‘The question is, why?’: Varina residents say anti-data center signs were stolen from private property
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Residents throughout the Varina District of Henrico County are frustrated after they said their anti-data center signs were stolen.
The district has become a magnet for data centers, but residents are sounding the alarm on potential environmental and health impacts.
Residents told 8News some of the signs were stolen off of private property and they're left wondering who's responsible.
“It’s very upsetting and disheartening," said Varina resident Shantell Lewis.
The signs residents say were stolen along Darbytown Road in Henrico.
Lewis, who’s lived in Varina for 18 years, said the signs were put up on Sunday, Aug. 31 and Monday, Sept. 1, in preparation for a Planning Commission meeting on Sept. 11 where leaders will be voting on a center wanting to come to the area.
“The whole goal was to let the community know and educate them on the data center that’s coming at 2300 Darbytown Road," Lewis said.
With nearly 40 data centers already in the county, residents are concerned about noise and light pollution, impacts on nearby schools and homes, and wildlife. Virginia is the data center capitol of the world, and the complexes come with what leaders consider major tax benefits.
“If you wanna take [the signs], we’re still gonna educate the community, do whatever we have to do, pay whatever we have to pay in order to educate everybody," Lewis said.
Lewis said she’s spent $190 to get these signs made and worked with other residents to make the design, who've also spent their money on the signs.
There’s one question for Lewis that remains.
"The question is, ‘why?’ Why would someone who wants to educate the community on this data center and they put it on private property where that’s in your yard, to have it moved the same day,” Lewis said.
Stealing a sign off private property is illegal. The charge is typically a misdemeanor theft or larceny with fines up to over a thousand dollars.
Lewis said some residents have told her they may get law enforcement involved. She asks if anyone saw anything or has security footage of this happen to contact her at saynotodatacenters@gmail.com.
