Supervisors support higher standards for data centers

Members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors expressed interest in tightening the Zoning Ordinance on data centers at a March 12 meeting of the board’s Land Use Policy Committee.

At the meeting, staff from the Planning and Zoning Department outlined the changes they proposed in a recent report that would set higher standards for data centers.

Under the current Zoning Ordinance, data centers are allowed by right in areas with the industrial zoning designation of I-4 and above, meaning there is no requirement for public a hearing or approval by the Board of Supervisors.

That’s the case in the Bren Mar Park area of Mason District, where Starwood Capital Group is proposing to replace the Plaza 500 industrial park with a by-right 466,000 square-foot data center just 260 feet from people’s homes.

Residents of the Bren Pointe townhomes and nearby communities organized a grassroots campaign to oppose a by-right data center at Plaza 500, and several residents attended the Land Policy Committee meeting.

The residents are urging the Board of Supervisors to amend the Zoning Ordinance to require a zoning special exception for all data center proposals, which would necessitate public hearings and board approval.

Relate story: Bren Mar Park residents urge the BoS to act against a by-right data center

The report by the planning staff calls for higher standards for data standards, including maximum sizes, a minimum distance from residences, a requirement that HVAC equipment and generators be enclosed, and a requirement for a noise study.

The supervisors agreed on the following timetable to amend the Zoning Ordinance: The board will consider a board matter at its March 19 meeting to direct staff to begin work on revising the Zoning Ordinance.

Between March and May, the staff would develop a draft amendment and conduct outreach to the community. The Planning Commission would hold a public hearing in June, and the BoS would hold a hearing in July.

It’s not clear whether that timetable would be enough to stop the by-right center at Plaza 500. A site plan submitted for a by-right project is typically approved within 60 days.

The staff also proposed revising the Comprehensive Plan for data centers, but that would be a lengthier process.

Related story: County planners recommend more robust reviews of data centers

“The quicker we can get the Zoning Ordinance done, the better,” said Board Chair Jeffrey McKay. “There are by-right proposals out there. We need to address the issues we heard from the community.”

There still needs to be by-right data centers in heavily industrial areas, McKay said, as that will alleviate pressure on less-dense zones near residential areas. Data centers should be steered to the most appropriate areas of the county, rather than near neighborhoods.

McKay and several board members raised concerns about environmental issues, such as wastewater, setbacks, and size.

“We have a responsibility to residents and quality of life, and we also need to bring in revenue to Fairfax County,” said Supervisor Andres Jimenez (Mason). “We need to have continued input from residents and we need to put data centers in places where it makes sense.” They should be “an appropriate distance from residents.”

McKay also said it’s important that the standards for noise are enforced by the Department of Code Compliance.

The need to update the Zoning Ordinance for the electrical substations required for data centers would have to be done later, he said. “We don’t want that to hold up this work.”