Fredericksburg Council treats the TOD as a promise, not just a map
The Fredericksburg City Council unanimously denied a rezoning and height permit for a data center project outside the city's designated Technology Overlay District (TOD). Council members stated they felt bound by the 2025 TOD map, which was created as a promise to residents about where data centers would be permitted. This decision effectively blocked the 1500 Gateway LLC project.
The Fredericksburg City Council voted unanimously to deny a rezoning and height permit for a proposed data center project, 1500 Gateway, planned for the Hylton tract along Interstate 95. The vote, which took place after midnight on August 26, followed two unanimous recommendations for denial by the Planning Commission.
The Council's decision was rooted in its interpretation of the Technology Overlay District (TOD) approved in 2025, which members viewed as a political promise to residents that data centers would only be developed within that specific mapped area. Councilors, including Dr. Will B. Mackintosh and Ward 1 Councilor Matt D. Rowe, emphasized that while the TOD text itself didn't explicitly forbid data centers elsewhere, the community conversation during its establishment created an expectation that development would be confined to the designated district. Mayor Kerry P. Devine and Ward 2 Councilor Joy Y. Crump echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of maintaining community trust.
The 1500 Gateway LLC project, an affiliate of Penzance, did not apply to join the TOD, which is slated for a campus led by STACK Infrastructure and The Silver Companies in Celebrate Virginia South. Zoning Administrator Kelly Machen noted that the proposed 1500 Gateway project differed from TOD guidelines in acreage, building height, and cooling methods. The denial was moved by Ward 3 Councilor Susanna R. Finn and seconded by Councilor Rowe, with no member speaking in favor of the project before the 7-0 vote.