Brentsville, Gainesville Residents Speak Out at 'Listening Session' Against Data Center Zoning Near Homes, Schools

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A number of interested Western Prince William County residents made clear, Tuesday evening, that they do not want data centers next to residential neighborhoods, nor were they happy about opening the Rural Crescent.

Approximately 50 western Prince William residents participated in a “listening session,” speaking before school board representatives Jen Wall (Gainesville), Adele Jackson (Brentsville), and Brentsville Planning Commissioner, Tom Gordy, at Brentsville District High School in Nokesville. The session allowed residents to tell their representatives what they thought of the Comprehensive Plan Update for 2040, ahead of Wednesday night's Public Hearing. 

The 2040 Plan is especially heavy on land-use changes proposed for the Brentsville and Gainesville magisterial districts. It includes several rezoning of Agricultural/Estate areas to become residential or light industrial; rezoning of employment centers along highways to become high-density residential.  

The pattern seems to be to place medium-high density residential near major highways and bus stations. It also opens up the land between Bristow and Nokesville for light industrial. According to documents, the rezoning seems to be born of applicant requests. 

The long-term plan proposal received criticism from those who want to keep the rural crescent rural, those who wanted to protect homes and schools from data centers, and those who wanted to make sure the schools would not become overcrowded once again. 

People also thought CPAs were snuck into the plan.  Residents discovered Devlin Road Tech Park in Bristow near communities, including Sheffield Manor, and John Marshal Commons near Village in Gainesville. 

Several of the attendees were residents of Amberleigh Station and Silver Leaf Estates in eastern Bristow along Linton Hall Road. They enjoy the suburban lifestyle but have been told that despite their opposition, their community will be surrounded by data centers on all three sides over the next few years.

Supervisors rezoned land from the Hunter property from Agricultural/Estate to Tech in September of 2021, allowing for data center development. Amberleigh HOA President Steve Pleickhardtsaid they did not know the extent of the data center at that point, nor how loud data centers could be.

But once Pleickhardt obtained the draft of the layout for Yondr Data Center, via a FOIA request, he realized there would be 11 buildings! Additionally, the Yondr Center would be adjacent to other data center parks, including the Devlin Technology Park, should that one be approved.

Now, Amberleigh residents are warning their neighbors. 

“It’s mind-blowing that something like this can even be happening,” said a woman from Amberleigh Station, commenting on how incompatible the land use is. “It defies logic.”

However, there is hope for the Devlin site. 

The Devlin applicant, home builder Stanley Martin, deferred plans for the Devlin Tech Park, following a community demonstration. But Devlin was back on the Comprehensive Map, via the 2040 Update, causing distress for some Bristow residents.  

Dan Brown of Silver Leaf Estates said the Hunter property was rezoned “under the cover of Covid,” and his community had “zero” information on it.

He is concerned that once Comp Plan Updates pass, it will be a green light for unwanted developments like data centers near residential, to cruise right in.

Residents might disagree, only to be told, “Ah, shucks, it was already part of your plan.”

After the vote on the Prince William Digital Gateway, residents remarked that they do not trust most of the Planning Commissioners to care about what happens in the Brentsville and Gainesville districts.

Some question if they even understand the Comp Plan.

“The people of this county know more about this comprehensive plan than any of them do, especially Patty Kunz,” said Marlyn Karp, who called herself “Grandma Resistance.” She said Kunz lacked qualifications for the job on the appointed Planning Commission.

“They are putting our very lives and our children's lives at risk,” she said. “This is not a joke.”

Bob Weir, Haymarket Councilman said the Planning Staff need to realize they are opening the county up to litigation but the way they are conducting their business.

At the last meeting, some council members did not even realize they were voting on a proposal that included 31 pages of changes, because it was snuck in right before the vote.

“There will be- without a doubt-  litigation to ensue. Staff needs to be very well aware,” Weir said.

People asked how that could happen, and why the vote could not be overturned. Gordy explained that only someone who voted in favor could call for a vote to be rescinded or amended.

People were also unhappy with other ways the Digital Gateway Public Hearing was handled. No water studies. Unanswered questions. The meeting going on until 5 a.m.

“The process seems inherently or systematically designed to [keep the public ignorant,]” said Weir. “They don’t care what you think.”

People discussed whether the Comp Plan should be broken down into parts. But then, how could it be? Looking at the sewer, and utilities, it’s all intertwined. Weir advised Gordy that they do not have to stay until 5 a.m., they can divide the meeting and hear more of the public at a second meeting.

Meanwhile, people explained how the changes coming to western Prince William County were ones no one wants.

A real estate agent said that people always said they wanted to live in Bristow, Gainesville, and Haymarket, but now they tell her the opposite. “No Bristow, No Gainesville, No Haymarket, No Nokesville,” because of data centers.

She may have to leave her profession. “I’m not comfortable saying to people: come live in my neighborhood; it’s awesome.”

She also said she may relocate herself.

And asks what teachers will they get who will want to teach next to data centers. “I would not want to teach in a building surrounded by the noise and the construction.”

Other speakers spoke about how the rezoning of data centers is hurting the environment and everything they love about the area.

And why were Democrats supporting harming the land, water, and wildlife?

Vita Carroll noted that if they open the Rural Crescent, they will need more schools on the western end of the county. They have only just caught up with residential development, speakers noted.

One woman praised Gordy for representing the community but said most of the other commissioners do not want to hear it. “They are not listening to us. They have already made up their minds,” she said. “They are going to destroy our county. What they are doing is sacrilege”

She asked Gordy: “Tell us what we have to do and we will do it.” He said they can only write and talk to their representatives and to their neighbors and friends throughout the county.

Adele Jackson advised people to talk to someone in person. It’s been online, but they can talk to people face-to-face on their streets, and in the supermarket. Aim for 3, 4 or five people.

But others went back to the recall. “There is no trust,” said Karen Sheehan, telling neighbors to affect change at the ballot box, by “getting rid of Ann Wheeler,” and “shaking the foundation of all the other supervisors.”

Jen Wall, Adele Jackson, data centers, Tom Gordy, listening session, 2040 plan, Devlin Data Centers, Devlin Tech Park, Prince William County, Brentsville, Bristow, PWCS, Prince William County Schools