[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6557145,"mediaKeyId","3316012-761b9c5f181343fd5e8c839cc78879e3","parentId",3316012,"title","Board forwards Arcola Grove rezoning; debate centers on enclosed GIS substation, height and buffering","audioSeconds",3708,"startMs",1462000,"endMs",5170000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3316012-761b9c5f181343fd5e8c839cc78879e3&start=1462&end=5170","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3316012-761b9c5f181343fd5e8c839cc78879e3/thumbnail_1462000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6557145/Virginia/Board-forwards-Arcola-Grove-rezoning-debate-centers-on-enclosed-GIS-substation-height-and-buffering","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557145-931f1f5642188371a2dba8be5922ab71/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156345&Signature=iUuLMDoyGKu4OZRoE34MZRC-6vuEbsNQ6brY~p-TVHsHMUgeIZn8EObv3SqD7qFYxDW3xWGVDxstwCPeoN-j81A3aUF5eXSzNU9af9qf2WjV0mFVfANlShUl8X0SqHmYGFTvlI1m19OpimPWHXBppXEMx4M4p0kVXOzzlAwKcN19No0yJm829BtTJOADtiFHs-5odWIoisp3nuzCGISM-EWjKt8DiN2kBWGNuhFi1YDRFUYvUGf97aAKR-g6ozSIQ~CjV1Uyg-njvsS5MZaETcnTNY-g0~EuB0J9xa21ciTSBeEFj0toG7ybX8Jgs-6W4CHowIdQi-f~uYMRKkkvDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Loudoun County","date","2025-05-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on May 14 voted to forward the Arcola Grove rezoning application and related special exception to the July 15, 2025 business meeting for action after extended staff and applicant presentations and public comment.

The application seeks a zoning map amendment for the 30.49‑acre Arcola Grove site west of Arcola Boulevard (suburban policy area) to rezone approximately 6.98 acres from RC (Retail Commercial) to Planned Development Industrial Park (PDIP), add a special exception to permit a transmission substation, increase data‑center square footage above the previously approved 614,400 square feet, and increase maximum building height. Staff raised outstanding compatibility issues related to building height, the proposed substation location adjacent to residential uses, and landscape buffer language that permits plant‑unit substitutions.

Why it matters: the proposal would enlarge the existing approved PDIP data‑center campus, add a proffered gas‑insulated (GIS) substation, and raise building heights in an area where the 2019 General Plan calls for lower heights and transitional uses adjacent to residential neighborhoods. Nearby and planned residential projects — including Arcola Town Center and an affordable housing conversion at the Old Arcola School site — were cited repeatedly in board and public remarks.

Staff presentation and outstanding issues
- Darby Metcalfe, Department of Planning and Zoning, told the board the subject property totals 30.49 acres and that the application requests rezoning of about 6.98 acres to PDIP with a special exception for a transmission substation and a zoning modification to raise maximum building height from 60 feet to up to 100 feet. Metcalfe said the application proposes increasing permitted data‑center square footage above the previously approved 614,400 square feet and noted staff cannot support the application as submitted because it lacks stepped transitions to adjacent residential uses, has a substation sited adjacent to residential without transitional uses, and contains proffer language allowing plant‑unit substitutions that prevents staff from verifying buffer compliance.

Applicant revisions and commitments
- Brian Winterhalter (DLA Piper) and Elizabeth Nicholson (American Real Estate Partners) presented changes since the planning commission hearing: they said the applicant reduced the substation footprint by switching to a gas‑insulated substation (GIS), lowered proposed maximum building height to 96 feet (the applicant described this as a reduction from earlier materials), committed to enhanced architectural treatment and additional landscaping, proffered dedication of right‑of‑way for Dulles West Boulevard from an adjacent parcel under contract, and offered to seek LEED certification for the data‑center buildings. The applicant said the GIS design reduced the substation footprint from about 4 acres to roughly 2.25 acres and that much equipment would be enclosed.

Public comment and board discussion
- The Piedmont Environmental Council (spokesman Jim Bingle) opposed the rezoning, citing incompatibility with the general plan and urging the applicant to pursue other legally‑permitted uses allowed in the current approval.
- Supervisors and the applicant discussed heights, noise and generator siting, buffer composition, and alternatives to the proposed three‑story data‑center design. Supervisor LeTourneau, whose district includes the site, pressed for specific setback and height comparisons with the nearby approved residential projects and requested the applicant and staff provide additional detail on nearby residential heights, generator noise mitigation and whether the project could be redesigned as a two‑story facility. The applicant offered to explore a two‑story alternative and to provide additional detail on generator specifications and sound mitigation ahead of the business meeting.

Key quantitative points and clarifications
- Site and zoning: 30.49 acres total; approximately 6.98 acres proposed to be rezoned from RC to PDIP (staff presentation).
- Previously approved development: 614,400 square feet of data‑center space under earlier approvals (staff). The applicant described different square‑foot figures during the hearing: staff cited 786,369 as one figure in the packet; the applicant later described capping square footage at 760,000 in updated proffers. (Transcript shows differing figures; the board requested precise reconciliation before final action.)
- Height: staff originally noted a modification request up to 100 feet; applicant said it lowered maximum building height to 96 feet in revised materials.
- Substation: applicant said the GIS substation reduces footprint from ~4 acres to ~2.25 acres and includes masonry screening and a landscaped berm up to 16 feet in most locations; some berm sections may be reduced to 12 feet where transmission lines must be brought in.
- Setbacks: applicant provided building‑to‑residence setbacks in the packet: the closest residential unit to the substation was cited at about 263 feet; residential distances to the data‑center buildings were cited in the 400–900 foot range depending on the parcel; the closest residential corner to the data‑center building face was cited at about 468 feet.

Board action and next steps
- Motion: Supervisor LeTourneau moved to forward the Arcola Grove rezoning (ZMAP and SPEX applications as referenced in the staff report) to the July 15, 2025 Board of Supervisors business meeting for action; motion was seconded and approved.
- Vote outcome: motion passed 7–1–1 (seven yes, one no, one absent). The transcript records Supervisor Brixman as the lone no vote and Supervisor Turner as absent from the dais during the vote.
- Follow up requested by board: additional information on nearby residential heights, generator enclosures and noise profiles, reconciliation of square‑foot figures in the record, clarification and removal of proffer substitution language for plant units, and further consideration of building height transitions or stepped backs toward adjacent residential uses.

What remains unresolved
- Staff indicated it cannot support the application as submitted because of compatibility and proffer language issues; the board directed further negotiation. The applicant agreed to explore two‑story alternatives, provide generator/noise specifications, and refine proffers and buffer language before the July 15 business meeting.

Quotes from the hearing
- Darby Metcalfe (DPZ staff): \"Staff cannot support approval of the application as submitted because of outstanding issues, including building height, the utility substation use, and landscape buffers.\"
- Brian Winterhalter (DLA Piper, applicant): \"We have shrunk the substation by 40% with the GIS substation... We\u0000re intending to evoke a performing arts center at a real institutional quality level of architectural design.\"
- Supervisor LeTourneau: \"So I think the primary concerns at this juncture are gonna be the height of the building, and then noise... that there aren't going to be gas turbine fans at any point in the process.\"

Why this matters locally: the decision weighs an existing, previously approved data‑center entitlement against the county’s stated plan goals for transitions near residential neighborhoods. The board’s direction to negotiate additional proffers and to reconcile technical details reflects balancing county design expectations with existing entitlements and private infrastructure needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Loudoun County - Board of Supervisors Public Hearing - May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Supervisors voted May 14 to forward the Arcola Grove rezoning and special exception to the July 15 business meeting after staff flagged compatibility issues over building height, a proposed transmission substation adjacent to residential uses, and landscape buffer language.","taxTitle","Loudoun County, Virginia","taxId",5640,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6557140,"Board forwards Milestone/Verizon monopole at Route 7/Claiborne Parkway to June 3 after residents object to proposed location",4054,5932000,9986000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3316012-761b9c5f181343fd5e8c839cc78879e3&start=5932&end=9986","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3316012-761b9c5f181343fd5e8c839cc78879e3/thumbnail_5932000.jpg","/articles/6557140/Virginia/Board-forwards-MilestoneVerizon-monopole-at-Route-7Claiborne-Parkway-to-June-3-after-residents-object-to-proposed-location","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557140-adf4144a5448306495d8cc593413c7b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156345&Signature=mHmKcjKmU3WAErc2zR-Yga-mgKU20lQQwWxidSCkxVeEREGC1yXaCC2Xg4DQpg2a8vD1qCwxwLAvKjbnBUIMUnI2PfSE-2-2HlI-86nXJ1Lp9yQxZJ9fr5-TSUMMzVis7bne76KNAYo~PO9M~wAnUklqrYit5tUDyu9EXkgZfocYfzcTf2IJF~005qFdQf2ZogrBanlL4mYC7lIdNn3F6KG1vprIGAvUWp3eL5oxA-IPGGmvgS~vBDklksHdCv9IAKOT1KI4RflkZtysxPn1KxeAPhXZE9Xo9dHt8X5OBrvO2ShbwUxRRHzYLtXcWyzA7-WjFVDBsCxS4ZH~1D8STw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on May 14 voted to forward the Milestone/Verizon telecommunications application for a 150‑foot monopole at the Route 7/Claiborne Parkway interchange to the June 3 business meeting for action after a contested public hearing with multiple residents urging denial.

Proposal and staff recommendation
- Christian Maldonado (Department of Planning and Zoning) summarized the application: a monopole sited within VDOT right‑of‑way along Route 7, proposed to support up to four carriers, mounted with a two‑foot lightning rod and surrounded by an enhanced 20‑foot landscaping buffer and a 10‑foot chain‑link fence with 95% opaque green privacy slats. The proposed site lies adjacent to the planned Dominion Energy transmission corridor.
- Staff recommended approval of the commission permit and recommended the special exception be approved subject to conditions intended to blend the monopole with the natural surroundings and ensure appropriate screening.

Applicant rationale and technical detail
- Aaron Frank (Cooley, representing Milestone) and RF engineer Paul Dugan described the coverage gap the applicant said exists south of Route 7 and east of the Ashburn Village corridor. The applicant presented propagation maps and said other rooftop options in the service area did not meet the height or coverage requirements; the applicant reported efforts to pursue rooftop colocation but said negotiations with a property owner did not yield a viable rooftop option.
- The applicant said the proposed monopole would be roughly 52 feet from the centerline of Dominion\u0000s proposed easement in preliminary plans and that Dominion\u0000s planned transmission structures would be higher (up to about 195 feet for the transmission lines described in Dominion materials) than the monopole. The applicant conducted a balloon fly and prepared visual simulations to demonstrate appearance from nearby viewpoints.

Public comment and concerns
- More than a dozen nearby residents from Regency at Belmont and other nearby neighborhoods spoke in opposition. Concerns included visibility of a 150‑foot tower from townhome terraces and apartment windows (residents repeatedly asked for upper‑floor views to be rendered), potential property‑value impacts, the tower\u0000s proximity to multifamily and 55+ housing (residents cited distances of roughly 300–380 feet to the nearest buildings), and safety worries regarding maintenance or electrical incidents at monopoles.
- Lansdowne Conservancy (represented by Brian Turner) urged denial or deferral, citing the site\u0000s designation as a gateway and proximity to scenic easements and noting an ongoing appeal related to Dominion\u0000s undergrounding proposal to the Virginia Supreme Court.

Board discussion and technical clarifications
- Supervisors asked for comparisons with other recent monopole approvals along Route 7, whether the applicant had explored rooftop siting near Whole Foods and Ashburn Village, whether Dominion's transmission project timeline (staff mentioned a 2026 projection) changes the analysis, and how co‑location typically occurs.
- RF engineer Paul Dugan testified the site fills a specific coverage and capacity gap in the Belmont Chase area and that Trailside Park (approved previously) is roughly two miles away and would not cover the same area.

Actions and votes
- Motion: Supervisor Glass moved to forward the application (LGGI‑2023‑393 / MileSpecs‑2023‑28 as referenced in the staff report) to the June 3, 2025 business meeting for action; the motion was seconded.
- Vote outcome: motion carried by voice vote and recorded as 8–0–1 with Supervisor Turner absent.

Key quantitative and procedural details
- Proposed monopole height: 150 feet (applicant).
- Co‑location capacity: support for up to four carriers; Verizon is the committed carrier at application time; the applicant said towers are typically marketed for colocation and that other carriers often colocate after construction.
- Buffering and screening: 20‑foot wide enhanced landscape buffer and a 10‑foot chain‑link fence with 95% opaque green privacy slats.
- Proximity to nearby residential: staff and applicant cited approximately 350–380 feet from the proposed monopole to the nearest apartment building (Ashburn Chase) and similar distances to nearby townhomes; residents described the pole as highly visible from rooftop terraces.
- Dominion coordination: applicant said it coordinated with Dominion and that Dominion's permitting and line construction are separate (staff referenced Dominion's publicly stated schedule that included 2026); Dominion 500 kV policies were cited by staff and applicants as relevant to co‑location constraints.
- Visual analysis: the applicant performed a balloon fly and camera viewpoints and provided simulations used during the hearing.

Why it matters: cellphone coverage and fixed wireless broadband are frequent local concerns. Residents and supervisors weighed the tradeoffs between improved Verizon coverage/fixed‑wireless service and the visual and neighborhood impacts of a monopole sited near existing housing.

Next steps and outstanding requests
- The board forwarded the application to the June 3 business meeting for final action. Several supervisors and residents asked the applicant to continue to explore alternatives (rooftop options, alternative right‑of‑way locations), to provide renderings from upper‑floor resident viewpoints, and to document colocation interest from other carriers.

Representative quotes
- Christian Maldonado (DPZ staff): \"Staff recommend conditions related to design, including material and color, to blend in with the natural surroundings.\"
- Paul Dugan (RF engineer): \"This site is particularly suited from a radio‑frequency standpoint... It\u0000s at the junction of two major roads, and it fills in this area very nicely.\"
- Resident Laura Einarard (Regency at Belmont): \"Please exercise the good judgment to say no to this proposal.\"

Board vote summary: Motion to forward the application to the June 3 business meeting passed 8–0–1 (Turner absent). Supervisors expressed a mix of support for addressing coverage needs and concern over visual impacts; staff and the applicant agreed to provide additional analysis and renderings prior to the business meeting.","After a contested public hearing the Board of Supervisors voted May 14 to forward the Milestone/Verizon monopole application at the Route 7/Claiborne Parkway interchange to the June 3 business meeting for action.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6557149,"Board approves four consolidated items including park easements and two countywide ordinances",738,598000,1336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3316012-761b9c5f181343fd5e8c839cc78879e3&start=598&end=1336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3316012-761b9c5f181343fd5e8c839cc78879e3/thumbnail_598000.jpg","/articles/6557149/Virginia/Board-approves-four-consolidated-items-including-park-easements-and-two-countywide-ordinances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557149-73c36a73040c0fd14af04fa0f024dcf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156345&Signature=QmqrCm1YBDYNvXYS7SKUlnfGmUIb4IQXjncDCfn7jHXGPBsqXTDY4dPDMuAysjnFTnHpbLSbN9WrJagBXyC2S2ht7~yA4hh60x20Z6PqI6~JWhZ60RlXoOISGYI3VUGLCLwL0hTtcBxdFbgvpu6hL7HYccv3ZTn6Rc9tx9SUxJlGA66M06xslW1DgODwdPL9lAh1wpqjkdoLXIMdbBoAl0e8mp4k3A-NVezOxX~cc1LignX-CGIPy9mHg681R2Mw5QEn5Vq0R8ted14MvkHYNT0ne8WDWTFMjAgx-4Oe4uKS2ojX~HSu9tjTJF8ENDQPcUi-GR-t5fdCtIPoXZ5-BQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on May 14 moved four consolidated public‑hearing items to approval, voting on conveyances of county property and two countywide ordinances.

The board approved (1) a proposed conveyance of an easement within Trailside Park to Dominion Energy (Ashburn District), (2) a proposed conveyance of an easement within Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park to Loudoun Water (Leesburg District), (3) an amendment to Chapter 209 of the codified ordinances concerning voting precincts and polling places (countywide), and (4) an ordinance to establish a new Chapter 694 of the codified ordinances addressing containment of running bamboo (countywide). All four consolidated items were approved during the public hearing.

Why it matters: the easement conveyances allow utility and water infrastructure work in county parkland, while the ordinance changes update county rules for polling places and create a new local regulatory tool for managing running bamboo, an invasive plant the board flagged as harmful to the county’s environment and economy.

Key details and actions
- Item 1 (Trailside Park easement to Dominion Energy): Chair Randall stated she would make the motion in place of an absent Supervisor Turner. The motion was seconded; the board voted to approve the conveyance. The clerk recorded the motion passing 7–0–2, with Supervisors Turner and Saines noted as off the dais at the time of the vote.

- Item 2 (Philip A. Bolen Memorial Park easement to Loudoun Water): Supervisor Umstead moved approval of the conveyance; the motion was seconded and passed 7–0–2.

- Item 3 (Amendment to Chapter 209 — voting precincts and polling places): The board approved the amendment. Supervisor Brixman noted the county would open one new early‑voting location in Ashburn (Ashburn Recreation Center) this fall and that a planned Algonkian‑area location near George Washington High School was not available; staff will continue seeking additional sites. The motion passed 7–0–2.

- Item 4 (New Chapter 694 — running bamboo): Supervisor Glass introduced the ordinance and thanked the Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance (LIRA) and staff. Several board members emphasized damages caused by invasive plants including impacts on agriculture; Supervisor Glass urged homeowners associations to avoid planting invasive species. The motion passed 7–0–2.

What the board said: Supervisor Glass thanked staff and volunteers for work on the bamboo ordinance and described spotted lanternfly impacts to vineyards and rural businesses. Chair Randall and other board members emphasized availability of hearing‑loop services and the public hearing process at the start of the meeting.

What's next: The approved conveyances and ordinances are recorded as approved per the staff reports accompanying the May 14 public hearing.","At its May 14 public hearing the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved four consolidated public‑hearing items: two conveyances of easements for utility and water infrastructure, an amendment to the county code on voting precincts and polling places, and a new countywide ordinance addressing running bamboo.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board forwards Arcola Grove rezoning; debate centers on enclosed GIS substation, height and buffering

Board forwards Milestone/Verizon monopole at Route 7/Claiborne Parkway to June 3 after residents object to proposed location

Board approves four consolidated items including park easements and two countywide ordinances