Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting - May 5, 2026

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors convened on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. for a business meeting that lasted into the evening, addressing a full agenda including ceremonial proclamations, a significant incident report from the Combined Fire-Rescue System, a human rights ordinance, equestrian trail use at Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, transportation studies, and a rent supplement initiative. The meeting featured extensive public comments and multiple votes, deferring a closed session to a later date.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: proclamations for Lyme Disease Awareness Month (May 2026), Correctional Officers Week (May 3–9, 2026), Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 10–16, 2026), Emergency Medical Services Week (May 17–23, 2026), Historic Preservation Month (May 2026), Bike to Work Day (May 15, 2026), and Professional Municipal Clerks Week (May 3–9, 2026). Also approved: resolution to commend the Knit and Crochet Group of Cascades Senior Center, appointments, administrative items, zoning of certain properties under the 1972 Zoning Ordinance, the Ashburn Metro Station Area Transportation Safety Study response, and an extension of an invasive species grant until May 31, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Phil Daly (Lincoln resident): Urged the board not to expand equestrian trails at Banshee Reeks, citing safety concerns with children on shared trails and noting past trail misuse at Blue Ridge Center.
• Brendan Donahue (Friends of Banshee Reeks): Opposed the proposed 8.3 miles of equestrian access, arguing it shifts the preserve's passive-use mission and directly impacts protected areas like Goose Creek buffers. Cited lack of emergency response planning and risk management.
• Rosemary Zapata: Shared her family's reliance on ARPA-funded rental assistance, which helped catch up on rent and expenses after a health problem. Urged support for a new rent supplement program.
• Kelly Fultman (Loudoun Equine Alliance): Supported the 8.3 miles of equestrian trails but raised concerns about Woodgrove Road widening, which she said would create a de facto bypass with increased speeds. Also noted horses need event hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Emily Johnson (Piedmont Environmental Council): Thanked the board for Historic Preservation Month and Bike to Work Day proclamations, supported the Ashburn Metro safety study and Safe Streets Loudoun, but expressed concern about rural road widening on Route 9 without clear definition of "modest widening."
• Bill Hatch: Spoke about the rural economy, noting a severe freeze that caused 70–100% fruit crop losses. Criticized proposed tree canopy increases in the mountainside overlay district as harmful to agricultural economic development.
• James Russell: Advocated for the rent supplement program, calling cost of living in Loudoun "absurdly high" and citing displacement of immigrant neighbors. Also urged the board to address the genocide in Palestine.
• Samariko Lopez: Represented 75 displaced families from Lisbon Mobile Home Park; noted his family now pays five times more for rent, forcing them to work double or triple shifts and reducing time with children.
• Alejandro Hernandez: Asked the board to view rental assistance as an investment in the county's future, noting she has lived in Loudoun for 15 years and struggles with affordability despite working multiple jobs.
• Tomasa Valencia (New Virginia Majority): Described how ARPA rental assistance helped her family pay high rent, medicine, and food costs. Urged the board to vote for the program.
• Tracy Endo (on behalf of Veronica Gonzalez): Read Veronica's story of being displaced from Leesburg Mobile Home Park; her rent increased from $620 to $1,638 per month, forcing her mother-in-law to move to Winchester. Asked for a local housing voucher program.
• Kim Fulmer: Expressed fear about Amazon data centers in the George Washington University neighborhood, noting residents considered selling their homes. Asked for information on chances of stopping the project.
• Shane Crow (UPA Virginia): Reported that ranked-choice voting legislation in Virginia now has no sunset, removing the 2027 deadline for local adoption. Encouraged the board to consider using ranked-choice voting.
• Emily Houston (Rural Roads Committee): Supported Old Waterford Road scenic byway designation and noted the value of performance-based design in corridor studies. Praised context-sensitive widening on Route 50.

Discussion Items

• Significant Incident Report (Q3 FY2026) – Fire-Rescue: The combined system responded to 10,323 incidents (71% EMS, 29% fire-related). Notable incidents included an outdoor gas leak (Jan 5), a fire at Potomac Falls Health and Rehab (Jan 8) sending three to hospitals and one to a burn center, and a $15 million fire at Cuisine Solutions (March 9) caused by a propane torch. Lithium-ion batteries are an increasing hazard. 70 of 86 Silver Ridge report recommendations completed or in progress. Ground Hill Fire Station opens May 14; Philomont Fire Station groundbreaking May 13. Chief James Williams and newly promoted Assistant Chief Micah Kiger presented.
• Animal Services Report: Cases of animal neglect and cruelty continue. The department handles over 400 calls per month. Director urged early reporting and warned against feeding wildlife to avoid habituation.
• Human Rights Ordinance (Item 6): Staff recommended directing a draft ordinance. Currently Loudoun is the only one of four regional comparators (Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Alexandria) without a human rights program. Virginia Code §15.2-965 permits such ordinances. Staff will develop options including commission structure, enforcement authority, complaint process, and fiscal impact. After discussion, the board voted 6–2 (Supervisors Laterno and Kirshner opposed; Turner absent) to direct staff to draft an ordinance.
• Limited Rent Supplement Program (Item 11, BMI Supervisors Briskman and Saines): Proposed directing staff to evaluate a county-funded short-term rent supplement program for cost-burdened renters (0–50% AMI, up to 24 months). Chair Randall emphasized the program could prevent homelessness at lower cost than emergency services. Supervisor Umstead offered two friendly amendments (no minimum income requirement and citizen preference), both rejected (first failed 5–3−1, second failed 6–3–?). The main motion passed 6–3 (Supervisors Laterno, Kirshner, Umstead opposed; Turner absent). Implementation options due for FY2028 budget.
• Banshee Reeks Equestrian Use (Item 3): Approved 8.3 miles of equestrian trails on existing paths (expanded from 4 miles). The Virginia Outdoors Foundation found the proposal consistent with the conservation easement. Trails will be widened to accommodate multi-use. Chair Randall expressed confidence in the equestrian community's environmental stewardship. Motion passed 8–0−1 (Turner absent).
• Safe Streets Loudoun (Item 7): Adopted the Local Roadway Safety Action Plan, funded by a $464,000 federal grant with $116,000 county match. Included recommendations for speed cameras in school zones and enforcement pull-offs. Motion passed 8–0.
• Route 50 Safety and Operational Study (Item 8): Supervisor DeCrony moved to send to the Transportation and Land Use Committee (TLUC) for further review. Passed 8–0. The second part of the motion (regarding future corridor studies) was tabled.
• Western Loudoun North-South Rural Roads Corridor Study (Item 9): Endorsed short-term improvements (signage, striping, vegetation clearing) and directed long-term items to future budgets. Total estimated cost $33 million. Sheriff enforcement pull-offs were included. Motion passed 8–1 (Supervisor DeCrony opposed; Turner absent).
• Old Waterford Road Scenic Byway (Item 12): Adopted a resolution supporting designation as a Virginia State Scenic Byway. The road provides access to the Waterford Historic District. Motion passed 8–0.
• Motion to Reconsider – Cochrane Tech (Data Center) Application: Supervisor Kirshner moved to reconsider the April 21 denial. After debate, the board voted 6–1–1 (Supervisor Crony abstained; Turner absent) to remand the application to the Planning Commission for a public hearing on July 23, 2026, to allow evaluation of substantial changes (new end user, revised site plan, new proffers). Chair Randall urged all applicants to bring their best applications initially.

Key Outcomes

• Human Rights Ordinance: Directed staff to draft an ordinance with fiscal analysis and scalability options. Vote: 6–2.
• Limited Rent Supplement Program: Directed staff to evaluate and return with implementation options for FY2028. Vote: 6–3.
• Banshee Reeks Equestrian Trails: Approved 8.3 miles of equestrian use. Vote: 8–0.
• Safe Streets Loudoun Plan: Adopted action plan and resolution. Vote: 8–0.
• Route 50 Study: Sent to TLUC for further review. Vote: 8–0.
• Western Loudoun Corridor Study: Endorsed with direction to forward improvements to budget process. Vote: 8–1.
• Old Waterford Road Scenic Byway: Resolution adopted. Vote: 8–0.
• Cochrane Tech Reconsideration: Approved to remand to Planning Commission for July 23 hearing. Vote: 6–1–1.
• Closed Session: Two closed session motions were approved (Greenway tolls and Mars to Golden litigation) but the actual closed session was deferred to May 13, 2026, due to exhaustion. One motion from closed session passed 8–0: approve county participation in opposition to Dulles Greenway toll increase before the State Corporation Commission.