Developer withdraws unpopular Pittsylvania data centers proposal

After months of Pittsylvania County residents and business owners speaking against an $8.85 billion data center campus and natural gas power plant proposed for land along Chalk Level Road, the developer announced Monday that it has withdrawn its rezoning application

“The company is now evaluating alternative development options for the property in addition to the previously proposed campus,” Balico, a Herndon development company, stated in a news release. The company didn’t respond to requests for additional comment.

Among the alternatives Balico is considering for the property is a residential subdivision project in partnership with a national builder. The property’s current agricultural zoning designation permits development of up to two dwelling units per acre, according to Balico.

“While a residential development is not the ideal use we had envisioned for this property, it represents a viable alternative that could still deliver value to our stakeholders, particularly if the data
center campus does not proceed,” a Balico spokesperson stated in the news release. “We are exploring several options that align with existing zoning parameters while meeting market demands.”

Balico withdrew its application following the Saturday release of an analysis on the proposed data center and power plant by the Southern Environmental Law Center. The report concluded that “Balico’s proposal would significantly increase the concentration of [fine particulate matter] in Pittsylvania County communities and cause adverse health impacts with real economic costs to county residents and the broader region.”

Balico did not respond to a request for an interview.

In November, Balico withdrew an initial rezoning application for a data center campus in the same area that would have included up to 84 buildings and a power plant on 2,233 acres. That proposal drew heavy public opposition and a statement by Robert Tucker Jr., now chair of the county’s board of supervisors, that Balico lacked the local political support to get the rezoning passed.

In January, Pittsylvania County’s Planning Commission heard a scaled-back proposal from Balico involving building 12 data center buildings on about 763 acres. As with the initial proposal, the plan included a 3,500-megawatt natural gas power plant. The commission members unanimously voted against recommending the proposal to the Board of Supervisors, citing concerns about proffers and transparency.

In both February and March, Balico asked to postpone the board’s public hearing on the proposed data center. On April 7, according to Balico’s news release, it asked the county to withdraw its application for rezoning.

Tucker said that he planned to leave the rezoning public hearing on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, which had to be moved to Chatham High School to accommodate an anticipated large crowd. He wants the matter to be settled and for county officials and staff to be able to move on to new projects and issues.

“We have been more than gracious with Balico,” he said. “In my mind, it really doesn’t make sense to tie up the resources of the county. We have other things going on.”