Prince William Supervisors Vote to End By-Right Data Center Development
Prince William County supervisors unanimously voted to end by-right data center approvals countywide and significantly shrink the data center overlay. Future projects will now require a special use permit. A 90-day grace period for existing applications was maintained.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors in Virginia voted 8-0 to enact a zoning text amendment that effectively ends by-right data center development throughout the county. This decision significantly shrinks the county's data center overlay from approximately 9,698 acres to 3,654 acres, requiring all future data center projects outside this revised overlay to obtain a special use permit.
The board opted for a 90-day grace period for applications already in the pipeline, a compromise proposed by Brentsville Supervisor Tom Gordy, over the Planning Commission's recommendation of 120 days. A motion by Gainesville Supervisor George Stewart to eliminate the grace period entirely failed 3-5. Planning Director Tanya Washington also indicated that a proposal for residential-and-school setbacks for data centers is slated for a November Planning Commission hearing and a January board hearing.
In related news, Governor Abigail Spanberger sent a letter to congressional leaders requesting national artificial intelligence regulations covering safety, jobs, privacy, and the resources consumed by AI infrastructure. This follows her recent Executive Order 22 establishing a state AI task force and a data-center accountability framework, acknowledging Virginia's status as a major data center hub. Additionally, a community conversation on data centers hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area discussed local tax rates for computer equipment and the significant power demands of facilities, such as the Stafford Technology Center's 1-gigawatt capacity.