Charles City County defers vote on controversial data center amid push back

CHARLES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Dozens of Charles City County residents filled the county meeting room Tuesday night, voicing fierce opposition to a proposed 515-acre data center development.

The Charles City County Board of Supervisors meeting was held in the evening on Tuesday, June 24.

"You're swimming in the water with sharks right now," one neighbor said to board members during public comment.

In a unanimous decision, county leaders voted to defer the proposal. It was also pushed back during a board meeting back in May.

"Neighbors are overwhelmingly against this type of project," another neighbor said. "Please... read the room."

For months, neighbors have been voicing frustrations with the center, spearheaded by Diode Ventures. They argue it'll bring years of disruptive construction, along with lasting noise and light pollution.

"Light and noise pollution aren't just a concern because we can see and hear it, it can drive you crazy," a concerned neighbor said.

The proposed site sits near Charles City and Roxbury Roads, near hundreds of homes. Board members said that since the 1970s, the area had been identified for this type of use.

"Using an outdated vision to justify a massive industrial facility in 2025 is completely out of touch with our current needs and values," a neighbor said.

Residents also expressed frustration over what they see as a lack of transparency and engagement from both county officials and Diode Ventures. They pointed out that only one board member had attended their town hall meetings about it.

Despite the criticism, Diode Ventures said it has made efforts to respond to the community’s input.

"The application has become the product of many months of engagement... in order to try to hear some of what’s been presented by the community," said Preston Lloyd, an attorney representing the company.

Lloyd also emphasized the potential benefits of the project, including more than 80 permanent jobs and expanded buffer zones between homes and the facility, now increased from 100 to 200 feet. He also said it'll bring money into the county once it's built.