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Board approves data‑center application amid concerns about power, community impacts and historic site protections
Summary
The Board approved a data‑center rezoning and associated waivers by a 7‑1 vote after discussion about infrastructure capacity, cemetery protections and community outreach; one supervisor voted against further data‑center approvals pending broader policy review.
The Board of County Supervisors approved a rezoning and related waivers for a data‑center project (item 7M) after extended discussion about infrastructure capacity, historic resources and the need for deeper community review.
Supervisor Weir repeatedly voiced opposition to additional data‑center approvals, saying the county lacks sufficient power generation and transmission and describing the scale of existing data‑center development as unsustainable. "I'm not doing 1 more square foot of data center," Weir said during debate.
Staff and the applicant said the project team has met with a member of the Gaskins family about a cemetery on or near the property and that the applicant (identified in the record as STAC) has committed proffer language to protect access and preservation measures. A county representative said the distance from the school property line to the project property line is about 700 feet and that STAC has coordinated with the school, including outreach tied to an ROTC program.
Board action and vote The board approved the item by a vote of 7 to 1, with Supervisor Weir recorded as the lone no vote. Several supervisors said they wanted more robust presentations for future large data‑center cases and requested projects that are expected to generate disagreement be pulled from the consolidated agenda and placed on the regular agenda with staff presentations.
Why it matters Supervisors expressed concerns that continued data‑center development strains local power and transmission resources and raises questions about long‑term land use and the county's regulatory approach. Supporters of the project pointed to applicant commitments on historic resource protections and outreach with affected family members and to the project's alignment with prior approvals for the master development area.
Next steps Board members directed staff to more fully brief the board on data‑center projects in the future and to consider presentation timing for controversial cases. Staff and the applicant will continue coordination with the Gaskins family regarding cemetery access and protections.
