Inching closer?

Town of Leesburg to take up Compass Creek annexation issue Feb. 13

By Audrey Carpenter

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 16 to approve a mediated settlement regarding the annexation of Compass Creek, a retail and commercial center that includes a 323-acre Microsoft data center campus, Walmart and the Ion International Training Center in South Leesburg.

Since 2019, the Town of Leesburg and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors have been haggling over 402 acres within Compass Creek that the Town seeks to annex from the County to bring into Town limits.

Currently there are two data centers being built adjacent to the Ion International Training Center that the Town will be supplying water and sewer for. However, the tax revenue generated by those future data centers, along with the existing Walmart and AtHome Store that sit on current County-owned land, goes to Loudoun County. The Town believes it should receive tax income from development it supplies resources for.

“The Town Council convened in a closed session Jan. 18 to speak with legal counsel regarding recent mediation efforts between the Town and County regarding the pending annexation proceedings. Any agreement would have to be approved by the respective governing bodies. A four-day hearing before the Commission on Local Government remains scheduled for early March, but that could be changed in the event of an agreement,” Town Attorney Chris Spera said.

A proposed resolution approving the voluntary settlement with the Town is set for the Board of Supervisors Feb. 6 Business Meeting, according to Leesburg District Supervisor Kristen Umstattd. The Leesburg Town Council is set to take up the matter at its Feb. 13 meeting.

A 7-hour mediation between the Town and the Board of Supervisors was held Jan. 10 and included Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burke, Vice Mayor Neil Steinberg, Town Manager Kaj Dentler, Town Attorney Chris Spera and special counsel. The County team consisted of Supervisor Umstattd, Catoctin Supervisor Caleb Kirschner, County Attorney Leo Rogers and special counsel. All parties to the mediation were required to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

The Commission on Local Government (CLG) is scheduled to convene in Leesburg March 5-8 for four days of public hearings and oral arguments on the annexation. The CLG oversees disputes between localities, assists with negotiations, conducts act-finding hearings when necessary, and writes reports to assist courts in adjudicating disputes.

Detailed information on the annexation can be viewed here: https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/Docx/clg/pending-cases/leesburg-notice-to-commission-on-local-government-9-28-22.pdf