Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance Committee Meeting - May 7, 2026

The Zoning Ordinance Committee (ZOC) met on May 7, 2026 (noted as the date provided; the agenda and transcript contain conflicting dates of May 6 and May 8). The meeting covered status updates on several zoning and comprehensive plan amendments, a discussion on public notification signage, and the upcoming expiration of ZOC member terms. No public comments were received. The committee approved the March 4, 2026 Action Report unanimously and directed staff to prepare a letter to the Board of Supervisors regarding improvements to property posting signage.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Action Report for March 4, 2026: Approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public input was received.

Discussion Items

• Status Updates on Current and Upcoming Amendments: Staff provided updates on multiple items:
  • Floodplain Ordinance (ZOAM – Information Item): Projected adoption winter 2027; draft language expected at the June 2026 ZOC meeting.
  • Data Center Standards & Location, Phase 2 (CPAM-2025-0001/ZOAM-2024-0001): Staff will attend the June 3, 2026 ZOC meeting for an update; work ongoing on battery storage and other specifics.
  • Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Adjustments #1 (ZOAM-2025-0001): Reassigned to staff; draft text to be presented to the Board of Supervisors in June 2026; ZOC will review before Planning Commission public hearing.
  • Western Loudoun Rural Uses and Standards (WLRUS): Recent Board of Supervisors intent-to-amend adopted; staff will bring language in batches to ZOC and Planning Commission starting June 2026.
  • Other items: Route 28 Tax District ROIA approved; implementation of state legislation on by-right affordable housing by religious/nonprofit organizations (effective Jan 1, 2027) and cannabis (awaiting governor action); CPAM items on affordable dwelling units, infill development, adaptive reuse; kennel use standards; land development application fees (not reviewed since 2009).
• Public Notification Signage Discussion: A ZOC member raised concerns about the size and placement of property posting signs, noting they are often small, placed in inaccessible locations, and difficult for the public to see. Staff and other members acknowledged the issue, noting that signs meet minimum legal requirements but may not effectively inform the public. Suggestions included adding QR codes linking to project details online. The committee discussed the role of the zoning ordinance in specifying sign requirements.
• Motion on Posting Signage: A ZOC member moved to request the Board of Supervisors to allow the committee to take up improvements to property posting signage. The motion passed unanimously.
• Civic Space Definition: A member inquired about the definition of “civic space” in the zoning ordinance. Staff indicated the term is not defined in the ordinance; it is interpreted by staff from the Comprehensive Plan. The member withdrew a motion to add a definition after leadership agreed to research the issue and bring it back at the next meeting.
• ZOC Member Term Expirations: Terms for several members end September 30, 2026. The chair reminded appointee organizations to submit nominations by August 2026 to avoid gaps. Staff may consider an additional July meeting if workload requires, but an August meeting is unlikely due to staff vacations.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Action Report: Unanimous.
• Motion on Posting Signage: Unanimously passed to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors requesting authority to study and improve property posting signage requirements.
• Upcoming Meetings: June 3, 2026 (9:00 AM, Dulles Conference Room); July 8, 2026 (note adjusted from July 4 holiday). August meeting under consideration.
• Next Steps: Staff to provide draft language for floodplain and zoning ordinance adjustments at the June meeting. The civic space definition issue will be researched and brought back.