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Residents urge pause on data‑center approvals as county starts tax study
Summary
Multiple citizens told the board developers and county officials they should stop approving new hyperscale data centers until an 18‑month county study of tax and environmental impacts is complete, arguing the community needs a pause to assess water, power and health consequences.
At Citizens' Time several speakers asked the board to slow or stop data‑center approvals while Hanover conducts an 18‑month review of tax policy and impacts. Jane Kirschner (S14) urged the board to remove data centers as a by‑right use, saying: "I'm asking that you remove data centers as a by right use in every zoning district." She said removing the by‑right category would not prevent proposals but would require public review and planning commission and board approval.
Ashley Covington (S16) pushed the board on consistency: "If you can't vote on a tax increase for data centers without a study, why are you able to approve new data centers without one?" She asked the county to pause approvals, add health and environmental study elements and finish the finance committee's review before allowing new hyperscale proposals to proceed. County staff took the comments for the record and acknowledged follow‑up would occur.
