Co-Digital Gateway developer to continue legal fight to save huge data center project

Data center developer QTS is expected to appeal a Virginia Court of Appeals ruling that voided zoning approvals for the expansive PW Digital Gateway project in Prince William County, Virginia. The March 31 decision reaffirmed an August ruling by Prince William Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving, who found the initial rezonings to be invalid due to improper public notice ahead of the county's December 2023 hearing and vote. While fellow developer-defendant Compass Datacenters has opted against further appeals, Sterling, Virginia-based QTS is reportedly continuing discussions to challenge the court's decision, according to Bloomberg News. The proposed Digital Gateway, situated near Gainesville and adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park, is envisioned as the world's largest data center campus, spanning over 2,000 acres and encompassing 37 data centers. The voiding of the rezonings stemmed from two primary lawsuits: one filed by the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and another by the American Battlefield Trust, both of which were heard together on appeal. In addition to this state-level legal battle, QTS faces a related federal lawsuit from a Pageland Lane property owner and neighbors, alleging improper finalization of property sales intended for the Digital Gateway.