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Leesburg BZA hears timeline for comprehensive zoning ordinance rewrite; board tentatively schedules briefing
Summary
Town planning staff told the Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 21 that a comprehensive zoning ordinance rewrite is expected to have a draft released to commissions and the public in February–March, with a 60-day public review period; the BZA tentatively scheduled a briefing for April 15 to review the draft before wider public hearings.
Town planning staff updated the Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 21, 2025 on a comprehensive rewrite of the Town of Leesburg zoning ordinance and outlined a tentative schedule that would release a draft for review in February or March, allow a 60-day public comment period, and carry the process through Planning Commission hearings in the summer and a council work session and possible public hearing in the fall.
Mr. Watkins, town planning staff, told the board that the draft ordinance will be circulated to the Planning Commission, the Board of Architecture Review, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the public in February or March, followed by Planning Commission work sessions in the spring and public hearings in the summer. "We're anticipating a 60 day timeframe," Mr. Watkins said when asked about the public comment window, adding that there may be subsequent comment periods.
Members discussed scheduling an internal briefing for the BZA in advance of the public review. The board tentatively agreed to a briefing on April 15, 2025 to allow members time to review the draft, subject to members' availability and formal scheduling notifications from staff. Mr. Watkins said staff would circulate meeting and hearing notices to members' town email addresses.
Board members asked how recently adopted planning work would interact with the rewrite. Mr. Watkins said the council's recently adopted Crescent District master plan update will inform zoning requirements for that district and that the town has retained a consultant specifically tasked with recommending updates to Crescent District zoning. He identified Virginia Village and the Leesburg Plaza shopping center as two primary redevelopment nodes in the Crescent District and said the master plan update included policies on density and affordable housing. On transportation, Mr. Watkins said the town has initiated work on redesign options for Market Street and Catoctin Circle, and that planning charrettes are expected to follow.
Several members recommended reviewing the Legacy Leesburg comprehensive plan and the Crescent District master plan update before the BZA briefing so members understand the policy context the zoning ordinance is intended to implement. Mr. Watkins agreed to circulate dates for Planning Commission work sessions and to notify the BZA's members via town email.
No formal land-use decisions, appeals, or ordinance adoptions occurred at this meeting; the update was informational and the board did not take a vote on the draft ordinance timeline.
