AWS proposal "indefinitely postponed" in Fauquier County

AWS’s Warrenton data center proposals have been ‘indefinitely postponed’ by Virginia’s Fauquier County officials following a unanimous vote. The original proposal outlined plans for a 220,000-square-foot (20,400 sqm), single-story data center in Warrenton at the intersection of Blackwell Road and Lee Highway. However, following a wave of opposition from residents and a lack of detail from AWS, it’s paused, for the time being at least.

The Warrenton Planning Commission decided “to postpone indefinitely the review of [the special-use permit] until [the commission] gets more information” from the giant about the application, which James Lawrence, the commission’s vice chair, called “incomplete.”

One specific piece of information the commission is waiting for is a noise study, as well as an update to its application regarding how many trees will be removed during the development. 

Lawrence outlined that it would be a “tragic” rush to act on the matter, adding: “There’s so much missing information. We as the Planning Commission have a job to do, and that job is not done.”