Powhatan County supervisors on Oct. 27 approved a rezoning and a conditional‑use permit that clear the way for a data‑center campus on a 61.8‑acre assemblage northeast of Page Road. The votes were unanimous (5–0).

The approvals allow the property — designated “economic opportunity” in the county’s comprehensive plan — to join an adjacent site previously rezoned for a campus. Planning staff and the applicant said the combined development could total roughly 2 million square feet under roof and represent several billion dollars in private capital investment.

County planning director Ligon Webb told the board the application was reviewed as a data‑center proposal; traffic and utility impacts were analyzed under that scenario. Webb said engineering work already under review by VDOT would add a westbound right‑turn storage and an r‑cut to manage site access, and proffers from last year’s rezoning provide a transportation framework the new parcel will adopt. Webb recommended approval after the applicant and staff updated utility and access proffers.

Utilities and public‑safety issues featured prominently in the discussion. County staff said the combined campus would plan for up to 250,000 gallons per day of finished water demand. That figure — which staff described as a planning assumption rather than a final allocation — will be refined when a specific end user and cooling system are identified at site‑plan stage. The county’s code requires a utility agreement before site plan approval; the board was told the property owner has proffered to pay any on‑ and off‑site improvements needed to deliver water and sewer, including upgrades at the Du Toit Creek wastewater treatment plant and the future Oak Bridal pump station.

Applicants and staff said Dominion Energy has been engaged about electrical service but that a formal letter of authorization from Dominion — a step that demonstrates a firm power commitment — is still required. Planning staff cautioned that substation equipment and long lead times for major electrical components can lengthen the schedule for full service.

Noise and backup power received attention from supervisors and staff. The proffers include operational sound limits at the property line (70 dB daytime; 65 dB nighttime), a requirement for third‑party acoustic verification and a remediation plan if levels are exceeded. The applicant explained that each emergency generator typically sits in an enclosure with an underlying belly tank to supply fuel for short outages, and that battery backup provides instantaneous power while generators start.

Fire‑rescue officials noted that a large emergency involving generator fuel or a mechanical fire would likely be contained to a discrete area but could require mutual‑aid resources and foam‑suppression operations; the chief recommended detailed site‑plan coordination with fire and emergency services. Planning staff said those operational details — including fuel storage, emergency access and fire‑safety systems — will be reviewed and required at site‑plan and permitting stages.

The Powhatan Economic Development Authority submitted a letter of support for the rezoning, saying the project aligns with the EDA’s mission to expand the county’s nonresidential tax base. Matthew Schiefer, vice chair of the EDA, read the authority’s unanimous endorsement into the record.

The board approved the rezoning ordinance and the conditional‑use permit by roll call, 5–0. A separate utility agreement and any state or federal permits remain required before construction.

If and when final project plans are submitted, they will include more detailed traffic, utility and environmental studies and permit applications to state agencies.