Leesburg staff outlines major zoning ordinance rewrite, releases public draft March 6

James David, director of community development for the Town of Leesburg, told the Economic Development Commission on April 2 that the town has released a public review draft of a zoning ordinance rewrite intended to align the zoning code with the 2022 Town Plan and to modernize the document.

"It's a pretty important project. Jurisdictions really don't undertake these types of things but once every 5 to 20 years," David said, explaining the scope of the effort. He said the public review draft was released on March 6 and that planning commission in‑depth review begins the night after the commission meeting.

The rewrite is intended to update a code last implemented in 2003, streamline structure and uses, and reflect recent policy work including the Crescent District master plan and newly adopted capital intensity factors. David said the team consolidated the existing zoning districts — "we went from 24 existing zoning districts down to 12" — and added new district types, including a "commercial neighborhood" district and an "innovation center" aimed at mixing residential with office, research and laboratory uses.

Why it matters: the zoning ordinance is Leesburg’s primary implementation tool for the town plan. The commission and staff described the…