I am an Opequon district voter, and I oppose CUP #03-26.
The proposed data center will have negative impacts on the health, safety, and welfare of County residents and will adversely and irrevocably damage this historic land.
Frederick County residents have clearly expressed opposition to data centers due to their massive electricity and water demands, constant noise (including a low-level hum that will not be addressed by dBA caps), potential negative health impacts, and reduction in nearby property values. I suspect that our neighbors in Northern Virginia wish they could turn back the clock to deny similar permits. Once approved, county residents are stuck with the myriad negative consequences.
I encourage the Planning Commission to consider these impacts as well as the recommendation of the Historic Resources Advisory Board and to deny the permit.
I oppose CUP #03-26, Winchester Gateway LLC. I am a resident of the Gainesboro District
A Conditional Use Permit is not an entitlement simply because the property is zoned M1. Frederick County’s own staff report states that conditional uses must be separately considered to protect the health, safety and welfare of County residents and to avoid adverse impacts on surrounding properties.
On the record before the Planning Commission, those standards have not been met.
County staff acknowledges that the proposed data center could be incompatible with nearby residential, church and historic uses if impacts are not properly mitigated. HRAB recommended denial because of impacts to historic resources associated with Kernstown and related battlefield areas.
Major issues also remain unresolved. Staff warns that the applicant’s proposed 60-foot buildings may significantly affect historic and residential viewsheds and that even a 14-foot berm and landscaping may be insufficient. Staff and HRAB instead recommend a 45-foot maximum, including rooftop equipment.
Power is also unresolved. The applicant anticipates approximately 158 MW of demand, requires an additional on-site substation, and is still working with utilities to confirm available power and needed upgrades. County staff specifically states there is no guarantee that new overhead transmission lines will not be required.
Phase II archaeological work has not yet been completed, and the County’s independent noise consultant raised technical concerns with parts of the supplemental study.
The standard is not whether something worse could theoretically be built by right. The question is whether this specific conditional use protects health, safety and welfare, avoids adverse impacts, and can be adequately served by infrastructure. Based on the County’s own record, it does not.
Please think carefully prior to approving a data center. The primary driver of these buildouts is AI, which has not been shown to be a viable business model. Tech and financial press has shown that these models simply do not make money. If the county is counting on “tax revenue” from this project, and hopefully you are, we need promises in legally-enforceable writing.
If we cannot know how much power this monstrosity is using, then it would be irresponsible to approve construction without assurances the infrastructure is already in place. In the Year Of Our Lord 2026, parts of our county lose power on a regular basis. Increasing strain on an inadequate grid isn’t going to improve reliability, and it IS going to increase scarcity/cost. Smoking out our neighbors with noisy generators doesn’t seem like a considerate thing to do, either.
I stand opposed to this, having created this account specifically to address this issue. I will be watching with interest.
I reside in a neighboring property directly across from this proposed project. In all previous meetings about this possible data center, absolutely none of the concerns brought by the community have been addressed with even a modicum of a reasonable plan.
The harms a data center in this area would bring far outweigh the even modest benefit. From the underestimated pollution burden to our ears and air, to the known weight on infrastructure from their massive a water and electricity needs, the costs to community health and peace are far too great.
Worse, even if these developers promise the moon and the stars, there are absolutely no contingencies for their inevitable backtracking on promises or blatant failure to deliver. We the people would bear the consequences with our dollars and our bodies. Please, do not authorize this temple to waste and ruin. The people have made their voices clear and known. We do not want this.
Resident of the Stonewall District, I oppose all current data center projects given the current effort for the county to restrict these types of industries from the county. Understandably, this, and one other application was in before that consideration, and thus is being reviewed. This application has come to the planning commission several times requesting for adjustments to be made to lessen the impact on the surrounding area residence. Within this new information, I do not see any remediation stated of how power is going to be getting to this site. During the last meeting when this proposal was reviewed during a working session, there was not a clear answer on whether the electric service had stated if there would have to be additional lines run for this site and the applicant could not confirm nor deny, if that would be necessary, and only that they plan to use the existing infrastructure. But they did not know whether the existing infrastructure would be sufficient to be able to support not only their industry site but the community as a whole as well. There’s no remediation of this at this point. There is also no clarity and I would remark additional confusion about where site entrances are going to be. It seems as if the most recent versions of this plan have the site entrance being right in front of the residences which completely contradicts the effort put forth during the planning commissions work session to lessen the burden on the community that surrounded. While this site is cited for industrial, that doesn’t mean that you squeeze out the residences. You have to work together and it does not seem that they are pulling their way to do so.
I am a previous resident of Back Creek, currently in Stonewall, and am opposed to this development because of the unknown health implications data centers may have on our population, the strain on our water and electricity supply, and the negative impact on property value. NONE of these things will be better for having a data center in our back yard, and even the taxes dollars that are promised are not guaranteed - any revenue generated is NOT worth the longterm impact this will have on our county. I do not know a single person in this county who supports data centers. I encourage the Planning Commission to vote NO on this proposal. Thank you for listening to your constituents!
The reward here $$$ is NOT worth the risk.
The risk to our natural resources, our health, our property values, our gorgeous Valley… NOT worth it… VOTE NO! We are not Loudoun!
Gainsboro district, generations deep in this community. Mom, Grandma, Realtor, Kristen Kerns
I am a Frederick County resident in Shawnee District, and I strongly oppose the proposed data center development in the county.
I am concerned about the potential effects on our health and quality of life from noise and environmental impacts, as well as the enormous demand these facilities place on our already strained electrical grid. Residents should not be expected to bear higher utility costs to support a private industrial development.
I am also concerned about property values and the continued industrialization of our beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Once the rural character and landscape of this area are lost, we cannot get them back.
Please put the interests of the people who already live here first and protect the health, environment, property values and character of our community. I respectfully ask the Planning Commission to reject this proposal.
I live directly across the street from the proposed facility at the top of the hill on Apple Valley Road (Back Creek District). I have attended nearly every meeting regarding data centers and the Gateway project since the original rezoning hearings years ago. I am opposed for so many of the same reasons as the other concerned members of the county but would also like to point out that there have been changes made to the original re-zoning proffer and building site proposals in the years since the property was rezoned. One example I find concerning regards the entrance to the property which the original proffer said would be connected to the adjoining industrial sites and only under very strict circumstance might include a second location directly across from my driveway. The more recent documents now show that as the primary entrance. No amount of berms or screening plants will obscure this from being the only view from my or my neighbor’s front yards. Every hearing, there are more pieces of information we find out that are different or asking for more accommodations to the center. Last time it was building height. There is no community desire or trust to engage with this type of industry and the tax revenue and employment numbers just don’t make a good case for ruining a beautiful section of the county or bulldozing a native wetland. On a community level, no one wants this. On a person level, I will hate to look at it every day and know no one listened to us.
Please consider the impact this will have on Winchester residents. Our environment, health, and property value are at risk if this moves forward. An entire neighborhood in Ashburn Virginia is trying to sell back their homes to the Data Center company due to the adverse effects the center has had on the neighborhood. Please protect Fredrick County residents. There has to be a better way than this massive environmental destruction.
Frederick County residents have already overwhelmingly made it clear that we do not want Data Centers in Frederick County. Please vote against recommendations for this CUP. Data Centers can not be trusted to do what they say they will do. Nothing has changed. I am from the Opequon District.
I am an Opequon district voter, and I oppose CUP #03-26.
The proposed data center will have negative impacts on the health, safety, and welfare of County residents and will adversely and irrevocably damage this historic land.
Frederick County residents have clearly expressed opposition to data centers due to their massive electricity and water demands, constant noise (including a low-level hum that will not be addressed by dBA caps), potential negative health impacts, and reduction in nearby property values. I suspect that our neighbors in Northern Virginia wish they could turn back the clock to deny similar permits. Once approved, county residents are stuck with the myriad negative consequences.
I encourage the Planning Commission to consider these impacts as well as the recommendation of the Historic Resources Advisory Board and to deny the permit.
I oppose CUP #03-26, Winchester Gateway LLC. I am a resident of the Gainesboro District
A Conditional Use Permit is not an entitlement simply because the property is zoned M1. Frederick County’s own staff report states that conditional uses must be separately considered to protect the health, safety and welfare of County residents and to avoid adverse impacts on surrounding properties.
On the record before the Planning Commission, those standards have not been met.
County staff acknowledges that the proposed data center could be incompatible with nearby residential, church and historic uses if impacts are not properly mitigated. HRAB recommended denial because of impacts to historic resources associated with Kernstown and related battlefield areas.
Major issues also remain unresolved. Staff warns that the applicant’s proposed 60-foot buildings may significantly affect historic and residential viewsheds and that even a 14-foot berm and landscaping may be insufficient. Staff and HRAB instead recommend a 45-foot maximum, including rooftop equipment.
Power is also unresolved. The applicant anticipates approximately 158 MW of demand, requires an additional on-site substation, and is still working with utilities to confirm available power and needed upgrades. County staff specifically states there is no guarantee that new overhead transmission lines will not be required.
Phase II archaeological work has not yet been completed, and the County’s independent noise consultant raised technical concerns with parts of the supplemental study.
The standard is not whether something worse could theoretically be built by right. The question is whether this specific conditional use protects health, safety and welfare, avoids adverse impacts, and can be adequately served by infrastructure. Based on the County’s own record, it does not.
I respectfully request denial of CUP #03-26.
To whom it may concern,
I am a voter in the Shawnee district.
Please think carefully prior to approving a data center. The primary driver of these buildouts is AI, which has not been shown to be a viable business model. Tech and financial press has shown that these models simply do not make money. If the county is counting on “tax revenue” from this project, and hopefully you are, we need promises in legally-enforceable writing.
If we cannot know how much power this monstrosity is using, then it would be irresponsible to approve construction without assurances the infrastructure is already in place. In the Year Of Our Lord 2026, parts of our county lose power on a regular basis. Increasing strain on an inadequate grid isn’t going to improve reliability, and it IS going to increase scarcity/cost. Smoking out our neighbors with noisy generators doesn’t seem like a considerate thing to do, either.
I stand opposed to this, having created this account specifically to address this issue. I will be watching with interest.
Thank you for your time.
I reside in a neighboring property directly across from this proposed project. In all previous meetings about this possible data center, absolutely none of the concerns brought by the community have been addressed with even a modicum of a reasonable plan.
The harms a data center in this area would bring far outweigh the even modest benefit. From the underestimated pollution burden to our ears and air, to the known weight on infrastructure from their massive a water and electricity needs, the costs to community health and peace are far too great.
Worse, even if these developers promise the moon and the stars, there are absolutely no contingencies for their inevitable backtracking on promises or blatant failure to deliver. We the people would bear the consequences with our dollars and our bodies. Please, do not authorize this temple to waste and ruin. The people have made their voices clear and known. We do not want this.
Resident of the Stonewall District, I oppose all current data center projects given the current effort for the county to restrict these types of industries from the county. Understandably, this, and one other application was in before that consideration, and thus is being reviewed. This application has come to the planning commission several times requesting for adjustments to be made to lessen the impact on the surrounding area residence. Within this new information, I do not see any remediation stated of how power is going to be getting to this site. During the last meeting when this proposal was reviewed during a working session, there was not a clear answer on whether the electric service had stated if there would have to be additional lines run for this site and the applicant could not confirm nor deny, if that would be necessary, and only that they plan to use the existing infrastructure. But they did not know whether the existing infrastructure would be sufficient to be able to support not only their industry site but the community as a whole as well. There’s no remediation of this at this point. There is also no clarity and I would remark additional confusion about where site entrances are going to be. It seems as if the most recent versions of this plan have the site entrance being right in front of the residences which completely contradicts the effort put forth during the planning commissions work session to lessen the burden on the community that surrounded. While this site is cited for industrial, that doesn’t mean that you squeeze out the residences. You have to work together and it does not seem that they are pulling their way to do so.
I am a previous resident of Back Creek, currently in Stonewall, and am opposed to this development because of the unknown health implications data centers may have on our population, the strain on our water and electricity supply, and the negative impact on property value. NONE of these things will be better for having a data center in our back yard, and even the taxes dollars that are promised are not guaranteed - any revenue generated is NOT worth the longterm impact this will have on our county. I do not know a single person in this county who supports data centers. I encourage the Planning Commission to vote NO on this proposal. Thank you for listening to your constituents!
The reward here $$$ is NOT worth the risk.
The risk to our natural resources, our health, our property values, our gorgeous Valley… NOT worth it… VOTE NO! We are not Loudoun!
Gainsboro district, generations deep in this community. Mom, Grandma, Realtor, Kristen Kerns
I am a Frederick County resident in Shawnee District, and I strongly oppose the proposed data center development in the county.
I am concerned about the potential effects on our health and quality of life from noise and environmental impacts, as well as the enormous demand these facilities place on our already strained electrical grid. Residents should not be expected to bear higher utility costs to support a private industrial development.
I am also concerned about property values and the continued industrialization of our beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Once the rural character and landscape of this area are lost, we cannot get them back.
Please put the interests of the people who already live here first and protect the health, environment, property values and character of our community. I respectfully ask the Planning Commission to reject this proposal.
Please consider the economic prosperity this will bring to the citizens of our community and approve this CUP for Winchester Gateway.
I live directly across the street from the proposed facility at the top of the hill on Apple Valley Road (Back Creek District). I have attended nearly every meeting regarding data centers and the Gateway project since the original rezoning hearings years ago. I am opposed for so many of the same reasons as the other concerned members of the county but would also like to point out that there have been changes made to the original re-zoning proffer and building site proposals in the years since the property was rezoned. One example I find concerning regards the entrance to the property which the original proffer said would be connected to the adjoining industrial sites and only under very strict circumstance might include a second location directly across from my driveway. The more recent documents now show that as the primary entrance. No amount of berms or screening plants will obscure this from being the only view from my or my neighbor’s front yards. Every hearing, there are more pieces of information we find out that are different or asking for more accommodations to the center. Last time it was building height. There is no community desire or trust to engage with this type of industry and the tax revenue and employment numbers just don’t make a good case for ruining a beautiful section of the county or bulldozing a native wetland. On a community level, no one wants this. On a person level, I will hate to look at it every day and know no one listened to us.
Please consider the impact this will have on Winchester residents. Our environment, health, and property value are at risk if this moves forward. An entire neighborhood in Ashburn Virginia is trying to sell back their homes to the Data Center company due to the adverse effects the center has had on the neighborhood. Please protect Fredrick County residents. There has to be a better way than this massive environmental destruction.
Frederick County residents have already overwhelmingly made it clear that we do not want Data Centers in Frederick County. Please vote against recommendations for this CUP. Data Centers can not be trusted to do what they say they will do. Nothing has changed. I am from the Opequon District.