Spotsylvania supervisors split on requiring special-use permits for data centers; direct staff to draft standards

Spotsylvania County’s Board of Supervisors heard more than two hours of public comment and engaged in an extended debate March 25 before rejecting a proposal to require special‑use permits for data centers in all office, commercial and industrial zoning districts.

The proposal before the board would have removed data centers from the county’s office use definition, created a separate data‑center definition, and required an approved special‑use permit (SUP) in O‑1, O‑2, C‑1, C‑2, C‑3, RC/V, I‑1 and I‑2 zoning districts. Planning staff said the change was intended to give officials and neighbors review authority and the ability to attach site‑specific conditions.

Supporters of SUPs and residents who spoke at the public hearing cited concerns about water use, noise from cooling and backup generators, visibility of large buildings from neighborhoods, and long‑term environmental and public‑health effects. “A special use permit would not ban data centers,” said David Guzman of the…