Hanover leaders delay voting on 430-acre data center proposal after hours of debate

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — After hours of debate, the Hanover County Planning Commission delayed its vote on the Mountain Road Tech Park, a proposal that would rezone nearly 430 acres into a data center campus.

During a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19, the planning commission voted unanimously to defer its decision on this controversial proposal.

The site, located off Route 33 and Mountain Road in Ashland, drew some support -- but mostly significant opposition. Many raised concerns about energy demand, infrastructure, traffic, environmental impacts and more.

"I don’t know why we have to keep building so much," said one resident. "I know it’s needed, but I’m not sure this is the place for it."

PREVIOUS: ‘We don’t want to be NOVA,' Hanover residents oppose new data center proposal

Developers with Tract said the project would include five building areas covering about 31 percent of the site. Additionally, 28% would be devoted to data center buildings, substations and supporting uses. They said they're also proposing three substations in the South Anna Magisterial District.

The company said proffered plans include three access points: the primary one along Route 33, a secondary construction entrance north of the primary access point that will later serve emergency use only and a third emergency access on Winschurch Road.

"This project aligns with most use and design recommendations of this land use designation," a developer said.

The project is expected to create 300 to 350 direct jobs and more than 1,000 construction jobs.

PREVIOUS: Proposed large-scale data center in Hanover to conduct balloon test

Clint Robertson, a resident who lives near part of the site and works with Friends of Hanover -- a local group opposing data centers -- said he would be directly impacted.

"It would be a nightmare," he said. "Between the pollution from the generators, the noise from the substations and generators ... I’m just not looking for this in my backyard."

According to the group, documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request show the county began positioning itself for data center development as early as 2019 through a consultant study they said was commissioned by the county.

"Is this process that we are going through real, or is it predetermined?" one member asked. "Because Hanover has refused to be transparent with us -- we’ve had to play our own part in educating the citizens."

The commission will discuss this proposal again during its March 19 meeting.