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Stafford supervisors advertise joint hearing on draft data‑center rules after wide-ranging debate
Summary
After multi-hour review and questioning of staff and Dominion Energy, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to advertise a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission on proposed comprehensive‑plan amendments and zoning ordinance changes relating to data centers. Staff will return with scaled setback options, clarifying language and a one‑page framework for public review.
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to advertise a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission on draft amendments to the county comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance that would impose new standards for data‑center siting, setbacks, noise, water use and related mitigation measures.
Deputy County Administrator Donna Krause and planning staff presented draft Exhibit A (redline comp‑plan text), a strike‑through ordinance, mapping that illustrates 500‑, 1,000‑ and 1,500‑foot setback scenarios, and project examples (GWV and Forest Lane). Staff said the proposed comp‑plan language refines preferred locations (closer to transmission corridors) and recommends higher open‑space percentages and buffers outside the Urban Services Area. The ordinance text would establish baseline regulatory requirements for setbacks, noise studies, screening, generator testing limits and construction‑phase mitigation.
Supervisors pressed staff on legal limits and implementation: Joan Dix reminded the board that state law and the zoning code constrain some local actions, and staff and legal explained that some protections are most enforceable as ordinance requirements while others would remain comp‑plan “should”/guidance items. Board members asked whether the county can require greater setbacks at rezoning (answer: the board can approve a lesser setback by rezoning action, and proffers/CUP conditions are negotiated tools, but ordinance standards provide a default floor).
The session included extended questioning of Dominion Energy representatives about transmission capacity, interconnection timelines, and whether transmission build‑outs and rider mechanisms increase residential bills. Dominion said major capacity projects carry multiyear lead times, PJM coordinates transmission solutions, and some costs can be recovered through ratemaking mechanisms and riders; Dominion also noted programs to assist customers with bills.
Key clarifications staff will provide before the public hearing: a concise one‑page framework mapping comp‑plan recommendations to ordinance requirements; a removal of ambiguous language (the draft’s “equivalent sound expert” phrase was removed at board direction); comp‑plan wording to encourage use of acoustic‑attenuating building materials; addition of state holidays to the generator testing allowance; clarifying tree‑preservation language (remove the adjective “healthy” to avoid ambiguity); and a staff‑prepared scaled setback matrix showing recommendations for urban vs. rural locations and for different project sizes.
Action and next steps: the board approved a motion to advertise the joint public hearing and directed staff to finalize the draft materials, publish legal notices, and return to the board and Planning Commission with the requested scaling and clarifying materials before the public hearing.
