Planning commission and BZA record multiple approvals; pool-cover variance denied, sign and setback variances approved

The Loudoun County Regional Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals disposed of multiple items on the agenda, approving subdivision plats and commercial site plans in several districts, denying at least one rezoning request that lacked county road frontage, and recording BZA actions on sign, pool and setback variances.

Planning commission votes (summary): - Approve subdivision plat for three lots (applicant Justin Kennedy) at 195 Ritchie Road (A-2 residential district, District 4). Motion carried. - Approve subdivision plat for three lots (applicant Leah Metcalfe, property owner Mary Dunsmoor). Motion carried. - Approve commercial site plan (applicant Russ Edens, Gerald's General Shale). Motion carried. - Deny rezoning request from A-2 to A-3 (applicant Michael Akins) because the parcel lacks county-accepted road frontage and subdivision would be contingent on variances and road improvements; motion to deny carried. - Approve commercial site plan (applicant Andrew Brackett) for Wade Road (C-2 General Commercial District). Motion carried (vote tally not specified in transcript).

Planning staff reported the county commission accepted planning commission recommendations and voted for a moratorium on new cluster developments until recommendations are returned; staff said a plat for Fosterville remains scheduled for review next month but may be affected by the moratorium.

Board of Zoning Appeals votes (summary): - Approve height/variance request for a replacement outdoor advertising structure (Lamar Advertising / property owner James Evelyn). Motion to approve carried. - Deny variance request to waive the four-foot pool enclosure in favor of an ASTM-approved safety pool cover (property owners Ryan and Carla Allen). The board also directed staff to consider updating the regulation to allow modern safety devices and bring a recommendation back to the planning commission and county commission. Motion to deny carried. - Grant variance requests for setback reductions for Clay and Joan Ward (121 Alexander Road): motion carried. - Grant temporary side-yard variance for Kelly Hargis / Thomas Watts (4950 Coyote Road) to allow construction to proceed while property-line adjustments are made; the board imposed a time limit (motion carried).

Where roll-call tallies were not recorded verbatim in the transcript, the article reports outcomes as recorded by the commission and board minutes. Specific vote counts were not specified on the audio transcript for several items.

Actions will be reflected in official minutes; applicants with denied requests retain administrative appeal options under county procedures.