Local Governments Add Data Center Review

The update mainly sharpens the story from a general trend toward local review into a more explicit shift away from by-right data center zoning. It also adds Pittsfield Township and the regional infrastructure angle, reinforcing that communities are increasingly formalizing siting controls before projects arrive.

The story broadens materially from a Virginia-only zoning shift to a multi-state pattern, with Loudoun County now explicitly requiring board votes on all incoming data center applications and Hampton, Southport, and Pittsfield Township added as new jurisdictions shaping policy. The emphasis also moves from general public-review trends to concrete implementation steps like commissioning guidance, drafting conditional-use rules, and setting public hearings.

• Loudoun County now requires board votes on all incoming data center applications.
• Hampton hired Southeastern Institute of Research for zoning guidance.
• Southport would limit data centers to Highway Commercial property.
• Pittsfield Township planning is now part of the story.
• New focus includes jobs and tax revenue alongside impacts.

The story broadened from Amherst County’s pending zoning change into a wider regional push in Virginia, with Shenandoah County already adopting a new ordinance and Chesapeake actively drafting similar restrictions. That shifts the story from a single county proposal to a multi-locality regulatory movement toward tighter public review of data centers.

• Shenandoah County unanimously adopted a data center ordinance.
• Chesapeake is drafting zoning and comprehensive plan changes.
• Data centers are now being treated as conditional uses in some localities.
• Local leaders are citing water and electricity impacts more explicitly.

Amherst County is advancing an ordinance that would end by-right data center development and require developers to seek special use permits. The change follows resident objections to a possible project near Kings Road in Madison Heights and reflects a broader effort to add more review, site-plan detail, and public hearings before approval. The measure is still in the planning stage and must clear additional county steps before taking effect.