Goochland supervisors adopt technology overlay district and incentive zone after heated public hearing

Goochland County's Board of Supervisors voted Nov. 6 to adopt a revised Technology Overlay District (TOD) and a companion Technology Zone (TZ) incentive ordinance, approving staff amendments that require conditional use permits for certain high‑impact uses and add new noise, buffer and setback protections.

The board approved the measures by roll call: Supervisor Lyle voted no; Supervisors Christie, Waters and Spoonhauer and Chairman Winfrey voted yes. The ordinances include revisions staff described as ‘‘housekeeping’’ (adding ‘‘Monday through Friday’’ limits to exterior construction hours and clarifying that TOD standards apply where a use is permitted by the TOD) and a substantive change that would require TOD standards for data centers adjacent to residential properties and move small modular reactors and gas peaker plants to conditional‑use permitting.

Sarah Worley, the county’s deputy county administrator for economic and community development, said the package is designed to attract higher‑revenue technology businesses while…