n LOUDOUN
4 | n PUBLIC SAFETY
7 | n EDUCATION
8 | n PUBLIC NOTICES
Community-Supported News. Free to all.
VOL. 9, NO. 36
20
JULY 18, 2024
Arcola Neighborhoods Face Off Amid Data Center Encroachment BY HANNA PAMPALONI
hpampaloni@loudounnow.org
Over 80 members from two neighboring Arcola communities filled the county board room July 10 for a four hour back and forth exchange over the merits of an application to rezone 28 acres to allow construction of three data centers. The applicants, residents who live on Hiddenwood Lane, cited a declining quality of life as zoning decisions made by county supervisors allowed data centers to be built around their neighborhood. Residents of Briarfield Estates, just north of Hiddenwood Lane, said permitting new data centers would surround them on all four sides by the massive buildings, pushing the declining quality of life into their backyards. The application to rezone the land from Countryside Residential–1 to Planned Development– Industrial Park envisions three data centers totaling 756,024 square feet. The neighborhood was first started in the 1950s prior to the HIDDENWOOD continues on page 28
Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
With its rocky bottom exposed, Beaverdam Creek shows the signs of the region’s severe drought.
Severe Drought Conditions Expand; Towns Push Conservation Efforts BY NORMAN K. STYER nstyer@loudounnow.org
All of Loudoun County is now experiencing severe drought conditions, with some towns pressing residents to curtail
their water use. According to data released July 11 by the U.S. Drought Monitoring program, almost all of Virginia is rated as having moderate or severe drought conditions. The area of severe drought covers much
of the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont regions.
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