Leesburg planning staff present alternatives for 101.9‑acre Leesburg Gateway site; no rezoning decision

The Leesburg Planning Commission on July 17 received a staff briefing on a proposed amendment to Legacy Leesburg and a concurrent rezoning application called Leesburg Gateway that would allow data centers, industrial flex buildings and new public parkland on three parcels totaling 101.9 acres north of Route 7 and south of Potomac Station Drive.

Staff planner Scott Parker, Planning Project Manager for the Town of Leesburg, told the commission the site is surrounded by the Leesburg Outlets to the west, the Potomac Station Marketplace (where a Giant supermarket operates) to the east, and the Sycamore Hill residential neighborhood to the north. Parker said the application proposes an alternative to the current Legacy Leesburg Land Use designation of “innovation center” and would add policy language specific to data centers, buffering, parkland acquisition and site design. “The fundamental question being asked here is, can data centers and flex industrial be designed to be compatible with the surrounding area and avoid negative impacts on local residents?” Parker said.

Why it matters: The proposal raises trade‑offs for Leesburg policymakers. Staff identified potential benefits including additional public parkland, increased tax revenue and lower traffic generation compared with certain mixed‑use development. Staff also flagged possible downsides: impacts on housing goals, aesthetics and character, utility and…