Leesburg, VA (August 31, 2026) – Brian Boucher, a 31-year Town employee, is retiring. 

Brian joined Town staff in February 1995 as a Planner. Over his three decades in Leesburg, Brian has served in a number of roles in the Community Development Department (formerly known as Planning & Zoning)  including as Zoning Administrator, and, since 2008, Deputy Director of the department.

A Hamilton native, Brian has seen Leesburg evolve since his childhood and fondly recalls when Harrison Street used to serve as a way to transport cattle down to the stockyards. After moving south later in his childhood, he returned to Loudoun County after pursuing higher education, which included an undergraduate degree in History from Hampden-Sydney College and a law degree from the University of Virginia.

Making Leesburg a special place to live and work has always been important to Brian, even as the population boomed.

“There was a point I realized Leesburg was going to grow, and it was going to grow rapidly. That’s why I came here—I wanted it to be nice. Other localities have not managed their growth well, and I didn’t want Leesburg to be like that. Overall, I think we’ve done a very good job,” he said.

Brian said he believes he was able to use his law degree to the Town’s advantage, working directly with developers to negotiate proffers to obtain millions of dollars in public improvements for Leesburg, and to encourage better design of developments. He is also proud of his work on the Zoning Ordinance, especially the part of the ordinance that governs signage to avoid visual clutter, and his work with professional colleague Chris Murphy on creating the Traditional Design Option that was used by the developer of the Meadowbrook neighborhood.

In 2025, Town Manager Kaj Dentler awarded Brian the Legacy Award at the annual Employee Service Awards, recognizing Brian’s impact to land development in Leesburg. Earlier this year, Brian was named a 250 Public Service Champion, an honor bestowed on him by Local Gov 250 and the National Academy of Public Administration. The awards program recognized 250 public servants throughout the U.S. who have had an exceptional impact on their communities.

In addition to his work on Town staff, Brian is an avid Virginia and Civil War history buff. As a Loudoun County Civil War historian, Brian has presented numerous Civil War history lectures to local organizations and served as a speaker for the Loudoun Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee. He is also narrator of the Town’s history walking tour on the Tour Leesburg app.

Brian is a former board member of both Loudoun Museum and the Mt. Zion Church Preservation Association and was named Preservationist of the Year by the Preservation Society of Loudoun County in 2006.

In retirement, Brian is looking forward to traveling and continuing to pursue his passion of local Civil War history.

“It has been an honor to work with Brian Boucher,” stated Community Development Department Director James David. “His technical aptitude, local knowledge, collaborative nature, and genuine attitude have enabled me to be a better Director and person. We will miss Brian dearly, but his legacy will remain in the quality developments, community spaces, neighborhood protections, and future leaders that he shaped in his long-tenured and highly impactful Leesburg career.”

Media Contact:
Kara Rodriguez, Public Information Officer
pio@leesburgva.gov
703-669-1425