Loudoun County Supervisor: Planning Commission Work Session - May 08, 2025

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Key Topics Discussed

1. Introduction of Online Zoning Ordinance Tool: The planning commission was introduced to a new online zoning ordinance tool designed to improve accessibility and navigation of the county's zoning regulations.
2. Hiddenwood Assemblage Discussion: The commission discussed the Hiddenwood assemblage application, focusing on issues related to land use, buffering, and compatibility with adjacent residential areas.
3. Budget and Planning Report: The annual planning report was discussed, including recommendations for improvements in the planning process and potential changes to the budget.

Decisions & Votes

• Motion for Denial: A motion was made to deny the Hiddenwood assemblage application based on findings that it does not align with the 2019 General Plan.
• Vote on Motion: The motion for denial was supported by several commissioners, citing concerns about land use and residential impacts.

Notable Quotes

• "I think we need to be very careful about what we are pushing [the problem] to." – Commissioner Frank
• "We have left people no enjoyment of their property... We have to make it work for the folks at the next level who will have the authority to do so." – Commissioner Frank

Follow-up Actions

1. Review and Revision of Annual Report: Commissioners are asked to submit recommendations for the annual report by May 23rd, focusing on improvements to the planning process.
2. Budget Considerations: The commission aims to start discussing budget-related recommendations earlier in the year to align with the county's budgeting cycle.
3. St. Louis Mall Area Plan Process: An additional meeting may be scheduled for residents to provide input on the plan before it comes back to the commission for action.

Summary by Timestamp

• 00:02:54: Introduction and pledge of allegiance
• 00:03:06: Approval of minutes from April 10th work session
• 00:03:18: Review of disclosures and potential conflicts of interest among commissioners
• 00:03:30: Discussion on the Hiddenwood assemblage application, including proffers and community concerns
• 00:04:07: Presentation by staff on the online zoning ordinance tool
• 00:05:06: Overview of the tool's features and benefits for users
• 00:06:00: Questions from commissioners regarding the tool and its implementation
• 00:06:11: Introduction to the zoning administrator and deputy director of planning and zoning
• 00:07:10: Discussion on the table of contents, search function, and land use lookup feature
• 00:08:14: Explanation of the calculator tab and its uses within the ordinance
• 00:09:04: Review of resources and links available within the tool
• 00:10:01: Questions from commissioners regarding specific features and applications
• 00:11:24: Discussion on the mapping feature and its relation to parcel-level information
• 00:12:35: Turnover to Miss Miller for further explanation of the ordinance's text and interactive elements
• 00:13:45: Explanation of hyperlinks, definitions, and navigation within the ordinance
• 00:15:00: Review of reforestation plans and tree conservation areas
• 00:16:30: Discussion on substation screening and potential visual impacts
• 00:18:09: Questions from commissioners regarding warehouse space and flex buildings
• 00:20:26: Discussion on the transition of existing buildings to new uses and potential displacement of tenants
• 00:22:42: Review of application status updates and upcoming work sessions
• 00:24:43: Introduction of the draft 2024 planning report and annual budget
• 00:26:30: Discussion on recommendations for the annual report, including process improvements and budget considerations
• 00:30:44: Decision to continue with the annual report as is and potentially include supplementary recommendations
• 00:33:55: Agreement to submit recommendations by May 23rd and review them at the June work session
• 00:36:18: Discussion on the St. Louis mall area plan process, including community input and potential additional meetings

Notice:

• Summaries are AI Generated using AI generated subtitles.
• As such, they may contain errors.
• Review the original video for accuracy before you make any decision based on these summaries.