The following text was sent out via email on February 10, 2023. Sign up for PEC email alerts →
Dear Supporter,
Just a quick reminder that the Warrenton Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed Amazon data center Special Use Permit application next Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 at the Fauquier High School Auditorium. The Town Council will also hold its regular work session at 9 a.m. that day, when it will likely discuss the proposal as well as any potential updates to the application or conditions. The work session is open to the public and residents can attend at 21 Main Street, Warrenton, VA 20186 or watch the livestream virtually.
Town Council Public Hearing
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 @ 6:30 p.m.
Fauquier High School Auditorium (first floor)
705 Waterloo Road, Warrenton, VA 20186
Since our last update, it has become even clearer that if approved, this will not be the only data center in Warrenton. Dominion met with stakeholders on January 19, 2023, and indicated its preferred alternative for serving the power needs of the proposed Amazon facility on Blackwell Road is construction of a substation at 615 Falmouth Street (the Old Wire Factory) because that site is advertised for data center development by its property owner as well. We also know from documents obtained in our FOIA request that the Town and Amazon indicated this site could be considered for data center development in the future. It appears that future is very close at hand.
The Warrenton Comprehensive Plan calls for mixed use character districts with these two large undeveloped parcels as the anchors. Having them both now proposed as disconnected, visually intrusive, and noisy industrial uses makes implementation of the character districts concept questionable – and feels like a drastic change in vision toward an industrial future for the Town.
Despite the daunting possibility that these data centers will move forward, residents have continued to write letters to the Town Council in opposition, citing the myriad of reasons to deny the application including noise, visual impact, inconsistency with the comprehensive plan, and unknowns regarding electrical infrastructure.
Public comment is still open for Amazon’s Special Use Permit application, so anyone unable to speak at the last public hearing on Jan. 10, including those who left early, still have a chance to weigh in. We encourage you to sign up to speak at the public hearing, submit comments online, or send a letter to the Town Council. You can also sign up to make general remarks about the future of Warrenton during Citizens Time.
We recognize that the hearing is inconveniently scheduled for Valentine’s Day, so we really appreciate your presence. It remains critically important to show strong continued opposition to Amazon’s proposed data center by having residents fill the room and provide input.
I hope to see you on the 14th!
Sincerely,
Kevin Kask, AICP
Fauquier County Field Representative
[email protected]
540-347-2334 ext. 7046