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The Rose Hill Coalition LLC provides current information on land-use issues directly affecting the Rose Hill Planning District within Franconia and adjacent communities in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Coalition supports full transparency in land use issues directly affecting local residents.

Coalition Update

September 11, 2024

In this issue
  • PUBLIC HEARING TODAY
    Proposed Amendments to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance
  • Future Data Centers Will Require Special Exception Review
  • Plaza 500 Data Center Will Move Forward
  • In The News
  • Mark Your Calendar
FAIRFAX COUNTY

Future Data Centers Will Require Special Exception Review

Data Centers Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment

Due to an oversight of a 2023 Virginia Code regulatory change regarding notification of public hearings, a new public hearing and vote was held yesterday, September 10. More than 50 speakers testified at the public hearing both opposing and supporting the amendment to require data centers to go through a "special exception" review and approval process which would impose additional land-use restrictions. Also under consideration was whether to retroactively enforce the new amendment to previously submitted applications.

After the testimonials, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) further deliberated the pros and cons and then voted in favor of the amendment for data centers proposals going forward, but it will not apply retroactively. Therefore, the Plaza 500 data center application, which was submitted in February 2024, will move forward through the current land-use process under which it will be built "by right", but the owner still must abide by the current zoning rules for the "industrial use" property.

To view the Public Hearing testimony and subsequent BOS discussion and vote, go to: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boardofsupervisors/sept-10-2024-meeting
Note: The full video is currently online and the transcription will be posted within a week. The Data Center amendment portion of the meeting begins at 4:32 pm, public testimony ends at 8:15, and the meeting concludes at 9:32 pm.

For more information, visit:
Data Centers (Fairfax County)
Save Brenmar (Plaza 500 data center opposition)

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Proposed Amendments to the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance

Coastal Resilience and Adaptation to Sea Level Rise, and Preservation of Mature Trees

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on September 11, 2024, at 7:30 pm, in the Board Auditorium at 12000 Government Center Parkway. Information on ways to testify can be found at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planningcommission/ways-to-provide-public-hearing-testimony.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on September 24, 2024, at 4:00 pm, in the Board Auditorium. Information on the ways to testify can be found at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/clerkservices/ways-provide-public-hearing-testimony.

If adopted, the amendments are proposed to become effective September 25, 2024.

Plaza 500 Data Center Will Move Forward

In February 2024, developer Starwood Capital Group submitted a site plan to build a 461,444 sf, 70 ft. tall industrial data center. The data center will be less than 260 ft. from residential property and a new electrical substation will be less than 100 ft. away. "This would be the 5th largest data center in the County and the closest of its size to residential homes." (https://sites.google.com/view/savebrenmar/home)

Since the Board of Supervisors did not retroactively change the requirements for the site (see above), the site plan review process will move forward. This review process is conducted by the Site Development Division within Land Development Services. "Land Development Services ensures that all development in Fairfax County meets the safety and health standards of all applicable codes such as the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building and county ordinances."

For more information on the redevelopment of the site, go to:

In The News

  • Racial Land Covenants Helped Shape Residential Segregation in Fairfax County Over Decades
    Racial covenants (now-illegal restrictions on property deeds in many Northern Virginia subdivisions that limited ownership to Whites) are being uncovered in Northern Virginia by Dr. Krystyn Moon, professor of history and American studies at the University of Mary Washington, and a team at Marymount University.
    https://mvonthemove.com/moon-speaking/

Mark Your Calendar*

SEPTEMBER 11 (Wednesday), 7:30 pm
Public Hearing: Planning Commission
SEPTEMBER 12 (Thursday), 7 pm
Public Hearing: Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (Recommendation to BOS)
SEPTEMBER 24 (Tuesday), 4:00 pm
Public Hearing: Board of Supervisors (Final Decision)
>> SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Planning Commission: Public Hearings and Staff Reports
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/public-hearings-and-staff-reports
Schedules, agendas, information, and staff reports on land use applications that are scheduled for public hearings.
Board of Supervisors
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boardofsupervisors/2024-board-meetings
All Board of Supervisors meetings held in the Board Auditorium and Conference Room 11 are available to view live on Channel 16 and stream online.
How to Provide Public Hearing Testimony
Written | Phone | In Person | Video
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/clerkservices/ways-provide-public-hearing-testimony
*Currently Fairfax County provides is no single calendar or list of Public Hearings, nor a means for email notification. We recommend you sign up for the new Rose Hill Coalition Calendar for email notifications of Public Hearings regarding land use affecting the Rose Hill Planning District within Franconia District.
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/planning-development/public-hearings-and-staff-reports
To Subscribe to Rose Hill Coalition Calendar Updates, scroll to the bottom of the Calendar page.
Rose HIll Coalition LLC
For more information, visit https://rosehillcoalition.org
Subscribe to Coalition Updates
https://rosehillcoalition.org/rose-hill-planning-district/1304-2/.

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