[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6510684,"mediaKeyId","5358896-f405d864599f94018e693764dfa6c8af","parentId",5358896,"title","Board and planning commission decline to advance two large data‑center plan amendments; members call for countywide study","audioSeconds",2065,"startMs",7164000,"endMs",9229000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5358896-f405d864599f94018e693764dfa6c8af&start=7164&end=9229","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5358896-f405d864599f94018e693764dfa6c8af/thumbnail_7164000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510684/Frederick-County/Virginia/Board-and-planning-commission-decline-to-advance-two-large-datacenter-plan-amendments-members-call-for-countywide-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510684-a93b3183c5d11ca39d478d5cf985d293/orig.mp4?Expires=1770488682&Signature=nDqJolavc1AWk1xqlXBp7eMPGnskuR~6jY-E25yushswTMnttYFlR7Q9bB664q-e6Z5UPH1MKhVEksDQULyh4aaYjDdFfH80RHd5tYc5HVq3-LnXF1wW1rdI9nzyXyjuWNx-BMOyBEsisnXu65Yjl3V61tR0lQ8iygiuUIcNwPt8APB-8KwzrZ6PnqsWaFtoQnzrcjqPX5EhYCkYWlb1POTKMr-hFnLUQtruM4KpDC9NBhQWCuqeihAkwGpN9x7shPWapnpMeDbUT3svE6k7BlJ8DRFSRedmCxWau4RivrrvVmYOyNdX5TTPIYtynA~kvgqtnvB~ONgOrfOjrSU6dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Frederick County, VA","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Frederick County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission on Oct. 26 did not move forward at this time with two proposed comprehensive-plan amendments that would enable large data-center campuses in the Back Creek area and near Route 37.

Both proposals — Meadowbrook Technology Park, a roughly 644-acre request to re-designate rural land for mixed industrial/technology park uses (presented as intended to allow data‑center development), and Winchester Gateway, a 105.63-acre proposal to add the property to the county's sewer and water service area and allow technology/industrial uses — prompted sustained public comment and lengthy questions from supervisors and planning commissioners concerning water use, noise, power transmission and the loss of agricultural land.

At the Meadowbrook presentation, applicant representatives described the technical reasons for choosing the site, citing scale, proximity to an existing high-capacity substation and access to long‑haul fiber and Winchester Water. An applicant representative said current engineering estimates show a maximum proffered water usage of roughly 700,000 gallons per day and that the design includes recirculation and mitigation measures. The applicant also said modern data‑center design and proffered acoustical measures aim to keep noise within county performance standards.

Despite those representations, multiple planning commissioners and supervisors voiced strong reservations. Planning Commissioner Molly Brennan — who said she moved to Frederick County from Loudoun County to escape the proliferation of hyperscale data centers there — urged caution and said she opposed moving the Meadowbrook application forward. Concerns raised by board and commission members included the long-term effect on groundwater and regional water supplies, the adequacy of wastewater and transmission infrastructure, noise and generator-test frequency, the visual impact on farmland and the potential for incremental ‘‘creep’’ of additional data campuses across rural land.

By the time Winchester Gateway was discussed, several supervisors and commissioners said the county lacked a clear, countywide policy about whether and where hyperscale data centers should be located. Some commissioners argued that, if the county wishes to consider data centers at all, it should identify preferred locations and standards through the comprehensive‑plan update rather than reacting parcel-by-parcel. Others urged a town‑hall style briefing with independent experts on power transmission, generation, water supply and environmental impacts before any project-specific studies proceed.

Outcome and next steps: Both project teams were told the joint panel would not forward the applications for further study at this time. Several board members and commissioners asked staff and the Economic Development Authority to convene technical briefings and public engagement — including neutral third-party experts on transmission and water — so the county can evaluate whether it wants to accommodate hyperscale data centers and, if so, where and under what standards.

What was not decided: The county did not adopt any ordinance, change zoning, or deny future rezoning requests on either parcel; rather, supervisors recorded a policy-level consensus not to advance these particular comp-plan amendment applications now and asked staff for broader study and public engagement. If the board later decides to permit such uses, any development would still require rezoning or conditional-use approvals and environmental, traffic and utility studies.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors\tJune 18, 2025 - 6:45 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Frederick County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission declined to forward two proposed comprehensive‑plan amendments that would enable large data‑center campuses — Meadowbrook Technology Park (about 644 acres) and Winchester Gateway (105.63 acres) — citing unresolved questions about water, noise, power and impacts to farmland.","taxTitle","Frederick County, Virginia","taxId",5106,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6510687,"Frederick County agrees to further study Middletown Business Park plan change",1141,1665000,2806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5358896-f405d864599f94018e693764dfa6c8af&start=1665&end=2806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5358896-f405d864599f94018e693764dfa6c8af/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","/articles/6510687/Frederick-County/Virginia/Frederick-County-agrees-to-further-study-Middletown-Business-Park-plan-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510687-9855cb515ff0e784b1cd1fc946cd8077/orig.mp4?Expires=1770488682&Signature=Z-UYLClyonS-GAmTjmZnohw~I1pwiIe57cHV2VfAfrSYI-bIqs-C4Bz7Rp30VZpzQZ1iBqUZhNKy-AOa0qmnNB2-Z8lVqKut~B4mvngw~sWHn1HXGgIBHvU0zx7Y2mzJsttGozjlMW202IRy~VqorzLoqh9CSbdU960B-oVHj6I0Gt8ID4pk05v7d6QHyw9htrw9Ac50EXbZQmptjpZmXFPJsuda~Ytq0l-4-l83F7knqnEZMR4L5TBIqmTiZpfn1To7jgtUKaGzvHqAKa1Rk8C2c56jye7XFaJREAL~FTuCOMe7VvuzFGJDzfrh1FbVTKdWUoIoVKhACJM7NqGg3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Frederick County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission on Oct. 26 agreed to forward for further study a proposal to change the comprehensive-plan land-use designation for two parcels totaling 42.49 acres at the Middletown interchange.

The action, taken after a joint work-session presentation by county planning staff and the applicant, authorizes staff to pursue agency review and schedule public hearings at the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. Chairman Josh Ludwig, Board of Supervisors chairman, reminded the public at the start of the meeting that “we are not approving any particular project tonight. That’s not how this process works.”

Why it matters: forwarding an application for further study does not rezone property or grant development rights. It clears the way for detailed technical review — including transportation and utility analyses — and for the public to weigh in during later public hearings.

Staff and applicants said the application seeks to change the long-range land-use categories on two adjacent parcels from highway commercial and mixed-use industrial-office to general business/industrial transition (B2/B3). Wyatt Pearson, Planning Director, told the joint panel that comprehensive-plan amendments “are in and of themselves, not rezoning applications,” and that two of the county’s three applications this cycle have concurrent rezoning planned, which staff supports so technical impacts (water, power, traffic) can be evaluated together.

The applicant’s representative, Chris Myers of Walsh Colucci, said the contract purchaser intends to pursue plan text and map amendments to permit general commercial and industrial transition development, and that potential future users would be recruited through a forthcoming rezoning application. Dan Veil of Equis Capital Partners said the initial concept is for two relatively modest industrial/warehouse-class A buildings to supply jobs and support the region’s manufacturing base.

Planning commissioners and supervisors questioned likely uses, infrastructure availability, and potential historic-resource impacts. Commissioners noted part of the parcel is currently zoned B2 from earlier zoning adoption and that the site abuts planned transportation improvements. Staff said water and sewer service would be coordinated with the town of Middletown under an existing interlocal agreement, and that any capacity upgrades would be the applicant’s responsibility.

The board recorded a five-vote majority to forward the application for further study and authorize staff to begin agency review and advertise the plan amendment for public hearings. Staff said the typical follow-up timeline would include agency comments, referral to advisory committees, a planning-commission work session and public hearing (tentatively in September), and then the Board of Supervisors’ public hearing process.

What’s next: If the board formally authorizes public hearings after further study, the application will move to rezonings or conditional-use permitting if the applicant chooses to request development rights. Those formal land-use changes would be the stage at which specific mitigation — for traffic, utilities and historic resources — would be required and publicly debated.","The Frederick County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission agreed to send a proposed comprehensive-plan amendment for the Middletown Business Park (42.49 acres) forward for further study and public hearing; staff will seek agency comments and additional analysis before any rezoning or approvals.","actionData","errors"]

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Board and planning commission decline to advance two large data‑center plan amendments; members call for countywide study

Frederick County agrees to further study Middletown Business Park plan change