Petersburg introduces new zoning rules for data centers amid community concerns

Petersburg City Council has introduced new zoning regulations aimed at overseeing data center developments in the city, according to NBC12. Despite these measures, some residents continue to express concerns about the potential effects of the projects.

Documents obtained by 12 On Your Side reveal that four data center campuses are planned in Petersburg, with discussions about some projects dating back to 2024. Among the developments, NuVu Real Estate's 2588 County Drive Data Center and Menlo Equites' Jamestown Drive Data Center have been approved, while Wagner Properties' Wagner Road site is under review, and the Warrenton Group's Collier Yard Data Center is in the pre-application phase.

Due to prior zoning changes, certain industrial districts in Petersburg allow data centers to be built without City Council approval, which has raised concerns among community members who feel they were not adequately informed about the projects.

A coalition opposing the data centers has formed, citing worries about environmental and health impacts, potential effects on property values, and the risk of abandoned buildings if the anticipated artificial intelligence growth does not materialize.

Residents like Rhonda Sonnenberg and Christy Dudley have voiced their apprehensions, including noise concerns and the impact on personal property such as gardens.

The City Council's new zoning rules represent an effort to regulate these developments more closely, but community debate continues as the projects move forward.