Data center space is continuing to grow in the county.
More than 5 million square feet is now being used by the facilities.
The Prince William County Department of Economic Development (PWCDED) announced the news in a press release on Wednesday.
Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) Chairman At-Large Corey Stewart explained that the achievement is the result of “market fundamentals” and local leadership.
“It underscores the fact that we are decidedly pro-business and are willing to take the necessary steps to provide the framework in which businesses can grow as evidenced in the recent changes we’ve made in the zoning text amendments,” Stewart said in a release.
In June, the BOCS voted in favor of a zoning ordinance that will allow facilities to raise their Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Those in the Data Center Opportunity Zone (DCOZ) Overlay District may have up to 1.0 FAR.
Centers that aren’t located in the DCOZ must undergo a special use permit process to request additional FAR.
According to PWCDED Executive Director Christina Winn, the district helps the county use land efficiently and provides more clarity.
“Companies in the Information Communications Technology industry typically look for locations with: resilient and affordable power; commercial zoning; connectivity/latency; and existing water capacity, which is what makes Prince William County one of the nation’s industry leaders,” Winn said in a release.
