Closed-door meeting focuses on Amherst County data center application
Amherst County leaders held a closed-door meeting to discuss a proposed data center application and whether it must follow the county's new special-use permit rules, which were enacted on the same day the application was filed. The project by Old Dominion Capital Partners faces strong public opposition, and board members have characterized the situation as a legal issue. The decision will determine the level of public input on the project.
Amherst County, Virginia, leaders held a closed-door meeting to discuss a proposed data center application from Old Dominion Capital Partners LLC. The central issue is whether the application, submitted on August 18th, must comply with new county rules for data centers that require a special-use permit, enacted on the same day. Residents expressed overwhelming opposition during public comment, with one person stating, "98 percent of this community says no to this data center," and questioned the timing of the application.
Amherst County Supervisor Claudia Tucker could not comment on potential legal challenges but acknowledged it's a "legal question as to whether or not it was a complete application." The Board of Supervisors is determining if the application was complete before the rule change, which would affect how much input neighbors have. Board members have now characterized the proposed data center as a "legal issue," leaving the project's future and the board's next steps uncertain.