Four Fredericksburg Council Members Oppose 1500 Gateway Data Center
A majority of Fredericksburg City Council members have announced their opposition to Penzance Development's proposed million-square-foot data center at 1500 Gateway Boulevard. Council members cited concerns over the site's proximity to residential areas and schools, as well as its location outside the city's designated Technology Overlay District. Despite financial proffers from Penzance, the council members maintain the site is unsuitable.
A majority of Fredericksburg's City Council members have publicly declared their opposition to a large data center project proposed by Penzance Development. The project, a million-square-foot facility slated for 1500 Gateway Boulevard in the Hylton Tract, has drawn criticism from four council members.
Ward 1 Council Member Matt Rowe expressed concerns regarding the data center's proximity to residential areas and the necessity for new power lines near Hugh Mercer Elementary and Cowan Boulevard. Other council members, including Ward 3 Member Susanna Finn and At-Large Members Will Mackintosh and Jannan Holmes, highlighted that the proposed site falls outside the city's established Technology Overlay District. They also referenced previous council decisions aimed at limiting data center development within the city. Despite Penzance's offer of significant financial contributions to city capital projects, schools, and public safety, along with tax revenue projections, the opposing council members remain firm in their belief that the location is inappropriate. The publication is awaiting comments from Mayor Kerry Devine, Vice Mayor Chuck Frye, and Ward 2 Member Joy Crump.