Greensville supervisors approve rezoning and special‑use permit for Otterdam data center campus

The Greensville County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 8 approved two related land‑use actions that clear the way for a multi‑phase Otterdam Technology Group data center campus near Otterdam Road.

Staff opened the public hearing by describing the rezoning request (ZMA‑1‑2025) to include a 14.5‑acre parcel owned by Deborah and Juliana Owen in the county's Technology Overlay District (TOD). The Planning Commission recommended approval 5–0. After the rezoning approval, the board considered the applicant's special‑use permit application (SP‑3‑2025) for a campus of up to eight data‑center buildings and supporting infrastructure across nine parcels.

Kate Jones of the Berkeley Group summarized the staff report, citing wetland delineations, an environmental species assessment and cultural‑resource screening. Jones said the proposed site plan concentrates structures to avoid identified wetland areas and relies on 200‑foot forested buffers, landscaping and berms to screen nearby residences. "Staff does recommend approval, however, with conditions," Jones said, and noted those conditions appear in Attachment C of the staff packet.

Lisa Murphy, attorney for the applicant, explained the zoning change would not alter the underlying A‑1 agricultural zoning; the parcel would become "A‑1 agricultural with the Technology Overlay District," which imposes supplemental development standards. Murphy said the TOD standards are among the county's most restrictive and would limit uses on the added parcel to industrial or commercial activity consistent with the district.

Applicant Jamie Craig, manager for Otterdam Technology Group, told supervisors the campus would be developed in phases and that the applicant set aside roughly 250 acres to act as a buffer. Craig said an initial phase would require a roughly 300‑megawatt substation and that buildings typically consume about 100 megawatts each. He estimated at full build‑out the development "could generate somewhere around $10,000,000 a year for this county in revenue." Craig also said the applicant is awaiting a power‑availability study from Dominion (estimated by the applicant at nine to 12 months), and the special‑use permit would be tabled through final site plans and power confirmation as appropriate.

Board members asked about residential buffers and wetlands; Craig pointed to the plan's concentrated footprint, extensive forested buffers and the applicant's commitment to leave a triangular parcel undeveloped as additional screening. Jones also noted a cultural‑resource inventory found no on‑site properties eligible for listing and recommended coordination with state and federal agencies for wetland permitting if needed.

After discussion, a member moved to approve SP‑3‑2025 and amended the motion to include the staff's listed conditions. The board adopted the special‑use permit and the rezoning by roll call vote.

What happens next: the approvals include the conditions listed in staff Attachment C; final site plans and required permits (including any wetland permits and the pending power‑availability steps) remain prerequisites to construction. The board record shows staff and the applicant intend to coordinate on the power study and subsequent engineering to confirm phasing and infrastructure timelines.