[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6530194,"mediaKeyId","3686827-560fc2417d1d8265f26257b09cd68d34","parentId",3686827,"title","Planning commission sends Leesburg Gateway town‑plan amendment to July work session after public concern over data‑center option","audioSeconds",5440,"startMs",4326000,"endMs",9766000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3686827-560fc2417d1d8265f26257b09cd68d34&start=4326&end=9766","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3686827-560fc2417d1d8265f26257b09cd68d34/thumbnail_4326000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530194/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Planning-commission-sends-Leesburg-Gateway-townplan-amendment-to-July-work-session-after-public-concern-over-datacenter-option","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530194-a6eb17b97e4c358b44a5d0b39c3b198a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043904&Signature=dcMTZN0BJa49S3DmM24i1HvJjNBV-YYe~zTpeASo4O541d0YaB5j2wmOE4JTPJpYKO5ZJR9ED-P9fAsKNzQSAvHsIVTYAFfhw3gDoxtzN3Kt7D-l~fy6LgMyp7uxqfkT-v1VjBlZWEV7Jyne3ZsTZwheIJLNaFwBjC7bwxqmV93aSYUP3t934Kc4-AdkchdDz5X3wtJ7xlN~TQQZgwQ5K7X7j8JBfoQQucw~Jw9d5zIeceXO0tAKvDOVCploMM5~o28Lo6JuaHt-~428gDhfiZMT5tiUaOgDm-2syONdTg10jmXlsjjKg1hQuEUdYriOTapO8eqGJUFANRDOEMqETw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leesburg","date","2025-06-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Leesburg Planning Commission on June 5 voted to forward the proposed town plan amendment TLTPAM 2024‑1 (the “Leesburg Gateway” amendment) to a commission work session in July 2025 for further discussion and refinement after an extended public hearing that included dozens of questions and multiple public speakers.

Staff presented background showing the subject area—about 101.9 acres north of Route 7 bounded by Potomac Station Drive, Battlefield Parkway and the Leesburg outlet mall—was previously designated in the Eastern Gateway Small Area Plan as a walkable mixed‑use neighborhood and innovation center. Rich Klusick, presenting for staff, explained that the applicant seeks to add an alternative land‑use policy to the town plan that would allow data centers, flex industrial and a substantial area of parkland as an alternative to the existing mixed‑use vision. The staff memo outlined pros and cons: potential for substantial tax revenue and reduced vehicle trips from low‑traffic data centers versus loss of residential opportunity, reduced pedestrian amenity and compatibility concerns with adjacent neighborhoods.

Applicant representatives said the land’s roadway context and the completed Battlefield Parkway–Route 7 interchange make the originally envisioned high‑density mixed use difficult to support and that a different, lower‑trip alternative (data centers, flex uses and a park) could preserve large swaths of trees and deliver at least 20 acres of parkland to the town. Molly Novotny, an urban planner with Curata Partners, said the applicant’s illustrative concept dedicates roughly 22 acres for a future town park, preserves existing mature tree stands in tree‑conservation easements, and locates data‑center buildings in lower topography so their visual presence would be limited; she also noted the data‑center buildings would be subject to the town’s 65‑foot height limit for such buildings.

Public comment included repeated questions and objections from nearby residents and groups. Residents and speakers raised concerns about power supply and the potential need for additional substations and transmission/distribution infrastructure (Brian Wegener and Jen Bingle of the Piedmont Environmental Council pressed the issue), noise from backup generators and mechanical equipment, increased construction traffic and sediment tracked onto local streets, loss of walkable mixed‑use amenities, and compatibility with the adjacent Sycamore Hill neighborhood. Several speakers urged the commission to deny the amendment or to hold a comprehensive community review of the quadrant rather than approving an amendment that applies only to the applicant’s parcels.

Commissioners on the planning commission said they wanted more analysis and time to weigh tradeoffs. Commissioners raised questions about how the proposed policy would affect the “donut” parcel not controlled by the applicant, where future mixed‑use development could become isolated, and asked staff and the applicant to provide additional information on utility capacity (power and water), transportation assumptions given the Route 7 interchange, buffering and noise mitigation (applicant cited a proposed 55 dBA noise proffer for some property lines), and the public‑park planning process. The applicant said the rezoning package (under separate review) will provide more detailed plans, elevations and proffers and that the applicant is prepared to discuss noise and buffering in the rezoning.

The commission voted to send the town‑plan amendment to a work session in July 2025 to address those issues. The action does not approve a rezoning or authorize data‑center construction; such steps would require separate rezoning and special‑exception approvals and additional public hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Leesburg - Planning Commission Meeting - Jun 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners voted to send the proposed town‑plan amendment (TLTPAM 2024‑1) for the Leesburg Gateway to a July work session after extended public comment and staff/applicant presentations on an alternative land‑use option that would allow data centers, flex industrial and parkland on roughly 101.9 acres north of Route 7.","taxTitle","Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia","taxId",5641,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530199,"Commission recommends approval of McDonald’s drive‑through expansion, citing circulation and parking study",1191,2619000,3810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3686827-560fc2417d1d8265f26257b09cd68d34&start=2619&end=3810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3686827-560fc2417d1d8265f26257b09cd68d34/thumbnail_2619000.jpg","/articles/6530199/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Commission-recommends-approval-of-McDonalds-drivethrough-expansion-citing-circulation-and-parking-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530199-a863845f8b16e97984bb0b4cea0fce13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043904&Signature=Pw6t-nCBlVBGji1t~EXKqvvrP11nwtDP8P6zYdkR4cMZdHyoAYHIecgzSj~5iFXpXo3gXVI5kCvlhfXXhJPZT1PfT631PHJqfLV1DW-wghMRlmp0uUmbmn1br-EydCM5v7AZSFYeOVAvSzpHoEBJI6zoErnThkZuwOvpN1j6RFYzHoXkyLaWL4dlSdalE9NYvkmA7Oq0VHsrFr6n4FFCJQdE9S2Kjo4SxfVJ4yuSExDqwdbv~RA-Luk983hcEVrfvL8tnuhPGDYHBDXfwwuK9~uAAodUwQ7~smSiLd0Va37Mo1YP~0pa6lYF56ucTudXN59qPxuDDkbpb03U1saNpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leesburg Planning Commission on June 5 voted to forward special-exception application TLSP EX 2024-0013 to the town council with a recommendation of approval. The application would amend a prior special exception at 335 East Market Street (the existing McDonald’s) to add a second drive-through lane, to reduce required parking, and to allow a co-located loading zone for deliveries.

Staff presenter Debbie Perry said McDonald’s has changed operations in recent years toward more takeout and mobile orders and that the proposed additional lane is intended primarily to improve on-site circulation and reduce queuing onto East Market Street. The applicant provided a parking study by Kimley-Horn showing that the proposed reduction to 30 parking spaces (down from a prior requirement higher in the prior special-exception approval history) and the retention of 37 interior seats will meet demand under current operation assumptions. The proposal contains 13 stacking spaces for the drive-through lane; staff recommended approval subject to conditions tied to the delivery hours, parking-study reliance and circulation measures.

The second requested modification would allow deliveries to use a co-located loading zone, provided deliveries occur between midnight and 5 a.m. and the outermost drive-through lane could be closed during deliveries to avoid conflicts. Evan Pritchard, land-use attorney for the applicant, said the change mirrors operational adjustments McDonald’s has made nationally and is intended to reduce queuing on to Route 7.

Commissioners asked about pickup-window operations, striping versus raised curbs for the second lane, and whether changes would push construction traffic or trucks into adjacent neighborhoods. The applicant said pickup windows will not increase in number and that staff will manage timing and on-site monitoring when necessary. No members of the public signed up to speak on this item.

A motion forwarded TLSP EX 2024-0013, the special-exception plat dated 05/22/2025, modifications 1 and 2, and the conditions in the 06/05/2025 staff report (as amended during the hearing) to town council with a recommendation of approval. The commission voted in favor during the public hearing; a roll-call tally was not provided in the transcript excerpt.","Leesburg Planning Commission voted to forward TLSP EX 2024-0013 to town council with a recommendation of approval to allow a second drive-through lane, a reduced parking count and co-located delivery/loading, subject to conditions and delivery-hour limits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530204,"Planning commission forwards Enterprise rental and wash-bay special exception for 17 Fort Evans Road",2320,249000,2569000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3686827-560fc2417d1d8265f26257b09cd68d34&start=249&end=2569","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3686827-560fc2417d1d8265f26257b09cd68d34/thumbnail_249000.jpg","/articles/6530204/Leesburg/Loudoun-County/Virginia/Planning-commission-forwards-Enterprise-rental-and-wash-bay-special-exception-for-17-Fort-Evans-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530204-0086a30ee2d95199dd8a04c0a00c165f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771043904&Signature=melf-5~TtOt9Q977wZxpEYJSUmbdBa-lokj4fyhyrMXd4lBFGCejKkt-eaAqL29E1DAxFjRACBtyX~vsZZ9wIaS6PdakwwzGbvouk1T-bXA5n14-97Da4E7qu2FjAoceBrUyweHMtiRxWBiQFLde0w0vVmEa9-pnYaFSrBPnKlTXK72~YUZ4j5HXo60f0qzulRFlAcAcUEx9CP8BtMj0z8y53clsHGzw0rWmbJz-ZtxdZqvuMdCNoKYN7cDlM5d7sjPHgkibCjbMm75pkjroSU19Wp9Iv9VLtAYDL3SBF33sjJ-bmhDgWcKCGTVR5NTvW~3LBonVF8ddWJTWvrYVoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leesburg Planning Commission on June 5 voted to forward special-exception application TLSP EX 2024-0017 to the town council with a recommendation of approval to allow a vehicle rental facility and a wash bay at 17 Fort Evans Road.

Staff said the proposal would retain an existing auto-oriented business, reuse two existing structures and provide new buffering and landscaping. Debbie Perry, planner in the Department of Community Development, told the commission the applicant requests five modifications tied to buffers, facade fenestration, loading space, and allowable building materials, and that staff recommends approval with conditions including a limit of five on-site employees per shift, no vehicle sales, and sign compliance with Article 15 of the zoning ordinance.

Perry said the applicant will install a six-foot masonry wall along portions of the condominium property line that will allow a reduced buffer in accord with the zoning ordinance’s allowance for a masonry wall mitigation. She described site circulation that requires smaller buffer widths at several points to permit vehicles to maneuver around existing buildings, and she explained staff found the proposed design “meets the spirit of the ordinance.”

Michelle Rosati, zoning attorney for the applicant, described the project as an adaptive reuse that reduces building mass, adds street trees, and improves the Fort Evans frontage while allowing Enterprise to remain in town. Owner Magic Keihan spoke in support of the application and described long-term disrepair at the site; he said retaining Enterprise would be helpful to the property owner.

Commissioners asked about buffer widths, fenestration constraints inside the “clean car” building and where rental vehicles will be stored; staff and the applicant explained the clean-car bay houses mechanical equipment and refuse and that vehicle inventory will be kept in the fenced storage area shown on the special-exception plat. Staff also noted the parking, lighting, and transportation review concluded the site's trip generation would be manageable on the existing road network and that three light poles nearest the condominiums will have back shielding to avoid light spill.

The motion forwarded TLSP EX 2024-0017, the special-exception plat dated 04/22/2025, modifications 1–5, and the conditions enumerated in the 06/05/2025 staff report, as amended through the public hearing, to the town council with a recommendation of approval. The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript portion presented here; commissioners voted in favor during the hearing.

The council will consider the application at a later meeting; the commission’s motion directs town staff to carry forward the stated conditions and the modifications discussed during the public hearing.","The Leesburg Planning Commission voted to forward a special exception to the town council recommending approval to allow an Enterprise vehicle rental facility and wash bay at 17 Fort Evans Road with five requested modifications and conditions from staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission sends Leesburg Gateway town‑plan amendment to July work session after public concern over data‑center option

Commission recommends approval of McDonald’s drive‑through expansion, citing circulation and parking study

Planning commission forwards Enterprise rental and wash-bay special exception for 17 Fort Evans Road