Stafford cancels today's (Oct. 14, 2026) Planning Commission meeting; Kings Highway data center hearings moved to Nov. 18
Stafford County postponed hearings on four proposed data center developments along Kings Highway, moving them from Oct. 14 to Nov. 18, 2026. The projects would add 48 buildings totaling about 11 million square feet and up to 14 electrical substations, but county staff reports recommended denying most of the rezoning and conditional-use requests.
Stafford County canceled its Oct. 14 Planning Commission meeting after county staff and the applicant agreed to postpone hearings on four Kings Highway data center proposals until Nov. 18, 2026. The Forest Lane, Simms Farm, Sisson North and Sisson South projects would span more than 1,400 acres in the George Washington Election District and include 48 buildings totaling roughly 11 million square feet, along with as many as 14 electrical substations.
County staff reports prepared for the original hearing recommended denial of the proposed rezonings and most conditional-use permits, citing conflicts with agricultural, rural and mining designations, building heights, the scale of the substations and insufficient protections for rural character. The sites also include floodplains, Critical Resource Protection Areas and areas near the Rappahannock River. The applications propose using future reuse water for industrial cooling rather than potable water, while residents will have additional time to prepare comments before the rescheduled hearing. Final decisions would be made by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors after Planning Commission recommendations.