Planning commission sends Leesburg Gateway town‑plan amendment to July work session after public concern over data‑center option

The Leesburg Planning Commission on June 5 voted to forward the proposed town plan amendment TLTPAM 2024‑1 (the “Leesburg Gateway” amendment) to a commission work session in July 2025 for further discussion and refinement after an extended public hearing that included dozens of questions and multiple public speakers.

Staff presented background showing the subject area—about 101.9 acres north of Route 7 bounded by Potomac Station Drive, Battlefield Parkway and the Leesburg outlet mall—was previously designated in the Eastern Gateway Small Area Plan as a walkable mixed‑use neighborhood and innovation center. Rich Klusick, presenting for staff, explained that the applicant seeks to add an alternative land‑use policy to the town plan that would allow data centers, flex industrial and a substantial area of parkland as an alternative to the existing mixed‑use vision. The staff memo outlined pros and cons: potential for substantial tax…