Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Data Centers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Goochland residents press board to tighten rules on data centers, raise ValleyLink concerns
Summary
Residents urged the Goochland County Board of Supervisors to revise zoning and use standards after ValleyLink transmission plans and potential data-center siting prompted public-health, water and property-value concerns; the board heard calls to remove data centers as a by-right use in M-1 zones and to require conditional review.
Goochland County residents pressed the Board of Supervisors on June 2 to tighten zoning and use standards for data centers and to scrutinize the ValleyLink 765 kV transmission plans that would bring new power capacity into the county.
During the public-comment periods, several speakers asked the board to initiate zoning changes to restrict large-scale, hyperscale data centers. Reverend Lisa Sykes told the board the issue is “no less than the industrialization” of the county, saying the projects “have put Goochlanders’ health and wealth at risk” and requesting amendments to Article 18 (M‑1 zoning), Article 20 (use standards) and Article 21 (plan of development).
Other residents raised public-safety and environmental concerns. Lee Halverson urged the county to require site-specific fire, rescue and EMS impact assessments for technology-related development, noting specialized hazards such as high-voltage arc/flash and chemical fire-suppression systems and asking whether developer proffers will cover additional public‑safety costs. Morgan Gasman asked whether the county has updated its view of risks such as PFAS contamination to local wells and whether there is any cap on the number of data centers the county would allow.
Rob Williamson, who said he had attended a ValleyLink meeting, warned that the 765 kV line and interconnections could make western Goochland “ripe for growth” and noted that data centers are currently allowed by right in the county’s M‑1 district where use standards do not explicitly address noise, well use, diesel testing or notification requirements.
Several speakers asked the board to treat data centers differently from traditional manufacturing and warehousing uses and to use conditional‑use permits or new overlays to provide public input and site-specific review. Diana Nixon, while thanking the board for ValleyLink outreach so far, said the transmission line will feed centers whose energy demands the county has not yet clearly tied to specific generation sources and that land cleared for solar could have lasting landscape and runoff impacts.
County Administrator Dr. Raley and board leaders acknowledged public concern and pointed listeners to upcoming ValleyLink open houses (a virtual session June 10 and an in-person open house June 16) and the ValleyLink website for comment. Dr. Raley also invited residents to county-led roundtables on June 8 and June 25 for ongoing dialogue.
The remarks were public comment; no zoning action was taken at the June 2 meeting. Several residents asked the board to refer specific code changes to the Planning Commission and to adopt clearer use standards before more applications are filed.
