Prince William County, Northern Virginia, Deliberates Two Proposed Data Center Projects
Northern Virginia's Prince William County is receiving feedback to conduct a full water impact study of two proposed data center projects which may increase storm water runoff.
According to InsideNoVa, The National Parks Conservation Association released findings from a report about the impact of the projects near Manassas National Battlefield Park and Prince William Forest Park. The projects may increase storm water runoff by nearly 300 million gallons.
The study examined impacts to: Quantico Creek, Bull Run, the Occoquan Reservoir and Chesapeake Bay.
Landowners along Pageland Lane submitted a request to change the land designation of their properties in 2021, reported InsideNoVA.
The landowners want to change the designations from agricultural zoning to technology zoning for the PW Digital Gateway, and 2,100 acres “could pave the way for 27.6 million square feet of data centers,” reported InsideNoVa.
QTS Realty Trust Inc., filed the first rezoning request related to the gateway covering 812 acres of the proposal, aiming to build 7.9 million square feet of data center space on the land.
“You’re still going to get pollution, sediment-laden storm water running from construction sites,” said CEA CEO Kevin Draganchuk, noting that the main watershed impacts will be caused by construction and storm water runoff. It is expected that this would also impact marine life, increase water temperatures and slow growth rates in fish.
Plaza Realty Management Inc. wants to rezone 51.67 acres adjacent to Prince William Forest Park. The project is dubbed Potomac Technology and wants the land designation to shift from agricultural use to office mid-rise for a data center.
Potomac Technology Park’s property “is at the headwaters of Quantico Creek, which flows through the park and into Dumfries,” reported Inside NoVa. Storm water runoff is likely to enter the creek from the property.
The National Parks Conservation Association hired CEA Engineers to conduct a comprehensive review of the two proposals on watersheds. Estimates from CEA maintain that the PW Digital Gateway would produce 280 million gallons of additional annual storm water runoff and Potomac Technology Park 7 million gallons, reported InsideNoVa.
CEA wants the county to conduct a comprehensive study of the impacts of the proposals on: groundwater; drinking water; surface waters; and the Chesapeake Bay.
A work session May 24 will be held by the Board of Supervisors with more information, reported InsideNoVa.
