Insidenova.com: “The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday moved to schedule for December the rezoning hearings of all three data center projects connected to the divisive PW Digital Gateway, ensuring the largest development in county history will be voted on by the board’s Democratic majority before new members are sworn in next year.”
Insidenova.com: “The HOA Roundtable of Northern Virginia on Monday wrote to Prince William County leadership, objecting to their decision to take up two rezoning requests related to the contentious PW Digital Gateway data center project in November.”
Press release: “Former Congressman Frank Wolf, who successfully protected the Manassas Battlefield from over-development in the late 1980s, will be joining Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, candidates Bill Woolf and John Stirrup, for a press conference to support Supervisor Lawson’s Resolution 23 [Monday July 10, 10 AM, Manassas National Battlefield].”
“The resolution would prohibit contentious land-use votes during the lame duck period of November 7th through December 31st. The intent of the resolution is to ensure that decision-makers are held accountable to voters, creating confidence and trust in our Board, while also guaranteeing decisions regarding data center development are in line with the will of Prince William County’s residents.”
“Ahead of Monday’s press conference, Congressman Frank Wolf said, “The fight to preserve our battlefields and open spaces is not a new one, but it is an important one. I’m coming to speak on Monday because our leaders need to step up and do more to preserve Prince William County’s beautiful landscape.”
“Lame duck resolutions are common policies among counties within this region. Both Fairfax and Stafford counties have a long-standing practice of implementing this policy during election years. In previous years, Supervisor Lawson has brought forth similar resolutions, and many previous Boards have taken up these resolutions.”
Lawson, a Republican, is running against Democrat Deshundra Jefferson for Prince William Board of County Supervisors At-large chair. Lawson is part of the current Republican minority which, in the past year, has opposed the proliferation of server farms in the county.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors meets at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, 2023, to vote on Lawson’s resolution. Here’s the meeting agenda.
In November 2022, the Prince William County Supervisors voted to amend its comprehensive plan to allow up to 27 million square feet of data centers to be built next to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Lawson, and Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega opposed the vote. Former Gainesville District Supervisor Peter Candland abstained from the vote before stepping down from the Board of Supervisors the next month.
Prince William Times: “Opponents of the Prince William Digital Gateway were dealt another blow Thursday when a judge dismissed a second lawsuit challenging the data center development.”
“Both lawsuits were filed by residents late last year in an effort to stop the 2,139-acre data center corridor proposed just north of the Manassas National Battlefield Park from moving forward. Both suffered the same fate: dismissals from two different judges in separate hearings held just a few weeks apart.”
A report from WUSA-TV about how fliers promoting QTS data centers ended up in school lunch bags has been pulled from the TV station's website.
We asked why the story had been removed and are awaiting a response.
Deleted WUSA-TV story: “Prince William County residents were surprised to find pro data center flyers among donated food for students and their families."
"For months, data center projects within Prince William County have been at the center of several meetings with hours-long debates and much controversy. From sound levels and health issues to the impact on the environment and national landmarks, residents have been pushing back against data centers in the county."
"Prince William County Schools Spokesperson Diana Gulotta told WUSA9 that the QTS Data Center flyers were placed in food donations for students and families. The flyers also included the logo of the school district's educational foundation, SPARK."
Prince William County Brentsville District Supervisor Jeanine Lawson's Facebook page: "I was disgusted to learn that QTS Data manipulated PWCS Title 1 elementary schools to peddle propaganda for their proposed data center project along Pageland Ln….I believe that the QTS moral compass is blind and prioritizes financial gain over the well-being of our future generation. This is yet another example of their underhanded tactics, which place QTS profit over Prince William County families."
It's no secret QTS is looking to expand in Prince William County.
Last month, PLN told you QTS offered to pay to widen Pageland Lane, a three-mile, sleepy, rural road, to four lanes with 10-foot pedestrian paths on both sides. Planners envision a series of roundabouts at key intersections.
The upgraded Pageland Lane would carry 22,000 trips per day — a standard set by the Institute of Transportation Professionals, an industry trade group, a policy that QTS says it chose to adhere to.
However, data centers employ few people, which has led many residents who live nearby to be fearful the wider road would be a key component to a Bi-County Parkway, linking Interstate 95 and Dulles Airport via Route 234 in Prince William County and Northstar Boulevard in Loudoun County.
QTS offered to widen the road in exchange for approval of more t than 20 data centers at the Prince William Digital Gateway, next to Manassas National Battlefield. QTS is one of two companies vying to build data centers on nearly 900 acres next to the national park, hallowed ground from the Civil War.
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QTS inquired into developing a data center campus along Pageland Lane, outside of the county’s designated Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District, as early as the summer of 2020.
Discussions included the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, despite the fact that such development was at odds with the county’s stated land use policy. QTS signed a non-disclosure agreement with Economic Development and their proposal was not revealed to the public until February 8, 2022.
On September 9, 2022, a QTS attorney signed a 31-page letter rescinding prior assurances made during the review of the Prince William Digital Gateway proposal. This letter was not unveiled until the eleventh hour of a Planning Commission public hearing after public comment had concluded.
More broken promises were evident in QTS’ Digital Gateway rezoning application of January 19, 2023, where it was revealed that data center buildings adjacent to the Manassas National Battlefield Park would be 75 feet high instead of the promised 45.
Now QTS is embarking upon a disingenuous public relations campaign claiming honorable intentions. When a demonstration was planned yesterday to call out their hypocrisy, QTS spin doctor Nick Blessing characterized it as “civil disorder.”
More like civic engagement, which QTS prefers to usurp.
QTS, who rode into town cloaked in secrecy, oozing deception and flaunting exploitation, now tries to repackage themselves as our benevolent saviors. Nobody is buying it, and it’s getting embarrassing to watch.
They need to click their heels together and go back to Kansas. Maybe their lawyers can figure out how to write this Prince William Digital Gateway fiasco off as a tax loss.
Bill Wright
Gainesville
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The second scheduled public meeting about a proposal to build 20 data centers on 876 acres near the Manassas National Battlefield was canceled late today.
QTS, the firm proposing the complex, announced the cancelation of the public meeting scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Haymarket. It's the second time in two weeks that a public meeting for the proposed data center complex is scheduled in western Prince William County.
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A new data center proposed for the Prince William Digital Gateway would come with an expanded Pageland Lane, a street once identified as key to building a new bi-county parkway between Interstate 95 and Dulles International Airport.
QTS Data Centers proposes 20 data centers on 876 acres next to the Manassas National Battlefield. The land next to the hallowed ground is now earmarked for data centers after the Prince William Board of County Supervisors revised the county's comprehensive plan in November 2022, clearing the way for 27 million square feet of data center space next to the battlefield.
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Following the Prince William Board of County Supervisors’ vote to approve the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the Digital Gateway last November, I urge the Planning Commission and Board of County Supervisors to continue moving forward with efforts to implement the transformative vision of the project.
The Prince William Digital Gateway aligns with the county’s strategic plan. It provides an array of benefits through an increased tax base to fund opportunities for schools, affordable housing, parks, trails, public health, transportation, and other services.
The data centers that it would bring also offer significant national security advantages. These facilities are built to operate when power has been disrupted, ensuring their functionality in a national emergency, if required.
It is critical to our national security apparatus that data management and its recovery from natural disasters or acts of terrorism remain vibrant and at the ready. Prince William County is at the center of this strategy as we take measures to harden against any threats through a multi-layered redundancy system. Additionally, data centers pave the way for cooperation between local, state, and federal entities in identifying terrorist threats or coordinating in response to them.
Our county has been presented with a tremendous opportunity to initiate wide-ranging
benefits to its residents and lead on the national security front. I hope that the Prince William County Planning Commission and county supervisors will take the necessary steps to allow the plans for the Digital Gateway to continue moving forward during the coming months.
Eugene (Gene) Stefanucci
Prince William County
PLN accepts letters to the editor on issues of local importance. Submit your letters to [email protected].
