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Residents press Wythe County supervisors over NDAs and data centers; board schedules March 30 land-use meeting
Summary
Residents raised concerns about nondisclosure agreements, code names and environmental impacts tied to data-center projects, prompting the Wythe County Board of Supervisors to schedule informal community meetings beginning March 30 to gather public input on a draft land-use classification ordinance.
Residents filled the Wythe County Board of Supervisors chamber Feb. 24 to demand more transparency about several large development proposals the public has seen only under code names.
At the meeting’s citizens-time session, Andy Kegley of Rose Hill Road said the county’s nondisclosure agreement "is neutering your ability to be transparent" about "Project Gradient," and urged officials to disclose more details about who signed the NDA and why. Sarah Bates said the use of code names felt like "a second layer of smoke screen," and Samantha "Sammy" Dale said the Progress Park data-center project "ties roughly 90 plus acres" to a development she said would require "at least $500 million in capital investment," raising questions about peak water demand, stormwater management and transmission needs.
The comments prompted extended discussion during the agenda item on a draft land-use classification ordinance. Deputy County Administrator Matt Henkins said the draft is intended as a "light touch" system that would grandfather existing uses and provide a public process for revisions. Henkins proposed a series of informal community meetings — centered at county high schools — and suggested March 30 as the initial date to begin outreach.
Supervisors repeatedly told attendees the board was "way away from even considering a vote" on the ordinance and emphasized the desire for broad public input, including weekend meeting options. One supervisor urged that the Farm Bureau and other stakeholder groups be included in outreach; another said staff should work with the county attorney on meeting procedures to avoid inadvertent quorum problems.
The board reached consensus to proceed with planning and advertising a March 30 meeting in Fort Chisel (final school site to be confirmed) and to schedule additional community sessions as needed. The board also approved routine consent items and staff requests at the meeting.
The county provided several staff contacts and a planning timeline; Henkins said the planning commission has already reviewed and recommended the ordinance but is keeping it pending additional community input. The board asked staff to return with meeting locations, an outreach calendar and any procedural guidance from the county attorney.
What’s next: Informal community meetings will begin March 30, followed by planning commission and board public hearings before any formal vote on adoption.
