Prince William Times 11/30/2023

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FREEDOM ROLLS ON: Eagles are two wins from another state title. SPORTS, PAGE 7, 8

November 30, 2023 | Vol. 22, No. 48 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | $1.00 Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

Supervisors move forward on indoor track, sports facility By Jill Palermo

Times Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY JOHN CALHOUN

Brentsville Supervisor-Elect Tom Gordy speaks in support of residents rallying Tuesday night against the Devlin Technology Park—a controversial rezoning to allow up to nine new data centers on 270 acres in Bristow.

Supervisors OK ‘Devlin Tech Park’ Up to 9 data centers approved for Bristow despite residents’ objections By Shannon Clark, Jill Palermo and Peter Cary Times Staff Writers

After another marathon meeting that ended with sharp criticism from angry residents — and heated exchanges among opposing board members — the Prince William Board of Supervisors voted along party lines early Wednesday to approve the controversial Devlin Technology Park, a rezoning that will allow up to nine new data centers across 270 acres near several Bristow neighborhoods. The board’s five-member, Democratic majority voted in favor of the rezoning — sought by residential developer Stanley Martin Homes — without comment, prompting a torrent of criticism from a few residents who remained in the board chambers after the 5-3 vote, which came just before 5 a.m. on Nov. 29 after a more than nine-hour meeting. “Honestly, you guys are heartless,” said Laura Mahoney, one of several Bristow residents-turned-activists who launched the “Say No to the Devlin Technology Park” Facebook page. “If you can listen to 80 people who say they don’t want this project and you can still shove it down their throats? I mean, how do you sleep at night?” In a brief interview outside the board chambers, Board Chair Ann Wheeler, D-At Large,

After a spirited discussion, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted along party lines Tuesday to spend about $860,000 in federal grant money to take initial steps toward building an indoor track and recreation facility estimated to cost about $120 million. The board’s five Democratic supervisors voted in favor of spending an initial $860,000 on the project, which includes a $310,00 feasibility study of the facility and a $550,000 deposit on a 21.8-acre site for it along Telegraph Road in Woodbridge. The money would come from unspent federal American Rescue Plan Act money the county received in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. If the supervisors decide to move forward with facility after the feasibility study is completed, the county will pay landowner Belno LLC $16 million for the parcel. The site is located just north of Caton Hill Road near the Horner Road commuter lots. The property is assessed at about $10.4 million, according to county records. The board’s three Republican supervisors — Jeanine Lawson (Brentsville), Yesli Vega (Coles) and Bob Weir (Gainesville) — all voted against the move, citing various concerns, including that the facility would have a hard time breaking even and that the decision should be the purview of the newly elected board, which will have two new supervisors in January. Weir was the most vociferous critic. He noted that a similar facility in Virginia Beach, which was built by MEB, the same consultant Prince William County is working with, is not breaking even and has required annual infusions of operating cash from the Virginia Beach City Council. Weir noted that Prince William County’s transient occupancy tax base, also known as the “hotel tax,” isn’t as robust as that of Virginia Beach, a major tourism hub. See FACILITIES, page 3

Supervisor Jeanine Lawson joined residents opposed to the Devlin data centers during their protest before the meeting. declined to comment about why she and four other board members did not explain their votes to grant the rezoning, saying only: “Obviously, I felt it should be approved.” See DEVLIN, page 4

13 candidates vie for 10th District congressional seat, page 2

PHOTO COURTESY OF PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

Hard-surface courts could be included in the indoor track and recreation facility being considered by the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

Santa lights Manassas, Christmas parade this weekend, page 6

88 DULLES, VA


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