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DPA2023-00019: Data Center Ordinance Advisory Group

During the July 12, 2022, meeting, the Board of County Supervisors issued Directive 22-28 Noise Ordinance Update in which staff was directed to comprehensively review the noise ordinance and propose appropriate amendments to consider. Following the issuance of the Board of County Supervisors directive, the Office of Executive Management and the Office of the County Attorney convened a steering committee to review the ordinance and to determine what options are available for consideration by the Board of County Supervisors.

On January 23, 2023, staff recommended removing from the Noise Ordinance the exemption of commercial HVAC at night, exempting residential, with a sunset clause of one year. This would allow time to engage with the community and industry to determine the full impacts of the change to the ordinance.

On February 28, 2023, through Ordinance 23-07, the Board of County Supervisors voted to approve the amendment to the County Code Section 14.4(b). 

Additionally, staff recommended creating a Working Group, consisting of County residents who live in close proximity to data centers, data center industry representatives, other stakeholders, and County staff to work together to review the status of the amendment to the Noise Ordinance and to report back to the Board of County Supervisors with any recommendations as to whether the sunset clause should be removed, or any other appropriate amendments.

Concurrently, an amendment to the Design & Construction Standards Manual (DCSM) and the Zoning Ordinance was initiated on February 28, 2023 through Resolution 23-111 to work with stakeholders to address other potential data center impacts. Co-leading agencies of the steering committee are the Department of Development Services, Department of Public Works, the Planning Office, and Department of Economic Development. 

This webpage serves to provide updates to residents and stakeholders regarding efforts to address potential data center impacts, as well as address the amendment to the Noise Ordinance.

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To confirm meeting schedule or for further information contact Melody Aguilera at (703) 792-6604 (TTY: 711) or email [email protected]

Please note that under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, comments, including any personally identifiable information that is included in the comments, are subject to public inspection.

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