Tysons expanded data center proposal on hold
A proposal to replace an existing Tysons office building with two larger data center buildings has been put on hold after residents raised concerns about environmental impacts, backup generators and the buildings' proximity to nearby homes. The project would require special approval because it exceeds Fairfax County's size and setback rules, and Supervisor Dalia Palicek says she will not support an exemption to the 200-foot residential setback requirement.
A data center expansion proposal in Tysons has been withdrawn from the public hearing process indefinitely after concerns from nearby residents about environmental effects, power generators and the project's proximity to apartments and townhouses. The plan would replace an office building with two data center buildings, each 67 feet tall and totaling more than 316,000 square feet, well above Fairfax County's 80,000-square-foot limit requiring special approval.
The proposed buildings would be about 107 feet from nearby apartments and 131 feet from townhouses, compared with the county's 200-foot setback requirement. Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palicek said she would not support an exemption. The company said the buildings would maintain the existing offices' distance from homes and that office space, landscaping and screening would buffer the area closest to residences. The application could be renewed, but no public hearings are currently scheduled.