Stafford Historical Commission has 'major concerns' with Potomac Creek Campus data center project
The Stafford County Historical Commission has voiced significant concerns regarding the Potomac Creek Campus data center project due to a historic cemetery located on the proposed site, which includes marked and unmarked burials. The commission plans to send a letter to the Stafford Board of Supervisors, who recently deferred a decision on the project, urging a full investigation and proper mitigation of cultural resources. Local critics and a descendant of those buried are actively opposing the current development plans.
The Stafford County Historical Commission expressed significant reservations about the proposed Potomac Creek Campus data center project due to the presence of a historic cemetery on the 99-acre site. The graveyard contains the marked burials of the Seddon family and at least 12 unmarked graves believed to belong to enslaved individuals. Critics, including local resident Connie Barrow and Jeff Eastland, argue that the cemetery's historical and sacred importance should not be treated as a mere obstacle to development.
Chaired by Anita Dodd, the commission convened a special meeting to discuss the project and subsequently decided to send a letter to the Stafford Board of Supervisors. This letter will detail procedures for mitigating and protecting cultural resources. Attorney Mark Looney, representing the developer, stated that the company is prepared to preserve the cemetery in place or relocate it if legally mandated.
The Stafford Board of Supervisors had already voted to defer their decision on the project last week, requesting a "full investigation" into the site's historic resources. Bill Shelton, a descendant of individuals potentially buried in the cemetery, disputed the developer's claim that no descendants had come forward, stating he has visited the site annually for 30 years. Opposition continues to mount, with Eastland suggesting the deferral was merely a "stay of execution" for the project.