Hanover Board of Supervisors denies controversial Mountain Road data center development
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to deny a controversial data center development proposed by Tract off Mountain Road. This decision followed strong community opposition citing concerns over traffic, noise, and substantial water usage.
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to deny a controversial data center development proposed by Tract, signaling a victory for local residents who had expressed strong opposition. The proposed campus, slated for over 400 acres off Mountain Road near the Henrico County line, sparked concerns over increased traffic, noise pollution, and substantial water consumption, which developers estimated would be in the hundreds of thousands of gallons daily.
Despite the Hanover Planning Commission's recommendation for approval last month, the Board's decision on Wednesday night aligned with community sentiment. Residents who attended the meeting voiced relief, feeling that county leaders finally heeded their concerns after months of uncertainty. Opponents highlighted the broad, bipartisan nature of the opposition, emphasizing that the project was perceived as detrimental to the community's well-being. Developers had projected the data center would generate approximately $900 million in revenue for the county over two decades and create about 1,000 construction jobs.