Virginia is home to the largest data center market in the world, but citizens and lawmakers have urged leaders to temper the onslaught of development and consider the impact.
Data centers have brought hundreds of millions in tax revenue and thousands of jobs to Northern Virginia, and increasingly, other areas of the state. But among environmental groups, there is mounting concern that the rapid growth of the industry might offset climate goals laid out in past legislation.
Prince William Times: “Residential developer Stanley Martin is seeking the Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ approval to rezone 270 elevated acres near the intersection of Devlin and Linton Hall roads to allow for the new data center complex. The land is currently zoned for 516 new homes.”
“The project is one of two major data center rezonings the supervisors have scheduled for votes during the board’s “lame duck” session before the end of the year. A public hearing and possible vote on the Devlin Technology Park is set for Tuesday, Nov. 28. The board will take up the much larger nearly 1,800-acre Digital Gateway rezonings on Tuesday, Dec. 12.”
“During the event, Lawson indicated Deshundra Jefferson, the Democratic chair-elect of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors Deshundra Jefferson, was cooperating with her to mitigate the Devlin proposal, which is headed to the board Nov. 28 for a vote.”
Insidenova.com: “Members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors are keeping quiet about their stance on the divisive PW Digital Gateway data center proposal now that it’s been thoroughly rejected by two lower entities that issue recommendations on land-use legislation.”
“After more than 20 hours of discussion and public comment that began Nov. 8 and ended the following day, the Planning Commission voted to recommend supervisors deny the project.”
In a marathon meeting that lasted more than 20 hours at the county government center in Woodbridge, the commission recommended denying two companies — QTS Data Centers and Compass Data Centers — the ability to build 23 million square feet of data center space in what’s become known as the Prince William Digital Gateway.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will have the final say on the project at a meeting on December 12, 2023. A majority of Democrats on the board support the measure.
“For those members of the public wishing to speak on any of the rezonings, signups will begin in person at noon in the atrium of the McCoart Building. Members of the public will not be allowed to sign up before noon. Those wishing to speak remotely may sign up online here and must sign up before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.”
Insidenova.com: “In a stunning rejection of the largest data center development in county history, Prince William County staff on Friday issued recommendations that the Planning Commission deny all three rezonings associated with the divisive PW Digital Gateway.”
“County documents show staff suggested that the Planning Commission recommend to the Board of County Supervisors to not approve two rezoning requests by QTS Realty Trust Inc. — Digital Gateway North and South — and one by Compass Datacenters, which combined are aiming to build 23 million square feet of data centers on roughly 2,100 acres along Pageland Lane in western Prince William County near Gainesville.”
