Stafford County pauses data center project over historic cemetery concerns
Stafford County leaders have paused a proposed data center project after discovering the site may contain unmarked graves of enslaved people within a historic cemetery. The Board of Supervisors is seeking more information before making a final decision, supporting an archaeological study to locate human remains. This decision comes amidst growing resident concerns about the project's impact and the number of data centers already approved in the county.
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors has temporarily halted a proposed data center development due to the potential presence of a historic cemetery containing unmarked graves believed to belong to enslaved people. The 99-acre site, known as the Potomac Creek Development Data Center, has sparked significant concern among residents and some board members, who voiced discomfort with disturbing such a sensitive historical site.
While Stafford County has approved multiple data centers recently, this particular project is facing resistance over the moral implications of building on the burial ground, which dates back to the 1700s. Historians believe many unmarked graves in the cemetery are those of enslaved individuals. Residents and board members expressed strong opposition to the idea of disinterring or disturbing these remains, calling for a "course correction" in the county's development approach.
After a tense meeting, the board decided not to vote down the proposal but rather to pause it, requesting more information. They approved a plan for the developer to conduct an archaeological study to precisely determine the location of any human remains. The Board of Supervisors expects to revisit the issue in approximately two months, with reporter Sarah Robinson of WUSA9 covering the ongoing developments in Stafford County.