Gloucester County appears to be trying to soften property owners and residents on the idea of having industrial move in.
Gloucester is considering a Technology Overlay District (TOD) to accommodate data centers. The plans to host an informational meeting that it says is to learn and to hear from the public, but Gloucester has already inserted the idea of property owners selling land into the conversation.
Charge All Your Devices at Once: 5-in-1 Fast Charging Station w/ Wireless Charging
“Before the County begins to work on creating a TOD, we want to gather public input regarding data centers to determine if there is general support for a new ordinance and landowners who might be interested in selling their property for development,” said Carol Steele, Gloucester’s County Administrator.
With Virginia dubbed the “Data Center Capital of the World,” Gloucester County appears to have its eyes the opportunity to tap into the economic benefits.
Data centers, which power cloud computing and digital services, have become big business in the state, particularly in Northern Virginia. However, the facilities’ high energy demands require close proximity to high-voltage transmission lines. Gloucester said the only possibility for data centers in the county is in the Glenns area.
Several speakers are scheduled to give presentations at the informational meeting. The pros and cons of data centers and the potential TOD are slated for the agenda, and the county said there will be a question-and-answer period.
“The meeting will provide an opportunity to learn more about these centers and the purpose/intent of the potential TOD in an informal setting,” said Steele.
The county is calling on all interested citizens to attend, but “especially in the Glenns area.” “Gloucester does value public input very much. Public participation in this forum will be critical in determining how the County proceeds with data centers potentially locating here,” Steele stated.
The meeting is on May 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Rappahannock Community College’s Glenns Campus, located at 12745 College Drive, Glenns, VA.
Follow the Watchful Eye on X, Facebook, Instagram , Rumble & YouTube to keep up with what’s happening in Virginia
