Planning Commission recommends dropping technology overlay district effort after public town‑hall

The Gloucester County Planning Commission on July 8 recommended that the county discontinue its effort to create a Technology Overlay District for data centers in the Glens area, based on public feedback from a June town hall and an online survey.

Planning staff reported that the commission held a town‑hall meeting at Rappahannock Community College and reviewed survey results and public comments. Commissioners and staff said the meeting revealed broad community concerns about siting data centers near rural and environmentally sensitive areas; a majority of survey respondents opposed pursuing the overlay district. The commission voted to recommend that the county stop pursuing the overlay district.

During the Board of Supervisors meeting planning staff communicated the commission’s recommendation and the board’s liaison and staff said public input raised concerns about environmental effects, water use, and the county’s ability to control large corporate projects under an overlay. Several public commenters earlier in the meeting had urged the county to protect places like Dragon Run and strongly criticized a proposed overlay that would enable data centers in certain rural zones.

At the meeting a supervisor said the county should keep the status quo zoning until a developer presents a specific proposal; another suggested revisiting the idea only if a large project with substantial local benefits were proposed. Planning staff said they would convey the Board’s direction to the Planning Commission and confirm the commission’s recommendation in writing.

The matter does not impose new rules; the Planning Commission’s recommendation simply ends the ongoing study and public‑engagement work on the overlay district for the time being.