Hanover County officials vote down a controversial data center proposal
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to deny a controversial proposal by Tract for the Mountain Road Tech Park, which would have brought multiple data centers to the county. The decision came after months of strong community opposition, primarily driven by concerns over water usage, environmental impacts, and the project's effect on the rural landscape. Despite developer concessions, the board sided with residents, blocking the project's advancement.
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors has voted 4-3 to reject the Mountain Road Tech Park proposal, effectively blocking the construction of multiple new data centers on a nearly 430-acre site. The applicant, land-acquisition company Tract, argued the project aligned with the land's designation and served a growing industry, with spokesperson Erin Fosdick highlighting the data centers' support for AI, schools, banks, and hospitals. Tract also proposed a $15 million investment in county water infrastructure and adjustments like increased site buffers and noise studies to address concerns.
However, the proposal faced months of strong community opposition. Residents like Caitlyn Mayers and Jane Kirchner voiced concerns about noise, emissions, waste, significant water consumption (estimated at 600,000 gallons, up to 90% of the zone's supply), limited job creation, and negative impacts on the rural landscape.
The board considered three motions: rezoning the land to limited industrial, a conditional use permit for three substations, and a special exception for building and fence heights. Supervisors Susan Dibble, Michael Herzberg, and Ryan Hudson voted in favor, noting improvements to the project plan and its alignment with land use. However, the majority, including Supervisor Faye Prichard, voted against it, citing the overwhelming citizen opposition as a primary factor in their decision.