Loudoun panel backs loosening of agricultural-processing rules, asks staff for detailed standards

The Loudoun County Transportation and Land Use Committee on Jan. 29 directed staff to pursue revisions to the county's agricultural-processing rules, including changing the existing on-site sourcing requirement and clarifying the definition of "agricultural processing." The committee also asked staff to develop standards that would allow shared processing facilities for multiple farmers and to consider prepared-food production as part of the agricultural-processing framework.

Committee members and staff said the existing accessory-use rule requiring that at least 51% of products processed be produced on the same parcel is impractical for small and leased farms. They asked staff to prepare ordinance language that would instead measure sourcing over a broader area, with the group indicating a preference for a majority (about 51%) of inputs coming from within a specified local radius or from Loudoun and adjacent counties.

Agricultural-processing rules matter because they determine whether farmers can co-invest in local pack houses, kitchens, small-scale value-added facilities and shared equipment without triggering a more burdensome site-plan or commercial review process. Farmers told the committee the current rules discourage collaboration and penalize small operations that rely on leased acreage.

Staff presentation and committee direction David Schneegenberg, planner with Zoning…