Developer withdraws Varina data center request, seeks vested-rights approval to allow project

Developer Wagner Urban Logistics, linked to Centra Logistics, has withdrawn its request for a provisional-use permit from Henrico County for an 8-building, 1 million-square-foot data center complex. Instead, the developer is pursuing a vested-rights claim, arguing the county changed rules mid-process after initially supporting the project. The county's planning commission had recommended denying the permit, citing concerns from local residents and the Varina supervisor about the data center's impact on the surrounding community. The developer maintains it has a strong vested-rights claim and will appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals if the county denies the request. Litigation remains a possibility if the appeals process is unsuccessful. The case highlights tensions between data center developers and local communities as Henrico County attempts to rein in data center growth outside of its designated technology park. The developer claims over $1 million in costs so far, while the county and community members argue the project is detrimental to nearby residential areas and schools.