Goochland Residents Sue County Over Data Center Zoning Approval

Four Goochland County residents, including Cynthia Haas, filed suit in Goochland Circuit Court challenging the county's November 2025 adoption of a Technology Overlay District and an associated Technology Zone intended to draw data centers and high-tech employers to the Route 288/I-64 corridor in eastern Goochland.

The plaintiffs allege the county failed to lawfully and clearly explain the adopted overlay, did not properly advertise the zoning changes, and made last-minute alterations without adequate public notice. John Gessner, a longtime zoning lawyer who has advised the plaintiffs informally, captured the central complaint in three words: "Water, power: nobody knows." Gessner argued the county moved forward without fully disclosing the likely consequences of large-scale technology development to the residents most directly affected.

County officials have defended the adoption process, maintaining that the Technology Overlay District and Technology Zone do not themselves approve any specific project. Any development within the zone would still be required to satisfy applicable permitting and regulatory requirements before breaking ground. The county has framed the overlay as a mechanism to diversify its tax base and address long-term fiscal obligations, including outstanding water and sewer debt, by positioning a highway-accessible corridor for technology investment.

The Board of Supervisors approved an appropriation of up to $250,000 in February to retain outside counsel and cover related defense costs. County officials said insurance and other funding sources would be drawn on before any unassigned funds are touched, describing the move as standard practice for complex land-use litigation of this kind.

A hearing on procedural and record issues is scheduled for May. If the plaintiffs prevail on grounds that advertising or public notice requirements were not properly met, a court could void portions of the ordinance or require the county to reopen the adoption process, effectively pausing any developer efforts to site large technology facilities in the zone. A ruling for the county would leave the overlay intact and shift scrutiny to how Goochland manages water, power, and infrastructure capacity as potential projects begin to come forward.

Related fiscal and regulatory items tied to the overlay were expected in the April 7 Board of Supervisors packet, meaning the legal fight and the county's broader technology development push are likely to run on parallel tracks for months.