The Board of Supervisors is shifting forward with efforts to replace the county’s rules for knowledge facilities and to restrict areas the place they’re permitted by means of Complete Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments.
On Tuesday, the board heard suggestions from the county planning workers to change place varieties on the Complete Plan maps and to require knowledge facilities to be a conditional use, requiring Board of Supervisors approval, in all place varieties—even the place they’re recognized as core makes use of immediately.
The workers additionally beneficial revising the Suburban Coverage Space, Joint Land Administration Space and the City Coverage Place Sort maps within the Basic Plan to depict boundaries primarily based the place knowledge facilities have been constructed or authorised, and to switch City Employment Place Varieties with City Transit Facilities, the place the insurance policies don’t allow knowledge facilities.
“We’re right here to supply an replace on this work and to hunt your enter and steerage on the proposed amendments to the Complete Plan modification,” Undertaking Supervisor Abdul Jaffari mentioned. “Moreover, we’re requesting your approval of the revised venture plan and the decision of intent to amend the Zoning Ordinance.”
Jaffari mentioned the modifications have been “particular and surgical” to align the planning map with what exists on the bottom. Elements considered included present knowledge facilities, authorised however unbuilt knowledge facilities, properties owned by data-related corporations, land use compatibility, zoning rules, financial diversification, infrastructure capability, aesthetic, future progress and growth patterns and environmental impression.
Six areas in jap Loudoun have been recognized for potential modifications to the place sort map boundaries—alongside Belmont Ridge, Rt. 28, Nokes Boulevard, Arcola West, Arcola East, and Metro Space.
Within the Belmont Ridge space, locations presently designated as Suburban Blended Use have been proposed to be modified to Suburban Employment and areas designated as Leesburg JLMA to Leesburg JLMA Residential. These proposed modifications purpose to align the place sort with the authorised web site plan for a knowledge middle and a knowledge middle and substation web site presently beneath assessment.
Within the Rt. 28 space, locations presently designated as Suburban Blended Use are proposed to be modified to Suburban Employment to replicate the focus of present and pipeline knowledge middle makes use of and substations.
Proposed modifications to the Arcola West space embody altering Suburban Neighborhood to Suburban Employment to align with present and pipeline knowledge middle makes use of and proposed industrial and industrial makes use of.
Planning workers members beneficial altering locations throughout the Metro Space from City Employment to City Transit since practically all parcels have present and pipeline knowledge middle makes use of.
Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) mentioned, whereas he was proud of the analysis that workers had executed, he solely wished to just accept the modifications that have been associated to the Suburban Neighborhood place varieties.
The situation of present knowledge facilities is just not essentially the place the board helps having them now, he mentioned.
Vice Chair Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) mentioned she hoped that requiring a particular exception course of would assist the county diversify its financial system away from relying so closely on knowledge facilities.
However supervisors Kristen C. Umstattd (D-Leesburg) and Caleb A. Kershner (R-Catcotin) mentioned they thought the modifications would discourage the business an excessive amount of.
Umstattd mentioned she thought this moved the county away from its robust industrial financial system and would trigger it to rely extra closely on residential income.
“We’re changing land zoned for industrial with residential,” she mentioned.
Kershner mentioned, whereas he appreciated the surgical nature of the modifications, he felt that requiring a particular exception course of can be a “loss of life nail” for brand spanking new knowledge facilities.
Supervisor Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) mentioned there have been numerous authorised knowledge facilities that aren’t but constructed within the county that may proceed to herald a progress of income from the business for the subsequent few years. However he mentioned the county ought to start excited about lowering its spending to fight the eventual income plateau.
County Chair Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Giant) mentioned she appreciated what the info middle business had dropped at the county, however there are different types of industrial income the county ought to encourage.
“We’re turning away different companies and different industrial entities across the county as a result of they can’t afford to purchase land right here as a result of the info facilities are shopping for all of the wind up,” she mentioned.
A movement by Turner to maneuver ahead with any proposed modifications that up to date areas to Suburban Neighborhood and would get rid of all City Employment place varieties handed, 7-2 with Kershner and Umstattd opposed.
County planning workers will proceed work on the amendments specializing in updates to handle land use, web site and constructing design, sustainability, power, water, air, mild and noise insurance policies in addition to conflicting insurance policies with the 2019 Basic Plan.
