Residents press Wythe County supervisors for zoning, transparency on data centers

Dozens of residents pressed the Wythe County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 11 to move more quickly on zoning and to be more transparent about land transactions tied to Progress Park and proposed data centers.

"We received 275 responses so far from the dates 7/29 to 08/10 — 246 of those were yes, 22 were no, and then 7 were undecided," said Renee Edwards, who presented a zoning survey compiled by a community group and emailed the comments to the board. Edwards asked supervisors to review the written feedback, noting some "no" responses included the comment "no data center," suggesting respondents conflated zoning and opposition to data centers.

Bob Walton, a Whitfield resident, told the board he had submitted a FOIA for any county communications about the Progress Park project's effect on the electric grid and said the search returned no documentation. "No independent studies, no technical verification, just a sales pitch," Walton said, urging supervisors to work with state energy regulators to protect ratepayers and the local grid.

Several other speakers — including Dina Allen and Donna Nictor — told the board zoning would help conserve farmland and natural resources and keep data centers off private agricultural land. Allen asked whether a "letter of intent" she submitted concerned the parcel discussed in a forthcoming closed session, saying repeated closed meetings undermine public trust.

Chair S1 responded that the board will meet with school-division leaders about community concerns (including use of school-owned property for recreation) and noted upcoming committee and closed-session items where staff will follow up.

What happens next: the board has signaled it will continue zoning discussions in committee and with stakeholders. Residents asked specifically that the board make survey comments available and provide clearer public disclosure before any transfer of county-owned property is finalized.