Loudoun supervisors in a controversial vote Thursday rezoned 106 acres in the county’s Transition Policy Area to make room for True North, a 760,000-square-foot data center, going against staff recommendations and, according to those opposed to the facility, setting a dangerous precedent.
Those who voted to approve the Dallas-based Compass Datacenters application said data centers already exist in the area – “Data Center Alley” is about five miles away – and the facility will bring in $22 million in annual revenue that can go toward education and needed infrastructure in the county.
The 5-to-4 vote to approve the rezoning pit Loudoun’s rural western districts against its more urban eastern areas. Supervisors Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian), Koran Saines (D-Sterling), Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg), Matthew Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Ron Meyer (R-Broad Run) voted in favor of approving the rezoning applications.