Loudoun County Planning Reviews Belmont Cove Rezoning for New Housing Development

Concerns over zoning and development density took center stage during the Loudoun County Transportation and Land Use Committee meeting on July 28, 2025, as the proposed Belmont Cove rezoning drew scrutiny from committee members and staff alike. The application seeks to rezone approximately 8.19 acres to allow for 78 single-family attached units, but staff raised significant concerns regarding the size and density of the proposed homes.

Darby Metcalfe from the Department of Planning and Zoning presented the application, highlighting that the property is located in a suburban area and currently zoned for office park use. The proposed changes include reducing required building and parking setbacks and modifying landscape buffers. However, staff emphasized that the proposed unit sizes exceed what the county's general plan envisions for small lot single-family attached homes, which could lead to overdevelopment of the site.

Staff recommended that the applicant commit to smaller unit sizes, ideally under 2,600 square feet, to align with community needs for affordable housing. The current proposal suggests that 60% of the units would be at or below this threshold, but staff argued that this still does not meet the county's average for such developments.

The committee also discussed the need for adequate civic space and sidewalks, with staff urging the applicant to provide more public gathering areas and ensure pedestrian access along all street sides. The ongoing debate reflects broader concerns about balancing development with community needs in Loudoun County.

As the meeting concluded, the committee expressed a desire for further revisions to the proposal, emphasizing the importance of aligning development with the county's vision for sustainable and accessible neighborhoods. The next steps will involve continued discussions and potential adjustments to the application before any final decisions are made.