Stafford supervisors split over MOU, approve transportation grants and advertise budget; data-center zoning change denied

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors made several key procedural and policy votes during its March 18 meeting, narrowly approving an MOU with the Economic Development Authority while rejecting a proposed zoning change for data centers and moving forward on transportation grant applications and budget advertisement.

The board voted 4—3 to approve Resolution R25-34, the proposed memorandum of understanding between the county and the Stafford County Economic Development Authority (EDA). Supporters said the MOU clarifies the EDA's role and funding scope; several supervisors opposed, citing concerns about whether the agreement addressed land-use conflict-of-interest language and whether the EDA had approved the final text. The vote was recorded as passing 4 to 3.

The board approved two transportation funding resolutions unanimously. Resolution R25-68 authorizes county applications for VDOT revenue-sharing funds; R25-69 approves applications for Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants, with the board adding two sidewalk projects (Barrett Heights Road and Forbes Street at Manning Drive) to the TAP list. Staff said the actions allow county engineers and VDOT staff to submit grant applications for prioritized sidewalk and bicycle-pedestrian projects.

On the annual budget and tax-rate process, the board adopted a substitute motion to advertise the county administrator's proposed budget and associated public hearings, 4—3. That substitute replaced an earlier motion to advertise the real-estate tax rate at the current 0.89360 per $100 of assessed value. The substitute passed 4—3 and the board then moved to advertise the related public hearings for the FY 2026 capital improvement program and potential VPSA (Virginia Public School Authority) issuance; the remainder of R25-29 was approved without objection.

In land-use action, the board rejected an ordinance (O25-08) that would have changed how data centers are permitted in the county. The planning commission had recommended approval but the Board of Supervisors voted 4—3 to deny the proposed amendment that would have moved data centers in the M-2 district from a by-right use to one that requires a conditional use permit.

Other formal actions included a planning request to grant an ingress/egress easement for a driveway serving an adjacent parcel; staff said the easement corrects an encroachment before a property conveyance and the board approved that item.

Meeting materials and staff reports for each action are available in the county's packets; the board scheduled the advertised public hearings for later this month and April to allow residents to comment on the tax rate, CIP and VPSA matters.

Votes at a glance - R25-34 (EDA MOU): approved, 4—3. Description: Approve memorandum of understanding between Stafford County and the Economic Development Authority. Outcome: approved. - R25-68 (VDOT revenue sharing): approved, unanimous. Description: Authorize county applications for VDOT revenue-sharing funds for multiple transportation projects. Outcome: approved. - R25-69 (TAP grants): approved, unanimous (as amended to add two sidewalk projects). Description: Authorize TAP grant applications for bicycle/pedestrian projects. Outcome: approved. - R25-29 (advertise CY2025 tax rates, FY26 CIP, VPSA issuance): substitute motion to advertise the county administrator's proposed budget and related hearings passed 4—3; remainder of R25-29 (other funds, VPSA/CIP public hearings) approved unanimous. Outcome: board authorized advertised public hearings as amended. - O25-08 (zoning code amendment for data centers): denied, 4—3. Description: Proposed ordinance to require conditional-use permits for data centers proposed in M-2 zoning. Outcome: denied. - Planning easement item (ingress/egress): approved, unanimous. Description: Grant easement for existing driveway to allow access to adjacent parcel as part of a future conveyance.

What's next: The board will hold advertised public hearings on the tax rates, CIP and VPSA issuance on the dates advertised in the county packet. Planning and Zoning will continue to process rezoning and development applications; the defeated data-center ordinance returns the permitting status to the current rules in the zoning code.