During the July 12, 2022, meeting, the Board of County Supervisors issued Directive 22-28 Noise Ordinance Update in which staff was directed to comprehensively review the noise ordinance and propose appropriate amendments to consider. Following the issuance of the Board of County Supervisors directive, the Office of Executive Management and the Office of the County Attorney convened a steering committee to review the ordinance and to determine what options are available for consideration by the Board of County Supervisors.
On January 23, 2023, staff recommended removing from the Noise Ordinance the exemption of commercial HVAC at night, exempting residential, with a sunset clause of one year. This would allow time to engage with the community and industry to determine the full impacts of the change to the ordinance.
On February 28, 2023, through Ordinance 23-07, the Board of County Supervisors voted to approve the amendment to the County Code Section 14.4(b).
Additionally, staff recommended creating a Working Group, consisting of County residents who live in close proximity to data centers, data center industry representatives, other stakeholders, and County staff to work together to review the status of the amendment to the Noise Ordinance and to report back to the Board of County Supervisors with any recommendations as to whether the sunset clause should be removed, or any other appropriate amendments.
Concurrently, an amendment to the Design & Construction Standards Manual (DCSM) and the Zoning Ordinance was initiated on February 28, 2023 through Resolution 23-111 to work with stakeholders to address other potential data center impacts. Co-leading agencies of the steering committee are the Department of Development Services, Department of Public Works, the Planning Office, and Department of Economic Development.
This webpage serves to provide updates to residents and stakeholders regarding efforts to address potential data center impacts, as well as address the amendment to the Noise Ordinance.
Team Charter and Member Roster
July 7, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
July 19, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
August 2, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
August 16, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
August 30, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
September 13, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
September 27, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
October 11, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
October 25, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
November 15, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
December 6, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
December 20, 2023 | Agenda | Notes |
January 17, 2024 | Agenda | Notes |
January 31, 2024 | Agenda | Notes |
February 14, 2024 | Agenda | Notes |
February 28, 2024 | Agenda | Notes |
March 13, 2024 | Agenda | Notes |
March 20, 2024 | Agenda | Notes |
April 10, 2024 | Agenda | Notes |
Team Charter and Members- Updated April 2024
Data Center Ordinance Advisory Group Draft Timeline
Data Center Impacts Subgroup - Brainstorming Document
Interim Standards - Subgroup Document
DCOAG Internal Buffer Standards - October 11, 2023
Potential Impacts suggested by DCOAG Members
DCOAG Bidders Conference Agenda- November 3, 2023
DCSM/ZO Statement of Work- December 20, 2023
Timeline for DCSM Zoning Ordinance Consultant- February 14, 2024
AWS Data Center Impacts on Great Oak Presentation- April 10, 2024
To confirm meeting schedule or for further information contact Amanda Fink at (703) 792-8406 (TTY: 711) or email [email protected]
Please note that under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, comments, including any personally identifiable information that is included in the comments, are subject to public inspection.
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