Mayor Michele Edwards delivered a formal statement Friday on behalf of Staunton City Council stating that no data center project is planned, proposed, or under review anywhere in the city, including at Staunton Crossing, the 278-acre site along the interstate that has drawn speculation on the subject for months.
The statement traces the rumor to an April City Council work session that previewed an upcoming review of the Staunton Crossing marketing plan. That plan, adopted in 2019 following an Economic Development Authority planning process that included public input, listed data centers among a range of prospective industries for the site, alongside advanced manufacturing and other targets.
Edwards said the city wanted to respond directly to residents rather than let the question sit unanswered.
“Across Virginia, communities are asking serious questions about data centers, the significant amount of electricity and water they use, potential noise, visual impact, and whether rising demand could affect residential utility customers. Those are legitimate questions,” Edwards said. “We want to provide clear facts directly to our residents: there is no data center being built at Staunton Crossing, no application has been submitted to the city, and no facility has been approved.”
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The mayor also explained why Staunton has not adopted a moratorium on data centers, something a number of other Virginia localities have done this year to pause new applications while they sort out regulations. A moratorium only matters where a use is already allowed and officials want to freeze it temporarily. Staunton’s zoning ordinance does not permit data centers in any district, by right or through a special use permit, so there is no existing allowance to pause. Any proposal for a use not currently permitted under city code would have to clear the Comprehensive Plan, a public hearing before the Planning Commission, and a second public hearing before City Council ahead of any zoning or land-use vote. Because Staunton Crossing is publicly owned, the city also holds direct oversight and multiple review stages over any transaction involving the land.
The City and the Economic Development Authority acquired the Staunton Crossing property in 2009 to draw jobs and private investment and to grow the tax base supporting schools, public safety, libraries, and parks. The EDA and Timmons Group are currently reviewing market conditions to update the site’s marketing plan, with recommendations expected to come before City Council during a public work session later this fall. That session will give residents a formal chance to review the findings and weigh in before any changes move forward.
Residents looking to follow the marketing plan review can consult published meeting agendas, contact the City Manager’s Office, or attend upcoming public hearings as the process continues.