Chesterfield Zoning Board Denies Data Center Developer’s Appeal
The Chesterfield Board of Zoning Appeals denied an appeal from data center developer WestDulles Properties, upholding the requirement for a conditional-use permit to build a data center campus in the James River Industrial Center.
Richmond Petersburg, VA, October 13, 2026 — The Chesterfield Board of Zoning Appeals has denied an appeal filed by data center developer WestDulles Properties. The decision upholds the requirement for a conditional-use permit for the company’s proposed data center campus project. The site in question is located within the James River Industrial Center.
WestDulles Properties had sought to overturn a decision that mandated the conditional-use permit process for their development plans. The Board of Zoning Appeals’ vote effectively affirms that the proposed data center construction requires this specific type of permit before proceeding. The exact details of the appeal or the specific reasons for the denial beyond upholding the permit requirement were not further elaborated in the available information.
Data centers are facilities that house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. They require significant power and cooling infrastructure. The development of such facilities often involves complex zoning and permitting processes due to their potential impact on local infrastructure, energy consumption, and environmental considerations.
The James River Industrial Center is an area designated for industrial development. The outcome of this appeal means WestDulles Properties will need to pursue and obtain the conditional-use permit to move forward with its data center campus project in this location. Information regarding subsequent steps WestDulles Properties may take, or the timeline for any potential permit application, was not immediately available.
Story summarized from the original created by Jack Jacobs on richmondbizsense.com, see more information here.
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