Iron Horse data center proposal deferred in Hanover County
A rezoning request for the Iron Horse data center proposal in Hanover County, Virginia, was deferred by the planning commission, frustrating community members. Residents voiced concerns about noise, contamination, and strain on water and electrical infrastructure. Developers are pursuing a scaled-back version of a previously rejected plan, with the proposal set to return to the planning commission on July 16.
A rezoning request for the Iron Horse data center proposal in Hanover County, Virginia, was deferred during a planning commission meeting on Thursday, prompting frustration among dozens of attending community members. Developers are seeking to rezone 78 acres in the Beaverdam district, off East Patrick Henry Road, from a mixed-use district to limited industrial to construct multiple data centers and related facilities. They also require permission for buildings up to 75 feet tall, exceeding current zoning limits.
The deferral was requested by the developers approximately an hour before the meeting. This is not the first attempt to develop data centers at this site; a similar request in 2024 was approved by the Town of Ashland but rejected by Hanover supervisors. The current proposal is a slightly reduced version.
Residents, including Mark Bruner, expressed concerns about the environmental impact, noise, and potential well contamination, as well as the strain on local water and electrical infrastructure. Jennifer Corpus, representing Friends of Hanover, highlighted that the approved Hickory Hill data center development nearby makes another project in the area undesirable, fearing the creation of a "data center corridor." The proposal is scheduled to return before the planning commission on July 16.