The proposed Bristow Campus data center project, slated for consideration by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on November 19, 2024, has been deferred.

Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir noted that the applicant may have anticipated a lack of support for the project. “I think they know they don’t have the votes,” said Weir. It’s unclear when supervisors may take up the case.

The Bristow Campus development, led by Stack Infrastructure, aims to rezone agricultural land near Nokesville Road and Broad Run Creek into a Planned Business District. This rezoning would permit two high-rise office buildings and light industrial structures up to 75 feet tall.

The proposed site plan includes a 50-foot buffer to protect critical areas, 25 acres of preserved open space, and nearly 14 acres dedicated to parks and recreation. A trail along Broad Run Linear Park is also planned.

Community leaders and residents have expressed growing concern over the increasing presence of data centers in Prince William County. Kathy Kulick, Vice Chair of the HOA Round Table of Northern Virginia, highlighted the potential impacts of data centers on residential communities.

“We’re essentially a discussion and information exchange forum for residential community leaders,” said Kulick, explaining her organization’s role in helping local communities understand development projects. Data centers, according to Kulick, often bring noise, environmental concerns, and infrastructure strain. “Data center noise is real… residents don’t really realize what’s going on until one night they can’t sleep,” she said, adding that diesel generators and air quality impacts are additional concerns.

Kulick also noted that this development falls outside the Prince William County Data Center Overlay District, a designated area approved in 2017 to provide infrastructure suited for data centers. The Overlay District aims to ensure new data centers have access to adequate water and power, yet, as Kulick pointed out, “This Bristow Campus… is located outside of that area.” This deviation has raised questions about whether the county’s infrastructure can support the energy demands of the data center, prompting discussions around alternative energy sources, including small modular nuclear reactors.

The Bristow Campus project mirrors other controversial data center developments in Prince William County, including the recently approved Devlin Technology Park. This project, backed by Stanley Martin Homes, has faced ongoing legal challenges from residents of the Bristow area, who formed the group Defend Devlin. These residents, represented by attorney Donna Gallant, are appealing a previous court dismissal of their case, hoping to prevent data centers from being constructed near Chris Yung Elementary School and several neighborhoods.

If approved, Bristow Campus would be part of a larger trend bringing data centers to residential areas, despite objections. Prince William County residents, particularly in the western region, are facing the possibility of high-rise data centers encroaching on neighborhoods, schools, and parks, potentially altering the character of these communities.

The HOA Round Table of Northern Virginia is working to alert residents across multiple counties, including Loudoun, Fairfax, and Fauquier, about potential developments. In addition to noise and environmental concerns, Kulick raised the issue of rising utility costs for residents, as extensive infrastructure upgrades would be necessary to support the Bristow Campus and similar developments.

Bristow residents may soon have another massive data center campus as their new neighbor.

Despite community objections over environmental and infrastructure concerns, the Prince William County Planning Commission has approved a plan to rezone 58 acres in Bristow for a large-scale data center campus. The project, known as Bristow Campus, is slated to move forward to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, who will make a final decision on November 19, 2024.

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October is bound to be a spooky and busy month around Prince William County with several events and activities scheduled. If you're looking for Halloween-related events, visit our story from Wednesday that details all of the spooky events.

Take a look at some highlighted events.

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Updated: Landon Von Darnell, who was reported as missing and endangered yesterday afternoon, was deceased earlier today, October 2, in the Sperryville area. There are no signs of foul play or need for public concern, police said.

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A 63-year-old Nokesville man died after his 2003 Lexus GX was struck head-on by a 2021 Toyota Tundra that crossed the center line on Bristow Rd. Near Windy Hill Dr., the investigation continues, with speed ruled out as a factor for the Toyota driver.

From Prince William police:

Fatal Crash Investigation – On August 28 at 6:24PM, officers responded to the area of Bristow Rd. near Windy Hill Dr. in Nokesville (20181) to investigate a crash. The investigation revealed the driver of a 2021 Toyota Tundra was traveling eastbound on Bristow Rd. when the vehicle crossed over the center line and into the westbound lane of travel striking a 2003 Lexus GX in a head-on collision. The impact of the crash caused the Lexus to spin off of the roadway and come to a rest in the ditch while the Tundra remained on the roadway. The driver and sole occupant of the Lexus was transported to an area hospital where he died from injuries sustained in the collision. The driver and sole occupant of the Tundra was transported to an area hospital for minor injuries. Investigators determined that speed, was not a factor for the driver of the Tundra. The investigation continues.

Identified:
The deceased driver of the 2003 Lexus GX was identified as Thomas Spencer STARK, 63, of Nokesville

The driver of the 2021 Toyota Tundra was identified as a 61-year-old man of Woodbridge

The Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation and Prince William County Parks & Recreation will host a special event at the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre. The event marks the 15th anniversary of the Centre's appearance on an episode of the television show Ghost Hunters.

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Prince William fire and rescue crews were called to a townhouse Fire at 9:36 p.m. Sunday, April 14, 2024

Four adults and a child were displaced after the fire.

Prince William fire and rescue: Yesterday evening, fire and rescue units were dispatched to the 8700 blk of Chorley Way (Bristow) for a reported townhouse fire. Crews arrived to find light smoke showing and all occupants safely out of the home. The fire was quickly discovered in the kitchen and was promptly extinguished. The home sustained moderate damage. No injuries were reported. The structure was declared unsafe to occupy by the Building Official, displacing 4 adults and 1 child. Th 5 were assisted by the Red Cross. The Fire Marshal’s Office determined an occupant was utilizing the kitchen’s oven when they smelled smoke and discovered fire coming from underneath the appliance. The cause was accidental involving the faulty appliance.

Celebree School, a daycare that provides that provides infant and toddler care, preschool, before and aftercare, and summer camp programs opened March 4. Located at 10368 Bristow Center Drive, the new school will provide a customized program that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of children, while adhering to Virginia’s early education standards.

Enrollment is now open, and community members are encouraged to contact Celebree School for tours, visits, and more information. Celebree School of Bristow offers childcare programs to families in the surrounding area.

Celebree School of Bristow is owned and operated by local entrepreneur, Nasar Agha. Agha is a veteran of the franchising industry with over 20 years of experience as a franchisee. He also has worked in construction, marketing, and sales after moving from Pakistan to the U.S. in 2008.

“My wife is a teacher and together, we have raised our daughter emphasizing the importance of early childhood education, even having her enrolled as a Celebree School student,” said Agha in a press release. “At such a difficult time for the world of education, being able to bring the services that Celebree offers to our local community is what we view as a crucial first step in closing the learning gap that has formed over the last few years.”

To celebrate the new location, Celebree School of Bristow will host a grand opening event on March 15. The location will host a ribbon cutting at 12:30 p.m., offering light refreshments and tour of the new school.

Celebree School – Bristow is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Police have apprehended a suspect believed to be responsible for a carjacking near Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge.

On February 18 at 5:40 p.m., officers responding to an unrelated call for service spotted the suspect, and apprehended him after a foot pursuit.

Police said the carjacking occourred at 5:55 p.m. February 11. Officers responded to reports of a robbery in the 14200 block of Smoketown Road in Woodbridge. According to the initial report, the victim, an 18-year-old man, had been accosted by a group of individuals, one of whom was later as the suspect.

The victim had provided the suspect and others a ride, only to be targeted for robbery shortly thereafter, police said. The confrontation escalated when the suspect and another individual from the group pursued the victim to the median area of Smoketown Road, ultimately resulting in the victim being tackled and assaulted. During the altercation, the suspects forcibly took the victim’s phones, wallet, and keys.

A Good Samaritan intervened, preventing further harm to the victim. However, the suspects managed to escape in the victim’s vehicle, prompting a search by law enforcement. While the vehicle was later found abandoned near Westminister Lane in Lake Ridge, the suspects remained at large.

Ibrahim Barrie Jr., 18, of the 14615 Earlham Court in Dale City, faces charges of including carjacking, robbery, and fleeing from law enforcement. He is currently being held without bond, with a court date pending.

The investigation into this incident remains ongoing as authorities work to identify any additional suspects involved. In this case, the prompt action of law enforcement underscores their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the community, particularly near our schools.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact police to aid in the ongoing investigation.

More reports from Prince William police

Additional Arrest in Burglary While Armed

• Incident:Kevin Vincent Brown, 25, was apprehended after a home invasion that happened in January.
• Location: The burglary occurred in a residential area on Sudley Rd in Manassas, VA.
• Charges: Brown is charged with burglary while armed, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, among other felonies. He is held without bond.

Shooting Investigations

• Dale Blvd Shooting: A shooting was reported, with the victim sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
• Location: The incident took place on Dale Blvd near the intersection with Minnieville Road in Dale City.
• Balls Ford Rd Shooting: Another shooting incident occurred, with the victim also resulted in a non-life threatening injury.
• Location: This incident was reported on Balls Ford Rd near Ashton Ave, near Manassas.
  Both shootings are under investigation with no suspects identified as of the report.
• Police said the the incidents do not appear to be random and there is no threat to the community.

Strong-Armed Robbery and Domestic Assault

• Robbery Incident: A strong-armed robbery was reported without specific charges or arrests mentioned.
• Location: Occurred in a commercial area on Smoketown Road in Woodbridge.
• Domestic Assault: A domestic assault case was reported, involving property destruction and physical altercation.
• Location: This incident happened in a residential neighborhood on Bristow Road in Bristow

Attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer

On Feb. 17, 2024, in Gainesville, a domestic dispute escalated when Jessy William Szypulski, 34, armed with a handgun and in conflict with family members, fired at police and relatives from his home’s upper floor, police said.

• No injuries occurred as officers secured the scene, safely evacuating all, including four children. Szypulski was arrested, facing multiple charges, including attempted malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and reckless handling of a firearm. He is held without bond, with a court date pending.