Loudoun officials say Amazon needs county approval to build data centers at VSTC campus
Loudoun County officials determined that Amazon cannot build its proposed data centers at George Washington University’s former Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn without additional county approval. The 805,092-square-foot project faces zoning and higher-education land-use restrictions, as well as opposition from residents and students concerned about environmental and electricity infrastructure impacts.
Loudoun County Zoning Administrator Teresa Miller told the Board of Supervisors that Amazon’s proposed four-building data center campus at the former Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn is not permitted as a primary use under the property’s existing zoning. Amazon must obtain county approval, and separate land-use covenants requiring portions of the site to remain devoted to higher education may also need to be changed.
Amazon purchased the campus from George Washington University for $427 million and submitted a revised site plan for review after county officials rejected its initial application. The project has drawn opposition from nearby residents and GW students over its potential environmental effects and demands on local electricity infrastructure. County officials have also adopted rules requiring future data center projects to receive Board of Supervisors approval and a public hearing, while further zoning amendments affecting the site remain under consideration.