Board of Supervisors rejects data center development in Prince William County
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected a plan to rezone 2,000 acres in Gainesville for the Dulles South Innovation Center, a large data center development. The decision followed hours of public debate and concerns over environmental impact and alignment with county plans. Developers indicate the discussion for the area's future development is ongoing.
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted against a proposal for a nearly 2,000-acre data center development in Gainesville, Virginia. The decision came after hours of public debate and discussion on Tuesday night. The project, known as the Dulles South Innovation Center, sought to rezone land along Saunders Lane for a 40.3 million square foot data center facility.
Gainesville District Supervisor George Stewart stated the plan did not align with the county's comprehensive or strategic plans, citing environmental concerns and negative impacts on residents. Prior to the vote, protests were held echoing these sentiments. However, local resident Josiah Hunter expressed that the location near I-66 and Route 50, with existing infrastructure, made sense for such a development.
Despite the rejection, both Hunter and Supervisor Stewart believe that development in the area is inevitable and that the conversation is not closed. Stewart encouraged all parties to collaborate on future plans.
Developers behind the Dulles South Innovation Center expressed their commitment to the project, issuing a statement that characterized the opposition as "anti-development" rather than "anti-data center," noting these groups have historically fought many projects in Western Prince William County.