Loudoun County planning commission approves multiple plats, rezones and a zoning amendment

The Loudoun County Regional Planning Commission on an ordinary voice vote approved multiple subdivision plats and rezoning requests, extended a commercial site plan, and recommended an amendment to the county zoning code to allow single‑family homes in certain C‑1 (Rural Center) areas.

The commission approved a three‑lot subdivision for Trinity Riding Stables at 7500 White Wing Road; a four‑lot subdivision for property owned by Thomas Koenig at 22606 Beals Chapel Road; several one‑acre rezone requests to allow family lots and mobile homes; and a one‑year extension of a commercial site plan for Sweetwater Campground Holdings, moving the plan expiration to March 2026. Commissioners also voted to advance a resolution to amend Article 5 (Zoning), Section 5, No. 46(c)(1) — the C‑1 Rural Center district — to permit single‑family dwellings in some existing C‑1 neighborhoods.

The approvals cleared routine staff review and were largely uncontested at the meeting. Doug Yokey, who identified himself as representing Trinity Riding Stables, told the commission the developer completed erosion control work around the cul‑de‑sac and had "seeded and strawed everything" to prevent erosion after earlier concerns. Planning staff member Jim Jenkins said staff had checked the remaining items and that "everything looks good," after which the commission moved and seconded approval.

Property owner Thomas Koenig discussed a separate four‑lot subdivision and the preservation of a house he said "was built in 1792," saying he was subdividing to give parcels to his daughters. Jenkins noted a minor update was required to reflect a rezoned lot; the commission approved the plat.

Several rezone requests were presented as family‑lot or small‑lot adjustments. A rezone application from Mark D'Alessandro (owner listed as George May) asked to divide roughly seven‑and‑a‑half acres to create a one‑acre lot for a family use; the commission found no objections from neighbors and approved the request. Corey Cable requested rezoning to create two additional one‑acre family lots from an existing 25‑acre field; commissioners clarified that creating two one‑acre lots requires at least two acres and approved the application after that was confirmed.

Engineer Sonny DeCauch, representing Sweetwater Campground Holdings, asked for a one‑year extension of the commercial site plan to allow additional time to finish water, sewer and electrical permitting and to obtain state approvals for an on‑site wastewater treatment system. DeCauch said the applicant was "still getting electrical plans" and that sewer treatment permitting through TDEC remained in progress; the commission approved the extension to March 2026.

Planning staff also introduced a resolution to amend the county zoning text for C‑1 Rural Center districts. Planner testimony explained that the May amendment to Article 5 had moved single‑family and duplex uses out of C‑1, leaving many small‑lot neighborhoods unable to rezone into districts that match their existing lot sizes. As staff described it, the proposed revision would restore single‑family dwellings (but not duplexes) to C‑1 and restore previous setbacks; staff said the change was intended to allow property owners in established, smaller‑lot C‑1 neighborhoods to obtain financing and rebuild if needed. The commission voted in favor of the resolution to forward to the county commission.

Votes at the meeting were conducted by voice for routine items; motions were moved and seconded and carried with commissioners answering "aye" unless noted. One rezone motion registered a single dissenting "no" on the record for an otherwise approved motion; where individual roll‑call votes were not read aloud, the commission recorded approvals by unanimous voice vote.

The meeting closed after staff reported no additional public comments and provided routine department updates. The commission then adjourned.