Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting – May 19, 2026

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors held a lengthy business meeting on May 19, 2026, addressing a broad agenda that included consent items, ceremonial resolutions, public comments, reconsideration of the Western Loudoun Rural Uses and Standards (WALRUS) motions, multiple substation applications, a project labor agreement pilot, and human services nonprofit grants. The meeting featured extensive debate on public safety, grid reliability, and rural economic viability, with several votes taken throughout the evening.

Consent Calendar

• Approved en bloc: proclamations for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, resolutions honoring Jeff Fletcher, Lightridge High School Marching Storm, and basketball players Solomon Ball, Aiden Caulker, and Max Brown.
• Contract renewals for IT consulting, intersection improvement design, transit system operation, AT&T equipment, compressed natural gas fuel card, and communications commission bylaws revisions.
• Advisory Plans Examiner Board and Facilities Standards Manual Public Review Committee bylaws amendments.
• Appointments confirmations, administrative items report, naming of Dulles South Community Park as Light Ridge Park, speed management studies in Philomont and St. Louis, inclusion of electric transmission line information on land use reports, Eastern Gas Transmission Leesburg Compressor Station, and NOVEC-Deimos Substation (remanded to planning commission).
• Items 11 (Valley Commerce Center) and 16 (Juneteenth celebration) were deferred to the June 2, 2026 business meeting.
• Item 2B was initially pulled but later added back after the speaker clarified she wished to speak on a different matter.
• Item 12 (Quantum Park) was pulled from consent due to a speaker; later approved to defer to October 20, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mike Dempsey (Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters) expressed support for the PLA pilot, stating it would put Loudoun residents to work and hold contractors accountable.
• Madeline Skinner (village resident and wine grower) urged funding for speed management and criticized unlimited events at wineries, citing safety and neighbor impacts.
• Joe May (former delegate) urged deferral of the Aspen substation, calling for early county involvement in PJM and SCC processes and competition among utilities.
• Mara Wash Copeland spoke against unlimited events on the mountainside, emphasizing public safety and soil erosion.
• Gary Frankenfield (Regency at Belmont HOA) opposed the Aspen substation, alleging Dominion's feasibility studies were biased and requesting independent analysis.
• Mary Ann Mueller (Lansdowne resident) opposed the substation, citing lack of transparency and negative impacts on Route 7 gateway.
• Victor Block (Loudoun Valley Estates) argued Dominion manufactured a crisis through private data center contracts and urged deferral.
• Sapna Hinsinski (Legacy Farms) requested $560,000 to fund the gap for human services nonprofits scoring 75 or higher.
• Woody Turner (resident) advised deferral of Aspen substation, citing flaws and Dominion's poor track record.
• Brian Turner (Loudoun Coalition of HOAs) requested deferral, creation of a county energy department, and industry collaboration.
• Greg Pierio (Trailside HOA) described negative impacts from the Vantage 2 data center, including noise and health issues.
• Jim Bingle (Piedmont Environmental Council) opposed unlimited events in the MOD and supported a 50-foot setback.
• John Ellis (Savor Loudoun) urged tiered regulations for events and opposed caps that don't address safety.
• Kathleen Schwab (Kincaid Forest resident) said she received no notice of Aspen substation and urged deferral.
• Laura Smith (Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Program) requested funding for the grant gap.
• Nancy Delisio (868 Estate Vineyards) opposed motion 20, arguing it would harm small businesses and agritourism.
• Philip Emanuel (resident) urged deferral of Aspen and Barrister, calling for a comprehensive plan.
• Michelle Emanuel read a letter from Sue Manch (Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance) requesting deferral and county participation in PJM.
• Georgianne Oberman supported motion 20, arguing state law protects usual and customary activities.
• Kate Zurschmeid (Great Country Farms) opposed limiting events, citing their role in farm survival.
• Stephen Fortier (Domain 48 Vineyards) argued event caps are not evidence-based and duplicate state regulations.
• Donald Walker (longtime resident) encouraged support for small businesses and opposed costly special exceptions.
• Lacey Huber (Stone Tower Winery) opposed motion 20, supporting motion 57 for consistency and opposing MOD minor special exception.
• Mary O'Connor (Unison resident) opposed Valley Commerce Center, citing intensity and lack of alternatives.
• Bill Hatch (farmer) supported allowing agriculture and value-added processing in the MOD.
• Anne Fortin (Claro Vineyard) opposed restrictions, noting her safe operations and economic contributions.
• Ted Tidmore (Bear Chase Brewing) urged no on all three reconsiderations, highlighting seasonal business realities.
• George Davies (Creating Foundations for Hope) requested $560,000 to fund the human services grant gap.
• Min Pack (resident) cited Consumer Reports investigation on data centers, urging deferral of Aspen and Barrister.
• Maratess (resident) urged board to follow the will of the people, not Dominion.
• John Harman (surely contracting) opposed PLA on Route 15, stating it would reduce competition and increase costs.
• Ben Young (Virginia Coalition for Fair Contracting) cited RAND study showing PLAs increase costs by 21%.
• Carl Eager (Kincaid Forest HOA) criticized lack of transparency on Aspen substation and urged deferral.
• James Russell (resident) condemned hate crimes and data center expansion, linking to geopolitical issues.
• Sarah Hussein Bazaar (resident) expressed concerns about data centers and criticized policies in Gaza and Lebanon.

Discussion Items

• Reconsideration of WALRUS Motions: The board debated three motions. Motion 20 (unlimited events at farm wineries) was reconsidered and then denied 5-4, allowing staff to develop use-specific standards under motion 32. Motion 57 (consistency of standards) was reconsidered and the second paragraph removed, then approved as a scrivener's motion 9-0. A motion to explore a minor special exception for non-residential covered activities in the MOD's sensitive areas was approved 7-2.
• Aspen Substation (LEGI-2024-0038): After extensive discussion with Dominion representatives about grid reliability, the board initially approved the substation 5-4, but a motion to reconsider passed. A subsequent motion to deny failed 4-4-1, and the board deferred the final decision to the next business meeting, with a closed session requested to discuss legal sufficiency of denial findings.
• Barrister Substation (LEGI-2025-0010): The commission permit was approved 9-0, and the special exceptions were deferred to July 7, 2026, to allow further review of design options received late.
• Project Labor Agreement Pilot: The board split the motion. Both the Route 15 widening and adult detention center expansion projects were approved 7-2 to proceed with PLA pilots, with reporting every six months.
• Human Services Nonprofit Grants: The board approved $3,053,000 in grants and allocated an additional $560,187 from fund balance to fund all organizations scoring 75 or higher, passed 9-0. Staff was directed to review the funding policy for FY28.
• Speed Management Studies: The Philomont and St. Louis studies were approved as part of the consent agenda, with calls for midterm actions.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda approved as amended, with items 11 and 16 deferred to June 2, and Quantum Park deferred to October 20.
• Motion 20 (unlimited events) denied 5-4 after reconsideration; staff will use motion 32 to develop use-specific standards.
• Motion 57 (consistency) approved 9-0 as a scrivener's motion, removing the second paragraph.
• MOD minor special exception exploration approved 7-2.
• Aspen Substation initially approved 5-4, but after reconsideration, a motion to deny failed 4-4-1; final decision deferred to next meeting with closed session.
• Barrister Substation commission permit approved 9-0; special exceptions deferred to July 7.
• Project Labor Agreement pilot for Route 15 and ADC expansion approved 7-2.
• Human Services Nonprofit Grants approved with $560,187 additional funding, 9-0.
• Nominations: Amanda Baulig to ADWAB (qualified nonprofit housing); Tony Stafford to Economic Development Authority (at-large).
• Board comments included disclosures for various land use applications, condolences for the San Diego mosque shooting, and a call for a county energy department.