Our Plan for Responsible Development 

We believe in a path forward that allows for economic growth without sacrificing the character and quality of life in Leesburg. Three common-sense principles:

1. Proactive Zoning to Protect Our Neighborhoods

The most effective way to protect our homes is to decide, as a community, where large-scale development belongs—and where it doesn’t.

• Establish Buffer Zones: Mandate significant, permanent, and landscaped buffer zones that create a real barrier between any industrial-scale facility and our housing communities, schools, and parks.

• Protect Residential Character: Update the Town of Leesburg's Comprehensive Plan to explicitly prohibit the construction of data centers and their substations adjacent to land zoned for residential use.

• Prioritize Industrial Areas: Guide new development toward existing industrial and commercial corridors that have the infrastructure to support it and are away from our homes.

2. Strict, Enforceable Standards for Development

If a project is to be built, it must be a good neighbor. This means holding developers to the highest, non-negotiable standards to protect our peace and property values.

• Noise Abatement: Require the use of advanced sound-dampening technology and mandate strict, independently monitored decibel limits at the property line to eliminate the constant hum from cooling systems.

• Architectural & Visual Standards: Prohibit the "big box" industrial look. Require architectural designs, materials, and "dark sky" compliant lighting that are visually compatible with the character of Leesburg.

• Safeguard Local Resources: Demand a transparent and public review of the impact on Leesburg's water supply and power grid before any project is approved.

3. A True Partnership with Our Community

Developers who profit from our town must make tangible, lasting contributions to it. We must move from empty promises to guaranteed benefits.

• Mandate Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs): Require legally binding agreements that ensure developers make direct investments in Leesburg's infrastructure, such as funding for our local schools, parks, and road improvements.

• Ensure Full Transparency: Demand a community engagement process that begins with public meetings before a formal application is submitted, giving residents a real voice in the process.

• Establish Citizen Oversight: Create a permanent advisory board of local residents for any approved project to ensure compliance and address community concerns on an ongoing basis.