Digital Gateway Appeal Sought By Prince William County Supervisors

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will seek an appeal of the Digital Gateway ruling.

In August, a judge had overturned the December 2023 rezoning that would allow the massive data center complex near Manassas National Battlefield Park. The judge's ruling had been in favor of the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and a group of homeowners against the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

On Tuesday, the Board of County Supervisors voted 4-2 to appeal the ruling, with Chair Deshundra Jefferson (D-at large) and Supervisor Tom Gordy (R-Brentsville) opposed. The action came after a closed meeting discussion. Supervisor Victor Angry (D-Neabsco) made the motion to appeal.

The data center rezoning by the Board of County Supervisors in December 2023 would pave the way for a major complex with as many as 37 data centers on about 2,000 acres close to Manassas National Battlefield, according to the Associated Press. The area was previously zoned for agricultural and residential uses. However, the lawsuits have put the development on hold.

As reported by the Prince William Times, the judge's ruling noted the county board did not meet public notification hearing requirements with the Washington Post public hearing notice before the December 2023 rezoning hearing.

It wasn't all bad news for data center opponents. At Tuesday's meeting, the board rejected a new data center application at 11479-11540 Nokesville Road in Bristow.

State Sen. Danica Roem (D-Prince William) praised the board's rejection of new data centers in Bristow. Before the meeting, Roem had urged the board to not spend any more tax dollars on the Digital Gateway court battles. The state senator, whose district includes the area Digital Gateway would be located in, said data center rezoning hearings should be deferred until the Gainesville District supervisor seat is filled. The special election is scheduled during Prince William County's Nov. 4 general election.

"The resident in the 14 precincts of Gainesville District do not have equal representation compared to the residents in the other six magisterial districts and data center proposals are the most contentious land-use issues to regularly come before the board," Roem said in a social media post. "Deferrals aren’t rare and applicants can wait for two months until every citizen has equal representation again, which will happen after the November 4 special election."

SEE ALSO:

Couple Sees Taxes Soar $35K While Trapped By Lawsuits Over NoVA Data Center

Nominees Chosen In Prince William County Supervisor Special Election