Loudoun County Planning Commission Work Session - January 8, 2026
Planning Commission Work Session - January 8, 2026
The Loudoun County Planning Commission held a work session on January 8, 2026, at 1 Harrison Street, S.E., Leesburg, VA. The meeting included the election of officers for 2026, adoption of the 2026 meeting schedule, and briefing on three public hearing items scheduled for January 27, 2026.
Election of Officers
- Chair: Commissioner Cliff Kears was re-elected chair.
- Vice Chair: Commissioner Motoretti was elected vice chair after Commissioner Mark Miller withdrew his candidacy.
Review and Adoption of Minutes
- The minutes of the November 13, 2025, work session were approved unanimously (9-0).
Disclosures
- Commissioner Myers disclosed an electronic meeting with representatives of Happy Paw on December 30, 2025, stating she is not in support of the application. She requested specific information (animal control, prior application details, drainfield and well status) for the upcoming work session.
- Chair Kears disclosed a phone conversation with Molly Navati on January 7, 2026, regarding the Concord Industrial Park application.
Adoption of 2026 Meeting Schedule
- The Commission discussed keeping the current meeting cadence (second Thursday work sessions, fourth Tuesday public hearings) but made adjustments: the July public hearing was moved to July 23, and the November work session was moved to November 10 to avoid conflicts. The schedule was adopted unanimously (9-0). Commissioner Bray suggested considering an August meeting to avoid overloaded agendas, but no action was taken.
Briefing of January 27, 2026 Public Hearing Items
- Concord Industrial Park (ZMAP-2024-0001) – A re-hearing to modify buffer requirements for a stormwater pond access. Staff anticipated similar issues as before. No questions from the Commission.
- Shiraz Farm (SE-2024-0002) – A special exception for a commercial kennel (up to 50 dogs) on 1.2 acres within a 99-acre parcel, requesting reduced setbacks (buffer from 20ft to 5ft, kennel setback from 100ft to 5ft). The kennel is currently operating and was found to be in violation. Commissioners expressed concerns about the small area, reduced setbacks, access, and requested additional information (animal control, adjacent uses, conservation easements, well, drainfield). Staff indicated support subject to conditions.
- Aspen Substation (SE-2025-0003) – A special exception for a new substation in the Leesburg JLMA, with proposed tree conservation area removal. Commissioner Myers noted the proposed substation may overlap a pond. Staff anticipated issues with screening and environmental mitigation.
Administrative Items
- Training requests: Several commissioners expressed interest in attending the data center training in August. Staff advised on logistics.
- Annual Report: Chair Kears encouraged commissioners to think about recommendations for the report.
- Letter to the Board of Supervisors: The Commission unanimously voted (9-0) to send a letter requesting a joint work session with the Board of Supervisors before their August break.
Key Outcomes
- Elections: Commissioner Kears was re-elected chair; Commissioner Motoretti was elected vice chair.
- Minutes: Adopted 9-0.
- Meeting Schedule: Adopted 9-0, with changes to July and November dates.
- Letter: Unanimous approval to request joint work session with Board of Supervisors.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned after the completion of all items.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everybody. The January eighth, twenty twenty six Loudon County Planning Commission work session will come to order. As is our custom, let's stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. All right, first item is uh nominations of the for the chair and for the vice chair. If anybody would like to make a nomination, just hit your lights. Oh did you have something before the nomination? No. Okay. Commissioner Jasper. Um I'd like to nominate Cliff Kears to be remain as chair for the planning commission for 2026. Is there a second? Okay. Uh so it's made by Commissioner Jasper and uh seconded by Commissioner Barnes for Commissioner Kears. Uh Commissioner Myers. I have a nomination. I'd like to nominate Mark Miller for Chairman of the Planning Commission for 2026. Okay. Do we have a nomination for Commissioner Miller? Is there a second? Second. Uh I think I heard Commissioner Combs first, so there'll be uh nomination for Commissioner Miller made by Commissioner Myers and seconded uh by Commissioner Combs. Is there any other nominations for chair? Do anything okay. Um would those that uh made the nomination which wish to speak um to their nomination. So I'd give that to the makers of the motions, so Commissioner Jasper or Commissioner Myers if you'd like to make a comment. Commissioner uh Myers. Yeah, I will. Um I would just like to say I know there's been some discussions and stuff in the past about chairing for this coming year. Um I just want to point out that you know when I joined the planning commission or had the opportunity or privilege, I met with Michelle before I was not um on that, and she had asked about being chair for consistency and how there would be opportunities for each person that wanted to to serve as chair for each year of since now there's four years four people will get that opportunity, and I told her I absolutely supported that and thought that was a good idea. And then the second this past year, you know, um Cliff had approached us saying he'd like to be chair, and and Mark would like to be vice chair, and I we saw that happening with the idea that Mark would have the evolution then to move up to be chair after being vice chair for a year, and I still think that Mark has demonstrated the ability that he can chair a meeting very adequately. He's been on the planning commission seven years now, six years now. Um he lost the opportunity because he had, I guess, an R behind his name with the previous planning commission and yetn' didn't get an opportunity to serve as chair. Um and people that have told me that more than on one occasion. He has chaired six years of the library board in Louden County of the Board Trustees. Um he does his homework, he knows how to run a meeting. Um, and that's all this is about is running a meeting, really. So I think that Mark has more than proved his ability, his leadership. Um, and I think that we should give him the opportunity to chair this year um and not need to think that we have to have people repeat chairman's when we said we were gonna give people each year an opportunity to be chair. Okay, uh thank you. Um so as I call your name, just uh state who you wish to uh vote for for chair, and I'll start at the end there with Commissioner Barnes. Mike, please. Cliff. Okay, all right, Commissioner Jasper. Cliff Kears. Commissioner Motoretti. Cliff Kears, Commissioner Combs, uh Mark Miller, Commissioner Miller, myself, myself as well. Uh Commissioner Frank. Commissioner Kears. Commissioner James. Um Commissioner.
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