Remarks to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors: February 7, 2023

My name is Bill Wright and I live in Gainesville.  I oppose the Devlin Technology Park.  Another bold masterstroke you can be proud of

Communities in the Bristow area are facing the prospect of being surrounded by the relentless onslaught of data center development.  I’m talking about the already approved 179-acre Hunter property adjacent to Piney Grove Elementary School and the Amberleigh Station subdivision.  It is being developed by the Dutch Yondr Group for 11 data centers.  Can you imagine what these residents will be enduring during construction and upon completion?

So tonight, you propose to twist that dagger by adding the 270-acre Devlin Technology Park adjacent to Chris Yung Elementary School and several residential communities.  How would YOU like to have a “park” like this next to your house or your kid’s school? 

You don’t even know this project’s end user.  It is common practice for our county government to enter into non-disclosure agreements to protect wealthy data center companies from the inquisitive eyes of our citizens who are merely trying to keep up with how quickly they’re being sold down the river.  Yondr’s website (About us - Yondr (yondrgroup.com)) even boasts: “You'll never know what projects we've done, or who we've done them for.  Partner with us, and you can be sure our discreet approach won't leave you exposed.”  Exposed to who?  To citizens who would rail against their destructive plans if only they were aware of them?  This Board is complicit in this deceit and has become the principal enemy of its own constituents.

This Board’s actions are not reflective of its citizens' desires, and we are taking action to bring it to heel.  One recall effort was suspended when its target finally acknowledged his uselessness and resigned.  Another recall effort is focused on the Chair, who is also facing a primary challenge.  You are completely out-of-touch if you don’t feel the depth of public animosity. 

Reckless data center development in northern Virginia is ruining our environment and our quality of life, yet you continue to fan that fire.  Prince William County already has almost 50 million square feet of data center capacity operating or under development – more than the study YOU commissioned said was feasible.  That doesn’t even count the 27-million square foot Prince William Digital Gateway Godzilla, for which you are being sued – twice!  Many citizens are unaware of all the land mines being planted beneath their feet because of your determined efforts to conceal them.

Last Thursday, Inside NOVA published an article entitled: “Developers Focus Largesse on Prince William County Democrats”.  Among those developers contributing is Stanley Martin.  It is quite obvious where your allegiance lies.  And come election day you will find out where ours does.

Reject the Devlin Technology Park.