In response to the direction issued on March 19, 2024, by the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, the county's Department of Planning and Development recently released proposed text for a zoning ordinance amendment to provide stronger controls regarding the permitted locations, building design and noise standards of all data centers in the county.
Proposed Text
As summarized in the bullets and charts below, the proposed text modifies existing regulations, creates new use-specific standards for by-right approvals in certain zoning districts, and allows for a Special Exception application to modify some of those standards. The proposed text either amends or creates requirements pertaining to:
- Screening and Enclosure of Equipment: Required for all data centers
- Size Thresholds for By-Right Data Centers:
- Limits by-right threshold in I-4 district to 80,000 square feet of gross floor area (GFA)
- Retains other existing by-right thresholds
- Provides option for repurposing existing buildings
- Setbacks from Residential: Staff has proposed a 200-foot setback but is recommending advertising up to a 500-foot setback
- Distance from Metro: One-half mile
- Required Noise Studies: Required with by-right data centers and Special Exception applications; an additional noise study is required post-construction but prior to issuance of occupancy permit
- Building Design: Requirement for a main entrance feature, change in façade surface every 150 horizontal feet and for building fenestration design features
In addition, new submission requirements are proposed for a rezoning or Special Exception that would require noise studies and architectural studies at the time of submission.
The following tables outline the existing requirements and recommendations in the proposed zoning ordinance amendment:
Current Zoning Permissions
Source: Zoning Ordinance Amendment –
Data Centers – Staff Summary, April 23, 2024
Proposed Data Center Use Standards
Source: Zoning Ordinance Amendment –
Data Centers – Staff Summary, April 23, 2024
For additional details, read the full staff summary of the proposed zoning ordinance amendment.
Up Next: Public Hearings
Public hearings on the zoning ordinance amendment are currently scheduled before the Planning Commission on June 5, 2024, and before the Board of Supervisors on July 16, 2024.
