Embedded Files
SCC Substation and Transmission Line Case Awaiting Decision
SAVE Bren Mar
Fight moves to the state corporation commission
Fight moves to the state corporation commission
March 12 Update
March 12 Update
Over two cold January days in Richmond, the fate of a community and the surrounding environment was being decided in an inconspicuous building on E. Main Street. The State Corporation Commission (SCC), which approves or denies applications for utilities, was holding an evidentiary hearing on the transmission line and 5-acre electrical substation proposed to serve a massive 466,000 data center project at the Plaza 500 site on the Fairfax County/Alexandria border. This project would be in the heart of the Bren Mar Community, directly next to a vulnerable stream valley, and feet from residents. The project would drastically transform the community for the worse, all so a single data center developer could make a profit.
The SCC has a unique role in the approval of utility projects in Virginia. Through their process, the public has a right to participate in public hearings and can join as case participants, giving residents, environmental organizations, and others a seat at the table. In the SCC process, as a participant, our community has the right to make our case, question witnesses, make opening and closing statements, and ask the utility provider questions on the impact of the project. It is closer to a court case than a public hearing.
Over the course of two days the need and impact of the project was closely examined through witnesses. The Hearing Examiner issued their report indicating that the transmission lines and substation were "unusually close to residential structures".
This case is not taking place in a vacuum. It’s occurring in the context of the statewide efforts of data center reform, taking place both in the Virginia General Assembly and by the State Corporation Commission itself. This proposal would be among the largest and closest data center projects to residents in Fairfax County and was specifically called out in the recently published Joint Legislative Advisory Committee Report (JLARC) as “too close” to residents.
This case also provides the opportunity of the SCC to consider whether data center developers are paying their fair share for the utilities only needed by them for these projects. Cost allocation is very important because a key factor in the routing or undergrounding of transmission lines or the locations of substations is their cost. If this cost is the responsibility of the data center developer and not utility companies, we believe it will provide more opportunities to mitigate the impact of these projects on communities. Dominion Energy indicated as much during the case, citing cost as a key factor for providing any alternatives for this project.
Thankfully, at the end of the case, the attorneys for the SCC indicated that “this case presents such an opportunity for the Commission's consideration [of alternative cost allocation].” Now we wait and hope for a favorable report from the hearing examiner and an ultimate decision to deny by the SCC.
Our case was also just cited in the Harvard Electricity Law Initiative as a prime example of how Dominion and other utilities are are forcing ratepayers to fund the construction of transmission lines and substations for data center customers! Talk about adding insult to injury!
While the community associations have committed financial support to oppose these efforts individual donations are being requested to ensure enough funds are available to see this process through. All donations would go directly to supporting the efforts to stop the data center.
Make a donation to the GoFundMe effort.
Example of Substation and Transmission Line Project in Ashburn, VA (Photo Credit: Hugh Kenny)
Proposed Route of Transmission Line and Substation (Green Line and Pink Box)
Inside Climate News
May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025
ABC 7 WJLA
Dec. 10, 2024
Dec. 10, 2024
The Bren Mar community
The Bren Mar community
Residential and recreation land surround Plaza 500 on both sides of the Fairfax / Alexandria line.
There should not be a data center this close to our neighborhoods.
Color Key
Yellow (Residential) | Purple (Planned Residential and Commercial) | Green (Recreation and Parks) Blue (Commercial) | Red (Industrial)
Past updates
Past updates
December 6, 2024 Update:
On Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 pm, an in-person public hearing was held on the electrical substation and transmission lines for the proposed Plaza 500 data center. The room was full and nearly 20 individuals unanimously testified against this project.
If you weren't able to make the public hearing written comments can be submitted at this link by December 12. An additional virtual public comment opportunity will be held on December 19 at 10am (must register by December 12).
Virginia’s State Corporation Commission (SCC) is required to approve, deny, or modify this application. The public has the right to participate and share our concerns and recommendations.
Public Comments:
Comments should share what you feel the impact of the substation and transmission lines will have on them, their family, and their community. This can include impact to your quality of life, economic impact and home value, surrounding environment, views, community connection, etc. (whatever is important to you).
The SCC considers the following factors in deciding whether to approve, deny, or modify an application.
Environmental impacts (nearly all aspects are in a Resource Protection Area)
Contrary to the public interest (i.e., inconsistent with surrounding development, harmful to residents, etc.)
Inconsistent with Fairfax County zoning (i.e., the county comprehensive plan requires new transmission lines be placed underground whenever possible, visual and auditory impacts should be a key element in evaluation, and located as unobtrusively as possible)
September 11 Update:
The Board of Supervisors voted to silence our community's voice and voted to allow the Plaza 500 data center to move forward without any of the resident protections of the new data center zoning ordinance.
Mason Sup. Jimenez and Hunter Mill Supervisor Alcorn offered an amendment that would've required the Plaza 500 data center and other unapproved data centers to comply with the new zoning ordinance protection, but it was defeated 8-2, led by the strong opposition of Chairman McKay.
If you would like to send a thank you email to Sup. Jimenez and Sup. Alcorn please do at: mason@fairfaxcounty.gov; huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov
If you'd like to send Chairman McKay a message of concern please do at: chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov
Sample messages are below.
August 30 Update:
We are less than two weeks away from one of the most important and legacy defining votes that the Board of Supervisors will take on September 10 that will impact all Fairfax County residents. Please join us in one final push to make sure the voices of residents are heard by sharing the three easy actions below with your communities, neighbors, and families in Fairfax County.
This is a numbers game and we know that data center developers are coming together in force to ensure the voices of residents are silenced. We need to get as many residents as possible to engage by attending in person, calling in, submitting a video, sending an email, and signing letters.
Recognizing that it'll be a long night, the Presidential Debates are on the same day, and many people are unable to otherwise commit, residents in the SaveBrenMar Coalition have put together this simple and easy to use resource to allow any resident to record a short (less than 3 minutes) video that will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors.
Join the Open Letter to the Board of Supervisors calling on them to make the right decision on their legacy defining vote on data centers on September 10 (via Change.org)
The letter will be shared with the Board and public (without personal information) prior to the public hearing. The letter makes clear that this is an issue that is not going away for their constituents and that as data centers begin to come online over the next few years their impact will be seen. As their constituents our vote is our most powerful tool and may be the only thing that they listen to. This letter reminds them of that.
Send an email to the Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors need to continue to hear from all residents. Even if you don't think this impacts you directly, it does, and all residents need to come together to support each other and tell the Board that our voices matter. Send an email using the template below and add your own unique message.
August 17 Update:
As a result of what is being called both a “staff clerical error” and a “regulatory oversight” the Board of Supervisors must re-do the data center public hearing (and other public hearings held in July) on September 10.
Please plan to attend in person and re-testify (or testify if you weren't able to make it the first time), record a video testimony, or send in a email.
We cannot let the massive error of the county determine the fate of Plaza 500, Bren Mar, and Fairfax County.
Previous Update:
In a positive development for residents, after nearly 4 1/2 hours of public hearings, from over 60 people, the Board of Supervisors ultimately decided to defer the decision until July 30.
This means the Board is listening closely and gives our community two extra weeks to keep up the emails and put pressure on the Board to protect residents!
Please please please, send an updated email using the template below and share it with your neighbors, post on social media, and take any and all action you can!
Our community must continue to raise the pressure between now and July 30.
We are close to a victory for Bren Mar and Fairfax County residents!
The Board of Supervisors MUST:
Require the inadequate, incomplete, and rushed Plaza 500 site plan application comply with the new data center zoning ordinance.
Pass the Planning Commission unanimously approved recommendation that requires any data center be at least 1-mile distance from a metro station entrance.
Pass the Planning Commission unanimously approved recommendation that all ground equipment must be 500 ft. from residents or located behind the data center building.
Require a Special Exception for ALL data centers, especially those in Industrial Districts adjacent to Residential Districts.
Expand the residential setback to 1,000 ft.
May 25 Update:
On May 17, Fairfax County released the Staff Report with the proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance to add increased protections for residents. These recommendations do not go far enough as they fail to include any of the recommendations provided at the community meetings.
The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors must adopt the highest standards possible (in Chairman McKay's words, the gold standard).
This includes requiring a Special Exception (public hearing and approval) for all data centers (the staff report allows for consideration of all options here), a residential setback of at least 1,000 ft. (the staff report only allows for consideration of up to 500 ft., and recommends 200 ft.), and a requirement that data centers not be located within 1 mile of a metro station entrance (staff report recommends 1/2 mile with option for up to 1-mile).
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and anticipated vote on Wednesday, June 5 at 7pm and the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing and anticipated vote on Tuesday, July 16 at 4pm.
May 2 Update:
The county is actively reviewing changes to the Zoning Ordinance for Data Center to add increased protections for residents. Our community must be vocal and demand that these changes include robust protections for residents from data centers like that proposed at Plaza 500. We believe if the county acts by the July 16 Board of Supervisors meeting these would have to apply to Plaza 500 (and all future data centers in the county).
On May 2, 6, and 7 the county will be holding virtual community meetings on the proposed changes. Use the Take Action Resources to raise the 6 Key Changes we need at the meetings and in emails to the county Department of Planning and Development, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors.
NOW is our opportunity to influence the draft amendment text!!
Send an email and plan to attend the meetings (info and resources below)
April 15 Update:
On April 9, over 130 residents attended the Dominion Energy Community Meeting/Open House to express their concerns about the proposed data center electrical substation. In the coming months there will be opportunities to engage Dominion Energy, the State Corporation Commission (which reviews the substation application), and the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors through emails, public hearings, and other communication.
Save Bren Mar is hard at work determining our next steps in terms of engagement and will be in touch very soon!
March 12 Update:
Thank you for taking action to contact the Board of Supervisors! More than 400 emails have been sent to the Board and civic and community associations across the county are joining us! Our efforts are drawing attention from the Board and media. Please keep it up because more is needed.
The Board has committed to moving forward on data center changes to the Zoning Ordinance with a July completion date. While this is a positive development, they must act first and immediately to change the Zoning Ordinance to require a Special Exception for data centers in all Industrial Districts. This is the only way to ensure a public process and approval by the Board of Supervisors.
We remain convinced that the Board does have time to lawfully adopt a Zoning Ordinance Amendment to end by right development of data centers. While most site plan submissions are typically approved within "60 days from receipt of a complete submission" (see Zoning Ordinance § 8100.7), they take on average 6 to 9 months before a determination is made. This likely means the Board has more time than it thinks because "the review period only includes the time the site plan is in for County review and does not include such time as may be required by the applicant for revisions or modifications in response to comments from the County to comply with the Ordinance."
We continue to engage with the county concerning our efforts and are pushing them closer to action. We met with Sup. Jimenez and his staff to express our community concerns and call on him to take action. We are urgently awaiting his response and plan.
What You Need to Know
What You Need to Know
Out-of-state developer, Starwood Capital Group, submitted a site plan to build a massive 461,444 sq. ft., 70 ft. tall industrial data center in the heart of a residential community. The data center will be less than 260 ft. from residential property, and its new very large electrical substation will be less than 100 ft. away. This would be the 5th largest data center in the County and the closest of its size to residential homes.
There will be no public hearings or public input without emergency action by the Board of Supervisors because this is a by-right "Permitted" development. We agree with the County staff recommendation to revise permissions to require Special Exception approval for data centers, regardless of size.
The submitted site plan calls for a massive industrial data center and new electrical substation at the site of Plaza 500's current offices and warehouse. Starwood Capital Group will use by-right "Permitted" development under the Zoning Ordinance to demolish the site and build the data center without public input or negotiation with the County.
This data center would be in the heart of our residential community -- less than 215 ft. from residential property, and the new very large electrical substation will be less than 80 ft. away. It will have a negative impact on our community: creating noise and light disturbance 24 hours a day 7 days a week, requiring very high energy and water use, emitting potentially harmful pollutants, and impacting property values.
This massive data center site plan will drastically change the community and cut off access to future mixed use development (PDF). Our community anticipates positive residential and retail development over the coming years with the redevelopment of Landmark Mall and Van Dorn Street. A data center would be a permanent eyesore among other residential developments, amenities, and positive growth.
Transmission lines and electrical substation rendering for owner's project in Herndon (Public Record SE 2021-SU-00017)
Small Data Center and Cooling Structures
What is it? Data centers are industrial complexes that house acres of computer systems for storing virtual information. Massive infrastructure must be built to support these complexes, including transmission, water, and sewer lines. Data centers are slated to account for a fifth of the world's electricity usage and more than 3% of carbon emissions by 2025. In 2020, data centers consumed an estimated 174 billion gallons of water. A 15-megawatt data center can use up to 360,000 gallons of water a day.
National Parks Conservation Association, Keep Massive Industrial Data Centers Away from our National Parks
your supervisor on the record
your supervisor on the record
In January, the Board of Supervisors approved a Chantilly data center through a Special Exception review, stating that the review, which included extensive community input, resulted in plan changes that would meet the County recommended standards.
Plaza 500 will not have such review if by right development is not stopped.
Are the Supervisors' words meaningful if they let the Plaza 500 data center be built without higher standards, Board review, and public input?
Supervisor Quotes
Supervisor Quotes
Chairman Jeff McKay
"If we are going to do any data centers in Fairfax County, even if its one-fifth or one-tenth of what other people are going to do, the ones we do in this County are going to be done at the highest standard we can possibly foresee."
"I will also support making sure that this is the standard on any data center that comes into Fairfax County, because frankly we need to be setting the nationwide standard on these. And I believe that we can do that and that’s what we asked for and this application will do that."
"Our job is to do a land use analysis to look at this application and weigh at against what our standards are, question ourselves whether our standards are the highest in the Commonwealth and I would argue probably put them up against most in the nation in dealing with data centers. Are they at that standard? And they are. Does this application meet those standards? It does."
"There are times where commitments are made through the land use process that people think will not be upheld. And that’s why I’m making sure not only we got some things on the record but also making sure that the proffers are so extensive. The proffers are legally binding. They exceed the zoning ordinance standard, The protections for noise for people related to this property are better than the protections for noise anybody else living around industrial properties in Fairfax County unless there’s a proffer like this in here. And most industrial cases don’t have that…There are some elements of the proffer here that most certainly exceed what our own county requirements are for industrial/commercial properties in other parts of the county. And for me that's a bellwether for if we should make this change. Are we doing better than what our own zoning ordinance tells us that we need to be doing? And I think that this application does that."
Vice-Chairman Kathy Smith (Sully District)
"Again, I really appreciate the public participation, that input helped to prompt real improvements to the application."
“At this public hearing, at the Planning Commission hearing, in other community meetings and countless correspondence, we’ve heard concerns about noise, visual impact, energy demand, water quality, and the like. But we’ve also heard how thoroughly this applicant has addressed these concerns by submitting a more robust proffer package than any data center applicant has previously provided in this county.”
Supervisor Andres Jimenez (Mason District)
“I don’t think data centers should be anywhere near communities. I don’t think we’re going to turn Mason into a data center hub. The bigger longer-term picture is what do we do with data centers throughout Fairfax County.” (Source: Annandale Today, Supervisor Jimenez Wants to Make Mason District a Cultural Hub, Jan. 19, 2024.)
Supervisor James Walkinshaw (Braddock District)
"This is an issue that we really as a county have to get right."
"We also have an opportunity to establish standards that are the highest in the Commonwealth if not the highest in the nation and I think the work of this application and the work that staff has done with our data center report put us on that path. I think as we move forward into the future we will be able to put in place standards that are even higher than what we are talking about today and that were in the data center report."
"The challenge is if we can establish the highest standards here and hold data centers to those standards we can do better than other places where they would be build if they were not built here."
"This case meets all of our existing standards and meets all of the higher standards that we are likely to consider in the years to come."
Supervisor James Bierman, Jr. (Dranesville District)
"What message would it send that we’re accepting a data center without stuff from the data center report? But I got news for you, there’s a lot of proffers here, there’s a lot here with this data center that matches this report."
"The report here says you should work on water treatment and consider water treatment before it goes in your watershed. Do we proffer about water treatment? We do. There’s something in here about proffers based on lower noise requirements. We’ve already been over that. We proffered lower noise requirements. There was literally something in here about a post-construction noise study and we’ve got that right here as well."
"We asked and we got a lot out of this applicant to make this a responsible plan."
Supervisor Rodney Lusk (Franconia District)
[Nothing on the record.]
Supervisor Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill District)
“I’d encourage staff to move quickly on this and, frankly, if there are things that are ready to move before the end of the year [2023], I would suggest that they do that,” Alcorn said. “This is a moving target . . . This technology is changing. The practices are changing, so there may be some things that we would need to do even sooner than the end of the year.” (Source: Gazette Leader, Fairfax leaders aim to stay ahead of curve on data centers, May 12, 2023)
Supervisor Daniel Storck (Mount Vernon District)
"Recognize where data centers should and shouldn’t be. Recognize the ability to put them in industrial centers. I think that’s why we’ve created that opportunity and option. I think even some commercial places it’s appropriate. Obviously where it’s not is areas that are at residential locations."
"I want to support that need [of data centers] but I want to do it in a way that minimizes its impact because every time you do a data center, every time you do a major construction like this there is an impact."
Supervisor Dalia Palchik (Providence District)
[Nothing on the record.]
Supervisor Pat Herrity (Springfield District)
"It comes before the board has been able to discuss and issue our guidance on data centers."
"Springfield garage looms over the neighboring church and as I drive by that thing and look at what we did to that church it bothers me what we’re going to do here and it’s out of character with that area in the county."
References
References
Site Plan
Plaza 500 Site Plan (138.4MB PDF) (Feb. 5, 2024) and Fairfax PLUS Record SP-2024-00003
Fairfax County's Plaza 500 PLUS Records, General Parcel Report, Environmental Parcel Report, Tax Assessment Report
Electrical Substation
Plaza 500 News
Fairfax County Times, SCC holds public hearing on proposed data center (Dec. 12, 2024)
FFXNOW, Report: Fairfax County leads state in data centers near residential neighborhoods, (Dec. 11 2024)
ABC7, WJLA Va. legislative commission reviews data center impacts including increased energy costs (Dec. 10, 2024)
WUSA9, Battle over the proposed Plaza 500 data center development in Alexandria is not over, (Dec. 6, 2024)
Annandale Today, Community urged to oppose huge power lines for a data center (Dec. 2, 2024)
Washington Business Journal: Fairfax County lawmakers tighten screws on data center development (Sept. 11, 2024)
FFXNow: Fairfax County board approves new data center regulations, promise further review (Sept. 11, 2024)
ABC13News: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passes data center zoning ordinance (Sept. 10, 2024)
DC News Now: Fairfax County passes measure to regulate where data centers can be built (Sept. 10, 2024)
WAMU Politics Hour: The Politics Hour: Chairman Jeff McKay on Fairfax County’s data center debate (Aug. 2, 2024)
WUSA9: Fairfax County leaders delay vote on regulations for data centers due to 'regulatory oversight' (July 30, 2024)
ABC7: Fairfax County cancels contentious data center vote due to notification error (July 30, 2024)
Washington Post: Fairfax to nullify votes, redo public hearings after error over notices (July 30, 2024)
FFXNow: BREAKING: Fairfax County delays vote on data center rules due to staff error (July 30, 2024)
Washington Post: Fairfax plans to regulate data centers amid concerns about industry’s growth (July 29, 2024)
WUSA9: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote on Tuesday about data centers (July 29, 2024)
Fairfax Connection: Supervisors Defer Decision on Data Center Zoning (July 24, 2024)
Gazette Leader: Supervisors put data-center decision into a temporary pause (July 19, 2024)
Fairfax Times: Board defers action on data center regulation (July 19, 2024)
Inside Nova: Fairfax County board delays vote on data center regulations after lengthy public hearing (July 18, 2024)
Fox5DC: Fairfax County leaders consider data center regulations amid mixed community reactions (July 16, 2024)
ABC7: Fairfax County leaders delaying data center decision until July 30 (July 16, 2024)
Annandale Today: Community speaks out against Plaza 500 data center (July 11, 2024)
NBC4: Fairfax County approves plans for data center near mobile home community (July 11, 2024)
El Tiempo Latino: Los residentes de Bren Mar se esfuerzan por proteger su barrio de un centro de datos (Bren Mar residents strive to protect their neighborhood from a data center) (July 22, 2024)
ABC7: Bren Mar residents fight to protect Alexandria neighborhood from incoming data center (July 10, 2024)
Gazette Leader: Planning Commission forwards data-center proposal to supervisors (June 10, 2024)
ABC7 WJLA: Fairfax County Planning Commission votes in favor of new rules for data centers (June 6, 2024)
ABC7 WJLA: Fairfax Co. Planning Commission to discuss data center standards (June 6, 2024)
Fairfax County Times: Community rallies against county's data center expansion (June 7, 2024)
Annandale Today: Planning Commission recommends zoning changes for data centers (June 7, 2024)
WUSA9: Concerns grow from those who live near proposed data center in Alexandria (Apr. 9, 2024)
Annandale Today: Residents concerned about Dominion’s substation project (Apr. 10, 2024)
Patch (Reston, Va): Data Center Zoning Policy To Be Updated By Fairfax County Board (Mar. 12, 2024)
WUSA 9: Fairfax Co. leaders discussing zoning, standard changes for data centers amid development pushback (Mar. 12, 2024)
NBC 4 Washington: Residents ask Fairfax County to require public input about data centers (Mar. 12, 2024)
ABC 7 WJLA: Fairfax County considers enhancing data center guidelines (Mar. 12, 2024)
Fairfax County Times: Homeowners Associations implore Board to require public input for data centers (Mar. 8, 2024)
Data Center Dynamics: Starwood re-proposes data center in Alexandria, Virginia (Mar. 1, 2024)
Annandale Today: Bren Mar Park residents urge the BoS to act against a by-right data center (Feb. 27, 2024)
WTOP: Northern Virginia neighbors concerned over planned data center that’s more than 100 feet tall (Jan. 24, 2024)
Annandale Today: Supervisor Jimenez Wants to Make Mason District a Cultural Hub (Jan. 19, 2024)
Alexandria Now: Alexandria's Smoot Lumber Yard Closing Today After 200 Years in Business (Dec. 1, 2023)
Previous Success
Data Center Dynamics: Fairfax Residents Block Suspected Data Center in Alexandria, Virginia (Nov. 18, 2022)
Data Center Knowledge: Fairfax County Residents Push Back on Data Center Zoning (Nov. 17, 2022)
FOX 5 Washington DC: Fairfax County Residents Organize Against Data Center Rezoning (Nov. 16, 2022)
Data Center Dynamics: Residents Protest Suspected Data Center Plan in Alexandria, Virginia (Nov. 16, 2022)
Alexandria Living Magazine: Bren Mar Residents Concerned About Data Center Possibility (Nov. 15, 2022)
Annandale Today: Residents Oppose Industrial Rezoning (Oct. 29, 2022)
County Recommendations
Staff Report on Data Center Amendments to Zoning Ordinance (May 17, 2024)
Fairfax County Data Centers Report and Recommendations (Jan. 9, 2024)
Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council Recommendations for Siting of Data Centers (PDF) (June 14, 2023) and Follow-up on Data Center Siting (PDF) (Nov. 21, 2023)
Community Letters to County and Public Testimony
County Wide Letter re Public Notice for Data Centers Zoning Ordinance Amendment Must Allow for Consideration of Setbacks Greater than 500 ft.
Community Letter 7 (Mar. 4, 2024)
Public Comment Testimony and Chairman McKay Response (Feb. 20, 2024) (Video)
Community Letter 6 (Feb. 19, 2024)
Community Letter 5 (Jan. 19, 2024)
Community Letter 4 (zMOD) (May 2, 2023)
Community Letter 3 (Nov. 16, 2022)
Bren Pointe Community Letter 2 (November 10, 2022)
Bren Pointe Community Letter 1 (October 26, 2022)
Data Center Concerns
Business Insider: Virginia's 'Data Center Alley' residents say an eerie hum is keeping them up at night (Nov. 27, 2023)
FFXnow: Fairfax County considers size, noise and environmental guidelines for data centers (Oct. 19, 2023)
WUSA9: What's all the data center noise about? (Apr. 7, 2023)
Prince William Times: Fairfax County staff asks Prince William officials to rethink data center plan (Mar. 10, 2022)
Baxtel: Noise pollution from Prince William data center riles locals (July 22, 2022)
Fauquier Times: Manassas neighborhood battles noise from data centers (Aug. 24, 2022) (600 feet from homes; Bren Mar neighbors would be less than 300 feet from building)
Data Center Frontier: Loudoun County Passes New Rules to Limit Data Center Growth (Oct. 5, 2022)
Q&A
Q&A
What is in the site plan?
What is in the site plan?
We know the square footage, height, and placement of two data center buildings on the property, as well as the placement of a new electrical substation. The site plan shows the data center buildings are less than 260 feet away from residential property to the West and 570 feet away from residential property to the North. The electrical substation will be less than 100 feet away from residential property.
The site plan does not have all the details needed to fully understand the impact of the data center. For example, there are no details on the type, size, or location of cooling towers, emergency backup generators, fuel storage, or electrical transmission lines.
Why is action needed immediately?
Why is action needed immediately?
We understand the County is required to "accept" the site plan 60 days after submission. County staff have said that the Board of Supervisors has until acceptance of the site plan to change the Zoning Ordinance standards that would apply to the site. An urgent amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to change the by-right “Permitted” development of data centers to a “Special Exception” before acceptance is the only way ensure a public process for hearings, reviews, and changes to protect residents. Both the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission will need to provide public notice and hearings on the Zoning Ordinance amendment. The time is tight, but it's possible and not without precedent.
What did County staff recommend about by right data center development?
What did County staff recommend about by right data center development?
In their Data Centers Report and Recommendations, County staff recommended the Board of Supervisors "consider revising permissions to require SE approval for data centers, regardless of size, in the C-3, C-4, and I-2 through I-6 Districts. In addition to recommendations ... under other topic areas, standards for special exception review should include the consideration of the size of a proposed data center and its distance (buildings and generators) from surrounding existing and planned residential development."
Are Fairfax County standards the highest in Virginia?
Are Fairfax County standards the highest in Virginia?
Not yet. There are no data center-specific standards that apply to data centers built in an I-5 District. The Board of Supervisors will hopefully consider higher standards, including those proposed in recent County Recommendations, but any higher standard will not apply to Plaza 500 if by-right "Permitted" development is allowed to continue.
How is the Plaza 500 data center different than the Chantilly data center approved in January?
How is the Plaza 500 data center different than the Chantilly data center approved in January?
The Chantilly data center will be 110 ft. tall. It will have smaller square footage than Plaza 500 and will be nearly half a mile away from residential property.
This website relies on data centers. Why oppose them?
This website relies on data centers. Why oppose them?
Data centers are important for modern, internet-enabled living. Mega data centers should be located near similar heavy industry and away from residential homes because of the impact they have on neighboring properties.
Who is organizing the Save Bren Mar effort?
Who is organizing the Save Bren Mar effort?
Local concerned private residents. We are not affiliated with any group, organization, or company. Contact us at SaveBrenMar@gmail.com to get involved.
Together we can
SAVE our communities!
Together we can
SAVE our communities!
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