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Resident warns council that hyperscale data-center deals are moving faster than public oversight
Summary
A resident urged Chesapeake to act sooner than the July 18 meeting on conditional-use permits for hyperscale data centers and to require a public benefit/burden ledger for state-supported or locally approved economic development projects.
Jennifer Knight, a Ballahack Road resident, told council she is concerned that Chesapeake could be "in a dangerously precarious position" with large-scale data-center projects advancing faster than public law and governance systems can resolve infrastructure, environmental and accountability questions.
"July 18 may be too late and conditional use permits may not be enough protection for citizens or irreplaceable natural resources like land and water," Knight said, citing actions by neighboring localities including Virginia Beach and Suffolk and urging earlier attention. She asked whether the city will require a public benefit/burden ledger before state-supported or locally approved economic-development obligations are funded, zoned, incentivized or implemented.
Mayor West and City Manager Price did not place an item on the agenda at the meeting but the mayor later asked staff to look into multiple community concerns raised by commenters. Knight said she has received developer offers affecting private wells and septic and called for greater transparency and public involvement in project oversight.
No formal policy change or motion related to hyperscale data centers was made during the meeting.
