Prince William Planning Commission recommends ending by-right data centers, downsizing data center district
The Prince William County Planning Commission has recommended ending by-right data center development and significantly reducing the Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District. This proposal, which also includes a 120-day grace period for the new zoning text amendment, will proceed to a public hearing before the Board of County Supervisors on September 22. The change would require all future data center projects to obtain a special use permit.
The Prince William County Planning Commission has formally recommended a significant overhaul of the county's data center zoning regulations. On September 10, the commission voted to endorse a proposal that would eliminate 'by-right' data center construction, requiring all future data center projects to undergo a special use permit process and receive final approval from the Board of County Supervisors.
The recommendation also includes a drastic reduction in the size and scope of the existing Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District, which has been in place since 2016. After an initial deadlock, commissioners agreed on a 120-day grace period for the new zoning text amendment to take effect, a compromise reached after extensive discussion, including proposals for both immediate implementation and a six-month delay.
The pivotal measure, initiated by the Board of County Supervisors on June 9, is scheduled for a public hearing before the board on September 22. Commissioners Qwendolyn Brown (Neabsco District), Karla Justice (Coles), Michael Sherman (Potomac), Brian Landrum (Woodbridge), and Raheel Sheikh (Occoquan District) voted in favor of the 120-day grace period, while Chris Carroll (Brentsville), Blake Ross (Gainesville), and Mark Scheufler (At-Large) cast dissenting votes. The commission also considered mandating a 500-foot buffer between data centers and residential areas or schools.