OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting and Public Hearing - March 17, 2026

Board of Supervisors & Planning Commission — Tuesday, March 17, 2026
BodyLoudoun County, Virginia
SessionBoard of Supervisors & Planning Commission
DateTuesday, March 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:54:14

Transcript — Verbatim
5:08

Good afternoon.

5:10

Whoa, am I on?

5:11

There we go.

5:12

Good evening, actually.

5:13

Uh supervisors.

5:14

Good evening, staff, and good evening, Loudoun.

5:16

Like the call to order the March 17, 2026, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting.

5:23

This room has a hearing loop.

5:24

If you need hearing assistance, please switch your hearing aid to the telecom mode.

5:28

If you need a headset, we have those available as well.

5:31

Please see the clerk to my left to request one.

5:34

Would everybody please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

5:39

I pledge allegiance to the fly of the United States of America.

5:44

And one nation under God.

5:55

Okay, just a few things.

6:07

Um has a family medical issue, and so she will not be here tonight and would likely not be on the dais at all for the next month.

6:16

Um I we are talking with her all the time, but she won't be on on the dais.

6:21

She may be virtual in a couple of weeks, but she won't be virtual tonight and for the next couple of months.

6:27

And I also want to say happy birthday.

6:30

It is the 29th anniversary of the birth of Julie Brixman.

6:35

So happy birthday.

6:40

You know, um, you know, I I I do want to say something about Miss Bricksman.

6:45

One, I I have for years called Julie Lightning in a bottle, and that is for a reason.

6:51

She um she believes fiercely in what she believes in.

6:55

And and she and I uh recently said we we we very often might might have the same beliefs.

7:02

We may go about them in different ways, but Julie is um always always forthright, always um willing to stand up for for her beliefs.

7:11

I admire her about I admire that about her very much.

7:14

And I will say, if you have driven to her district and looked at the Cascades uh shopping center, Julie Bricksman put the Cascade Shopping Center on her back, and she she breathed life back into that thing and she bought it back.

7:28

She's also working really hard um on the issue with George Washington and the and the new new discussion.

7:36

Uh she walks through streams that are dirty and does stream cleanup literally herself, like walks through and picks up things out of the streams herself.

7:45

Uh she is fiercely, fiercely um a fierce advocate for her community, and she has done so much um just to get the get the Algonquian community, which she loves um back.

7:57

When I asked Julie to run in 2019, it was because she had been so involved in her communities because she had been a Boy Scout um troop leader.

8:07

She had uh done the Algonquian running club.

8:10

Uh she she's done all this the PTO, PTA.

8:14

So she has always been involved in her community, and I've always appreciated that uh that about her.

8:18

So um we have something in the back for you, Jules, but happy birthday.

8:23

Um I do not well, okay.

8:28

There may be an a deletion to the agenda.

8:31

I am finding out.

8:32

Uh one of the items on the on our agenda, the applicant is asking for a deferral.

8:37

It is my practice to do one automatic deferral if the applicant asked for it.

8:42

The applicant is telling me they have not asked for a deferral before, and so this would be the automatic deferral if they asked for it.

8:49

Other uh some of my colleagues memories, they have asked for a deferral before.

8:54

So I'm trying to get that information correct.

8:57

And so if they have asked for a deferral before, I won't, and if they haven't, I will.

9:02

I'm trying to gather that information right now.

9:04

So just put that aside for for later on.

9:08

Um the only words of of inspiration that I have tonight, because it's my turn to do that, is that it is women's history month.

9:16

You will see the women on the dais wearing white.

9:18

You'll see a lot of women who are here wearing white.

9:21

And I want to say that you know, whenever we have a month that um acknowledges and celebrates a group of people, there's always a question of well, why are we doing this?

9:29

Why why should we do this?

9:30

And I think a lot of it is in it should be called maybe women's awareness.

9:35

I did some uh some studying and I found out a couple of things I do want to share.

9:40

Women make up 51% of the population, yet only earn about 85% of what men make who have comparable jobs, um, comparable comparable education and comparable experience.

9:52

Um that number drops for black women to 70 percent, and for Hispanic women to 65%.

10:00

Um of the Fortune 500 and SP, uh um there are only 8 to 10 percent of CEOs are women.

10:06

11.6% of women who live in poverty um uh in the US period compared to 9.5% of men.

10:14

Families that are headed by single women face a 21% poverty level.

10:19

Families that are headed by single men face an 11% poverty level, and elderly women are much more likely to face poverty um than elderly men.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Energy And Infrastructure███████████████15%
Data Center Development█████████9%
Public Engagement████████8%
Zoning Ordinance███████7%
Community Engagement██████6%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Public Health███3%
Land Use Planning███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting and Public Hearing - March 17, 2026

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors held a combined Business Meeting and Public Hearing on March 17, 2026. The meeting included approval of a lengthy consent agenda, extensive public comment primarily concerning the proposed Golden to Mars transmission line project, and action on several land use and transportation items. The board voted to defer the Concorde Industrial Park application, approved a study of parallel roadways north of Route 15, and directed staff to develop historic district guidelines for the village of Unison.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was adopted by a vote of 7-0-2 (Supervisors Glass and Leturno absent). Items included:
    • 2025 Loudoun Health Commission Annual Report and Bylaws Revisions
    • Award authority increase for client, server, storage, and peripherals
    • Contract renewal for public safety two-way radios
    • Contract awards and FY 2026 CIP amendments for Linear Parks and Trails, Sterling Neighborhood Park, Fire and Rescue Training Academy, 751 Miller Drive renovations, General Government Office Building Phase I, security guard services
    • Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve Visitor Center structural renovation supplemental funding
    • Western Loudoun Recreation Complex design endorsement
    • Fire and Rescue prefabricated training tower funding request
    • Update on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending and 2026 reclassification recommendations (noting $80 million in ARPA funds, with only about $24,000 unspent; $200,000 transferred to child care fee reduction program serving 121 families)
    • Human Services Nonprofit Grant Program FY 2028 recommendations
    • Board of Building Code Appeals Bylaws Amendments
    • Appointments and confirmations
    • Administrative items
    • Adoption of Tax Year 2026 Personal Property Tax Relief resolution
    • Termination of two real estate open space agreements (Garvin and Young)
    • Proposed traffic calming measures in Moorefield Station West community
    • West Belmont zoning map amendment (deferred to April 21 or May 2026 due to road complications)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Golden to Mars Transmission Line (Dominion Energy): Numerous residents from Loudoun Valley Estates and surrounding communities spoke in opposition to overhead routes, particularly along Loudoun County Parkway (Routes 1, 1F, 5, 5A) and through the Broad Run Stream Valley (Route 3A). Speakers urged the board to accept all eight open space easements, support underground/hybrid options, and formally endorse pending state legislation (HB 1487/SB 827) for an underground transmission pilot program. Key points included:
    • 13,000 homes within half a mile of the route, with 2,400 students and 300 staff at impacted schools (Stonehill Middle School, Moorefield Station Elementary).
    • Estimated $2.8 billion in assessed property value within half a mile of the route.
    • Dominion accused of manufacturing urgency and not seriously pursuing undergrounding.
    • Several speakers referenced a ratepayer protection pledge by large data center operators.
    • The board was asked to reject all overhead routes and not signal that any overhead option is acceptable.
  • Route 15 Parallel Roadways: Cindy Kohler spoke about safety and erosion on Wolfstore Road due to cut-through traffic and urged prioritization of repairs and truck restrictions.
  • Winery Regulations: Nancy Delisio (868 Estate Vineyards) and Bridget Smith (Loudoun Wineries and Winegrowers Association) supported the Transportation and Land Use Committee's recommendation to allow farm wineries unlimited private parties consistent with ABC regulations, emphasizing the economic necessity of events. Tia Ehrman (PEC) opposed unlimited events on narrow gravel roads like Rickard Road, citing safety and quality-of-life concerns.
  • Disc Golf at West Park: Steve Gans and Adam Hiller spoke in favor of including a disc golf course in the West Park design, describing it as low-impact and quiet, and noting collaboration with nearby residents.
  • Property Tax: Gary Higgins spoke against the real property tax increase during the public hearing, arguing that the equalized rate has increased taxes over 50% since 2020 and criticizing school board spending.
  • Military Spouse Taxation: Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Davidson alleged unlawful tax enforcement by the county against his spouse in violation of federal military relief acts, seeking refunds and record corrections.

Discussion Items

  • Deferral of Concorde Industrial Park (Item 11): Chair Randall granted a one-time deferral to April 21, 2026, citing her policy of allowing one automatic deferral for a board meeting. Some supervisors expressed dissatisfaction, but the ruling stood. The deferral was for the Concorde Industrial Park application.
  • Unison Historic Overlay District (Board Member Initiative): Supervisor TeKrony moved to direct staff to review plans and ordinances to develop historic district guidelines for the planned rural historic village of Unison. The motion, seconded by Supervisor Kershner, passed 7-0-2. Staff clarified that the guidelines would accompany the community-initiated zoning map amendment for the overlay district.
  • Route 15 Parallel Roadways North of Leesburg Study (Item 9): Supervisor Kershner moved to conduct a study of cut-through traffic issues on roads like Wolfstore, Taylorstown, and Lucketts, funded by transferring $300,000 from the project management consulting services account. The study includes a public outreach component. The motion passed 9-0.
  • Board Comments and Disclosures: Supervisors reported meetings and calls on various applications. Supervisor Briskman highlighted the importance of immigrant families. Vice Chair Turner expressed concern about U.S. military deployments in the Middle East. Chair Randall apologized for signing a letter on casinos without board approval.
  • Proclamations: The board recognized March 2026 as Women's History Month and designated March 24, 2026 as Give Choose Day in Loudoun County.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Adopted (7-0-2) with all listed items approved.
  • Concorde Industrial Park Deferred to April 21, 2026, with a possible further deferral to May.
  • Unison Historic Overlay District Initiative Approved (7-0-2), directing staff to return with a plan, cost estimate, and funding source.
  • Route 15 Parallel Roadways Study Approved (9-0), authorizing $300,000 for the study.
  • Public Hearing on Real Property Tax Increase closed with no further speakers; one resident spoke in opposition.
  • Proclamations for Women’s History Month and Give Choose Day were approved and presented.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon. Whoa, am I on? There we go. Good evening, actually. Uh supervisors. Good evening, staff, and good evening, Loudoun. Like the call to order the March 17, 2026, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting. This room has a hearing loop. If you need hearing assistance, please switch your hearing aid to the telecom mode. If you need a headset, we have those available as well. Please see the clerk to my left to request one. Would everybody please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the fly of the United States of America. And one nation under God. Okay, just a few things. Um has a family medical issue, and so she will not be here tonight and would likely not be on the dais at all for the next month. Um I we are talking with her all the time, but she won't be on on the dais. She may be virtual in a couple of weeks, but she won't be virtual tonight and for the next couple of months. And I also want to say happy birthday. It is the 29th anniversary of the birth of Julie Brixman. So happy birthday. You know, um, you know, I I I do want to say something about Miss Bricksman. One, I I have for years called Julie Lightning in a bottle, and that is for a reason. She um she believes fiercely in what she believes in. And and she and I uh recently said we we we very often might might have the same beliefs. We may go about them in different ways, but Julie is um always always forthright, always um willing to stand up for for her beliefs. I admire her about I admire that about her very much. And I will say, if you have driven to her district and looked at the Cascades uh shopping center, Julie Bricksman put the Cascade Shopping Center on her back, and she she breathed life back into that thing and she bought it back. She's also working really hard um on the issue with George Washington and the and the new new discussion. Uh she walks through streams that are dirty and does stream cleanup literally herself, like walks through and picks up things out of the streams herself. Uh she is fiercely, fiercely um a fierce advocate for her community, and she has done so much um just to get the get the Algonquian community, which she loves um back. When I asked Julie to run in 2019, it was because she had been so involved in her communities because she had been a Boy Scout um troop leader. She had uh done the Algonquian running club. Uh she she's done all this the PTO, PTA. So she has always been involved in her community, and I've always appreciated that uh that about her. So um we have something in the back for you, Jules, but happy birthday. Um I do not well, okay. There may be an a deletion to the agenda. I am finding out. Uh one of the items on the on our agenda, the applicant is asking for a deferral. It is my practice to do one automatic deferral if the applicant asked for it. The applicant is telling me they have not asked for a deferral before, and so this would be the automatic deferral if they asked for it. Other uh some of my colleagues memories, they have asked for a deferral before. So I'm trying to get that information correct. And so if they have asked for a deferral before, I won't, and if they haven't, I will. I'm trying to gather that information right now. So just put that aside for for later on. Um the only words of of inspiration that I have tonight, because it's my turn to do that, is that it is women's history month. You will see the women on the dais wearing white. You'll see a lot of women who are here wearing white.

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