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Planning Commission backs Novak/NOVEC substation at former junkyard after applicant commits to buffering and use of existing transmission lines
Summary
The commission recommended approval of a Novak/NOVEC public facility review to build a substation at a cleaned‑up junkyard site on Sudley Manor Drive; staff said the industrial site, existing Dominion transmission poles and proposed screening make the location consistent with the comprehensive plan; the vote was 6–2.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of a public facility review for a Novak/NOVEC electrical substation at a former Novak junkyard on Sudley Manor Drive, finding the site consistent with the county’s comprehensive plan and electrical utility policies.
Jessica Pfeiffer of the applicant’s law firm said the ~19.3‑acre site is zoned heavy industrial and lies within the Data Center Overlay District. “This location was chosen because it allows for natural and additional screening proposed by the applicant,” Pfeiffer said, showing renderings and photographs of existing Dominion transmission poles and proposed landscape buffers and a screening wall.
Planning staff summarized their review and recommended approval, noting the proposal includes three 150‑megawatt transformers and an underground distribution option. “The site is well buffered and separated from residential areas,” planning staff said, and that the submission aligns with policies in the Electrical Utility chapter of the comprehensive plan.
Novak representatives explained technical choices. Kurt Crouch, Novak manager, said the company typically designs these substations to a 300‑megawatt maximum to accommodate data‑center demand and regional flexibility; Novak witnesses described a 2+1 transformer redundancy configuration. Commissioners asked whether the proposed substation requires new transmission lines (applicant: not for this site) and who the likely customers are; staff and applicant said Wellington Glen Technology Park/data centers are expected consumers and that a will‑serve letter exists from the transmission utility.
Commissioner Carroll moved to defer the item to collect additional technical details; the motion failed. Chair McPhail then moved to approve the PFR. On roll call the commission voted 6–2 to recommend approval.
What happens next: the Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Supervisors for any additional action required by county process.
