The Loudoun County Planning Commission convened on July 23, 2026, to consider six public hearing items, including zoning amendments, agricultural and forestal district renewals, and three major development proposals. The meeting drew significant public engagement, with over 180 public comments and 64 registered speakers on the final item. Key outcomes included forwarding routine items with approval, referring two applications to work sessions, and recommending denial of a large-scale data center proposal.
Staff presented changes since the Board of Supervisors remanded the application: a 20-foot grade reduction, 52-foot roof height (70 feet with mechanical), improved architecture, increased tree conservation, and proposed trail contributions. Outstanding issues included building height (proposed 70 feet vs. anticipated 48 feet), the location of energy storage near historic resources, and trail proffer timing. The applicant argued the redesign improved aesthetics and reduced visual impact. Commissioners expressed concerns about site grading, stormwater runoff, battery storage removal, and the unresolved driveway issue with a neighbor. The Commission voted 3-2-2 to refer the application to a future work session for further discussion.
Staff outlined a proposed 142-acre regional park with a 120,000-square-foot recreation center, a future 45,000-square-foot library placeholder, athletic fields, and amenities. Key issues included water supply (on-site wells and septic for a large pool and facilities), traffic impacts on already congested intersections, building design and tree conservation, and lighting levels in a rural area. The applicant highlighted public outreach and commitments to low-glare lighting, trail connectivity, and water-efficient design. Commissioners raised concerns about groundwater availability (with well tests showing 25 gallons per minute), the adequacy of the library site acreage, cumulative traffic effects, and the intensity of uses on a landlocked parcel. The Commission voted 6-0-3 to refer the application to a work session to address these issues.
Staff recommended denial, finding the proposal for 3.25 million square feet of data centers on 325 acres in the Transition Policy Area (TPA) to be a "fundamental departure" from the Transition Large Lot Neighborhood place type, incompatible with surrounding residential and rural uses, and not in conformance with the zoning ordinance. The applicant presented proffers including 60% open space, significant tree conservation, underground transmission lines, battery storage, and a $10 million road improvement. However, commissioners and staff noted the project would rezone land designated for low-density housing, impact Beaver Dam Reservoir and Goose Creek, threaten heritage resources, and require major infrastructure extensions. Commissioners acknowledged the quality of the application but deemed the location inappropriate. The Commission voted 6-0-3 to forward the item to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of denial, based on attached findings.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 p.m.
Good evening, everyone. The July twenty-third, twenty twenty-six Lauden County Planning Commission public hearing will now come to order. Um as is our custom, let us stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag in the United States of America and to the Republic for which is role with liberty in justice for all. Thank you. Members of the public who wish to comment on any item on the public agenda, public hearing legislative agenda may do so. Um if you are in the boardroom, please fill out the speaker slip and hand it to the assistant deputy clerk of the planning commission at the end of the day to my left. If you are participating electronically, please call the number at the bottom of the screen. If you sign up to speak after twelve noon, please confirm your name is on the speaker list as a public sign-up closes after twelve noon as indicated on our website. Indicate your name and agenda item you want to address. Each speaker speaking on behalf of an organization or as an individual will have two minutes to speak. While the commission bylaws usually allow three minutes, the bylaws allow the chair to reduce the speaking time when there are many speakers anticipated. We will reduce the speaking time to two minutes in order to allow everyone to opportunity to speak. Two-minute application presentation when applicable, of course. Um Commissioner will be given three minutes to ask questions of the applicant. Hearing is open for public comments. Again, two minutes for each speaker. After everyone has had a chance to speak, the hearing is closed. The applicant and staff will have an opportunity to provide any responses to public comment. Commissioners will be given three minutes to speak on the motion. With that, we'll get into the meeting. So disclosures before we get into our legislative items. No. No. Commissioner. Sorry. Commissioner Mark. Um thank you. Um on uh Monday, the on Tuesday the eighteenth. Um, I met with um Tony Cal Calabries with um uh the LA Piper regarding the and in the applicant team regarding the um Spring Valley Tech application. That's all Frank. Uh yes, on Tuesday, July twenty-first, I met with in separate meetings, staff regarding the Spring Valley application before us tonight, as well as applicant representatives regarding the Spring Valley Tech Park application. Thank you. Commissioner Mayers. Um I guess technically, so I met with yesterday and today, actually, only with county staff, but they are the applicant. So on Chapter 10 procedures, our first item tonight, I met with Ryan Reed and staff in regards to that application. One more if I could. Thank you. Yeah, Commissioner. And I I met with Tuesday, I met with staff with DTCI as the applicant regarding the Westmond Rec Center. Thank you. Okay, thank you. No more disclosures. Tonight's planning commission public hearing will go in the following order. Item number one, Zoam 2026 0003, Chapter 10 procedures regarding the placards. Item number two will be LAG 2026 0001. Review and annual modification, not termination of the new featherbed agriculture and floral district. Item number three will be alleged E 2026 0002. Review and renewal modification or termination of the Hillbrook Agriculture and Forestal District. Number four, Legi 2024 0037, Cochrane Tech, ZMAP 2024-0012, SPEX 2025-0025, SPEX20250029, SPEX20250034, SPEX20250054, and SPX 2025-0111.