Residents press supervisors over planned data centers as Fluidstack presents Progress Park project

Chair James D. “Jamie” Smith opened the Wythe County Board of Supervisors’ June 9 meeting, which featured an extended Citizens’ Time dominated by opposition to proposed data centers and a presentation by Fluidstack about the Progress Park project that the company calls Solis Arx.

Dozens of residents told the Board they oppose data centers on environmental and land‑use grounds. Catherine Clemons said she felt the Board had “betrayed” the community by trusting developers and holding closed meetings and NDAs; Maranda Edwards and others cited concerns about water demand, electricity use, hazardous leaks, noise and wildlife impacts. Denise Davis cited the National Integrated Drought Information System and USDA statistics to say Wythe County is in a severe drought and listed local agricultural impacts, including an estimated 24,254 cattle and 31,135 acres of hay affected.

Fluidstack representative Kate Franko told the Board and residents that the Progress Park site would host a data center and described its operations as follows: the facility would use a closed‑loop cooling system rather than evaporative cooling; it would require an initial fill of water and then consume roughly the equivalent of about seven homes per day (Fluidstack’s figure); the company projects roughly 200–500 employees on the campus when fully built; and Fluidstack asserted it will comply with permits, follow environmental regulations, and does not require non‑disclosure agreements. Franko also agreed to provide a web platform to answer resident questions and to increase engagement with Board updates.

County staff and counsel framed the Estoppel Statement before the Board as an administrative confirmation that the Progress Park lot currently complies with the park’s covenants (permitted uses, site plan requirements, noise standards and other conditions). County Attorney Scot Farthing said an estoppel is a common administrative item that confirms compliance with covenants and does not authorize construction or bypass the required site plan review. County Administrator Stephen D. Bear reiterated that a final site plan and the county’s permitting processes remain required before any building permits are issued.

After the presentation and brief discussion, the Board approved the Progress Park Estoppel Statement by roll call vote. Supervisor Rolland R. Cook moved to approve; the motion passed unanimously with one member absent.

What the estoppel does — and does not — mean

The Estoppel Statement certified to Fluidstack that, as of the date of the statement, the lot in Progress Park did not violate the park covenants. It does not approve a site plan, grant building permits or alter the Board’s later authority to approve or deny a site plan. County staff repeatedly told the Board that the site plan review, stormwater controls, landscaping/screening, noise mitigation, and other requirements remain in place and will be evaluated before any construction.

Community questions and next steps

Residents asked the Board to consider temporary land‑use measures (for example, an emergency ordinance requiring public hearings for projects exceeding specified power or water use thresholds) and to consult outside policy groups. Multiple speakers cited online petitions and urged supervisors to visit other data center communities. Several supervisors said they are weighing the competing priorities of protecting farmland and responding to economic opportunity; Chair Smith proposed two task forces (two supervisors plus two School Board members each) to prepare plans for potential revenue from data centers, and the Board authorized staff to form the task forces using the Capital Improvement Plan as a roadmap.

The project now proceeds to the site plan review phase and any required permits; the estoppel does not remove those steps. Residents and advocacy groups indicated they will continue to press the Board for ordinances or binding commitments on water, power and enforceable community protections.