Virginia: Virginia data center property rezoning divides Culpeper town council

Culpeper Town Council is debating whether to rezon a land on East Chandler Street to create a six-building, 4.3 million-square-foot data center facility and substation in Culpeper County, Virginia. The 116-acre lot is zoned Residential-2 following 15 years of planning for a 490-home project. Such development did not occur. Developers want to turn it into industrial land for the Copper Ridge data center.

After delaying until August 15, the Town Planning Commission tied the rezoning with two votes in favor and two against. Veteran residents worry that the project will affect the "sanctity" and "silence" of the cemetery and adjoining households, which will face noise, traffic, and aesthetic impacts.

Since a decision was not made, the council will review the subject without a recommendation. The Culpeper Council meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month; consequently, the next meeting is September 12.

The rezoning application began in May 2023. CloudHQ may be involved in the development, as the land is owned by CR1/Culpeper LLC and CR2/Culpeper LLC.

Several Culpeper County data center applications are pending. CloudHQ bought 100 acres in July 2022 for possible linked development, while Peterson Companies revealed plans for a facility near Copper Ridge. Equinix has four data centers in the county.