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Residents urge caution on data centers and call for transparency on water use and the comprehensive plan
Summary
Multiple residents questioned whether proposed data centers would use Rappahannock River water for cooling, warned of long-term abandonment risk, and urged transparency in the comprehensive plan revision; one resident asked the county to adopt a tiered meals tax to protect small businesses.
Several residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to press the county on development and fiscal issues, focusing primarily on data-center water use, comprehensive-plan transparency and proposed tax changes.
A speaker warned the board to “think carefully about the data centers” proposed in and near King George, saying residents near the Rappahannock River oppose siting on agricultural land because of potential impacts and the risk that facilities could be abandoned in 15–20 years. Aron Elias (James Madison District) said he was told at a planning commission meeting that data centers in King George would not use water for cooling and that a prohibition was in writing, but he said he has been unable to find any written policy or regulation that rules out water-for-cooling. “I was very happy to hear their support of the Rappahannock and its preservation,” Elias said, “but, unfortunately, I’ve been unable to find a written policy or regulation ruling out the use of water for cooling of the data centers.”
Other commenters raised development and governance concerns. James Shaw (James Monroe District), speaking in his capacity as an Economic Development Authority member and citizen journalist, warned that the county’s comprehensive-plan revision could prompt an “avalanche of controversy” unless the board maintains upfront transparency about who might benefit from changes. He urged public disclosure of potential beneficiaries and contributors to help avoid cronyism.
On fiscal matters, Pauline Davis spoke about the burden of transaction fees and processing charges on very small food-service businesses if a meals tax is raised. She recommended a tiered approach to protect independent operators who lack high-volume sales and said the combination of processing fees, per-transaction costs and proposed tax increases would erode slim margins.
The record shows residents requested written policy clarification from planning staff on data-center water use, asked the board to consider code-based tools (including agricultural/forest districts and tax increment financing) suggested by another commenter, and urged retention of bimonthly water billing for households concerned about higher monthly charges.
