Prince William’s Rural Crescent is: Beautiful National Parks
Family Farms & Agriculture
Wildlife & Habitat
Scenic Views & Recreation

and… DATA CENTERS??

Learn how you can help

Prince William’s Rural Crescent and National Parks
need our protection now more than ever!

Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors is considering changes that if approved would be the largest land use change in decades. These changes threaten the Rural Crescent, our national parks, and important water resources and contradict our commitment to climate change and sustainable transportation.

We are fortunate to have two national parks: Prince William Forest Park and Manassas National Battlefield Park. These two national parks of unsurpassed historic, cultural, recreational and environmental significance are among the county’s top tourist destinations. Nearly 1 million people visit these parks every year for their miles and miles of quiet trails, unblemished forests, unchanged historic landscapes, and restorative properties of nature away from the hustle and bustle of northern Virginia.

The fact is, data centers are a modern industrial reality that can serve Prince William County well if they are carefully and properly sited. Data centers take up vast amounts of land, use enormous volumes of power and water, and pollute our waterways and environment. And we cannot afford to lose the environmental benefits of our forests and open spaces for an industry that will contribute to climate degradation.

Prince William already has about 3,100 acres in its industrial-zoned data center overlay district. Adding rural land to that district is short-sighted and unnecessary; the losers would be our two precious national parks; Prince William’s character, environment, and water quality; and the people of Prince William County.

Important things to know

Important Proposals to Know About

What is the Data Center Overlay District and Why Does it Matter?

Prince William County has already designated a significant amount of land suitable for data center development—as much as Loudoun County, in fact—in areas with the water, sewer and electrical power that data centers need. But the Board of County Supervisors wants to designate even more land for data centers, and they want it to be in the county’s Rural Area, and next to important parks and forests. The buildout could cost Prince William taxpayers in more ways than one. Learn more >>>

The Independent Hill Small Area Plan puts industrial development in semi-rural area at the headwaters of Quantico Creek

On Mar. 16, 2021, the Board of County Supervisors voted 5-3 to approve the Independent Hill Small Area Plan, effectively altering the Comprehensive Plan to allow industrial development, including a data center, on a property that is both inside the legislative border of Prince William Forest [National] Park, in the Rural Crescent and transected by Quantico Creek, one of our highest quality streams. Learn more >>>

A Potomac Technology Park would jeopardize Prince William Forest Park and Quantico Creek

Adoption of the Independent Hill Small Area Plan paved the way for a proposed Potomac Technology Park on 51 acres inside Prince William Forest Park’s legislative border and atop Quantico Creek, one of Virginia’s highest quality streams. Learn more >>>

A Prince William Digital Gateway Right Next to a National Park and State Forest?

The Board of County Supervisors voted 5-2 and amended the county’s comprehensive plan to designate up to 2,133 acres along rural Pageland Lane and next to Manassas Battlefield National Park and Conway Robinson State Forest for data centers. Because of this area’s rural location within an important watershed that provides drinking water to thousands of homes and adjacent to a national park and state forest important to recreation and tourism, this action would have devastating effects on both parks, drinking water quality, agricultural lands, traffic and more. Three rezoning applications have been submitted, which is the next opportunity to influence positive change. Learn more >>>

Pathway to 2040 Comprehensive Plan: Proposed Comprehensive Plan Land-Use chapter eliminates Rural Area entirely

Counties must review their comprehensive plans every five years, by state law. In February 2022, Prince William County planners revealed the outcomes of their recent review — a new draft Land Use Chapter that eliminates entirely Prince William’s rural area designation, known as the “rural crescent.” Instead, it introduces four new land-use designations that would allow the county to more than double residential density and add industrial and commercial development in what’s been an effective growth management tool for more than two decades. Learn more >>>

House Farm Data Center Application would put data centers in residential Nokesville

On May 11, 2021, the Planning Department received a Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment request to convert rural land into a new category called the Data Center Edge District. The Comprehensive Plan change is currently being considered, with a Board vote planned for summer 2022. Learn more >>>

Help

How You Can Help

  • Attend a Board of Supervisors Meeting

    The Board of County Supervisors and the rest of the Prince William community needs to know how you feel about this issue! When more people speak out, others will join in. Attend any board meeting to voice your concerns. See the schedule and sign-up!

  • Contact Your Supervisor Directly

    If speaking at a board of supervisors meeting isn’t for you, you can still contact your supervisor directly - by email or regular mail. Use this sample message, or customize it in your own voice. Email the whole Board of County Supervisors directly here, or find individual supervisors’ contact information here.

  • Contact Other Elected Officials

    Because these land-use decisions would impact National Parks, this is more than a local issue. Write a letter to your local, state, and federal elected officials representing Prince William County about how these actions could impact national parks and state forests. Find your elected officials’ contact information here.

  • Express Your Support for Prince William's National Parks

    Prince William Forest National Park and Manassas Battlefield National Park are directly threatened by these data center plans. And since the county’s data center overlay zone already has more than 3,200 acres of viable land, we do not need to build data centers directly adjacent to these parks. Sign on to this pre-crafted letter in support of our national parks.

  • Put up a Yard Sign

    Display your support for protecting Manassas Battlefield National Park and Prince William’s rural area with a yard sign. Email the Prince William Conservation Alliance to find out where and how to get your “Protect National Parks & Rural Crescent” yard sign.

  • Sign The Petition

    Sign this community-led petition against the Prince William County Gateway rezoning, 4-lane highway, and increase to Prince William’s Data Center Overlay Zone. Signatures go to County Board of Supervisors Chairperson, Anne Wheeler.

Story map: How Proposed Data Center Development in Prince William County’s Rural Crescent Threatens the Place We Love.