‘I had no clue’: Petersburg council members say they were in the dark about data centers revealed in BizSense report
Petersburg city council members and the mayor claim they were unaware of three additional data center projects revealed in a local news report, sparking calls for better communication from city administration. The lack of awareness is partly attributed to a recent zoning code amendment that allows data centers as a by-right use in industrial districts, circumventing council approvals and public hearings for some projects.
Petersburg City Council members, including Councilman Charlie Cuthbert and Mayor Samuel Parham, reported being largely unaware of three new data center developments in the city until reading about them in a Richmond BizSense report. The revelations led to calls for increased transparency and better communication from city administration regarding major projects.
The BizSense article, which detailed four data center projects, including one by Warrenton Group and three new ones by Menlo Digital, NuVu Real Estate, and Wagner Properties, highlighted how some projects proceeded without direct council approval or public hearings. This was due to a 2024 amendment to the city's zoning code that allows data centers as a by-right use in industrial-zoned districts.
Councilman Cuthbert expressed concerns about this zoning change, advocating for a return to special-use permits to allow the council more oversight and flexibility to protect neighborhoods. Other council members, like Annette Smith-Lee and Marlow Jones, echoed frustrations over being uninformed, emphasizing the need for proper protocol and shared information among city leaders.