Major chains, Latin American grocers or a bigger farmer's market? Orange Town Council candidates split on how to land a second grocery store
Candidates for Orange Town Council expressed opposition to data center development in the town, citing limited water and power capacity, impacts on the historic community, and infrastructure concerns. Candidate Sara Jaeger proposed a moratorium on discussions and site studies until stronger zoning protections are adopted, while other candidates supported tighter regulations.
Candidates for Orange Town Council in Orange, Virginia, broadly opposed new data centers in the town. Jeffrey Crane, Zachary Ashworth, Will Morton and Sara Jaeger each said development should be blocked or more tightly regulated, citing the town’s limited water and electricity infrastructure, historic character, rural setting and potential quality-of-life impacts.
Jaeger proposed a moratorium preventing town officials and staff from discussing sites, conducting studies, courting developers or signing nondisclosure agreements until stronger zoning rules are in place. Ashworth supported measures including banning the use of town water for cooling, requiring 1,000-foot setbacks from homes, imposing height limits and making applicants pay for infrastructure. The article presents these positions as candidate responses in a local election questionnaire; it does not report that a new moratorium or zoning ordinance has been adopted.