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Stafford County planning commission shows support for new data center proposal
The Stafford County Planning Commission is recommending the approval of a new data center proposal.
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. - Stafford County's planning commission has recommended approval of a new data center, but not everyone is on board.
What we know:
Residents in the area said it's already tough living so close to I-95 and Route 1. The proposed Accokeek Center project would be the sixth data center approved in the county.
The proposed data center would be located near the Rappahannock Regional Jail. The current plan calls for up to 95,000 square feet of space across two buildings, along with an electrical substation.
The developer, Falmouth Tech, said the project could help provide tax relief for residents.
Documents submitted to the county showed the project could generate $2 billion in investments in the county.
Neighbors raise concerns
What they're saying:
For people living near the proposed sites, there are different concerns.
"The pollution just stinks," said neighbor Emily Nivins. "We just purchased this home a couple months ago, so to hear about this…it just stinks."
"People are selling their homes," said neighbor David Adedayo. "If you come here, you are already seeing a lot of homes with for sale…some are just moving to a better place."
Some residents told FOX 5 DC they are already dealing with noise from existing data centers.
Despite the recommendation for approval, some of the county commissioners raised concerns about setbacks and environmental impacts.
The next major decision will come from the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.
FOX 5 reached out to Stafford County for additional details and is waiting to hear back.
The Source: Information in this article is from the Stafford County Planning Commission and original FOX 5 DC reporting.