Warrenton approves Amazon data center
In a 4-3 decision, the Warrenton Town Council voted in the pre-dawn hours Wednesday to approve Amazon Data Services' request for a special-use permit to build a 220,000-square-foot data center at the intersection of Blackwell Road and Lee Highway in Warrenton.
Council members Heather Sutphin, Ward 2, Brett Hamby, Ward 3, James Hartman, Ward 4, and Jay Heroux, Ward 5, all voted in favor of the resolution.
At-Large council members Paul Mooney and David McGuire, along with Ward 2 representative William Semple, voted against the proposal.
The public hearing was held at Fauquier High School in the auditorium.
Those in favor of the data center said they believed the proposal meets the town's criteria for a special-use permit and members had all the information they needed from Amazon to make an informed decision.
"The application is consistent with the Town of Warrenton [2040] Comprehensive Plan in spirit and intent," Hartman said. "Based on staff analysis, I feel that the applicant has met the [special-use permit] requirements ... and has answered questions that were felt unanswered by the [Warrenton] Planning Commission."
Those who voted against the resolution were keen on pointing out that the hundreds of citizens who turned out on Tuesday to oppose the data center were being ignored by the council.
"I think it's important that we listen to our citizens. Otherwise we become an oppressive government," McGuire said before the vote. "A lot of people don't want this."
Following the data center vote, council also voted unanimously to approve a resolution to allow all council members -- though not the public -- to review the 3,142 emails former Town Manager Brandie Schaeffer exchanged with Amazon representatives. The town is currently in the midst of a legal battle with the nonprofit Citizens for Fauquier County over the withholding of said emails. Schaeffer left her position with the town last year and went to work for Amazon shortly thereafter.