Fairfax County OKs Chantilly land sale to data center builder, as some cry foul

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 9-0 to approve the sale of 41.7 acres of county-owned land in Chantilly to SCG Capital Holdings LLC, an entity of Starwood Capital Group, for $166.8 million. The land, currently part of the police department’s training facility at 3721 Stonecroft Blvd, is slated for data center development. The county plans to use the revenue to modernize police training facilities on the remaining 86.2 acres. Officials clarified that the sale does not guarantee the necessary zoning approvals for the data center project. The decision sparked considerable public debate during a 40-minute testimony session. Critics, including Renee Grebe of Nature Forward and Ting Waymouth of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, expressed environmental concerns, citing the detrimental impact on human health and the need for the county to prioritize climate considerations. Douglas Stewart of the Virginia Sierra Club criticized the lack of public notice, noting that a letter of intent was signed in June 2023, while the proposed sale was only publicized in February 2024. He called for a more transparent process. Conversely, George Landrith, a Chantilly resident, supported the sale as a "rare opportunity to strengthen public safety" by funding improved police training facilities. However, opponents like David Browning argued against selling a long-term community asset to private industry. The agreement is not expected to conclude until spring 2027, with the county anticipating approximately $20 million in annual tax revenue from the developed property. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club’s Great Falls Group, decried the board's vote, expressing concerns about the industrialization of the Sully District and the cumulative health effects of emissions from data center power generators. They highlighted that over 8,000 diesel-fueled generators have been approved for data centers in western Fairfax County, nearly 20% for non-emergency use, and criticized the board for not adequately considering these impacts.