Residents urge board to limit data centers in West Creek, call for stricter noise, height and permitting rules

Dozens of residents told the Goochland County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 5 that a proposed Technology Overlay District (TOD) for West Creek needs substantial revision to protect nearby neighborhoods.

At the meeting’s public‑comment period, residents from multiple Reader’s Branch and Bremner Ridge neighborhoods said the TOD’s current draft—especially provisions that would permit large data centers by right in the West Creek Business Park—would allow industrial uses incompatible with adjacent housing and community amenities. Cynthia Haas, who said she lives at 12313 Beach Hall Circle, asked the board to eliminate by‑right approvals entirely and to lower an allowable noise standard from 65 decibels to 55 decibels. “No one wants a data center in their backyard,” she said.

Supporters of tighter rules cited public‑health and environmental worries, as well as quality‑of‑life and property‑value impacts. Dr. Bruce Sullivan, medical director at Goochland Cares, summarized research on generator emissions, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides and warned that repeated generator testing and outages can worsen local air quality and affect people with asthma and other conditions. Other speakers raised noise and low‑frequency vibration concerns, nighttime lighting and heavy water use during cooling operations.

Several callers said 50‑foot buffers proposed in the zoning text are inadequate; speakers asked for 1,000‑foot residential buffers or for data centers to be sited so they do not abut residential lots. Steve Shorerock and other speakers also questioned how noise would be measured and enforced—at the property line, at the source, or elsewhere—and how cumulative impacts from multiple facilities would be controlled.

County officials and staff did not take action on the TOD at the meeting. County Administrator Dr. Railey told the audience the planning commission meeting on the item has been postponed from August to September to allow more public input and additional outreach. “There will be many opportunities beyond tonight,” Dr. Railey said, listing community meetings, planning commission hearings and future Board of Supervisors hearings.

Board members acknowledged the intensity of local concern and asked staff to continue public engagement. Several residents urged supervisors to study ordinances used by neighboring counties that revised by‑right provisions for data centers and to consider requiring special permits or conditional use reviews for large data or distribution centers.

What’s next: The planning commission hearing was rescheduled for September; staff said the county will post updates and materials on the county website and hold additional community meetings in late August or early September.