County staff to propose zoning standards to limit data centers outside eastern growth area

Goochland County staff told the Planning Commission they will prepare proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance for M‑1 and M‑2 districts to establish development standards for data centers located outside the county’s eastern growth area, aiming to reduce the possibility that large data‑center projects locate in less appropriate rural areas.

Sarah Worley, the county’s deputy administrator who oversees community and economic development, said data‑center use was added to M‑1/M‑2 districts in 2014 and that the county adopted a technology overlay district (TOD) last November that provides standards for facilities inside the TOD. Those TOD standards do not apply to facilities outside the TOD, Worley said, and the board has directed staff to prepare amendments that would set standards for data centers outside the eastern growth area. Worley told the commission it is the board’s goal to have a proposed amendment ready to share with the community by the end of August and that the process will include community meetings and public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board.

Why it matters: Residents in the meeting raised concerns about potential large‑scale data‑center development (a neighbor called a proposed project a 900‑acre campus) and its noise, visual, environmental and infrastructure impacts. Staff’s announcement signals the county intends to tighten local rules about where and how such facilities can be sited.

Worley said the county will follow a transparent process with multiple opportunities for public input. The proposed ordinance language will be released for review and will be considered through the standard amendment process, with additional community meetings planned.

What’s next: Staff aims to present draft ordinance language by the end of August and will hold community meetings and public hearings with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors as part of the amendment process.