Fauquier County moves to restrict data center development
The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to restrict new data centers to land zoned for planned commercial industrial development, removing them as a permitted use in business park areas. Future projects in the eligible district will require a special exception and must use closed-loop or air-cooled systems and underground power lines.
The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors adopted a zoning text amendment on Oct. 8 that limits new data center development to the county’s planned commercial industrial district, currently located in the Vint Hill area. The amendment removes data centers as a permitted use in business park districts and requires future projects in the eligible district to obtain a special exception.
The rules were approved 4-1, with Lee District Supervisor Daron Culbertson dissenting. County staff cited unsuccessful proposals, electrical grid strain, proximity to housing and environmental concerns. The amendment also requires closed-loop or air-cooled systems and underground power lines, while exempting projects already approved or in the approval process, including the operational OVHcloud facility.