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Planning commission forwards small commercial setback change at Commonwealth Center to supervisors
Summary
The Loudoun County Planning Commission voted to forward a zoning concept plan amendment to the Board of Supervisors recommending approval; the amendment would reduce a commercial-to-residential setback created when adjacent property was rezoned to R‑24.
The Loudoun County Planning Commission on Jan. 28 voted to forward ZCPA 2024‑0011 (Commonwealth Center Commercial) to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval.
Staff described the application as a housekeeping ZCPA for a commercial center east of 1 Loudoun at the corner of Russell Branch and Loudoun County Parkway. The applicant asked to remove a roughly 100‑foot district setback that was left on the commercial parcels when the adjacent property was rezoned to R‑24. Marshon (Department of Planning and Zoning staff, standing in for Christian Maldonado) told commissioners the change would implement the previously approved Commonwealth Center residential rezoning and that staff supports the commission’s recommendation of approval.
Ben Wales, land‑use counsel for the applicant, told the commission the issue was discovered late in the prior application process and that the amendment was needed to proceed with a low‑income housing tax credit (LIHTC)‑funded multifamily project. Bruce Gould (Peds and Companies) said LIHTC funding had not been secured but that private financing was being pursued.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about sequencing and timing; staff said the omission arose late in the prior process and that the ZCPA is intended to reconcile the residual commercial district treatment. With no public speakers, Commissioner Polenmeier moved to forward the application to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval “subject to the proffer statement dated Jan. 7, 2025 and based on the findings and approval” in the staff report. Commissioner Combs seconded the motion.
The motion carried (vote recorded as 8 in favor, 0 opposed; Commissioner Frank was absent). The planning commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors for a final decision.
The staff report and attachments provide the proposed proffers, the concept plan amendment language and editorial findings that the commission relied on in recommending approval.
