<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4GbQoQ_0wFc2qqF00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4GbQoQ_0wFc2qqF00" width="1259" height="718" ><figcaption>The project's address is 8552 Ashton Ave., Manassas, part of the Brentsville magisterial district. It's located north of the intersection of Ashton Avenue and Rixlew Lane, east of the Vulcan Quarry and between Ellis Elementary School and Unity Reed High School. Prince William County</figcaption></figure>A proposal to build three new Amazon data centers along Ashton Avenue near the Manassas Mall was shelved indefinitely ahead of the Oct. 22 Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting during which it was scheduled to be discussed.The Prince William County Planning Commission voted 6-1 during its June 26 meeting to recommend the project’s denial due to residents’ concerns regarding noise, impacts on local wildlife and neighborhood proximity. Last week, Amazon officials requested the proposal be withdrawn from the Board of County Supervisors' Oct. 22 agenda. The initial rezoning request involved approximately 52 acres transitioning from agricultural and residential use to industrial and transportation. An allowable height change to a new threshold of 95 feet was also included to facilitate data center operations.The project's address is 8552 Ashton Ave., Manassas, part of the Brentsville magisterial district. It's located north of the intersection of Ashton Avenue and Rixlew Lane, east of the Vulcan Quarry and between Ellis Elementary School and Unity Reed High School.Brentsville District Supervisor Tom Gordy said economic revitalization is at the forefront of discussions pertaining to the Ashton data center project. “While there are numerous challenges related to this case, our highest priority for this area is the redevelopment within the Sudley corridor,” Gordy said in an email to InsideNoVa. “There is no greater opportunity for economic development, workforce/affordable housing, and walkable, transit-oriented communities.”Amazon Web Services spokesperson Duncan Neasham said the Ashton project was withdrawn from the board’s Oct. 22 meeting because of insufficient time between AWS’ Oct. 1 community engagement open house at Ellis Elementary School and the board’s subsequent meeting. “The scheduled proposal before the Board of Supervisors meeting had to be withdrawn from the docket to accommodate the community engagement meeting required by Prince William County and intake feedback, which is a normal and common process,” Neasham said in an email to InsideNoVa. “Our intention to build a data center on the site remains, and AWS will continue to have an open dialogue with the community.”Neasham said grassroots engagement is a top priority for AWS. “We appreciate the opportunities we’ve had to connect and hear from our neighbors in Prince William County, and we’ll continue to incorporate feedback from our neighbors and local leaders into our plans and stay closely engaged with the community,” Neasham added. The Crestwood residential development, which consists of various townhomes, is located northwest of the proposed data center site. Residents from the nearby Tarawood community would also be affected, and several of them voiced their displeasure during public comment time at the Planning Commission’s June 26 meeting. During the meeting, commissioners also expressed their views on the project’s prospects and its anticipated community impact.“I have huge issues about the noise. I feel like the school’s getting boxed in,” said Coles District Planning Commissioner Karla Justice. “I feel like the communities are being overrun with these [data centers] in this area.”While the proposed data centers would be located within the county’s pre-established Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District, Brentsville Commissioner Christopher Carroll echoed his colleagues’ concerns and said he is focused on long-term benefits.“Along with homes and schools, this is directly adjacent to the Sudley Road redevelopment corridor,” Carroll said. “This data center project, with minimal jobs at the end result, is not really going to support that redevelopment.”The Planning Commission ultimately recommended denying the proposal, with Chair Juan McPhail casting the lone vote in favor. </div></body>

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Amazon's Ashton data center project near Manassas Mall deferred

A proposal to build three new Amazon data centers along Ashton Avenue near the Manassas Mall was shelved indefinitely ahead of the Oct. 22 Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting during which it was scheduled to be discussed. The Prince William County Planning Commission voted 6-1 during its June...