Group think

 

GOMM has been excoriated for daring to enable comment in support of data centers instead of adhering to anti-data center group think. GOMM supports robust economic development in the designated growth area, including data centers of an appropriate scale and never west of Hockett Road. Doesn’t anyone wonder where the sensational anti-data center “facts” that flood the internet comes from?

Remarks made during citizen comment period for both the afternoon and evening sessions of the Goochland Board of Supervisors’ July 7 meeting were fascinating.

Comments made during the meeting about the rise of artificial intelligence ranged from it will provide transformational improvement to every facet of our lives to that AI is devil’s work. Data center opponents presented comments supporting their viewpoint quoting information gleaned from the internet. The bullying mob even screamed “liar” at a comment that contradicted their narrative. Threats, subtle and overt, were made to the supervisors that if they dare to go against the “will of the people”, which has apparently been decided by about 2/30^th of the county population, they will be thrown out of office.

Some speakers said the quiet part out loud.

One Mosaic resident complained about water issues and contended that purchasing his home “bailed out” a failing business park. He went on to whine that there is nothing here, including schools, and said that Goochland does not even have “real” police. Sheriff Creasey and our fine deputies would be surprised to learn that. This gentleman might want to sign up for the next session of the Sheriff's Academy https://www.goochlandsheriff.com/citizens-academy-information to learn about law enforcement in Goochland.

Homes cost local governments more in services than they generate in real estate taxes. Filling West Creek with homes would make the problem worse. That’s why we need more commercial development.

Another speaker contended that Goochland is doing just fine with minimal resources so there is really no hurry to build any capital projects until revenue from the Amazon and Eli Lilly facilities kicks in. The county will finance $114 million capital projects in the next three years. This year’s operations budget could not fund many items, including 11 additional fire-rescue providers needed to keep up with increasing demand for service. When station 8, under construction, and station 7 soon to follow, go online more people will be needed to staff them 24/7. Real estate taxes, at the current rate, will not fund those.

As this was the first meeting since the announcement that a pre-application for conditional use permit had been filed to build a data center campus

( https://www.goochlandva.us/1480/Tuckahoe-Technology-Park) on more than 870 acres between Hockett Road and West Creek, it was no surprise that anti data center sentiments were plentiful and angry. Keep an eye out for updates to  https://www.tuckahoetechparkinfo.com/ a site put up by the applicant. The first community meeting on this proposal will be held on July 23 beginning at 6 p.m. at Goochland High School. Ideally, it will provide specifics to help citizens understand what is really being proposed and counter hysteria with fact.

GOMM was not in favor of adding the 871 acres to the TOD/TZ. However, the stipulation that any data center there must obtain a conditional use permit is an opportunity for Goochland to prove its intention of “doing data centers right” with minimal impact on residents. The CUP process can impose site specific standards.

Bus trips to real data centers should be provided by the applicant so people, especially Mosaic residents, can see and hear what they look like instead of relying on sensational, probably AI generated, photos and articles pulled from the internet.

The application has a lot of information which could be clearer.

For instance, we need tangible local examples of existing 60- and 80-foot-high buildings to gauge their impact on the view shed. How big is a 500-foot buffer? Even using the setback of the high school from Rt. 6 would help.  Will the land in question be clear cut, or will just enough trees be cleared for the structures? A graphic that clearly illustrates the topography of the parcels without the trees to illustrate if the proposed structures will be level with, higher than, or lower than Mosaic is needed. Surely, software exists to provide this.

Will the data center buildings blend into the trees like the CarMax headquarters?

Sound is a huge concern. Baffles and significant mitigation measures to contain continuous hums and noise from internal equipment and external generators must be mandated to minimize if not eliminate sound.

Does the project need eight buildings? Could it function with as few as three, no higher than 60 feet well away from Mosaic hidden in the trees?

The main access from Rt. 6 seems to be in the dip east of Hockett Road. Will log trucks use this to access the site during construction and how will traffic disruption be mitigated? The Rt. 6/Hockett Road intersection is a mess at afternoon rush hour; will the project improve this area?

Water will be provided by the Tuckahoe Creek Service District, not ground water. The applicant needs to provide a clear estimate of how much will be used.  

If the project releases emissions, mitigation to prevent adverse health impacts must be mandated.