Frederick County Restricts Data Centers Amid Debate Over Two Proposed Campuses
Frederick County officials removed data centers from the county's allowed and conditional uses, citing intense public opposition and concerns about community and environmental impacts. Two previously filed proposals, the Winchester Gateway campus in Kernstown and Virginia Technology Park in Clear Brook, remain under consideration and were scheduled for a Board of Supervisors vote.
Frederick County, Virginia, has restricted future data center development by removing data centers as an allowed or conditional use in the county ordinance. The decision followed growing opposition from residents, including conservatives, who cited concerns about private wells, low-frequency noise, aesthetics and the broader effects of large campuses. The county's action came despite earlier efforts to attract data centers for their potential tax revenue.
The Winchester Gateway proposal in Kernstown and the 220-acre Virginia Technology Park proposal in Clear Brook were filed before the ordinance change and therefore remain under review. The Frederick County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to vote on both projects on Oct. 28. Local officials and residents remain divided, with supporters emphasizing tax revenue and U.S. competition in artificial intelligence, while opponents argue that the projects would impose unacceptable community and environmental costs.