Prince William Planning Staff Cites Deficiencies in Four Seasons Data Center Proposals

Developers William Cooley of Atlantic Funding LLC and Barrie Peterson of Southgate Business LLC have submitted separate applications to Prince William County's planning department for six data centers adjacent to the Four Seasons at Historic Virginia 55-and-over retirement community. This follows an earlier joint "Lexora Park" proposal that was rejected by the Four Seasons HOA.

County planners have stated there are "substantial issues and deficiencies that need to be addressed" before either proposal can move forward. Staff expressed significant concerns regarding the height, bulk, scale, and massing impacts of the proposed data centers due to their close proximity to the age-restricted residences, as well as an overall lack of site design details. Both properties are outside the county’s Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District.

Attorney Corey Stewart represents Cooley's Atlantic Funding project, which includes three data center buildings and one substation, totaling roughly 700,000 square feet of data center use. Peterson's Southgate South proposal, also with three data centers and a substation, consists of up to 909,000 square feet. Both developers have 45 days from initial county feedback to make necessary changes. Residents of the Four Seasons community have actively opposed the projects, with a town hall held where many wore t-shirts stating "Four Seasons says 'No' to Data Centers."

As of now, no Planning Commission public hearings are scheduled for either project, which would be the next step before consideration by the Board of County Supervisors.