OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Zoning Ordinance Committee Meeting - September 2, 2026

Commissions & Advisory Boards — Wednesday, September 2, 2026
BodyLoudoun County, Virginia
SessionCommissions & Advisory Boards
DateWednesday, September 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 56:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

They have the same issues being addressed eight years later in Wallace zoning them.

0:08

I thought I'd bring popcorn again for my last slide.

0:11

In 2022, I supported Buddy Riser and the RADC ZOR ad hoc committee to fairly vote for real business input for zoning changes that are still being debated by a minority of public input.

0:24

I could tell it was making a difference when supervisors listen to one side and tried to remove me talk and so ag but failed.

0:33

I've heard some misrepresentations about the preliminary inventory I prepared in February to answer my supervisors' repeated questions over 10 months.

0:43

To be clear, it's not my inventory.

0:47

It's a proof of concept sampling of the county's data in landmark.

0:52

The data sources and methods used were reviewed with staff, and they've confirmed the sampling will use the same systems and methodology they will use.

1:03

The sampling showed significant anomalies between permits, inspections, and actual operations that must be reviewed, requiring permit and inspection compliance is not anti-business.

1:16

It's pro-public health and safety.

1:19

For those on the walrus ad hoc, please remember county staff were gods backed by the volume of written ZOR public input, 2,487 pages.

1:31

Staff has used them to create the text in review right now.

1:36

Let's watch out to be sure that public input majority and board direction motions are not overturned by some who may disagree.

1:45

Best of luck to those who remain.

1:48

And I'm pleased to introduce, I she didn't make it this morning, uh, that Madeline Skinner will be taking my slide.

1:55

So did everybody get some popcorn?

1:59

Thank you.

2:00

Appreciate it, Maura.

2:03

Her Rolex is at the end of the um any disclosures.

2:12

Uh any comments on the action report.

2:22

Move to accept.

2:24

All in favor.

2:25

Aye.

2:26

Any opposed?

2:27

I'm gonna abstain because I wasn't here.

2:28

I'm gonna abstain because I was absent.

2:31

Okay.

2:32

Who's seconded?

2:34

Uh thank you.

2:38

All right, it's the Ryan show.

2:40

All right.

2:41

So take a look at agenda item five there on the list.

2:46

Um, five A's, the data center standards and locations, Zoam and CPAM of staff were deep in the text amendments with that right now.

2:54

We have two town hall public outreach meetings coming up at the end of the month.

2:58

That's September 28th and September 30th.

3:02

Um, I think one's a broadrun high school, but I can get that information to you guys.

3:09

Um, we'll be bringing a project update to Zoc at the October meeting, and then later that meeting provide an update to the board.

3:18

And that's still on track.

3:20

The board directive is to have that finished by June of 27.

3:25

And so we're working hard to do that.

3:27

So that project will be coming to you guys for an update uh next month.

3:33

Two quick just two quick questions.

3:35

Um the input that's for the 28th and the 30th.

3:39

Is there something that people are looking at that they're giving input to, or is it just literally they're saying what they think about data centers?

3:47

Um we're right now we're forming the content and really what we want to get out of that, the input that we want to get out of it.

3:54

We've got some great surveys that have been done throughout the county, um, getting a pulse on the citizens' ideas of what they want so we can inform the board.

4:04

Um, but that will be really looking at the different things.

4:08

We're going to take it as an education, uh, so the different areas that we've got some use-specific standards for.

4:14

Um, for example, um electrical substations.

4:17

I know Ben's been involved in electrical infrastructure group.

4:21

Um electrical substations, uh, on-site power generation, uh, battery energy storage systems, all those things that we have, some use specific standards that we're working on right now.

4:34

Um, but then it would be asking the public, you know, what is that?

4:38

What would make this, you know, what could be done?

4:41

What could be innovative to take care of the concerns you have?

4:44

We we know concerns are around uh water consumption, obviously noise, uh visual, and so those are things as we try to make the standards better for the community.

4:57

We want to know that we're getting what the community wants.

5:00

So is this being set up like where it's a three to five minute stand in front of them and talk?

5:03

Or is it the thing like where people are moving around a different tables?

5:06

I mean, what is the kind of the format?

5:07

I mean, it's even done all the different dot game of same thing.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement████████████████████████████████32%
Zoning Regulations███████████████████████23%
Public Engagement████████████████████20%
Data Center Development██████████10%
Zoning Ordinance██████6%
Affordable Housing████4%
Procedural████4%
Personnel Matters█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Zoning Ordinance Committee Meeting - September 2, 2026

The Zoning Ordinance Committee (ZOC) met on September 2, 2026, at 9:00 AM in the Dulles Room of the Government Center. The meeting included public comment, approval of the action report, status updates on several comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance amendments, discussion of the Western Loudoun Rural Uses and Standards (WLRUS) project, and farewells to outgoing members. The committee passed motions expressing frustration over the lack of substantive items referred to ZOC and requesting prioritization of zoning ordinance 'quick fixes.'

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Maura (last name not given) delivered a farewell comment, stating she supported the RADC ZOR ad hoc committee for fair business input. She noted that a preliminary inventory she prepared was a proof-of-concept sampling of county data showing anomalies between permits, inspections, and operations, and that compliance is pro-public health and safety. She introduced Madeline Skinner as her replacement. She also referenced 2,487 pages of public input used by staff, and urged that public input and board direction not be overturned.

Discussion Items

  • Approval of Action Report for June 3, 2026: The report was approved with one abstention from a member who was absent at the prior meeting.

  • CPAM-2025-0001/ZOAM-2024-0001 – Data Center Standards & Location, Phase 2: Ryan Reed reported that staff are deep in text amendments. Two public outreach meetings are scheduled for September 28 and 30, 2026, at Broad Run High School (format: stations and small conversations). Draft text will likely not be released until October, prompting discussion about whether to delay the open houses so the public can respond to actual proposals. Staff noted they are also meeting with data center industry groups. ZOC will receive a project update in October; staff will determine how to engage ZOC further.

  • ZOAM-2025-0001 – Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Adjustments #1 (Information Item): No update from staff. The 'quick fixes' list was discussed. Colleen described three categories of ordinance wording issues: those with no workaround, those with interpretive workarounds, and those requiring excessive staff time. A motion was made by Joe (seconded) that ZOC express concern about the priority of this item and send a letter to the Board of Supervisors. The motion was amended (friendly amendment by Michael) to also include broader concerns about the lack of items referred to ZOC. The motion passed unanimously.

  • Resolution of Intent to Amend – Chapter 10 Procedures (Placards): This item is headed to the Board of Supervisors public hearing on September 9, 2026. The Planning Commission recommended including county-owned properties in the placard requirement. Discussion included the size of placards and use of QR codes; staff acknowledged concerns about placard size but noted it's not a zoning ordinance issue.

  • Resolution of Intent to Amend – Affordable Housing by Religious and Nonprofit Organizations (YIGBY): This is a response to state mandate, fast-tracked to the Planning Commission public hearing on September 22, 2026. Staff are coordinating with the Department of Housing and Community Development.

  • Department of Planning & Zoning Work Plan: Michael reviewed the work plan and noted that only 3 of 8 listed items are coming to ZOC for action. He expressed frustration that ZOC is being underutilized, leading to the amendment to the motion above.

  • CPAM/ZOAM-2024-0002 – Western Loudoun Rural Uses and Standards (WLRUS): The ad hoc committee has held an orientation and one work session, covering non-conforming structures, conservation easements, density calculations, sawmill uses, food vendors, rural restaurants, equine uses, and agricultural business lighting. Upcoming sessions on September 15 and 29 will cover lodging, farm worker housing, and the mountainside overlay district. Staff packets are described as well-organized.

  • ZOC Member Reappointment: Stacey Metcalfe was confirmed as the Rural Economic Development Council representative (term expiring 9/30/2030).

Key Outcomes

  • The committee approved the action report from June 3, 2026, with one abstention.
  • A motion passed unanimously (with friendly amendment) to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors expressing concern about the low priority of the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Adjustments (quick fixes) and the lack of substantive items being referred to ZOC. The letter will be drafted by the chair, circulated for input, and signed by outgoing members before the end of September.
  • Upcoming meetings were set: October 7, November 4, and December 2, 2026, all at 9:00 AM in the Dulles Conference Room.
  • Multiple outgoing members (Joe, Maura, Bill, Colleen, etc.) gave farewell remarks, reflecting on the committee's past effectiveness and current frustration with underutilization.

Note: The transcript and agenda do not note any votes on individual zoning ordinance amendments; only the motion regarding the letter was voted on.

Meeting Transcript

They have the same issues being addressed eight years later in Wallace zoning them. I thought I'd bring popcorn again for my last slide. In 2022, I supported Buddy Riser and the RADC ZOR ad hoc committee to fairly vote for real business input for zoning changes that are still being debated by a minority of public input. I could tell it was making a difference when supervisors listen to one side and tried to remove me talk and so ag but failed. I've heard some misrepresentations about the preliminary inventory I prepared in February to answer my supervisors' repeated questions over 10 months. To be clear, it's not my inventory. It's a proof of concept sampling of the county's data in landmark. The data sources and methods used were reviewed with staff, and they've confirmed the sampling will use the same systems and methodology they will use. The sampling showed significant anomalies between permits, inspections, and actual operations that must be reviewed, requiring permit and inspection compliance is not anti-business. It's pro-public health and safety. For those on the walrus ad hoc, please remember county staff were gods backed by the volume of written ZOR public input, 2,487 pages. Staff has used them to create the text in review right now. Let's watch out to be sure that public input majority and board direction motions are not overturned by some who may disagree. Best of luck to those who remain. And I'm pleased to introduce, I she didn't make it this morning, uh, that Madeline Skinner will be taking my slide. So did everybody get some popcorn? Thank you. Appreciate it, Maura. Her Rolex is at the end of the um any disclosures. Uh any comments on the action report. Move to accept. All in favor. Aye. Any opposed? I'm gonna abstain because I wasn't here. I'm gonna abstain because I was absent. Okay. Who's seconded? Uh thank you. All right, it's the Ryan show. All right. So take a look at agenda item five there on the list. Um, five A's, the data center standards and locations, Zoam and CPAM of staff were deep in the text amendments with that right now. We have two town hall public outreach meetings coming up at the end of the month. That's September 28th and September 30th. Um, I think one's a broadrun high school, but I can get that information to you guys. Um, we'll be bringing a project update to Zoc at the October meeting, and then later that meeting provide an update to the board. And that's still on track. The board directive is to have that finished by June of 27. And so we're working hard to do that. So that project will be coming to you guys for an update uh next month. Two quick just two quick questions. Um the input that's for the 28th and the 30th. Is there something that people are looking at that they're giving input to, or is it just literally they're saying what they think about data centers? Um we're right now we're forming the content and really what we want to get out of that, the input that we want to get out of it. We've got some great surveys that have been done throughout the county, um, getting a pulse on the citizens' ideas of what they want so we can inform the board. Um, but that will be really looking at the different things. We're going to take it as an education, uh, so the different areas that we've got some use-specific standards for. Um, for example, um electrical substations. I know Ben's been involved in electrical infrastructure group.

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