Residents and developers clash over proposed Valaco data center; hearing continued to April 15

Dozens of residents, local civic groups and a developer representative packed the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors meeting on March 18 to debate a rezoning request tied to a proposed Valaco LLC data center campus and on-site gas power plant.

The company’s representative, Tim Reynolds, told the board Valaco asked to postpone the public hearing until April so the developer could refine project details after community outreach and staff meetings. Reynolds said the team had updated technical information and “came away with specific changes to the plan…geared toward minimizing the impact to everyone in the community.” He asked the board to allow April 15 to be the next public date. The chairman indicated the matter will be continued to April 15 and that people who did not get to speak would receive priority at that meeting.

Why it matters: The project would require rezoning a large tract of county land and, according to public commenters, could transform farmland, water use and local landscapes. Opponents said the proposal threatens agricultural land, wildlife and…