Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting - July 22, 2026
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Business Meeting - July 22, 2026
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors reconvened its July 21, 2026 business meeting on July 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The meeting included ceremonial resolutions, public comments, discussion of a white paper on electrical transmission planning, approval of a zoning amendment for a doggy daycare, a board member initiative on data center generator regulations, and a contentious vote to change the chair of the Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee. The board also considered the Department of Planning and Zoning work plan and approved several motions related to data centers and village planning.
Consent Calendar
- Proclamation and Resolutions: Approved a proclamation recognizing August 2-8, 2026 as National Health Center Week; a resolution recognizing Military Appreciation Mondays; resolutions of commendation for Freedom High School Boys Tennis and Track & Field teams and Rock Ridge High School Boys Tennis 2026 4A State Championship; a proclamation recognizing July 26, 2026 as Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Day; and a resolution commemorating the USO Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport. (All approved unanimously)
- Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee Items: Approved award authority during August recess, award authority increase for educational software, pre-development loan pilot program for Robinson Townhomes (Little River), attainable housing loan program for Lakeview Apartments (Algonkian), resolution requesting extension of 2018 bond referendum, Northern Virginia Regional Commission Strategic Funding Initiative, and 2027 retiree health premium review.
- Transportation and Land Use Committee Items: Approved Planning Commission 2025 Annual Report, proposed amendment of Chapter 1066 and repeal of Chapter 1067 of county ordinances, and proposed rewrite of Chapter 838 (swimming pools).
- Appointments and Administrative Items: Confirmed appointments and administrative items report.
- Other Items: Approved resolutions of intent to amend Facilities Standards Manual for cultural resources and fire apparatus access road shoulders; PCOR-2026-0060 Dogwood Farm Station proffer amendment; LEGI-2025-0069 LCPS View Transition Academy; LEGI-2026-0012 Fractus-Lenticular Substations; Board Member Initiative for Loudoun County Veterans Memorial redesign (moved by Supervisor Saines, directing staff to work with American Legion Post 150 and others to redesign the memorial at Sterling Boulevard and Holly Avenue and research other veteran memorials on county grounds).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lana Romeyer (Paonian Springs): Urged the board to prioritize small area plans for historic villages, emphasizing community input and preserving unique qualities.
- Madeline Skinner (representing rural historic villages): Asked that small area plans be made a top priority for DPZ, noting villages have waited 40 years for plans; highlighted threats from agritourism and event venues.
- Peter Weeks (Blue Mont, Loudoun Historic Village Alliance): Endorsed small area plan process, requested implementation for all historic villages to define borders, create local zoning, and maintain green buffers.
- Patricia Logue (Lucketts): Asked to continue prioritizing small area plans; described challenges facing local businesses and need for stable zoning.
- Phil Daly (Lincoln Community League): Expressed urgency for small area plans, citing zoning issues and lack of protection for the last dairy farm.
- David Ward (Catoctin district): Urged board not to proceed with recommended retiree health premium increases; reported a 63% increase in his premium from 2024 to 2027.
- Warren Brazil (Loudoun Foreign War Memorial Trust Fund Committee): Supported the veterans memorial BMI, requested inclusion of Revolutionary War memorial.
- Shane Crow (Algonkian district): Advocated for ranked-choice voting, citing benefits observed in DC primaries.
- Roger Smith (Paonian Springs): Criticized the TBD status of small area plans; noted health threats from failing wells and septic fields and requested immediate start of planning.
- Tony Virgilio (neighbor of Happy Paws K-9): Opposed the Happy Paws application, arguing it violates home occupation regulations; listed noise, odor, traffic, and contamination issues; requested denial of the zoning amendment.
- Debbie Virgilio: Delivered a petition to the board; her wife was hospitalized.
- William Marsh (Loudoun Environmental Commission): Summarized commission priorities including groundwater action plan, invasive species review, and support for energy innovation forum.
Discussion Items
- Item I-2: Reliability Standards and Electrical Transmission Planning White Paper: Staff from Planning and Zoning and Kimley-Horn presented the white paper explaining the framework for grid reliability, NERC standards, PJM planning process, and opportunities for county engagement. Supervisors discussed the lack of local control, the need for early involvement in PJM's Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee (TIAC) and sub-regional RTEP committees, and concerns about transmission line routing. Supervisor Briskman moved to direct staff to monitor all public meetings involving PJM, Dominion, FERC, TIAC, and RTEP, and engage regularly. The motion passed 7-0-2 (Letourneau and Kershner absent). Later, Chair Randall noted the county has no veto power over transmission lines; Mr. Turner added that local control lies in on-site generation requirements.
- Item 11: Happy Paws K-9 (LEGI-2024-0012): Staff reported changes to setback and outdoor play area. Supervisor Takroni moved to approve with a cap of 20 dogs (including owner's dogs) and revised conditions. Discussion included concerns about initial non-compliance, balancing business viability with neighbor impacts. Motion passed 7-0-2.
- Item 14: BMI - Operational Regulations on Existing Data Center Backup Generators: Supervisor Saines moved to direct staff to research local regulations on backup generator operations, including mandating selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and diesel particulate filters on generators below Tier 4 standards. Supporters cited noise and health impacts from recent generator use, such as during a Code Red air quality day. The motion passed 7-0-2.
- Item 15: BMI - Change of Finance/Government Operations and Economic Development Committee Chair: Chair Randall moved to replace Supervisor Briskman with Supervisor Saines as committee chair, citing multiple incidents of inappropriate behavior. Supervisor Briskman denied violations of ethics. Supervisor Kershner noted she called him KKK on social media; Supervisor Turner cited a video with obscene language and his image, and posing with an effigy of Sheriff Chapman. The motion passed 5-3-1 (with Letourneau absent), with Umstattd, Takroni, and Briskman voting no.
- Item 8: Department of Planning and Zoning Work Plan: DPZ Director Dan Galindo presented the work plan, highlighting heavy workload and limited capacity. Supervisors discussed small area plans, data center standards, and the Route 28 tax district dissolution. Supervisor Briskman moved to direct staff to prepare an item for September to cease processing data center applications until phase two of data center standards is completed. After debate about legality, the motion passed 7-1-1 (Umstattd opposed, Letourneau absent). Supervisor Takroni moved to study decommissioning of abandoned data centers, including bonds and legislative options; passed 7-0-2. Supervisor Takroni also moved to defer new wastewater connections in St. Louis until zoning map amendments are adopted; passed 7-0-2.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Consent Calendar including all agenda items listed as consent, with the veterans memorial BMI motion read into the record.
- Passed Motion on Transmission Planning Monitoring: Directed county administrator to designate staff to monitor PJM, Dominion, FERC, TIAC, and RTEP meetings; if insufficient staff, return to board with a proposal. (Vote: 7-0-2)
- Approved Happy Paws K-9 with conditions limiting to 20 dogs, increased setbacks, and acoustical consultant. (Vote: 7-0-2)
- Passed BMI on Backup Generator Regulations: Directed staff to research local regulations, including SCR and diesel particulate filters, and report back. (Vote: 7-0-2)
- Changed Finance Committee Chair: Removed Supervisor Briskman, appointed Supervisor Saines. (Vote: 5-3-1)
- Approved Motion on Data Center Application Pause: Directed staff to prepare an item for September 15, 2026 board meeting to consider ceasing processing data center applications until phase two standards complete, with legal review. (Vote: 7-1-1)
- Approved Motion on Data Center Decommissioning Study: Directed staff to study decommissioning options (including diesel generators, substations, etc.) and feasibility of requiring decommissioning bonds, with recommendations if authority lacking. (Vote: 7-0-2)
- Approved St. Louis Wastewater Service Area Deferral: Deferred new connections until zoning ordinance and map amendments are adopted. (Vote: 7-0-2)
- Approved DPZ Work Plan as presented, incorporating all passed motions. (Vote: 7-0-2)
Meeting Transcript
Yes. Good evening, supervisors. Good evening, staff, and good evening, Loudon. I like to call to order the July twenty first, two thousand twenty-six, Loudon County Board Supervisors Business Meeting. This room has a hearing loop. If you need hearing assistance, please switch your hearing aid to the telecool mode. If you need a headset, we have those available as well. Please see the clerk to request one. Um, and all of us, I have to say that I have been stuck in airports before. Um, and you know what? There's nothing you can do about it, and nothing you can do about the weather, there's nothing you can do about it. But I thought that um the Loudon delegation. Um, I thought that I I thought we had the most fun you could possibly have stuck in the airport. Um, there was no there was no blaming, there was no, it was just getting to know each other, and we really, really wanted to come home, and we were supposed to be we're supposed to take off at twelve forty-seven. We took off at the other like 1247, like it was crazy. But you know what, there's nothing you can do about it. It was it was bad weather, and and and sometimes some things are just first world problems, and you just deal with it. And so I really want to thank everyone who um I could not think of a better group of people to be stuck in an airport with. So thank you, everybody. Um, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3708.3 and the board's supervisors rules of order. Supervisor Bricksman requested to participate in this meeting by electronic communication. A fiscal quorum of the board supervisors is present in the boardroom, and the board has made arrangements for the voice of Supervisor Brixman to be heard by all persons in the boardroom. Supervisor Brixman made this request within the required time frame, and the county attorney determined that the request meets the qualifications to participate remotely remotely. The board will record in these minutes that Miss Brixman participated for a remote location in Brookline, Maine, due to personal reasons. I can see her. I can, thank you. Wonderful. Um, Mr. Laterno will not be here this evening. Mr. Kirshner will, although I do not know what time he is going to be here. Because we are starting this meeting at 6 o'clock instead of 4. We're going to we have a different order of the meeting. We're going to go right ahead and do the one proclamation we have, which is uh proclamation for Americans with Disabilities Acts, and then we're going to go right into public comments, and then we'll go into the regular, regularly scheduled meeting, so that we can make sure that people who've come into the to the room for the proclamation or to speak uh are still getting out of here on a timely matter. Matt, in a timely manner. Miss Um Glass is going to join me down front for the proclamation that we have, and with everyone who is here for the proclamation, please join me as well. Madam Chair. Yes. Would you like to do the consent agenda first? The property. Okay. I'm gonna read the consent agenda because the proclamations on the consent agenda. It's kind of long. It is long. Hold on one second. Okay, I'll go on to read the consent agenda. Item R6, proclamation to recognize 2020 July 2026 as Americans with Disabilities Act Awardee Awareness Day. R7, resolution to of commemoration for service of the United Service Organizations Lounge at Washington Dallas International Airport. That's for approval only. Mr.
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