The first of the properties was the Ned Distiller House at 16210 Lee Highway and the adjoining Ashe Property at 16206 Lee Highway. These properties span approximately one acre. According to county documents, the Board originally wanted to purchase Ned Distiller's house, but staff recommended the county also purchase the adjoining property due to its size.
Both properties contain structures from the early 1800s. The Ned Distiller House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Historic Landmark Registry; it was built and owned by a freed slave, which is one of the earliest examples of a free African American owning property in the Commonwealth.
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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.
- As proposed, the Bristow Campus data center project involves the construction of two three-story data center buildings, each spanning 450,000 square feet, totaling 900,000 square feet of data center space.
- Additionally, the development includes a substation to support the facility's power requirements.
The proposed development, led by Stack Infrastructure, would rezone agricultural land to a Planned Business District to construct two high-rise office buildings up to 75 feet tall and light industrial structures on Nokesville Road near Broad Run Creek. With site improvements, including a 50-foot perimeter buffer along critical areas, the applicant has committed to preserving 25 acres of open space and dedicating almost 14 acres to the county for parks and recreation, adding a potential trail connection along Broad Run Linear Park.
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Take a look at some highlighted events.
Saturday (Oct. 5)
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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.
Original post -- The Prince William County Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in locating Landon Von Darnell, a 21-year-old white male last seen at his residence on Tenbury Ct. in the Bristow area. Landon, who is 5'9", 135 lbs., with brown hair and eyes, may have voluntarily gone missing and could be heading towards Sperryville. He is considered endangered and may need help. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police at 703-792-6500 or their local police department. His current clothing description is unknown.
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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 NokesvilleThe 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.
The event will occur at the Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow. The evening begins with a free screening of the "Ghost Hunters" episode from 7 to 8 PM. Following the screening, there will be a ghost tour from 8 to 9 p.m. The tour costs $15 per person, and advance tickets are recommended. Tickets will be available starting August 6th at pwcparks.info/hptickets.
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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.
