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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Loudoun County Heritage Commission Land Use Subcommittee Meeting - Nov. 4, 2026

Commissions & Advisory Boards — Wednesday, November 4, 2026

BodyLoudoun County, Virginia

SessionCommissions & Advisory Boards

DateWednesday, November 4, 2026

StatusNEW · FILED

Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

Emily.

0:05

I haven't I have an excuse.

0:07

Emily.

0:08

Is it Houston or House?

0:10

Housted.

0:10

Yeah.

0:11

Like the House of Halston.

0:13

Yeah.

0:13

Like Houston Street.

0:15

Okay.

0:18

And there are Steven Thompson is awkward.

0:29

We have an we have.

0:32

What's the talk about actually?

0:34

Let's start with the uh really quick follow-up on the data center position.

0:41

Um on the record.

0:42

Gene called me and asked me what he thought our next steps should be.

0:49

It should not be in the land use committees, that it should be in the general committee.

0:53

But the ideas I gave him were that we should perhaps um just to drive home the importance to us and what we think the data center position should be that perhaps we should ask members of the commission if they feel strongly about it should talk to their individual commissioners, just call them up and speak to them if they feel like.

1:27

I had a conversation with Russet Perry before we even did any of this because I wanted to know what she was up to the state level, and uh it was before she submitted her bill on pauses and told her that we were as a commission we were talking about supporting it and what our general thinking was.

1:50

We hadn't written this yet, and she asked if I would send her a plans once we had submitted it to the board.

2:00

I asked permission and we could go ahead and do that, and he said I could do that, so I sent her copies and brought me.

Unassigned speaker

2:09

Can

Speaker 2

2:09

I ask a quick clarification on that?

2:11

Are we I know it's public record, right?

2:13

Are we allowed to move things to other elected officials out of the county?

Speaker 1

2:21

It's it's public record.

Speaker 2

2:24

Is it already been submitted as public record?

Speaker 1

2:26

It is already submitted as public record.

2:28

Perfect.

2:29

Sorry, guys.

2:30

I waited until it was public record, yeah.

2:34

Terrific.

2:35

And Jean had spoken to the board, so I that's when I sent it to them.

2:41

Yeah, I was careful about because that's always gonna get squirrely.

2:46

But John McAuliffe also got it.

2:48

She had also already also sent hers.

2:52

Yeah, I waited until it was already submitted and out there, and it's already it's out there too on the coalition.

3:00

So and he agreed to that.

3:02

So I honestly I don't think it is even relevant to what they're doing.

Unassigned speaker

3:08

But

Speaker 1

3:10

they're actually I'm not even sure.

3:12

They have two completely different bills in house and whatever it is, the lower lower house and the house.

3:21

Absolutely.

3:23

But we'll see what they do.

Speaker 2

3:26

But what about the you know response to the blue ribbon panel idea, like how can you can you

Speaker 1

3:35

I have heard that Jean has heard nothing as well?

3:39

He hadn't when I talked to him.

3:42

Um and I asked why he thought I asked you maybe why

Speaker 3

3:52

they somebody

Speaker 1

3:55

can why they uh why should they have

Speaker 4

4:02

a little bit?

4:03

Why shouldn't I move jacket on that?

Speaker 1

4:05

That's just why missed.

4:10

Talking about the data centers uh submission.

4:13

Why chair Randall had delayed action until November asking for more staff reading at the coalition?

4:26

I guess they said they think it was because of the GW.

4:33

Do you know?

4:34

Do we have any other

Speaker 5

4:36

way that's on the travel lanes?

Speaker 1

4:38

Well, we didn't get solicited for any information, did you?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Heritage Preservation██████████████████████████████████████38%

Data Center Development█████████████████████████25%

Historic Preservation███████████████15%

Facility Maintenance███████████████15%

Public Engagement███████7%

Summary of Proceedings

Loudoun County Heritage Commission Land Use Subcommittee Meeting - Nov. 4, 2026

The Loudoun County Heritage Commission Land Use Subcommittee met on November 4, 2026, primarily to discuss data center policies, the Facilities and Standards Manual (FSM), and several project reviews. (Note: The published agenda for this meeting was dated November 2, 2026, creating a date discrepancy with the recording).

Data Center Position and Standards

Emily Housted updated the subcommittee on the status of the Commission's Data Center position. Members discussed a strategy of providing informational updates to county supervisors rather than direct lobbying, encouraging commissioners to follow up on the submitted letter and the proposed Blue Ribbon Panel.
A review of the ongoing Data Center Standards revision identified several unresolved questions from the Commission's August presentation, including setbacks for cultural resources, impacts from battery energy storage, and the mitigation of on-site historic resources.
Decision: Emily Housted was authorized to compile the Commission's outstanding questions and draft formal public comments on the Data Center Standards revision. Input will be coordinated with the Data Center Committee to avoid duplication.

Facilities and Standards Manual (FSM) Amendment

Steven Thompson briefed the committee on the FSM Development Ordinance Amendment.
Key Changes: Incorporation of a 2020 Tech Memo addressing cemetery identification; terminology updated from "archaeological" to "cultural resources"; forestry management plans must now map known cemeteries; subdivision plats containing parcels of 2 acres or less will require a full Phase I cultural resources survey; any standing building over 50 years old within a subdivision plat must be recorded and surveyed archaeologically.
The amendment has been recommended for approval by the Planning Commission and is proceeding to the Board of Supervisors. The subcommittee expressed general support for the changes.

Historic Churches Inventory (Religious Assemblies)

The subcommittee learned that a joint subcommittee reviewing rural uses is developing standards for religious assemblies and requested information on historic churches.
The Land Use Subcommittee holds the Heritage Commission's inventory of historic churches in the Rural Policy Area.
Motion/Decision: The subcommittee unanimously approved a motion to forward the list to the joint subcommittee. The motion was amended to also post the list on the Heritage Commission website as a living document to allow for public input and additions.

Section 106 Compliance and Heritage Commission Role

Western Loudoun Recreation Center: The project requires Section 106 compliance for a permit impacting the Lloyd House. DHR requested a Phase II evaluation. The subcommittee expressed concern that the Heritage Commission had not been formally notified as a consulting party. The subcommittee decided to formally request consulting party status for this project.
Claremont Farms (Ross Cabins): Members raised significant concerns about the demolition of a National Register-listed house on the property, which reportedly occurred under a building permit without a separate demolition permit.
Decision: The subcommittee voted to send a letter to Supervisor Kroner questioning the permitting process that led to the full demolition of a historic resource.

Application Status Updates

National Conference Center: A fifth version of the application was submitted, appearing identical to the prior version, effectively extending the review window.
Paris Mountain: Part of the application was disapproved as an administrative filing; the applicant can resubmit.

Key Outcomes

Public Comment: Authorized submission of formal comments on the Data Center Standards revision. (Emily Housted)
Data Sharing: Approved providing the historic churches list to the joint subcommittee and publishing it online. (Motion Passed)
Section 106: Directed the pursuit of consulting party status for the Western Loudoun Rec Center.
Oversight: Approved drafting a letter of inquiry to Supervisor Kroner regarding the Claremont Farms demolition. (Motion Passed)

Meeting Transcript

Emily. I haven't I have an excuse. Emily. Is it Houston or House? Housted. Yeah. Like the House of Halston. Yeah. Like Houston Street. Okay. And there are Steven Thompson is awkward. We have an we have. What's the talk about actually? Let's start with the uh really quick follow-up on the data center position. Um on the record. Gene called me and asked me what he thought our next steps should be. It should not be in the land use committees, that it should be in the general committee. But the ideas I gave him were that we should perhaps um just to drive home the importance to us and what we think the data center position should be that perhaps we should ask members of the commission if they feel strongly about it should talk to their individual commissioners, just call them up and speak to them if they feel like. I had a conversation with Russet Perry before we even did any of this because I wanted to know what she was up to the state level, and uh it was before she submitted her bill on pauses and told her that we were as a commission we were talking about supporting it and what our general thinking was. We hadn't written this yet, and she asked if I would send her a plans once we had submitted it to the board. I asked permission and we could go ahead and do that, and he said I could do that, so I sent her copies and brought me. Can I ask a quick clarification on that? Are we I know it's public record, right? Are we allowed to move things to other elected officials out of the county? It's it's public record. Is it already been submitted as public record? It is already submitted as public record. Perfect. Sorry, guys. I waited until it was public record, yeah. Terrific. And Jean had spoken to the board, so I that's when I sent it to them. Yeah, I was careful about because that's always gonna get squirrely. But John McAuliffe also got it. She had also already also sent hers. Yeah, I waited until it was already submitted and out there, and it's already it's out there too on the coalition. So and he agreed to that. So I honestly I don't think it is even relevant to what they're doing. But they're actually I'm not even sure. They have two completely different bills in house and whatever it is, the lower lower house and the house. Absolutely. But we'll see what they do. But what about the you know response to the blue ribbon panel idea, like how can you can you I have heard that Jean has heard nothing as well? He hadn't when I talked to him. Um and I asked why he thought I asked you maybe why they somebody can why they uh why should they have

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Loudoun County Heritage Commission Land Use Subcommittee Meeting - Nov. 4, 2026

Data Center Position and Standards

Emily Housted updated the subcommittee on the status of the Commission's Data Center position. Members discussed a strategy of providing informational updates to county supervisors rather than direct lobbying, encouraging commissioners to follow up on the submitted letter and the proposed Blue Ribbon Panel.

A review of the ongoing Data Center Standards revision identified several unresolved questions from the Commission's August presentation, including setbacks for cultural resources, impacts from battery energy storage, and the mitigation of on-site historic resources.

Decision: Emily Housted was authorized to compile the Commission's outstanding questions and draft formal public comments on the Data Center Standards revision. Input will be coordinated with the Data Center Committee to avoid duplication.

Facilities and Standards Manual (FSM) Amendment

Steven Thompson briefed the committee on the FSM Development Ordinance Amendment.

Key Changes: Incorporation of a 2020 Tech Memo addressing cemetery identification; terminology updated from "archaeological" to "cultural resources"; forestry management plans must now map known cemeteries; subdivision plats containing parcels of 2 acres or less will require a full Phase I cultural resources survey; any standing building over 50 years old within a subdivision plat must be recorded and surveyed archaeologically.

The amendment has been recommended for approval by the Planning Commission and is proceeding to the Board of Supervisors. The subcommittee expressed general support for the changes.

Historic Churches Inventory (Religious Assemblies)

The subcommittee learned that a joint subcommittee reviewing rural uses is developing standards for religious assemblies and requested information on historic churches.

The Land Use Subcommittee holds the Heritage Commission's inventory of historic churches in the Rural Policy Area.

Motion/Decision: The subcommittee unanimously approved a motion to forward the list to the joint subcommittee. The motion was amended to also post the list on the Heritage Commission website as a living document to allow for public input and additions.

Section 106 Compliance and Heritage Commission Role

Western Loudoun Recreation Center: The project requires Section 106 compliance for a permit impacting the Lloyd House. DHR requested a Phase II evaluation. The subcommittee expressed concern that the Heritage Commission had not been formally notified as a consulting party. The subcommittee decided to formally request consulting party status for this project.

Claremont Farms (Ross Cabins): Members raised significant concerns about the demolition of a National Register-listed house on the property, which reportedly occurred under a building permit without a separate demolition permit.

Decision: The subcommittee voted to send a letter to Supervisor Kroner questioning the permitting process that led to the full demolition of a historic resource.

Application Status Updates

National Conference Center: A fifth version of the application was submitted, appearing identical to the prior version, effectively extending the review window.

Paris Mountain: Part of the application was disapproved as an administrative filing; the applicant can resubmit.

Key Outcomes

Public Comment: Authorized submission of formal comments on the Data Center Standards revision. (Emily Housted)

Data Sharing: Approved providing the historic churches list to the joint subcommittee and publishing it online. (Motion Passed)

Section 106: Directed the pursuit of consulting party status for the Western Loudoun Rec Center.

Oversight: Approved drafting a letter of inquiry to Supervisor Kroner regarding the Claremont Farms demolition. (Motion Passed)

Meeting Transcript