by Chris Carroll
While it’s hard to keep track of the many data center applications throughout Prince William County and the Rural Crescent, it is important to realize that multiple data center proposals are currently under consideration in Nokesville.
One of these, the 279-acre House Farm Data Center application, proposes to remove several hundred acres from the Rural Crescent; this would allow for industrial sprawl and development into the rural area. No commercial or industrial ventures are nearby, the land is surrounded by residential housing, and the land is outside the Data Center Overlay District.
View the application submitted in May 2021 here. View the map showing CPAs here.
This land is sandwiched by residential gravel roads, is in a floodplain with Environmental Resource long range land classification, and does not have access to public water or sewer. It is embarrassing that this land is even under consideration for industrial data center use.
The Comprehensive Plan change is currently being considered with a Board vote planned for early 2022. No environmental study is planned, and no water study has been completed to examine impacts on neighboring wells and septic fields.
The Prince William County Economic Development office is currently promoting this land as “Industrial Use” on their website for available business parcels, however, the change has not yet been approved.
If action is not taken data centers and other industrial buildings will quickly spread through the Rural Crescent on all fronts, irrevocably decimating the area for both the short and long term.
This seems wrong in so many ways, especially since industrial land is available, whether at less attractive cost. What a sacrifice, as the world hurtles to worse climate outcomes.
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