conversation with Packy Crown in relation to the public um tonight that's in front of us. And then one other just quick moment I'd like to share with the commission is um today I celebrate something um exciting, I think. Um today if my father had lived, he would be 100 years old. Um and I bring that up uh to here tonight because he served for 20 plus years on the loud and county board zoning appeals. So it seems fitting that I sat here tonight in a much more public room than the old hotel where he used to serve, but still fitting that on his 100th birthday it would be I would be sitting in this facility. He also served as the chairman of the Dulles North Plan.
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