Board approves land sale for a data center

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, despite significant community opposition, approved the sale of 41.7 acres of county-owned land in Chantilly, Virginia, to Starwood Capital Group for $166.8 million. The land is intended for a new data center development. The decision, made on March 17, enables Starwood Capital Group to acquire a portion of a 128-acre property currently used for police training facilities. The county plans to utilize the proceeds from the sale to construct a new Criminal Justice Academy and consolidate training activities on the remaining 86 acres. Community groups, including the Sully District Land Use and Transportation Committee and the Western Fairfax County Citizens Association, issued a joint resolution urging the Board to reject the sale. They cited concerns over a lack of information regarding the necessary substation and transmission lines, potential public health impacts, and the unstudied proliferation of data centers as a by-right land use in the county. Tyler Ray, founder of the Save Bren Mar Coalition, criticized the land sale as a "profound breach of public trust," alleging that it bypassed standard competitive bidding processes and was sold at a deeply discounted rate, potentially costing the county tens of millions in lost revenue. The Sierra Club Great Falls Group also voiced concerns about transparency, public trust, and the environmental impact of "dirty energy infrastructure" from approved generators. The board approved the measure unanimously without public discussion, leading to accusations from community advocates that data center developers exert undue influence over county decisions.