Franklin County residents demanding answers on “Project Flash”, data centers
Franklin County, Virginia residents are demanding transparency from local leaders regarding "Project Flash," a potential data center development. Concerns focus on the project's resource consumption and the county's current zoning ordinance, which allows data centers "by right" in areas like Summit View Business Park. Residents are pushing for changes to the zoning to require more public review for such projects.
Residents in Franklin County, Virginia, are increasingly concerned about a potential data center project dubbed "Project Flash," demanding greater transparency from their local government. Board of Supervisors member Tim Tatum acknowledged that data center companies contacted the county last year but stated that no formal deals or votes have been held regarding any project.
The proposed site for a data center is reportedly Summit View Business Park near Rocky Mount, which has over 150 undeveloped acres and is currently zoned to allow data centers "by right." Activists, including Lauren Walk, express worries about the significant natural resources a data center could consume and the lack of transparency in the process.
Opponents are advocating for changes to the county's new zoning ordinance. Specifically, they want to remove the "by right" designation for data centers in Summit View Business Park, which would necessitate more public hearings before any project approval. These concerns were voiced at a recent Franklin County Planning Commission meeting, where some residents protested by wearing red.
Ethan Ellis of 10 News reported that numerous Freedom of Information Act requests have been submitted to the county to obtain more details on Project Flash and potential data center developments. The community awaits responses to these requests.