AGENDA DATE: 8/6/2025
TITLE:
Title
Data Center Phase 2 Work Session
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Work session to discuss potential ordinance regulations for data centers and establishment of one or more overlay districts for data centers.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Herrick, Sumner, Filardo, Fritz
PRESENTER (S): Jacob Sumner, Bill Fritz
LEGAL REVIEW: Not Required
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: On April 2, 2025 the Board of Supervisors adopted limited regulations for data centers. These amendments were intended as a first phase. On May 7, 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution of intent to consider additional regulations and the creation of an overlay district.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality of Life - Encourage a vibrant community with economic and recreational opportunities that serve all community members.
DISCUSSION: Data centers may generate impacts not addressed by current regulations. The zoning text amendment and zoning map amendment are intended to establish regulations to mitigate the impacts of data centers and identify locations that are optimal for data centers. The Data Center Phase 2 BOS Work Session Report (Attachment A) provides a more thorough summary of staff’s work, considerations, and community engagement on the proposed ordinance amendments.
BUDGET IMPACT: No adverse budget impact is anticipated.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors provide guidance on the proposed ordinance amendments, as further detailed in Attachments A and A2.
Staff is requesting guidance from the Board of Supervisors on the following questions:
1. Does the Board support the concept of the proposed regulations?
2. Does the Board support the boundaries of the proposed overlay districts?
3. Does the Board support tiered districts?
4. If the Board supports consideration of tiered districts how should each area be designated?
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A Data Center Phase 2 BOS Work Session Report
Attachment A1 Comments from June 30, 2025 Community Meeting
Attachment A2 Draft Ordinance July 16 BOS Work Session
Attachment A3 Route 29_I64
Attachment A4 Airport Industrial Area
Attachment A5 Airport Industrial Area (northern area)
Attachment A6 Airport Industrial Area (southern area)
Attachment A7 Rivanna Station-Emerson (GE Fanuc)
Attachment A8 State Farm (Pantops)
Attachment A9 Engage Albemarle Comments