Planning Commission Public Hearing - Dec 18, 2025
meeting
Loudoun County Planning Commission
4h 41m
2 speakers
8 agenda items
transcribed 8 days ago
official recording ↗
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What opening remarks and agenda items are covered at the start of the hearing?
Good evening and happy holidays, everyone. The December 18th, 2025 Loudoun County Planning Commission public hearing will now come to order. And as is our custom, let us stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Members of the public who wish to comment on any item on the public hearing legislative agenda may do so. If you are in the boardroom, please fill out a speaker slip and hand it to the Assistant Deputy Clerk of the Planning Commission at the end of the dais to my left. If you are participating electronically, please call the number at the bottom of the screen. If you signed up to speak after 12.30 p.m., please confirm your name is on the speaker list as public comment signup closes after 12 noon. Indicate your name and the agenda item that you wish to address. Each speaker, whether speaking on behalf of an organization or as an individual, will have three minutes per the Commission bylaws. Written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Deputy Clerk who will make copies for the Planning Commission members.
The Commission may vote on applications tonight and send its recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, or may forward the item to a work session for further consideration before taking a final vote. Our procedure for tonight's public hearing is as follows. A 10-minute staff presentation followed by commissioner's questions to staff. Tonight, each commissioner will be given three minutes to ask questions of staff. A 10-minute applicant presentation followed by commissioner's questions. Hearing is then open for public comment, three minutes for each speaker. After everyone has had a chance to speak, the hearing is closed. The applicant and staff will then have an opportunity to provide any responses to public comment.
Finally, there will be a motion, deliberation, and vote by the commission.
How are the meeting minutes approved and what disclosures are made?
The first item up is the minutes from the November 20th public hearing. If everyone's had a chance to review those, I'll accept a motion. So moved. Second. Second. Motion made to approve the minutes by Vice Chair Miller, seconded by Commissioner Frank. Any discussion on the minutes or the motion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? And I'll abstain as I was not in attendance at that meeting. And so that motion will pass, I think we're all here, 8-0-1, with myself abstaining. All right, next item is disclosures, and I will start to my far right and work my way across. Commissioner Jasper. I met with the applicant for the NOVAC substation on December 10th with their counsel. Thank you. Commissioner Maduretti.
On December
2nd, I went for a site visit for the
Happy Paws
project,
K-9 site, along with Aaron Swishelm and Anna Ritter and the applicant. Thank you.
Commissioner Combs. Thank you, Mr. Chair. On December 16, I had a meeting with the Aaron Swishelm and the applicant regarding the happy pause application before us tonight. Thank you. None for me. None for you. Mr. Frank? No? Okay. For myself, on December 2nd, I attended a Happy Paws community meeting. On December 3rd, I had a phone conversation with Aaron Swishelm regarding the Happy Paws. On December 10th, I attended a meeting about an upcoming application, South Riding Intergenerational Residential, with John McGranahan and Avi Gruhl. On December 10th, I had a phone conversation with Aaron Swishelm regarding Happy Paws.
What is the Rockland Farm land‑withdrawal request and how is it discussed?
December 11th, I met with several residents regarding the Happy Paws application. And on December 17th, I had a meeting with the applicant for the NOVAC demo substation that we have tonight. All right, our first item is elegy 2025-12, request for withdraw of land belonging to Rockland Farm LLC from the New Rockland Agricultural and Forestall District.
Good evening, Chair Kearse and Commissioners. I'm Rachel Evenchuk with the Department of Planning and Zoning. ALOG 2025-0012 is a request for early withdrawal from the New Rockland Agricultural and Forestal District, or AFD, of 514.88 acres of land by Rockland Farm LLC.
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Agenda
8 items
1
What opening remarks and agenda items are covered at the start of the hearing?
6:42–8:51
2
How are the meeting minutes approved and what disclosures are made?
8:51–10:58
3
What is the Rockland Farm land‑withdrawal request and how is it discussed?
10:58–34:22
4
How are the Novec substation and Happy Paws K‑9 applications presented and debated?
34:22–2:18:19
5
What do Happy Paws supporters say about the facility and its impact?
2:18:19–2:21:23
6
How do firefighters, first‑responders and other residents describe the benefits of Happy Paws?
2:21:23–2:29:09
7
What concerns and objections are raised by opponents of the Happy Paws special‑exception?
2:29:09–4:26:02
8
How does the Planning Commission move the application to a work session and discuss the final vote?
4:26:02–4:40:18
Speakers
2 identifiedOfficials recognised by voice; public commenters shown as “Speaker N” unless they state their name.
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