Martinsville Field Notes: Data centers, solar projects on Henry County agenda
The Henry County Board of Supervisors is set to consider comprehensive zoning changes that would define data centers, restrict their locations, and impose requirements for special use permits. These proposed regulations include mandates for water impact studies and noise testing. The proactive measures aim to manage future data center development in the county, despite there being no active proposals currently.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider significant changes to its zoning ordinance related to data centers and solar projects at its upcoming Tuesday meeting. According to Brandon Martin, the county's public information officer, these are preliminary measures to update the zoning ordinance, provide a clear definition for data centers, and establish restrictions on their placement and operational requirements.
The proposed zoning changes would mandate that any data center company seeking a special use permit provide a water impact study, conduct noise testing, and meet equipment requirements to ensure they are not intrusive to industrial parks. While no active data center proposals are currently in the county, these regulations are designed to proactively manage future development. Individual data center applications would undergo a special use permit process, including public hearings before the county board of zoning appeals.
Data centers would be limited to industrially zoned properties, such as Commonwealth Crossing, the Patriot Centre, and Martinsville Industrial Park. Companies could also seek to rezone agricultural land, a process that would involve public hearings with the planning commission and board of supervisors. Separately, the board will also discuss lowering the cap on land designated for solar projects to 1,754 acres, aligning with current approved usage, in an effort to preserve rural and farmland. The article also includes updates on the annual Dino Festival at the Virginia Museum of Natural History and a Martinsville sales tax referendum for school improvements.