Fauquier County supervisors adopt stricter zoning rules for new data centers
The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to end by-right data center development and limit new facilities to the county’s planned commercial industrial development district, currently located only in Vint Hill. The rules also require special exception approval, recycled water for cooling systems and buried power lines.
The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors adopted stricter zoning regulations for new data centers in a 4-1 vote, removing them as an allowable use in business park, agricultural and residential districts. Future projects will generally be limited to the planned commercial industrial development district, currently found only in Vint Hill, and will require a special exception approved by the supervisors.
The amendments also require applicants to commit to recycled water for closed-loop water or air-cooling systems and to bury new power lines. The county cited concerns about compatibility, natural resources and pollution. Supervisor Daron Culbertson cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing that data centers could provide needed economic development and tax revenue near Remington; his family’s proposed rezoning application for a data center project was withdrawn in September.