Prince William County Considers Requiring Special Use Permits for Data Centers
Prince William County's Board of County Supervisors is set to vote on a resolution that would require Special Use Permits (SUPs) for new data centers, making them no longer built "By Right." The resolution, proposed by Brentsville Supervisor Tom Gordy, also includes buffer zone requirements between data centers and residential areas. This editorial advocates for the resolution, citing concerns about noise, energy consumption, environmental impact, and inadequate past zoning ordinances, despite arguments about tax revenue benefits for schools.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is scheduled to vote on a resolution that would significantly change the permitting process for data centers in the county. Introduced by Brentsville Supervisor Tom Gordy, the resolution mandates that all future data centers, with limited exceptions, require a Special Use Permit (SUP) and undergo a public hearing and board vote.
Currently, many data centers can be built "By Right" without such a process. The proposed resolution also includes a requirement for a substantial buffer zone, potentially 500 to 2,500 feet, between data centers and residential neighborhoods, a measure residents have long requested. Deshundra Jefferson, chair-at-large of the Board, expressed the board's evolving skepticism towards new data centers.
The editorial, from Bristow Beat, strongly supports the resolution, highlighting residents' concerns about noise, high energy consumption straining the electrical grid, reliance on polluting diesel generators, and the need for new high-voltage transmission lines. It criticizes past zoning decisions, citing examples like Chris Yung Elementary in Bristow and the rural crescent near the Manassas Battlefield, where data centers were approved despite public outcry. The article also addresses School Board Chair Barbur Lateef's opposition to the proposal, who argued that data center tax revenue, which reached $293.7 million in 2024, is crucial for public schools. However, the editorial contends that the county's improved financial position allows for more selective development, prioritizing community well-being over short-term tax gains and warning against the long-term societal and environmental impacts, including those related to AI development.