Mountain Road data center proposal deferred again by planning commission

The Hanover County Planning Commission, located in Hanover, Virginia, has again deferred a decision regarding a proposal for a 430-acre data center park along Route 33 and Mountain Road. This marks the second time the commission has delayed action on the project, pushing back a vote initially due to unanswered questions regarding traffic impacts and buffer sizes. On Thursday, the applicant, land acquisition company Tract, requested another month to gather necessary information. Despite the deferral, a large number of Hanover residents attended the meeting to voice their strong opposition. Community members, including Paul Talman and Clint Robertson, called for a pause on all new data center approvals in the county, with one resident stating, "Cows, corn, tomatoes. Data centers are not welcome here in Hanover County." Opponents expressed concerns that corporations would ruin their health, environment, and community for profit. Tract, the applicant, has attempted to mitigate typical data center concerns by proposing sound barriers, utilizing existing water infrastructure, and assuring that energy bills would not spike. However, these assurances have not swayed community members. The planning commission is expected to vote on requests for rezoning the land from agricultural to industrial use and issuing a conditional use permit for substations. The proposal is scheduled to return before the planning commission on April 16.