Loudoun County Heritage Commission Land Use Subcommittee Meeting - October 7, 2026

The Land Use Subcommittee of the Loudoun County Heritage Commission met to review pending applications and craft the commission's position on data center development. Key discussions centered on the Lucketts Bypass compromise, the Data Center White Paper strategy, and updates on several other land use cases.

Note on Meeting Date:

The agenda for this meeting listed the date as October 5, 2026, while the official timestamp for the record is October 7, 2026.

Discussion Items

Heritage Commission Data Center Position

• Commissioners reviewed proposed amendments to the Data Center White Paper, including adding language on leveraging the goodwill of the data center industry for historic preservation and incentivizing existing data centers.
• A significant point of debate was the exact number of data centers in Loudoun. The white paper used "more than 260", County Chair Randall cited 257 with 17 in the pipeline, a county fact sheet listed 233, and the data center dashboard showed 210. The subcommittee agreed to attribute the figure to the chair or use a conservative estimate.
• Members expressed frustration that recent public information meetings on data center standards did not address heritage concerns. The subcommittee devised a two-track strategy: have Commissioner Gene present the commission's letter to the Board of Supervisors, and have individual commissioners ask their respective supervisors to raise specific questions during the December Board information item.
• Specific policy concerns included the lack of setback requirements for data centers from historic resources, the cumulative pollution impacts, and the destruction of historic sites like the Tippett's Hill cemetery setting and the old Ox Road roadbed.
• The subcommittee decided to first follow up with Bill Joffrey, the project manager for the data center standards, on questions left unanswered from an August presentation before formally escalating issues to the Board of Supervisors.

Lucketts Bypass (Route 15)

• Commissioners received a detailed update on the county's plan for Route 15. The plan has shifted from a $300 million, 70-property-capturing large bypass to a two-lane "mini-bypass" around the village of Lucketts.
• While a win for historic preservation by maintaining the rural character and avoiding extensive takings, the mini-bypass would take 10 acres from the JK Black Wildlife Sanctuary, a globally rare wetland. A member noted Tom of the Wildlife Conservancy's characterization of it as "a compromise, but it is still a devastating compromise."
• The subcommittee agreed to contact the Wildlife Conservancy to determine if a joint letter of support from the Heritage Commission would be helpful, emphasizing alignment with other conservation groups.

Micki Gordon Park Plans

• Commissioners considered the park plans resolved. The ballpark has been preserved, and the previously controversial lighting issue has been addressed. The item was removed from the active agenda.

Paris Mountain Application

• The site plan remains stalled as the applicant contests the county's determination that a special exception is required. Commissioners criticized the archaeological survey for failing to align the study area with the limits of disturbance and for omitting metal detection on a known battlefield.

Spoonbill Facilities

• Spoonbill Storage Facility: Archaeology is progressing, but the applicant is contesting a county determination that a zoning map amendment is needed.
• Spoonbill Energy Storage: The subcommittee was directed by Supervisor Laura Teer's office to not send any letter regarding this application. The matter has been referred to the County Manager, leaving the commission in a holding pattern.

National Conference Center

• The application for housing and demolition is inactive at the request of the developer. A Phase II significance evaluation of the historic building is ongoing.

Spring Valley Tech Park

• The proposal, recommended for denial by the Planning Commission, has been deferred from its scheduled October 14 Board of Supervisors hearing. Commissioners noted the threat a data center would pose to the transition character and setting of the adjacent LZ Cemetery.

Key Outcomes

• Data Center White Paper: Subcommittee will introduce amendments, follow up with Bill Joffrey, and time a formal letter to the Board of Supervisors for its December information item.
• Lucketts Bypass: Staff will contact the Wildlife Conservancy to explore a joint letter.
• Micki Gordon Park: Removed from the active agenda.
• Spoonbill Energy Storage: Letter placed on indefinite hold per Supervisor Teer's office.
• Paris Mountain: Commission will provide formal comments during the special exception process.
• The meeting was adjourned following the conclusion of agenda items.