Leesburg planning commission reviews Article 4: parking rules, tree preservation, lighting and noise limits

The Leesburg Planning Commission on July 10, 2025 spent its work session reviewing Article 4 of a proposed zoning ordinance rewrite, focusing on development standards for parking, tree preservation, sustainability incentives, outdoor lighting and noise regulation, and how those rules would apply downtown and in the H1 Old and Historic overlay district.

The discussion mattered because Article 4 translates many policy choices — how much parking new buildings must provide, whether developers can buy out of on-site parking, what kinds of tree retention are required and who maintains plantings, and how ambient or intermittent noise is measured — into enforceable ordinance language that will shape redevelopment downtown and housing feasibility across Leesburg.

Department of Community Development staff led the presentation and answered commissioners’ questions. Director David told the commission that a separate application about Leesburg Gateway would be heard July 17 rather than that night: “Leesburg Gateway was gonna be heard tonight on July 10, but Leesburg Gateway work session is actually on July 17,” (Director David). Mike Watkins (Department of Community Development) summarized the rewrite’s Article 4 structure and repeatedly offered to review and refine specific provisions: “We can certainly take a look at that,” (Mike Watkins) in response to commissioner questions about application submittals and modification demonstrations.

Staff overview and structure Staff said Article 4 organizes development standards into multiple divisions. Division 17 covers general purpose and applicability. Division 18 addresses parking and alternatives (including shared parking and payment-in-lieu). Division 19 addresses tree preservation, landscaping, buffering and a new sustainability-incentive point system. Division 20 covers outdoor lighting; signage remains a separate workstream to be completed later. Staff noted they are aligning some standards with recent state law…