Good evening and uh happy holidays, everyone.

The December eighteenth, twenty twenty-five Loudoun County Planning Commission public hearing will now come to order, and as is our custom, let us stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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 at the bottom of the screen.

If you signed up to speak after twelve thirty PM, please confirm your name is on the speaker list as public comment sign up closes after twelve 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 per the commission bylaws.

A ten minute staff presentation followed by commissioner's questions to staff.

A ten minute applicant presentation followed by commissioners' questions.

After everyone has had a chance to speak, the hearing is closed.

The applicant and staff will then have an opportunity to provide any responses to public comment.

Any discussion on the minutes or the motion?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

And I'll abstain as I was not in attendance at that meeting.

I think we're all here.

Eight zero one with uh myself abstaining.

All right.

Uh next item is disclosures.

And I will uh start to my far right and work my way across.

Uh I met with the applicant for the Novak substation on December tenth, well, with their counsel.

Thank you.

Commissioner Motoretti.

On December 2nd, I went for the site visit for the happy boss uh canine site um along with that in Swiss Hell, my manner and the applicant.

Thank you.

I'm not doing this today.

Commissioner Combs.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair.

On December 16, I had uh a meeting with the Aaron Swiss Helm and the applicant regarding the happy pause application before us tonight.

Thank you.

None for me.

None for you.

Commissioner Frank.

No, okay.

Um for myself on uh December 2nd, I attended a uh happy pause community meeting.

Um December 3rd, uh I had a phone conversation with Aaron Swisshelm regarding the happy pause.

On uh December 10th, I attended a meeting um about an upcoming application, South Riding Intergenerational Residential with John McGranahan and Avi Gruel.

On December 10th, I had a phone conversation with Aaron Swiss Helm regarding Happy Paws.

December 11th, I met with um several residents regarding the Happy Pause application.

And on December 17th, I had a meeting uh with the uh applicant for the uh Novak Demo substation that we have tonight.

All right, our first item is allegedly 2025-12 request for withdrawal of land belonging to Rockland Farm LLC from the new Rockland Agricultural and Forestall District Good evening, Chair Kirst and Commissioners.

I'm Rachel Evanchuk with the Department of Planning and Zoning.

A LIG 2025 0012 is a request for early withdrawal from the New Rockland Agricultural and Forestal District, or AFD of 514.88 acres of land by Rockland Farm LLC.

The New Rockland AFD currently contains 576.26 acres within five parcels.

The withdrawal is requested to facilitate the establishment of a conservation easement with Old Dominion Land Conservancy.

Early withdrawal is permitted under Virginia Code Section 15.24314 for good and reasonable costs.

The new Rockland AFD is located north of the town of Leesburg, uh generally between the Potomac River and along Route 15.

Um Rockland Farm parcels, the two parcels are circled in red on the slide in front of you.

Um the entire parcel between Route 15 and the Potomac River, the is the eastern parcel and includes the ferry landing for White's Ferry.

Um the western parcel is located along and west of Route 15.

Staff identified one issue as noted in the staff report, namely the potential termination of the new Rockland AFD due to the lack of a 200 contiguous acre core if the withdrawal is permitted.

In consultation with the county attorney's office, staff has determined that termination would not be required unless and until there is still no 200-acre core during the next review of the new Rockland AFD, uh which will occur in 2029.

In the interim, it should be possible for Rockland Farm to re-enroll in the new Rockland AFD, or for the other three parcels in the New Rockland AFD to seek addition to the new Catocton South AFD.

The Agricultural District Advisory Committee met on October 23rd and recommended re approval of the early withdrawal for good and reasonable cause.

Staff also supports a commission recommendation of approval of the request as a established by of a con establishment of a conservation easement on the property that provides greater protection from developments, such as uh available in a agricultural and forestal district with a potential 25 single family homes at the AR1 zoning district base density of one dwelling unit per 20 acres, and this is a good and reasonable cost.

That concludes my presentation of available questions.