JK Land Holdings advances plans for 117-acre Loudoun industrial park

Sterling-based real estate company JK Land Holdings is advancing plans to build a 117-acre industrial business park in Loudoun County, just outside the town limits of Purcellville.

Located at 17110 Purcellville Road, the Valley Commerce Center proposal calls for up to 986,000 square feet of industrial uses, including flex industrial space, of which 300,000 square feet will be limited to warehousing and storage. JKLH, which owns the property through a limited liability company, is seeking to rezone the site from Joint Land Management Area-3 (JLMA-3) — which allows low-density rural residential uses and limited agricultural and related businesses — to a Planned Development–Industrial Park (PD-IP) zoning district, which permits a range of industrial, commercial and community uses.

Some uses allowed in an industrial park include banks, childcare centers, religious assembly, health and fitness centers, manufacturing and warehousing.

The Planning Commission recommended approval by a 6-2 vote, with one member absent. However, a county staff report recommends denial, stating the proposed industrial park is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan’s vision for a low-density rural area.

County staff said the project is incompatible with surrounding residential uses and would introduce impacts — such as increased traffic, infrastructure demands and environmental effects — that are not adequately mitigated. JKLH, however, said it will privately fund well and septic needs.

JKLH argues the proposal will help address a growing shortage of space for small and startup businesses in the county, enabling existing companies to expand locally and retain jobs that might otherwise leave the community.

“The county needs more flex and light industrial space,” JKLH CEO Chuck Kuhn said in a statement. “Businesses have fewer places to hang their shingles so they can provide the services we need to paint our house and businesses, fix plumbing, remodel homes, clean houses and more.  If business owners can’t find a place to do business, they will exit the county, leaving all of us with fewer services and a smaller tax base.”

JKLH said the county’s overall industrial vacancy rate is 4%, and its vacancy rate for flex industrial is 1%, which the company says creates challenges for startups. The company added that the tight market for flex and light industrial space has driven up costs.

The matter will go before the Loudoun Board of Supervisors on May 19.

A spokesperson for the company said that once the project is approved, JKLH will submit site documents shortly thereafter, but did not provide a construction timeline or opening date. The spokesperson said there is currently no estimated project cost available, and that projected job and tax impacts would depend on future tenants. The company hopes to attract a mix of flex and light industrial users.

Founded in 2015, JK Land Holdings seeks land acquisitions that can be sold, leased, developed, placed into a conservation easement or used by sister companies JK Moving Services and CapRelo, which provides global relocation and assignment management services.