Hanover Planning Commission recommends approval of 430-acre data center project

The Hanover Planning Commission has voted 6-1 to recommend approval for a major data center campus proposed by Denver-based developer Tract. The project, dubbed Mountain Road Technology Park, seeks to rezone nearly 430 acres at 13074 Mountain Road and 12517 Winns Church Road in western Hanover County for a 900-megawatt development, including multiple data centers and supporting substations. Tract, whose business model involves developing infrastructure and then selling portions to other firms, anticipates the first buildings to be operational by late 2029 with full buildout by 2035, creating 300-350 jobs. The proposal faced considerable public pushback, with twenty individuals speaking against it during the meeting's public comment period. Opponents voiced concerns regarding increased traffic, environmental impacts, and the demand on the local water supply, with some calling for a moratorium on new data center developments. Tract projects an average daily water usage of 600,000 gallons, with peaks up to 2 million, though the company has agreed to pay $15 million to Hanover County for a pump station and water storage tank, among other proffers. Commissioner Fred McGhee supported the project, emphasizing its potential for significant county revenue, while Commissioner Alan Abbott cast the lone dissenting vote, citing unresolved traffic concerns and a desire for more data from Tract's other ongoing Hanover project near Ashland. The zoning request, which involves reclassifying the land from Agricultural to Limited Industrial and securing a conditional-use permit for substations, will now proceed to the Hanover Board of Supervisors for a final determination.