Residents demand transparency after data-center talks; resignation prompts calls for disclosure

Public comment at the August 18 meeting focused heavily on trust and transparency after recent confidential discussions about a proposed data center and a non-disclosed NDA. Several residents praised one supervisor for disclosing that "Project Flash" was effectively dead and criticized other board members for not publicly confirming that update.

"We elected him and we elected you to serve us, not to bully other supervisors for doing the right thing," said Kim Jones, a community leader who urged restoration of public trust. Multiple speakers called on the board to remove data centers as a by-right use in enterprise parks or to adopt strict zoning buffers and standards modeled on other Virginia counties. Public commenters also urged stronger protections against large utility solar farms, including wide vegetative buffers, stabilizing grading and access roads, and protections for heritage trees.

During the supervisors' remarks, Supervisor Mike Meredith announced his resignation, saying, "I broke a trust... I'm officially resigning at this moment," and asked citizens for respectful treatment as the board continues its business. The resignation drew both expressions of gratitude for Meredith's engagement and calls from residents for the board to produce an on-the-record explanation of prior negotiations and any agreements related to the data-center outreach.