By Randi Reid, February 4, 2022
About 70 Prince William County residents stated their views about a proposal to build data centers on Pageland Lane in Gainesville during a county-organized community meeting Jan. 27.
The meeting, held at Beacon Hall on the Manassas campus of George Mason University began shortly after 7 pm and lasted nearly three hours. It was also live streamed, with some technical interruptions.
Speakers were directed to the microphone in groups of ten. Mary Ann Ghadban, a Pageland Lane resident, was the first speaker, followed by a number of other proponents.
Among the speakers were those who predicted property tax reductions, educational and employment benefits as well as opportunities to attract more businesses to the county.
Opponents followed, with several more proponents also speaking. Some speakers had questions relating to the tax and employment implications, utilities especially water and electricity, environmental and historical impact and the need for more roads.
Rebecca Horner, a Deputy County Executive and Acting Director of Planning, led the meeting. Horner said residents’ statements would be transcribed and posted on the Planning Department’s website. She noted that the planning staff has neither studied the land in question nor developed a staff report or recommendations, wanting to hear residents’ viewpoints first.
One speaker, Mary Reilly, who identified herself as running research programs for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), called on the county government to issue “a written response” to every comment and question from residents to “stop misinformation” and which, she said is “essential” to building “trust” with the community.