Tag: data centers
New restrictions proposed for data centers
Draft guidelines proposed by Fairfax County staff tighten the requirements for data centers, as directed by the Board of Supervisors. The guidelines, part of a Zoning Ordinance amendment, would limit the locations for by-right data centers, require noise studies, and require generators to be enclosed. Applications for a zoning special exception require a public hearing; … Continued
Residents concerned about Dominion’s substation project
About 100 residents of the Bren Mar Park area came to an “open house” with Dominion Energy representatives April 9 to learn about the utility company’s plans for a new substation and transmission line to serve a data center planned for the Plaza 500 site. None of the dozen or so maps of the project … Continued
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 … Continued
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 … Continued
Bren Mar Park residents urge the BoS to act against a by-right data center
Residents of Bren Mar Park are again fighting plans for a data center in their neighborhood. In 2022, residents successfully mobilized against a rezoning proposal for a data center at Plaza 500, an industrial/business park at 6295 Edsall Road. At that time, the Board of Supervisors deferred action indefinitely on the data center proposal, and … Continued
Board approves huge data center
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning application Jan. 23 to allow the construction of a 110-foot-tall data center on Route 50 in Chantilly. Nearly all the 25 people who spoke at the public hearing cited concerns with noise and environmental issues. One major complaint is the potential for a diesel leak that … Continued
Supervisors to vote on huge data center
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a hearing on Jan. 23 on a huge data center in Chantilly that could have a negative impact on the county’s drinking water. An affiliate of Penzance is seeking a rezoning and special exception to build a 110-foot-tall data center in a resource protection area. … Continued
County planners recommend more robust reviews of data centers
Fairfax County planning staff issued a report on data centers that recommends additional requirements to address the potential negative impacts on the environment and nearby residential communities. Last May, the Board of Supervisors directed to staff conduct research and present recommendations on how proposals for data centers should be considered with regard to zoning, siting, … Continued
Huge data center could threaten water supply
Why should Mason District residents be concerned about a massive data center proposed for Chantilly? Because it has the potential for damaging water and air quality throughout the county. Penzance, a D.C.-based developer, is proposing a 402,000-square-foot, 100-foot tall data center off Route 50 in a resource protection area adjacent to the Cub Run Stream … Continued
Board of Supervisors approves zMod and calls for guidelines on data centers
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved zMod – for the second time – on May 9 and also approved a follow-on motion calling for guidelines on data centers. zMod is a complete overhaul of the county’s 1978 zoning ordinance. The Board of Supervisors initially approved zMod two years ago. The state Supreme Court overturned … Continued
Planning Commission recommends approval of zMod despite widespread opposition
The Fairfax County Planning Commission on May 3 voted unanimously to recommend the Board of Supervisors approve an overhaul of the county’s zoning ordinance known as zMod. The Planning Commission also agreed to have its Land Use Process Review Committee look at some of the issues raised by residents during the public hearing, with the … Continued