New Kent County shelved a proposed "technology overlay district" on July 13 after residents and some supervisors objected to a plan that would have allowed certain data center approvals without public hearings. County staff had spent more than a year developing the zoning change, which targeted the Route 33 corridor. Supporters said it would streamline approvals and attract investment; opponents said it would weaken community oversight on traffic, noise, power demand, and landscape impacts.
New Kent County Drops Controversial Data Center Overlay After Public Backlash
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New Kent County, Virginia, has withdrawn a disputed zoning proposal that would have created a special "technology overlay district" allowing some data center projects to be considered without public hearings. The Board of Supervisors voted on July 13 to shelve the plan after residents and several board members raised concerns about limiting community oversight.
Background
County staff spent more than a year developing the proposal, which would have designated part of the Route 33 corridor as a potential zone for data center development. Under the plan, applications within the overlay could have been processed through an expedited administrative pathway rather than the usual public hearing process, a detail that alarmed many neighbors.
Officials' Rationale
Supporters, including Community Development Director Joshua Airaghi, argued the overlay was intended to make New Kent more competitive in attracting data center investment by offering a clearer, faster approval path. Proponents said a streamlined process could bring economic development and jobs.
Community Pushback
Residents and some supervisors countered that removing public hearings would undercut a key avenue for community input. Opponents flagged concerns about increased traffic, noise, changes to the rural landscape, and higher local power demand associated with large-scale data centers.
Amy Pearson, District 3 Supervisor: "This plan is no longer the policy direction of the board, and should not proceed in its current form."
What This Means
The board's decision reflects a broader, national debate as data centers expand: local governments weighing the economic benefits of new infrastructure against residents' demands for transparency and environmental and community protections. For now, New Kent officials will need to revisit how they balance streamlined permitting with opportunities for public comment.
Reporting based on the Daily Press. The board voted to shelve the overlay on July 13; no revised proposal has been announced.
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