Data center fears spark rifts within Roanoke City Council
Roanoke City Council is experiencing internal conflict over a land purchase agreement at Wood Haven Technology Park, which is speculated to be for a data center. Anti-data center protesters and some council members oppose the deal, leading to accusations of code of conduct violations by the mayor. The Western Virginia regional industrial facility authority approved the agreement.
A recent land purchase agreement at the Wood Haven Technology Park in Roanoke County has ignited a significant rift within the Roanoke City Council, drawing strong opposition from anti-data center protesters and several council members. The Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority approved the agreement earlier this month, with Clearview Dynamics LLC identified as the prospective buyer. Although the authority has not confirmed the property's intended use, there is widespread speculation that a portion of the site could be sold to a data center developer.
Roanoke City Mayor Joe Cobb has publicly accused Vice Mayor Jerry Maguire and Councilman Bjorn Nash of violating the Council's code of conduct due to their social media posts and alleged unprofessional behavior toward colleagues and the industrial facility authority. Mayor Cobb issued a statement, asserting that Maguire and Nash's activism has "override their government's responsibilities." Maguire and Nash, however, issued a joint statement criticizing the authority and local leadership for a "lack of transparency" and reiterated their "vehement opposition to data center development in the Roanoke Valley."
They further referenced a participation agreement among the three localities involved in Wood Haven, which they claim requires a unanimous vote for any project-related decisions. The ongoing dispute highlights a clash between development interests, local governance, and community concerns regarding the expansion of data centers in the region.