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Hanover supervisors charge staff to study data centers amid community water and traffic concerns
Summary
The Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop a data‑center policy/ordinance after residents raised concerns about hyperscale facilities’ water use, traffic and proximity to homes; the board also agreed a concurrent rate study is warranted and referred policy work to committees.
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors voted June 24 to direct staff to begin a comprehensive study and draft policy or ordinance addressing data centers in the county. Miss Floyd, chair of the Community Development Committee, moved the directive, saying the committee should "start the process of developing a data center policy and or ordinance," a motion the board approved by voice vote.
Residents at citizens time pressed the board to block new hyperscale data centers near neighborhoods. Donna Zamborski, a Beaver Dam District resident, told supervisors: "I am urging you all to also deny the Iron Horse Data Center when it comes before this body for a vote," citing nearby homes, a private school, recreation facilities, wetlands and worries about construction traffic. Ashley Covington (Cold Harbor) urged updating zoning standards for modern hyperscale facilities, saying: "What you are being asked to approve now are hyper scale facilities... They require their own substations. They consume millions of gallons of water." The board’s motion asks staff to examine standards, setbacks and impacts and to return recommendations through the Community Development and Finance committees so policy, permitting and a tax‑rate study can proceed together.
