Fauquier County Planning Commission recommends change to restrict data center development
Fauquier County's Planning Commission has unanimously recommended zoning changes that would significantly restrict new data center development. The proposed amendment would limit data centers to only one specific zoning district, planned commercial industrial development (PCID), and require all future applications to obtain a special exception permit from the Board of Supervisors. Staff cited massive strain on the electrical grid, noise and air pollution, and the erosion of the county's rural character as reasons for the restrictions.
The Fauquier County Planning Commission has unanimously recommended approval of a zoning text amendment designed to significantly restrict new data center development within the county. The proposed changes would limit data centers to land zoned for "planned commercial industrial development" (PCID) and remove them as a permitted use in "business park" (BP) areas, where they are currently allowed.
According to Assistant Director of Community Development Adam Shellenberger, the Vint Hill area is currently the only part of Fauquier County zoned PCID. The amendment also clarifies that the PCID district is not intended to become solely a "Data Center District" and that future data center plans should be secondary and compatible with other uses.
Staff presentations highlighted concerns including "massive strain to the electrical grid," noise and air pollution, and the potential for data centers to alter the county's rural and agricultural character. The amendment would also mandate that all future data center applications obtain a special exception permit, requiring approval from the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors. The commission's recommendation followed the withdrawal of two data center applications, Remington Innovation Campus and Convergent Technology Park, that were slated for consideration.