Madison Heights neighbors push zoning change for county industrial site eyed by data centers
Residents in Madison Heights, Amherst County, Virginia, are advocating for a zoning change to an industrial site eyed by data centers. Currently, data centers are a 'by right' use, meaning they require no special approval. The Amherst County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission are now reviewing the request to change the zoning to allow for more public input and oversight.
Residents of Madison Heights in Amherst County, Virginia, are actively campaigning for a zoning amendment to the Dillard Industrial Sites, a property owned by the Economic Development Authority of Amherst County. This site is currently zoned M-1 industrial, allowing data centers to be built "by right" without needing specific local approvals. Neighbors, including Sky Palcot and Teresa Almond, are concerned about potential data center development near their homes and are pushing to change this zoning, arguing it would give citizens a voice and more control over such projects.
Amherst County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chair Chris Adams confirmed that county staff are now gathering information and comparative data to review the potential change to the 'by right' use of data centers in the M-1 zone. While he noted that a zoning change wouldn't entirely prevent a data center, it would introduce additional steps and oversight. The Economic Development Authority also acknowledged that data center companies have expressed interest in the site, though no formal development applications have been approved. The Amherst County Board of Supervisors is slated to discuss the land's zoning at an upcoming meeting, as residents seek the opportunity for public discourse on the matter.