'Disruption' concern moves meeting between data center developer, stakeholders

A private meeting concerning the proposed Winchester Gateway data center campus in Kernstown, Frederick County, Virginia, was moved from its original location due to anticipated protests. Community members gathered at the initially planned site, the Woodbrook Village Community Center, to demonstrate against the development, expressing concerns about noise, historical preservation, and the impact on their properties. Winchester Gateway LLC is seeking a conditional-use permit (CUP) from Frederick County to construct a 72-acre data center campus, featuring three buildings and an electrical substation, on land zoned Light Industrial (M1). The site is near a core battlefield area of the Civil War's Second Battle of Kernstown, prompting review by the county's Historic Resources Advisory Board (HRAB). After reviewing additional information, HRAB recommended denial of the CUP on April 17, and the application is now set to go before the Planning Commission. Residents from nearby subdivisions, including Cross Creek Village, Woodbrook Village, and Plainfield Heights, were invited to the private meeting through Coventry Management Group. However, only a limited number of stakeholders, such as HOA board members, were included, which prompted resident Julie Curd to organize a public rally. Homeowners like Curd and Theresa Ostertag voiced fears about noise pollution, citing past negative experiences with mitigation efforts from other local industries like Trex. They also expressed skepticism about developers' commitment to noise prevention, suggesting that cost-saving measures take precedence. Community members have also pushed for a moratorium on data center approvals or a voter referendum on land-use issues. However, Frederick County attorney Andrew Fox issued a legal memorandum on April 22, stating that the Board of Supervisors cannot establish a general moratorium or hold a voter referendum on such matters. This has led some residents to consider alternative avenues for protest, including appealing to the sheriff.