PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. – Update:
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted to deny Balico’s proposal for a power plant and data center Tuesday night.
Original Story:
Neighbors in one Pittsylvania County community remain skeptical after a company is pulling out of a major data center project.
Balico LLC proposed building a power plant and data centers near Chatham but is reportedly shifting to a residential project. It was set to be on the agenda for tonight’s Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors meeting at 7 p.m.
Board Chair Robert Tucker said the company remains on tonight’s meeting agenda but declined to comment further. The venue of tonight’s meeting has been moved to Chatham High School to accommodate the large crowd expected to attend.
“The citizens of the communities of Chalk Level, Mill Creek, Sheva and Whittles are very grateful to the Board of Supervisors,” said Amanda Sink Wydner, with the Coalition for the Protection of Pittsylvania County.
Neighbors have organized opposition to the project, arguing it would destroy the area’s rural character. Signs opposing Balico’s plans line roads for miles near the project site.
“The people that are adjacent to these properties, the property values are going to be just degraded,” said Tred Hunt, who lives next to the proposed site. “We don’t know if we can afford to move and we certainly can’t stay.
Earlier this year, the county’s Planning Commission recommended that the board reject the project, citing adverse impacts to adjacent property owners.
“Planning Commission members expressed concerns over a lack of transparency by the applicant, the timing of the proffers being submitted, concerns about the availability of water, the size of the power plant, and that the project does not align with the county’s comprehensive plan,” according to a January news release from the county.
Neighbors said they were also skeptical of what Balico still has planned for the site.
“I think it’s just a diversion, something they came up with at the last minute,” said Ella Robinson, who lives near the site. “The first I heard about was on yesterday. so I don’t think this is really their concern at all.”