The Fredericksburg City Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, to approve the Technology Overlay District (TOD), paving the way for data centers in Celebrate Virginia South. Today, the city revealed that Central Park developer The Silver Companies and STACK Infrastructure announced an agreement to build as many as 8-12 data sets in the city.
It marked the first time the public learned who would build and how many data centers would be built. The decision marks a shift in the city’s development strategy, prioritizing high-tech commercial investment over the previously envisioned mixed-use development.
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The Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will bring its Lolli-Pops concert, an interactive program designed to introduce young audiences to the world of classical music, to James Monroe High School on March 15. The concert's theme is "A Salute to Mother Earth."
The Lolli-Pops concert is aimed at children from toddler age and up, offering a kid-friendly format that features well-known tunes such as "America the Beautiful," "Over the Rainbow," and selections from Disney’s Moana. More mature audiences can look forward to hearing "Variations on a Shaker Melody" from Appalachian Spring and The Moldau, among other pieces.
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At the February 18, 2025, Board of Supervisors meeting, the members discussed Resolution R25-43, which proposes amending Stafford County Code Section 28-35 and modifying the Table of Uses and Standards to introduce additional oversight for data center developments. To gather public feedback, a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission is scheduled for March 18, 2025.
Reasons for the Change
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Stafford County Public Schools are ushering in a new era of leadership, announcing the appointment of several new principals, including the founding principals of two new elementary schools. Additionally, the district has hired a new Executive Director of Transportation, John Wilcots, who brings experience from one of the nation's largest school districts to tackle local transportation challenges.
New Principals to Lead Stafford’s Expanding Schools
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Updated 11 a.m. – Less than two months after announcing she would not seek another term, Stafford County Supervisor Monica Gary has reversed her decision. She will run for re-election as an independent candidate.
Gary, who represents the Aquia District on the Board of Supervisors, posted on Facebook on February 20, 2025, citing encouragement from her community and family as the driving force behind her change of heart.
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Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) will hold a public hearing on its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The hearing will occur at 7 p.m. during the School Board's monthly business meeting at the School Board Chamber, 31 Stafford Avenue, Stafford. A work session will precede the meeting at 5 p.m.
Community members can sign up to speak in advance via an online form available until 4 p.m. on the meeting day. Afterward, in-person sign-ups will be available until 6:50 p.m. Written comments may be submitted via a digital public comment form by 6:50 p.m. on February 25.
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As Stafford County prepares its fiscal plan for 2026, officials are bracing for both financial opportunities and challenges. Expected increases in education funding and mounting concerns over the rising costs of tax exemptions for disabled veterans are heating up budget discussions among county leaders.
At the latest Board of Supervisors meeting, many residents expressed frustration over rising property taxes, urging officials to find alternative funding sources instead of raising taxes again.
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Mackintosh outlined the city’s long-term planning efforts, which date back to 2018 when Fredericksburg began setting tax rates and policies to align with neighboring jurisdictions. With Northern Virginia running out of space, developers have turned their attention south, making Fredericksburg a prime target for new data center development.
Officials have proposed a Technology Overlay District—a designated 250-acre area in Celebrate Virginia South, near Wegmans and the Fredericksburg Nationals stadium to ensure that data centers fit within the city's framework. This district will allow data centers by right if they meet strict environmental and design regulations.
“We didn’t want to be reactive to data center proposals,” Mackintosh said. “We wanted to set the terms ahead of time—where it makes sense and under what conditions.”
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The Northern Virginia real estate market is experiencing an increase in home listings, with notable pricing and inventory level changes across Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties. This shift comes amid large-scale federal job cuts, prompting some government employees to list their homes out of economic uncertainty.
Federal Job Cuts and Housing Market Impact
