Report: Co-Digital Gateway developer, QTS, to continue legal fight to save Prince William data center project

Data center developer QTS is expected to appeal the voiding of zoning approvals for the massive PW Digital Gateway project to the Virginia Supreme Court. This decision follows a March 31 ruling by the Virginia Court of Appeals that reaffirmed an earlier judgment by Prince William Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving. Judge Irving had ruled in August that the initial rezonings were invalid due to improper public notice prior to the Prince William County's December 2023 hearing and vote. The proposed Digital Gateway, located near Gainesville in Prince William County, Virginia, is envisioned as the world's largest data center campus, spanning over 2,000 acres along Pageland Lane and comprising more than 22 million square feet of data centers. QTS's intent to appeal contrasts with its fellow developer-defendant, Compass Datacenters, which announced it would not pursue further legal action. The original lawsuits challenging the project were filed by the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and the American Battlefield Trust, with the latter citing the project's proximity to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Adding to QTS's legal challenges, the company is also facing a related federal lawsuit from Mary Ann Ghadban, a Pageland Lane property owner, and her neighbors. This suit alleges that QTS improperly finalized the sales of properties intended to pave the way for the Digital Gateway's development.