Loudoun's Data Center Process Setting Standards, Locations To Begin

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is advancing a process to put limits on further data center development.

On Tuesday, supervisors voted 7-2 for a project plan related to data center standards and locations. The approval starts a 16-month process leading to board action on a comprehensive plan amendment and zoning ordinance amendment regarding data centers. Leesburg District Supervisor Kristen Umstattd and Catoctin District Supervisor Caleb Kershner opposed the motion.

Loudoun County is home to the world's highest concentration of data centers known as "Data Center Alley," located in Ashburn. But as Loudoun County receives more applications for data centers in areas where more space is available, Loudoun Now reported that officials have pushed for an update on data center development standards.

At Tuesday's meeting, Chair Phyllis Randall said residents have asked why the data centers were approved, but data centers have been a by-right use.

"These were not approved by this board, the board before that, the board before that. They've been a by right use for many, many years," said Randall. "What we start to do now, we own this now, because we have a comp plan and a zoning rewrite done, so whatever we do now, we own it, and it is ours. But I do want people to know there were decisions made literally almost 30 years ago that impacted whether or not we could've said no to data centers up until we passed the zoning ordinance rewrite."

Tuesday's real estate assessment data presented to the board showed data centers make up 15.9 percent of the county's tax base with a significant increase from 2023 to 2024. Data centers also increase electricity usage, and higher electricity demand has led to electricity providers in eastern and western Loudoun County pursuing new infrastructure in the county.

Algonkian District Supervisor Juli Briskman made an amendment to accelerate the mapping to designate where data centers should and shouldn't be recommended.

Ashburn District Supervisor Mike Turner also made an amendment to accelerate the zoning ordinance amendment to end by-right data center uses under the zoning ordinance. The county's updated zoning ordinance adopted in December strengthened standards for data centers near residential properties and changed the by-right allowance to a special exception approval for data centers in the office park and planned development-research and development park zoning districts. Data centers are permitted as a by-right use in the industrial park, general industry and mineral resource-heavy industry zoning districts.

Supervisors directed county staff to have the proposed maps and zoning ordinance amendment on by-right uses to go to the Loudoun County's Planning Commission in July. The rest of the project plan on data center standard and locations will be on schedule for final board consideration by spring or summer 2025.

"I have heard my constituents loud and clear: the unchecked sprawl of data centers has reached alarming levels," said Briskman in a newsletter to constituents. "I am working to accelerate county action on this issue as fast as possible."

Supervisors also approved a motion by Little River District Supervisor Laura TeKrony to look at electricity substations standards in the process.

"We're putting a focus on data centers, but substations go with data centers, and unfortunately we don't require data centers with substations on their sites," said TeKrony. "So where we are now is having to put substations near residential communities, and it's worth looking at better design guidelines."