On Wednesday night, the Fredericksburg Planning Commission voted 4-3 to reject a proposed Technology Overlay District (TOD) that would have allowed data centers and technology-focused development in Celebrate Virginia South, near the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball stadium. The motion to approve the district failed by a 4-3 vote, and a second motion recommending that the City Council require Special Use Permits (SUPs) for data centers instead passed by the same margin.

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Although the area has already braved several winter storms in 2025, Fredericksburg’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is still eight days away. 

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The Fredericksburg City Council has appointed Susanna Finn to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat following the resignation of Dr. Timothy Duffy earlier this year. The decision was made during a Special Session Meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Judge Gordon Willis, Presiding Judge of the Fredericksburg Circuit Court, administered the Oath of Office.

Finn, an urban planning professional and Chair of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission, brings a decade of experience in city planning and holds a certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners. She also has an educational background in historic preservation from the University of Mary Washington.

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(FXBG Advance) – A Fredericksburg resident has filed a petition asking the Circuit Court to compel the release of applications, notes, and interview questions related to the recent Ward 3 vacancy and to block Council from holding closed meetings to discuss matters related to filling the vacancy.

In a unique and chilly demonstration, residents of Fredericksburg gathered Wednesday to protest a proposed data center development near the Rappahannock River by building snowmen.

Organized by the Rappahannock Community Coalition, the “Snowmen Against Data Centers” rally took place just one day after nearly 10 inches of snow blanketed the region. The snowmen were erected on the Mary Washington University Campus, City Hall, and a house off Harrell Road in Stafford County.

The protest comes on the same day of the Fredericksburg Planning Commission meeting, where commissioners took up a proposal to endorse a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, a Zoning Map Amendment applying the Technology Overlay District, and a Zoning Proffer Amendment — which would clear the way to build the city’s first data center. The city council announced it would pursue the data center on an “accelerated” timeline in December but has yet to disclose which firm would develop the project.

A staff report presented at the meeting outlined the city’s rationale for the Technology Overlay District, emphasizing its potential for economic development while balancing environmental concerns and urban planning considerations.

The report detailed discussions on the environmental impact, including protections for the Rappahannock River, increased setbacks from residential areas, and proposed water usage restrictions. Additionally, concerns were raised about noise levels from emergency generators, electricity availability, and impacts on the existing trail network. The proposal also includes measures to promote green energy initiatives and climate goals while ensuring that the development aligns with the city’s broader comprehensive plan.

Environmental and Transparency Concerns

Leading the protest effort was Alexanna Hengy, a local activist and outspoken critic of the proposed comprehensive plan amendment that would allow for constructing a data center next to a nursing home and the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball stadium.

“We’re 100% against it,” Hengy said. “The data center campus would at least double our city’s energy use, making it impossible for us to meet our climate goals—not just as a city, but as a planet.”

Hengy and the coalition argue that the environmental impact of the proposed data center cannot be ignored. Data centers require vast amounts of electricity, which is still derived from fossil fuels.

“They’re trying to build this data center only about 120 feet from apartment buildings and a nursing home,” she said. “That poses a direct health risk to our most vulnerable residents.”

Beyond environmental concerns, Hengy and her fellow activists have expressed frustration with Fredericksburg’s city leaders’ lack of transparency and accountability.

“In August, we attended a city council meeting where they were supposed to vote on spending $200,000 on a feasibility study for the data center,” Hengy explained. “We showed up, but midway through the meeting, they said they didn’t need to vote anymore because they were just going to take the money from the Economic Development Authority instead.”

Despite assurances that this was just a study and that construction was years away, Hengy alleges that city officials soon after began quietly laying the infrastructure for the project. Additionally, she criticized the city for not disclosing the developer behind the project, though through independent research, activists believe it to be Stack Infrastructure—a company with ties to the city’s Economic Development Authority.

“The process has been fast-tracked, which is not their usual procedure,” Hengy said.

Panel Discusses Future of Data Centers in Fredericksburg

As community debate over the Technology Overlay District continues, a panel discussion on January 29 at the Dorothy Hart Community Center examined the potential impact of data centers in the region. Sponsored by Friends of the Rappahannock and other advocacy groups and covered by the Fredericksburg Free Press, the event brought together environmentalists, engineers, commercial developers, and city officials, including Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

• Economic Growth vs. Environmental Impact: Panelists acknowledged the growing demand for data centers due to AI and digital expansion. If approved, the proposed site at Celebrate Virginia South could generate up to $60 million in tax revenue annually. However, critics argue the increased energy consumption would undermine the city’s goal of being fossil fuel-free by 2035.
• Energy Demand and Sustainability: Experts noted that renewable energy alone cannot meet the power demands of large-scale data centers, meaning facilities will likely rely on natural gas. “The big question is: Where are we getting the power?” said Daren Shumate, an engineering consultant.
• Zoning and Development Concerns: While the proposed Technology Overlay District would allow data centers as “by-right” developments—eliminating the need for special-use permits or public hearings—no official project has been approved yet. Another potential data center site near the Hylton Track and Gateway Blvd has not been formally proposed to city staff.

The discussion highlighted ongoing concerns over transparency and environmental protections, though Devine argued that revenue from data centers could help the city meet its climate goals.

The following public hearing on the Technology Overlay District is scheduled for February 25, 2025, City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall and will be streamed online.

Fredericksburg’s Riverside Center for the Performing Arts has welcomed a new force in its kitchen: Chef Stefan Boutchyard. With a rich culinary background spanning Fredericksburg, Culpeper, and high-profile catering events—including the inauguration of President Donald Trump—Boutchyard is breathing new life into the dinner theater’s menu.

A Culinary Journey to Riverside

Boutchyard’s journey to Riverside was as unexpected as it was serendipitous. “I was a chef in Culpeper working at a bistro, and I wasn’t making a whole lot, but I was sustaining myself,” he said. Then, a call from a friend, local restaurateur Daniel Orofino, founder of Fredericksburg’s Orofino Restaurant, set the stage for a major career shift. “Daniel told me, ‘I don’t know if it’ll be a job, but I want you to call my friend Patrick,’” referring to Riverside’s CEO, Patrick A’Hearn.

After meeting with Ahern, the opportunity became clear. “They wanted to move forward, felt a little stagnant where they were at,” Boutchyard explained. “So they offered me a position, and here I am. I really jumped headfirst into the deep end—on purpose.”

Reinventing the Menu

Boutchyard wasted no time infusing his personal touch into Riverside’s offerings, beginning with the menu for Heartbreak Hotel, an Elvis Presley-inspired musical on stage now. “I know a little about Elvis, so I said, ‘Let’s look at his early years—Tupelo, Nashville, and Vegas.’ That’s how the Viva Las Vegas shrimp cocktail made its way onto the menu.”

Southern flavors took center stage. “I wanted to do a nod to his roots, so we brought in shrimp and grits and fried chicken. But I thought, ‘Let’s do chicken and waffles—with cornbread waffles.’ Then we added a smoked maple syrup with Tabasco to give it a little different flavor.”

Boutchyard’s creativity doesn’t stop at entrées. Even a simple veggie pastry has meaning: “I had a dream about it. The marinara sauce I make for it is my little homage to Danilo Orofino—it’s not his recipe, but it’s a thank-you to him for introducing me to Riverside.”

The Future of Food at Riverside

With Riverside’s transition to a nonprofit, discussions about reimagining the theater space have been ongoing. Some plans suggest shifting to a more traditional theater seating arrangement and moving food service to a separate banquet area.

But Boutchyard is clear on one thing: “Food is not leaving Riverside. Food will always be a part of Riverside in some form.” Whether through a restaurant model or an event-style format, he insists, “There will always be some kind of culinary experience here.”

He’s already looking ahead to Jesus Christ Superstar, featuring Mediterranean-inspired dishes starting March 12, 2025. “We’re doing a saffron yogurt chicken kebab, roasted garlic Israeli couscous, and grilled curried zucchini with sun-dried tomatoes,” he revealed. “And we’re partnering with Sweet Reasons in Spotsylvania for a pistachio chocolate cheesecake that is absolutely amazing.”

“Super Fun Time” Sushi Class

Beyond the dinner theater experience, Boutchyard is launching an interactive culinary event: Super Fun Time Sushi Class. “It’s part cooking lesson, part comedy act,” he said. Drawing from his experience teaching sushi classes in Atlanta, he aims to offer a relaxed, entertaining introduction to sushi-making. “It’s a great way to introduce new people to Riverside. Maybe they’re not ready to commit to a full show, but they can come for a fun night, learn something, and have a great time.”

The hour-long class will show foodies how to make and and eat three types of sushi rolls. The class starts at 6 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2025. Tickets are $40 each.

As Riverside enters its next chapter, Boutchyard is determined to keep the flavors fresh and the experience unforgettable. “I want my food to complement the show,” he said. “I’m here to make Riverside something really special.”

Updated 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 5 – As another major snowstorm blankets Stafford County with over six inches of snow on February 11, 2025, local officials are grappling with Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) depleted snow removal budget, which was exhausted by a previous winter storm on January 5–6.

During a Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting on February 6, 2025, VDOT Residency Administrator Kyle Bates delivered a stark warning about the agency’s financial limitations.

“That money is gone. It’s gone. Our snow budget was that one storm,” Bates said.

The January 5–6, 2025 storm, known as Storm Blair, was a major winter weather event that severely impacted the region. Stafford County received up to 8 inches of snow, while Fredericksburg recorded between 5 and 6.3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm led to hazardous road conditions, multiple traffic incidents, and widespread travel disruptions. Reagan National Airport reported more than 200 flight cancellations due to the heavy snowfall.

VDOT’s Winter Weather Response & Budget

While VDOT’s initial snow removal budget has been exhausted, the agency has emphasized that it allocates resources as needed to respond to severe weather, regardless of initial estimates.

“VDOT estimates what will be spent each year on snow removal based on storms in prior years, but it is an estimate,” a VDOT spokeswoman Kelly Hannon explained. “It is used for planning purposes within the agency’s overall maintenance budget, but VDOT will always devote the resources needed to respond to severe weather.”

For the February 11–12 storm, VDOT mobilized staff and equipment at Level 5, its highest response level, to match the forecasted six or more inches of snow in the Fredericksburg area.

VDOT has a statewide weather response budget of $222 million for the 2024–2025 winter season, slightly higher than the $220 million allocated for the 2023–2024 season. However, funding is distributed based on district-specific equipment needs, historical weather trends, and overall maintenance priorities.

“Each district has an estimated budget for weather response within this larger number, but it is a planning tool. Needs fluctuate district to district each year, and the maintenance budget is intended to support needs statewide,” Hannon continued.

Ongoing Challenges for Snow Removal

With the February 11 storm continuing to impact local roads, residents are expressing concerns about how VDOT will handle additional snowfall.

During the meeting, Bates acknowledged the difficulty of plowing secondary and residential roads, stating that VDOT had to bring in additional motor graders from across Virginia during the January 5–6 storm due to the extreme ice accumulation.

“Motor graders were brought in from across Virginia to clear compacted snow and ice,” Bates said.

Infrastructure and Safety Concerns

Beyond the immediate challenge of winter weather, Bates also updated the board on critical road infrastructure projects, including:

• Falmouth Bridge (Route 1 over the Rappahannock River), where northbound lanes remain closed due to structural concerns, with emergency repairs underway.
• Leland Road (Route 626) widening project, scheduled for 2028, to improve traffic flow and pedestrian access.
• Pedestrian safety improvements, including new crossings at Prim Road, Plantation Drive, and Parkway Boulevard.

Fredericksburg is taking another step forward to become a more walkable community with the recent start of construction off LaFayette Boulevard, which is part of the city’s Twin Lake Drive and Kensington Pedestrian Connector project.

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(FXBG Advance) – The process Fredericksburg City Council is following to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat could conflict with state code—especially with a provision added last year that states that governing bodies must publicly announce the names of those being considered to fill a vacant seat at least seven days before the appointment is made.

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