Leesburg Updates Neighborhood Retail Options

The Leesburg Town Council voted 7-2 Tuesday night to adopt new policies for Neighborhood Retail Convenience Centers that expand the types of businesses that can operate in such designations.

While adding uses such as restaurants, fitness businesses, dance studios, child care services, retail shops and banks – drive-through uses are not permitted – the changes also restrict the size of such centers to 40,000 square feet and the size of individual shops to 15,000 square feet.

The planning commission had reduced the proposed maximum shop size to 12,000 square feet, and members of the Exeter community pressed council members for a further reduction to 8,000 square feet, but the council ultimately opted for the larger number.

The size means Loudoun Habitat for Humanity will move forward with plans for to move its Re-Store facility to the Exeter shopping center. A representative had indicated anything less than 14,000 square feet could have precluded the move.

Councilwoman Katie Hammler, who made the motion for the change, wanted keep the limit at 12,000 square feet, but in the end voted in support of the change after the council voted 4-3 to move the limit up to 15,000 square feet.

Council members Kelly Burk and Marty Martinez voted against the ordinance changes, and Hammler joined them in voting against the higher limit. Burk said 12,000 square feet was a “good compromise.”

Councilman Tom Dunn was among those who pushed for a higher shop limit because he does not believe a neighborhood can really support a 40,000-square-foot shopping center and that regional shops will keep the centers in business. With a limit lower than 15,000 square feet for each store, Dunn said, “this center’s doomed to fail.”

While she supported the final ordinance change, Hammler said she was “very disappointed” at the high limit for shops because she fears big-box retailers with a regional draw could occupy space and take away the “neighborhood” feel.

The council nearly crossed legal lines in terms of public notice when Hammler proposed eliminating all gas station uses in Neighborhood Retail Convenience Centers, a greater restriction than had been advertised. Councilman Kevin Wright caught the error and the council voted unanimously to require special exception permits for gas stations.