Loudoun County officials are set to consider two key amendments that would put a temporary brake on new data‑center development and permanently end the by‑right grandfather provision that has allowed older projects to proceed without public review.
Board leadership pushes for a pause
County Board member Juli Briskman, who is campaigning for the chairmanship, said the county needs to “pump the brakes” and listen to community concerns before moving forward. In a July interview she explained, “We decided it was time that we actually just pumped the brakes, listened to the community, and just put a pause on all of it until we can get our arms around some of these other standards that we’ve been working on.”
The board will hear a staff‑prepared report outlining what a data‑center pause would look like at its Tuesday business meeting. The report is expected to detail how the pause would be implemented while the county revises its comprehensive plan’s zoning ordinances for data centers.
Grandfather clause slated for repeal
Board members Briskman and Laura TeKrony are also advancing a resolution to eliminate the existing grandfather clause. That clause currently lets data‑center applications filed before the March 2025 change retain by‑right status, bypassing public hearings and full board review.
Under the proposed amendment, any data center that was previously grandfathered would have to obtain a special exception, which includes a public hearing and a vote by the full board—procedures already required for all new applications. “Data center applications should never be approved by‑right without a public hearing and Board review,” TeKrony said in a statement. “We’ve given the data center industry 25 years to build by‑right. There is no legal requirement for grandfathering. It is a choice.”
Community concerns drive the action
Neighbors in several Loudoun neighborhoods have raised complaints about noise, backup‑generator use, and other impacts from data centers that sit close to residential areas. By requiring public input on both new and previously approved projects, the board hopes to address those concerns and ensure future development aligns with community standards.
The amendment report on the grandfather clause is scheduled for presentation at the October 6 board meeting.
Regional trend toward tighter oversight
Loudoun’s move mirrors actions in other Virginia localities, including Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Front Royal, which are also reviewing their zoning rules for data‑center projects. State Senator Glenn Sturtevant (R‑Chesterfield) has called for a statewide moratorium on data‑center development, while Governor Abigail Spanberger supports the industry’s economic contribution—estimated at about $40 billion in 2024‑2025—but urges stronger environmental safeguards and higher fees for energy infrastructure.
Legislators plan to introduce bills in the 2027 General Assembly session aimed at tightening environmental regulations and improving siting policies for data centers. Democrats such as Delegate Rip Sullivan and Senator Creigh Deeds have highlighted potential loopholes in the Virginia Clean Economy Act related to behind‑the‑meter power generation for data centers.
What’s next for Loudoun?
The board’s upcoming votes will determine whether the pause and the repeal of the grandfather clause become county policy. If adopted, the measures would give Loudoun residents a more direct role in shaping the future of the county’s rapidly growing data‑center corridor, while also aligning local oversight with broader state‑level efforts to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
