Virginia data center planned less than 100 feet from homes sparks protest, legal push
A proposed two-building data center campus by Starwood Capital Group in Lincolnia, Fairfax County, Virginia, faces strong opposition from local residents due to its close proximity to homes and concerns regarding a new electrical substation. The project is currently undergoing county review, with residents organizing protests and exploring legal options. Local government bodies, including Alexandria City and Fairfax County, are involved in addressing community concerns.
Starwood Capital Group is pursuing a two-building data center development on a 34-acre property in Lincolnia, Fairfax County, Virginia, near Alexandria city limits. The project has incited intense opposition from local residents, primarily due to two of the proposed facilities being less than 100 feet from existing homes. Although the data center use is permitted under current zoning, the proposal requires further county review and approval for related infrastructure.
A key point of contention is a proposed electrical substation, which the State Corporation Commission has already approved but still awaits a public facilities review by the local planning commission in September. Dominion Energy is slated to brief the district advisory committee, which will decide whether to recommend the substation. Critics, including former Alexandria City Council member Mo Seifeldein, argue that the project's impacts will extend beyond Fairfax County lines, affecting Alexandria's West End residents.
Residents in the Bren Mar and Bren Pointe neighborhoods are actively mobilizing, organizing protests ahead of the county hearing for the substation. Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins has emphasized the city's health, safety, climate, and quality of life concerns to Fairfax County, despite Alexandria lacking direct land-use authority over the site. Seifeldein has also urged the Alexandria City Council to investigate legal avenues to protect residents. The Fairfax County review process for the data center development remains ongoing.