Lawsuit Against Digital Gateway Data Center Project In PWC Rejected

MANASSAS, VA — A judge rejected the lawsuit against the Board of County Supervisors and developers of a major data center complex in western Prince William County in court Thursday.

Prince William Times first reported the decision against the lawsuit, which a group of nine residents and the American Battlefield Trust had sought. The lawyer representing the plaintiffs is Chap Petersen, a former Virginia state senator.

According to an American Battlefield Trust news release, the ruling from Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Tracy Hudson said the case from the plaintiffs was not sufficient to bring to trial.

The Prince William Times reported that the judge noted the plaintiffs' argument about improper advertising time for the Board of County Supervisors public hearing. However, the judge said the county did try to notify the public and wasn't responsible for The Washington Post publishing the third public hearing notice three days before the public hearing.

After the court decision, the American Battlefield Trust said it was exploring options to appeal. Petersen indicated the case could go to the Court of Appeals.

"While disappointed in today’s decision, the Trust remains undaunted," said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan in a statement. "We’ve experienced setbacks before, and still prevailed. The Manassas Battlefield is too important to allow it to be overwhelmed by the world’s largest data center campus. Mark my words — this fight has only just begun."

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors had approved the data center rezoning in December 2023. That paves the way for a major complex with as many as 37 data centers on 1,750 acres close to Manassas National Battlefield, according to the Associated Press.

The area was previously zoned for agricultural and residential uses.

The American Battlefield Trust and nine residents filed the lawsuit in January. The lawsuit alleges legal violations by Prince William County, including insufficient required information about the development, inadequate notice for public hearings, no consideration of environmental and historical factors and more.

In October, organizations including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Preservation Virginia, the Piedmont Environmental Council, and the Coalition to Protect Prince William County issued an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit against Digital Gateway.

QTS Data Centers says on its Digital Gateway web page that the project will help ease the burden on residential property owners while providing funds for schools, transportation, parks and affordable housing. The developers say the project aims to be "context sensitive to the historical and cultural components of the corridor, while working to realize the profound public benefit made possible by this project."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.