Stafford approves Accokeek data center, larger Route 3 sites up next
Stafford supervisors approved a 590,000-square-foot data center campus 4-3, and the Planning Commission takes up four much larger Kings Highway sites on Oct. 14.
Stafford County supervisors approved the Accokeek Center data center campus 4-3 at a meeting that began the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 7, and ran past 1 a.m. The rezoning allows two data center buildings of up to two stories, totaling 590,000 square feet, plus an electrical substation on 121 mostly vacant acres in the Falmouth District, between Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 north of Eskimo Hill Road.
Supervisors Deuntay Diggs, Maya Guy, Kecia Evans and Tinesha Allen voted yes. Crystal Vanuch, Darrell English and Pamela Yeung voted no. A motion by Vanuch to delay the vote to Oct. 20 so staff could produce net revenue figures failed 5-2. The applicant estimated $13 million to $15 million a year in county taxes; opponents said that figure is gross and does not subtract technology-zone rebates.
Conditions attached to the rezoning include cooling with reuse water rather than drinking water or groundwater, at least 45 acres of preserved trees, a noise cap of 55 decibels at the property line (52 if the sound carries a low hum) and Tier 4 backup generators. County utilities staff said about 90% of the reuse water system's capacity is now committed. More than 30 people spoke at the hearing, most of them opposed.
The next decision is much larger. The Stafford Planning Commission holds a public hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. on four data center sites along Kings Highway (Route 3) near the Rappahannock River: Forest Lane, Simms Farm, Sisson North and Sisson South, all in the George Washington District. The Forest Lane site alone covers about 850 acres.
Charles Payne, an attorney for the applicants, said full build-out of the Kings Highway sites would generate $245 million a year for the county, about 20% of its budget, and would include more than $80 million in county water infrastructure, with 55% of the land kept as open space. The commission's vote is a recommendation; the Board of Supervisors makes the final decision, and no date has been set.
With Loudoun and Prince William tightening their rules, Stafford is becoming one of the next fronts for data center growth in Northern Virginia, and the Route 3 sites are many times the size of the campus just approved.
What's next
- Oct. 14 Stafford Planning Commission public hearing on four Kings Highway data center sites, 6 p.m.
- TBD Board of Supervisors final decision on Kings Highway sites