A family cemetery on a site in central Stafford has halted progress on a data center development. On July 7, 2026, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to defer rezoning and conditional use permit applications for the Potomac Creek Campus project pending an archaeological investigation and report.
The deferral includes a time extension to October 31. It followed public comments and board discussion on the need to address the cemetery before land disturbance.
During the Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on July 7, 2026, Supervisor Crystal Vanuch (Rock Hill District) expressed strong concerns about the potential reimplementation of a Business Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax, warning that it could harm local small businesses and urging residents to participate in an upcoming public hearing.
Vanuch, who reviewed discussions from a recent work session she could not attend, stated she was “appalled” that the tax appeared to be moving forward. She noted that Spotsylvania County is actively working to eliminate its similar BPOL tax. “The general consensus is that it’s gonna crush our business growth in Stafford County,” she said.
One Kitchen, a multi-brand ghost kitchen (also known as a cloud or virtual kitchen), has taken over the space formerly occupied by a McDonald’s location. The facility prepares food from more than 20 national brands out of a single shared kitchen, optimized for pickup, delivery, and limited dine-in.
Ghost kitchens focus primarily on online orders through delivery apps and in-store pickup rather than traditional sit-down service. Customers can order items from multiple concepts—such as MrBeast Burger, Quiznos, Cheesecake Factory desserts, Saladworks, Cinnabon, Ben & Jerry’s, and others—in a single transaction. A Halal-focused variant under the Babaz brand is also part of the One Kitchen family, expanding options for customers seeking compliant meals.
During the June 23, 2026, Board of Supervisors work session, Planning Director Michael Zuraf updated the board on the status of data center development in the county. There are currently 16 projects in the pipeline: five approved (three under construction) and 11 still under review. No new applications have been received since September 2025, following the county’s adoption of stricter ordinance and comprehensive plan amendments.
Board members and staff acknowledged community concerns about rapid growth, noise, power demands, and other impacts. However, Zuraf and county leaders emphasized that halting the 11 pending applications mid-review would not be legally viable. Virginia law limits localities’ ability to impose arbitrary pauses on lawfully submitted land-use applications, and doing so could invite legal challenges related to vested rights and due process.
Stafford County residents, the heaviest users of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) system, will see reduced services after the Board of Supervisors approved a nearly $660,000 cut to library operating funds for FY27.
The reduction comes despite the board’s approval of a real estate tax rate increase of more than four cents per $100 of assessed value in the FY2027 budget. That hike, combined with rising property assessments, added hundreds to nearly $2,000 or more to many homeowners’ annual tax bills.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the deadly May 29, 2026, charter bus crash on southbound Interstate 95 in Stafford County, revealing that the bus “did not slow” as it approached a traffic queue formed by a work zone.
According to the report, the bus, traveling at a high rate of speed, struck the rear of a Chevrolet Suburban and an Acura MDX at the end of the backup before continuing nearly half a mile (0.44 miles) through the queue, involving eight additional vehicles and resulting in a post-crash fire in one vehicle. The crash killed five people and injured dozens more.
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office reported that, alongside the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center and Stafford County residents, officials helped release an eagle rescued by the county’s Animal Control unit around Memorial Day. The bird received excellent care at the wildlife center before being returned to the wild.
The successful release highlights ongoing local wildlife rehabilitation efforts in Stafford County, allowing the majestic raptor to once again soar through Northern Virginia skies.
