BoS calls for new regulations on data centers
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution March 20 directing planning staff to draft a Zoning Ordinance amendment to strengthen the regulations for data centers.
The resolution, offered by Kathy Smith (Sully), says the proposed zoning amendment should include additional standards for by-right and special exception permissions for data centers and should address appropriate sizes and locations.
The amendment will be brought before the board for a public hearing in July, Smith said. “With the expedited timeframe, it is recognized that the community engagement efforts must largely be centralized, with virtual meeting options to maximize opportunities for citizen involvement.”
Related story: Bren Mar Park residents urge the BoS to act against a by-right data center
The resolution follows a staff report issued in January proposing a series of recommendations for stricter rules to reduce the environmental impacts of data centers.
At a meeting of the board’s Land Policy Committee earlier this month, the supervisors agreed that they need to move quickly on this.
A group of residents of the Bren Mar Park area in Mason District have been urging the board to change the Zoning Ordinance as soon as possible to avert a by-right data center planned for the Plaza 500 site on Edsall Road.
Related story: Supervisors support higher standards for data centers
At the March 20 board meeting, Supervisor Andres Jimenez (Mason) said that when the board looks at data centers, it should consider “the jobs and revenue they bring to Fairfax County and also make sure that communities come first, that we’re putting data centers where they belong.”
Smith suggested regulations for the electrical substations that serve data centers be considered at a later date.
