Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing – January 14, 2026
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing – January 14, 2026
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on January 14, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM (evening session). The meeting covered six agenda items: three Agricultural and Forestal District renewals, the Commonwealth Center Motor Club development, the West Belmont rezoning application, and a Comprehensive Plan Amendment on electrical infrastructure. The board approved the three AFD renewals and the Motor Club project unanimously, and voted to forward the West Belmont and electrical infrastructure items to the February 2026 business meeting for final action.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1, 2, and 3: Renewal of the New Hillsboro, New Oak Hill, and Beaverdam Valley Agricultural and Forestal Districts. Each was approved by a vote of 7-0-2 (Supervisors Leterno and Chair Randall off the dais) with no discussion.
- Item 4: Commonwealth Center Motor Club (ZCPA-2025-0007, SPEX-2024-0026, -0027, -0029, -0133). Approved 7-0-2. Supervisor Glass expressed strong support, noting the project includes a luxury car club, restaurant, and concert venue, and that the owners are valuable community partners.
Public Comments & Testimony
- West Belmont (Item 5): Staff reported receiving 27 additional public comments (6 support, 21 opposition) as of 5 PM that day. Concerns centered on density, public facilities, and transportation.
- Public speakers (West Belmont): Several residents spoke in support, citing the need for more housing and the revitalization of an underutilized shopping center. Paul Serrano, Mitchell Turner, Richard Buck, Chris Phillips, and Brian Burton all urged approval. Michael Overson (attorney for Belmont Green Community Association) and Jessica Farb (HOA president) expressed conditional support but raised concerns about open space and the use of private roads. John Loop, a resident on Middlebury Street, opposed allowing the development to connect to private neighborhood roads, citing safety and maintenance burdens.
- Electrical Infrastructure CPAM (Item 6): Tylee Ulmer delivered multiple written letters from property owners in the Lovettsville area opposing the CPAM. Emily Johnson (Piedmont Environmental Council) expressed support but recommended stronger environmental protections and differentiating underground lines on the map. Amy Goodyear and Alex Lee spoke in opposition, arguing for full undergrounding and questioning the necessity of new lines. Alfred Ghiorzi (online) advocated for HVDC underground technology and urged data centers to pay for their own power infrastructure.
Discussion Items
- West Belmont (ZMAP-2024-0003): Staff presented the application for 27.36 acres to be rezoned from commercial to residential/commercial, allowing up to 318 dwelling units (half below county average size) and 11,000 sq ft of commercial space, with 44 affordable dwelling units (4 more than required). The applicant highlighted reduced traffic (75% fewer daily trips vs. original commercial plan) and compatibility with adjacent neighborhoods. Supervisor Saines noted opposition from the existing HOA over private street usage and open space; Supervisor DeGrone urged five additional affordable units; Supervisor Glass and others emphasized the need for pedestrian safety improvements following a recent fatality. The board voted 8-0-1 to send the item to the February 2026 meeting for action.
- Electrical Infrastructure CPAM (CPAM-2024-0005): Staff presented Phase 1 of the amendment, including a map of existing high-voltage corridors, policies encouraging co-location, undergrounding, and use of new technologies. Demand projections showed a 230% increase in electrical demand from 2018-2023 and an additional 240% projected by 2028, driven largely by data centers. The board discussed the county's limited authority (SCC has final siting power) but emphasized the CPAM as a tool to influence future routes. Supervisor Leterno proposed strengthening language to remove equivocation (e.g., "when feasible") and to avoid road rights-of-way. The motion to forward to February 2026 passed 8-0-1.
Key Outcomes
- Approved immediately: New Hillsboro AFD (7-0-2), New Oak Hill AFD (7-0-2), Beaverdam Valley AFD (7-0-2), Commonwealth Center Motor Club (7-0-2).
- Deferred to February 2026: West Belmont rezoning and Electrical Infrastructure CPAM were both forwarded for final action at the second Board of Supervisors business meeting in February 2026. Both motions passed 8-0-1.
- Moment of silence: The board observed a moment of silence for Colina U, a Stonebridge High School student who died in a pedestrian accident, and discussed safety improvements.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Ladies and gentlemen, Loudon County, I call to order the January 14th, 2026, Loudon County Board of Supervisors public hearing. This room has a hearing loop. If you need hearing assistance, switch your hearing aids to the telecoil mode. If you need a headset, we have those available as well. Please call the number scrolling across your screen at this time. Pursuant to the recently adopted rules of order. All members of the public who have registered to speak will be allotted up to two minutes. If you are in the boardroom, we ask that you when your name is called, come to the podium and state your name for the record. The timer on the podium will indicate your remaining time. When your time is expired, please yield the floor to the next speaker. If you are providing your comments via phone, I ask that you use a stopwatch to track your time. When taking public input for items, I will first ask if there's anyone in the boardroom wishing to speak, then I will go to the moderator and ask if there are any speakers via online. Please note there is a slight delay between the broadcast and the boardroom. Please join me, colleagues, in the pledge of allegiance. Pledge of allegiance is to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Item number one, allegie 2025-3009. Review and renewal modification or termination of the new Hillsborough Agricultural and Forestal District. That's in the Catocton District. Item number two, allegie 20250010, review and renewal modification or termination of the new Oak Hill Agricultural and Forestal District, Little River District. Item three, allegie 2025 0011. Review and renewal modification or termination of the Beaver Dam Valley Agricultural and Forestal District, Catoctin and Little River Districts. And item number four, Legy 2024 0016. Commonwealth Center Motor Club, ZCPA 2025 000 7, SPEX 2024 0026, SPEX 2024 0027, SPEX 2024 0029, and Specs 2025 0133, and that is in the broad run district. And I'll just make a note that when you make that motion, Supervisor Glass, use the uh consolidated motion sheet, not the item in the in the in the computer. Um there any members of the public in the boardroom tonight wishing to speak to the board regarding a consolidated hearing item. Seeing none, moderator, are there any speakers on the phone wishing to speak regarding a non-con uh consolidated hearing item? No, Chairman. Seeing none, I close the consolidated public hearing. Board members uh please refer to the document entitled Consolidated Hearing Motion Sheet that is placed at your day of seat. And we'll start with item number one, allegy 2025 0009, review and renewal, modification or termination of the new Hillsborough Agricultural and Forestal District that is in the Catocton district. Supervisor Kirshner, you could make the motion. Yes, I move the board of supervisors approved motion to be for the approval of the renewal as provided in the January 14th, 2026 public hearing item. Number one staff report. And a second by uh Supervisor Saints. Discussion on the item. No discussion on that yet item. Uh all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? That motion will pass four, five, six, seven zero two. Seven zero two. Um sorry. Oh, that's right. Supervisor Turnal and Chair Randall are off the DAS. Um item uh that motion will pass, 702. Uh item number two, allegedly 2025 0010 review and renewal and modification or termination of the new Oak Hill Agriculture and Forestal District. Uh that's in the Little River District. Supervisor DeCrony, your motion.
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