* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. I'M GONNA CALL THE [00:00:01] TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FOR MONDAY, JUNE 22ND TO ORDER. [1. MOMENT OF SILENCE] I JUST WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS MEETING IS NOT BEING RECORDED. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, BUT I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF THAT. BUT, UM, IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP THINGS GOING, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND HOLD THE MEETING. UM, JUST LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW, UM, UH, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. OKAY. NEXT. ITEM NUMBER TWO. AS YOU KNOW, AS MAYOR, I INVITE STUDENTS FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO LEAD OUR COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THIS MONTH, WE WELCOME BOLTON HUTCHINSON. BOLTON, CAN YOU COME FORWARD? I, I, I KIDDINGLY TOLD BOLTON THAT HE ENDED UP WITH THE LARGEST CROWD FOR A MEETING EVER. BUT BOLT, I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE GONNA GET LIKE APPLAUSE. LIKE THAT. THAT'S WONDERFUL. BOLTON IS THE SON OF SAMANTHA COCKRELL AND MICHAEL HUTCHINSON. HE'S ALSO THE GRANDSON OF FRONT ROW RESIDENT KATHY AND JIMMY ER, AS WELL AS COUNTY RESIDENTS. BENTLEY HUTCHINSON AND YOUNG. HE IS A BIG BROTHER TO WESTON BOLTON'S, ALMOST SIX YEARS OLD. HE JUST FINISHED UP PRESCHOOL AND WILL MOVE TO KINDERGARTEN THIS FALL AT HILL TO J BARBER. BOLTON PLAYS BASEBALL AND PLANS TO PLAY FOOTBALL THIS FALL. HE LOVES TO SWIM IN HIS MIMI'S POOL. HIS FAVORITE RESTAURANT IS A TIE BETWEEN MCDONALD'S AND MELTING POT, WHICH I UNDERSTAND YOU PREFER FOR PEOPLE TO CALL IT PIZZA PLANET, RIGHT? , HIS FAVORITE MOVIE IS TOY STORY AND HE WANTS TO BE A TEACHER WHEN HE GROWS UP. BOLTON SELECTED HIS GIFT CARD FROM ME TONIGHT TO CNCS AND HE'S RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE THANKING HIM FOR HIS PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 22ND, 2026. BOLTON, ARE YOU READY? OKAY, EVERYBODY, PLEASE [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] STAND. WE NEED TWO OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TWO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS. ONE NATION. I'M NOT INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL TO GIVE HIM HIS CERTIFICATE AND THEN, PERFECT. YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. LEMME OKAY. [3. ROLL CALL] OKAY, MS HON, CAN WE DO ROLL CALL? MAYOR COCKRELL. HERE. VICE MAYOR ENTAL. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN DE DOPA. HERE. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? HERE. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? HERE. COUNCILMAN SEA LOCK. HERE. COUNCILMAN WOOD HERE. OKAY, [4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS OUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT. COUNCIL APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 26. 2026. MEETING JUNE 1ST, 2026. WORK SESSION. JUNE 4TH, 2026, SPECIAL MEETING. AND JUNE 8TH, 2026. WORK SESSION AS PRESENTED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, ROLL CALL. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMENICO PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. COUNCILMAN OCK? YES. VICE MAYOR ENTAL? YES. OKAY. [5. ADDITION/DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA] [00:05:01] NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE, AND THIS IS FOR ANY ADDITION DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR ANY REVISION TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL REVISED THE AGENDA'S ORDER OF BUSINESS BY MOVING NUMBER SEVEN, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND NUMBER NINE REPORTS OF THE TOWN MANAGER, TOWN COUNCIL, AND MAYOR TO THE END OF THE AGENDA PRIOR TO THE CLOSED SESSION, THAT WOULD BE MOVING NUMBER SEVEN AND NUMBER EIGHT TO NUMBER NINE AND NUMBER 10. SECOND. THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YES. I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC HERE TONIGHT THAT PART OF THAT REASON IS BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE DO HAVE HOUSEKEEPING BUSINESS THAT HAS TO BE DONE BY THE TOWN, WHICH WILL NOT TAKE UP MUCH TIME, BUT WE CAN ENSURE THAT GETS DONE. AND SECONDLY, BY THE TIME THAT GETS DONE, WE WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE SOMEBODY HERE WITH VIDEO AND AUDIO. SO THOSE WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT WILL STILL BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS MEETING OR TO SEE AND WATCH THAT. OKAY. UH, ROLL. PAUL. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DOPA. YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. COUNCILMAN OCK? YES. VICE MAYOR VIAL? YES. MADAM MAYOR. YES. I JUST RECEIVED A TEXT FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT WE CAN BE HEARD ONLINE FROM HOME. GREAT. THAT'S, THERE YOU GO. THAT'S GEORGE. ALRIGHT, SO [6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS] OUR ITEM NUMBER SIX IS OUR RECOGNITIONS AWARDS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS. AND SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF FIRST WITH A RECOGNITION OF OUR CLERK OF COUNSEL, MS. TINA PRESLEY. AND SO I WANNA STOP FOR A MINUTE AND JUST SHARE WITH YOU ALL THAT MS. PRESLEY HAS BEEN AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TOWN FOR 33 YEARS. UM, AND I, I'M GONNA READ THIS, BUT BEFORE I DO, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, MS. PRESLEY HAS MADE MY SIX YEARS EXTREMELY, UM, MORE EFFICIENT. SHE IS WHAT I WOULD CALL HAS THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE. IF THERE WERE TIMES WE HAD QUESTIONS, UM, WE COULD GO TO HER. IN MY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME HERE, WE'VE WORKED WITH SIX DIFFERENT TOWN MANAGERS AND I, I'VE SERVED WITH 16 DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS. TINA WAS THE GLUE, SHE WAS THE ONE WHO KNEW WHAT TO DO. I I THINK THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHERE TOWN MANAGERS SOUGHT HER ADVICE AND, UM, HER DIRECTION. UM, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES WHERE WE WERE NOT SURE ABOUT SOMETHING AND TINA WOULD JUST VERY QUIETLY REDIRECT US AND LET US KNOW WHAT, UM, WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN. SO IN THIS DAY AND AGE, FINDING AN EMPLOYEE THAT'S WILLING TO WORK FOR YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR 33 YEARS IN A, IN A CAPACITY, UM, MANY DIFFERENT JOBS, NOT JUST THE CLERK, UM, BUT IS VERY RARER. AND WHILE I REALLY WISH SHE WOULD'VE STUCK AROUND, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHY SHE'S READY TO GO AND ENJOY HER TIME WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN AND HER FAMILY. SO THIS SAYS, PRESENTED TO TINA L PRESLEY IN RECOGNITION OF 33 YEARS OF SERVICE, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE TOWN OF FRONT OIL. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT, THE SINCERE GRATITUDE FROM FELLOW EMPLOYEES, TOWN MANAGER, MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL. MAY 24TH, 1993 TO JULY 1ST, 2026. YOUR LOYALTY AND FRIENDSHIP WILL BE LONG REMEMBERED. WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN RETIREMENT. THANK ANY TOWN EMPLOYEES. TINA WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD JOIN US. SO I KNOW THERE'S PLENTY OF TOWN EMPLOYEES HERE. DO WE NEED TO SCOOCH IN? MAYBE JUST TO COME, WE CAN DO THE SIDE DAYS. WE'RE GOING, WE'RE GOING SIDEWAYS. YES. I'VE GOT EVERYONE ON YOUR MARKS. GET SET. [00:10:19] I, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT TINA MADE THE MISTAKE EARLIER TODAY IN GIVING ME HER PERSONAL CELL PHONE. , SHE NO LONGER HAS THE WORK CELL PHONE, BUT, SO AS, AS AMBER SAID, WE MAY CALL YOU SOMETIME, BUT KEEP US STRAIGHT. THANK YOU. TAKE CARE, PHIL. THANK YOU. ENJOY LEAVING THE MEETING. THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH US ALL THESE YEARS. SO NEXT UP IS, UM, OUR EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION PROCLAMATION. UM, THE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION WEEK IS JULY 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH. WHEREAS TOWN EMPLOYEES ARE PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF FRONT RURAL RESIDENTS, CUSTOMERS, AND VISITORS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER, SOMETIMES WORKING OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL JOB DUTIES TO ASSIST DURING AN EMERGENCY AND OR DURING UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. AND WHEREAS DURING THOSE TIMES OF WORKING AFTER HOURS, EMPLOYEES ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WHICH REFLECTS THEIR DEDICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY DURING TIMES OF SAFETY AND INCONVENIENCE. AND WHEREAS TOWN EMPLOYEES ASSIST IN TURNING CHAOS INTO ORDER AND CONFUSION INTO CLARITY FOR ALL THOSE RESIDING IN AND VISITING THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL. AND WHEREAS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL HAS APPROXIMATELY 185 FULL AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM ENERGY SERVICES, FINANCE AND PURCHASING, FLEET MANAGEMENT, HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLANNING AND ZONING, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH INCLUDES BUILDING AND GROUNDS HORTICULTURE, SOLID WASTE, STREET MAINTENANCE, WATER SEWER MAINTENANCE, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, PLANT AND WATER TREATMENT PLAN, TOWN, ATTORNEY TOWN CLERK OF COUNCIL AND TOWN MANAGER. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA HEREBY EXPRESS DEEP AND SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL FOR THEIR ULTIMATE SACRIFICES AND VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL OUR CITIZENS. AND THAT JULY 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH 2026 BE PROCLAIMED AS EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION WEEK FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWN OF FARM OIL. SO NEXT UP, UM, AFTER, UM, THE CHANGE IN THE AGENDA, UM, IS GOING TO BE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS, PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. MS. ONG, I DO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE SIGNED UP, CORRECT? YES. OKAY. AND SO I WILL READ THE, UM, INSTRUCTIONS FOR THAT PART OF THE MEETING. GIMME A SECOND HERE. [ 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS] WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT AS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AND TO LIMIT DISCUSSION TO TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE ISSUES BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION PERSONS ADDRESSING, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE ADVISED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL. NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR OR THE CLERK OF COUNCIL. NO PERSON SHALL BRING INTO THE ROOM ANY SIGNED BANNER OR OTHER SUCH ITEM WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN SCENE HEARING OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETING UPON RECOGNITION BY THE MAYOR OR THE CLERK OF COUNSEL, THE SPEAKER SHALL STATE THEIR NAME, ADDRESS, AND INDICATE IF THEY'RE A CITIZEN OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROW. DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNSEL CONFINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES OF PUBLIC CONCERN RELATING TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROW SHALL NOT ADDRESS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD DURING THE SAME MEETING. REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT. REFRAIN FROM OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY. STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT. AFTER THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING. THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE ASKED [00:15:01] TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT. ONCE ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WEARING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, THE MIRROR WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE. BUT TO ASK OUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP WERE CLEARED THE ROOM SAID THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN. MS. WIL HUONG, WHO HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? KEVIN AK. OKAY. YOU MUST HAVE KNOWN. ALRIGHT, ARE YOU READY? I'M, UH, YES. UH, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANGE IN SCHEDULE. I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE ANCHORING. UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A REALLY GREAT THING THAT HAPPENED IN FRONT ROYAL, AND THAT IS HOW WE ALL CAME TOGETHER, UH, TO STOP VAPE SHOPS. UH, THAT VAPE SHOPS ARE A RETAIL USE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. AND OUR CODE WAS SILENT ON WHAT VAPE SHOPS WERE AND WHY THEY WOULD BE BAD. AND WE AS A TOWN, AS, AS STAFF AND COUNCIL, CAME TOGETHER AND SAID, NO VAPE SHOPS. THE WAY WE DID THAT WAS BY PUTTING A DEFINITION OF VAPE SHOPS INTO THE CODE. AND NOT JUST THE WORD VAPE SHOPS, BUT WE DESCRIBED WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A TOBACCO RETAILER WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF, UM, UH, UH, VAPING THINGS. BUT UNTIL WE DEFINED VAPE SHOPS FOR THE WHOLE TOWN, WE HAD NO SHARED LEGAL DEFINITION OF WHAT IT WAS THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO PREVENT. SO IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT THE WORD VAPE SHOPS INTO THE LAW BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY HAD A DOZEN VAPE SHOPS OPEN, WHAT WE WOULD CALL VAPE SHOPS, BUT THEY COULD JUST GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING AND APPLY AS A RETAILER. AND THE STATE DOESN'T, DIDN'T GIVE US THE POWER TO LOOK INSIDE A RETAIL LOCATION AND SAY, WHAT ARE YOU RETAILING? WHAT KIND OF RETAILER ARE YOU? ALL THE VAPE SHOPS HAD TO DO WAS COME AND SAY, I'M GONNA BE A RETAILER. AND THEN THEY WERE PERMITTED BY RIGHT IN OUR COMMERCIAL ZONES. SO IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS THAT THIS COUNCIL SAID THE WORD VAPE SHOP, DEFINED THE WORD VAPE SHOP, AND THEN MADE A LIST OF THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT VAPE SHOPS. AND ONCE WE PUT THAT INTO OUR TOWN CODE, SINCE THAT TIME, NO VAPE SHOPS HAVE EVER APPLIED TO AND, AND, AND NO FURTHER VAPE SHOPS CAME TO TOWN. SO THAT IS A HUGE SUCCESS. THE ONLY FAILURE ON OUR PART WAS TO NOT SEE THAT COMING AND TO WAIT UNTIL A DOZEN HAD ALREADY BEEN BUILT BEFORE WE PUT INTO LAW A DEFINITION OF VAPE SHALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. ONG. MS. ONG, HAS ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO. AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION? AGAIN, THIS IS NOT, UH, IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. ANYONE? I GOT SNAKE. MY NAME'S JAY NEWELL. I LIVE AT 2 5 5 HARRIS DRIVE, FRONT ROYAL. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1969, BEFORE 66 WAS BUILT BEFORE WALMART CAME AND DESTROYED ALL THE MOM AND POP STORES WHEN THAT WAS ALLOWED TO COME IN. UM, I'VE COME HERE, THIS IS ABOUT MY THIRD YEAR. I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN ACCURATE, BUT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR SEA CONTAINERS AND A FLOOD ZONE AND I DON'T, I'VE GOT NO RESPONSES FROM ANYBODY EVERY TIME I COME HERE SPEAKING ABOUT SEA CONTAINERS. 'CAUSE THEY, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T FLOAT. THEY'RE, Y'ALL ARE ALLOWING US TO HAVE, UM, WOODEN BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, SHEDS AND STUFF. WE PUT THAT THE SEAT IN THE FLOOD ZONE, BUT WE'RE STILL NOT ALLOWED TO PUT A SEAT CONTAINER IN. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT, UH, MY CONCERN IS, WELL, I'LL COME BACK UP AND SPEAK ABOUT IT, BUT I'M LIKE, YOU CAN'T, YOU WON'T ALLOW ME TO HAVE A SEAT CONTAINER. BUT NOW YOU'RE ALL ALLOWING A, A DATA CENTER TO COME AND BE BUILT IN A FLOOD ZONE. SO I GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I'LL SPEAK LATER ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR NAME? SORRY. I, JAY NEW JAY, WHAT WAS YOUR ADDRESS? 2 25 . SHE'S BACK. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT? IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE HALLWAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION? NO, I THINK THERE IS ACTUALLY, IS THERE SOMEONE IN THE HALLWAY? YES. OKAY. [00:20:05] UH, ARE WE, I THINK WE'RE ON LINE NOW. I'D SIGN UP FOR EVERYTHING BUT THE PAPERS WERE GONE. UH, MY NAME IS LOUIS PUTTEN. 1132. HOLD ON ONE SECOND PLEASE. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE SPEAKER AND THEY DO HAVE A MICROPHONE. SO HOLD ON ONE SECOND. OKAY. I'M SORRY. THIS OKAY. WE'RE GONNA START AGAIN. I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, WE'RE GONNA GIVE OUR BEST. HERE WE GO. READY? HELLO, MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM 1132 KESSEL ROAD. I'M A RESIDENT OF FRONT ROW VIRGINIA. I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE, UH, ANCY TRANSPARENCY I SAW IN THE AGENDA PACKET. I LIKE THAT YOU'RE HELPING OUT NEW STAFF. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT YOUR SYSTEM BECOME MORE PUBLIC. UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED THIS, BUT THE COUNTY HAS, UH, MADE THEIR SYSTEM TRANSPARENT BACK IN, UH, FEBRUARY. SO I CAN NOW BROWSE EVERYBODY'S REQUEST AND FIND INFORMATION INSTEAD OF MAKING REPEATED REQUESTS FOR THINGS PEOPLE ALREADY RETURNED. UM, YOU, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED A RECENT REQUEST I MADE JUST FINDING OUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN THE SYSTEM, SO I KNOW NEXT REQUEST AND, UH, ARCHIVE SOCIAL ARE PRICEY BASED ON, UH, POPULATION AND FEATURE SET. BUT I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING TO ACTUALLY BRING SOME OF THIS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT EVERYBODY'S BEEN REQUESTING, THAT WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO ONE IN THE HALLWAY THAT, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. [10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS] SO NEXT UP, UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT, UH, WE PROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS PRESENTED. SECOND. OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? UM, MADAM MAYOR, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I DID MISS THE JUNE 8TH MEETING, HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN, I CAN STILL VOTE TONIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, ROLL CALL. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DEPA? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. COUNCILMAN OCK? YES. VICE MAYOR VIAL? YES. OKAY, THANK YOU. SO AT [7.A. Sale of Publicly Held Real Property, to wit, 6,211 square foot portion of the unimproved street Lowe Lane between Lot 27A and Braxton Road, previously conditionally vacated by ordinance, to the abutting property owners, Theodore Kane for the amount of $3,375.85, and Paul Rush for the amount of $5,395.42] THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS, UM, REGARDING A SALE OF PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY TO WIT 6,211 SQUARE FOOT PORTION OF THE UNIMPROVED STREET LOW LANE BETWEEN LOT 27 A AND BRAXTON ROAD. MS. WIL, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY PURSUANT TO ONE 15 DASH TWO DASH 1800 SALE PUBLICLY HELD REAL PROPERTY TO WIT 6,211 SQUARE FOOT PORTION OF THE UNAPPROVED STREET LOW LANE BETWEEN LOT 27 A AND BRAXTON ROAD, PREVIOUSLY CONDITIONALLY VACATED BY ORDINANCE TO THE FOOTING PROPERTY OWNERS. THEODORE CAME FOR THE AMOUNT OF $3,375 AND 85 CENTS IN PAUL RUSH FOR THE AMOUNT OF $5,395 AND 42 CENTS. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, SO I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. UM, I WAS GONNA GIVE THE RULES FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, BUT IT, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS ONE? NO. OKAY. WELL, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. NO ONE SIGNED UP. HA. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM ABOUT THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY OFF LOW LANE? OKAY. UM, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE SALE OF THE 6,211 SQUARE FOOT PORTION OF THE UNIMPROVED LOW LANE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS THEODORE KANE FOR THE AMOUNT OF THREE THOU $3,375 AND 85 CENTS. AND TO PAUL RUSH FOR THE AMOUNT OF $5,395 AND 42 CENTS. SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION. AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ROLL CALL. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? [00:25:01] YES. COUNCILWOMAN DE DOPA? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. COUNCILMAN SEA? YES. VICE MAYOR VAAL? YES. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. SO THE NEXT ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING. I'M SORRY IF I FEEL LIKE I'M YELLING. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HEAR OVER THE HALLWAY. [7.B. An Ordinance Amendment to repeal Town Code Chapter 148, Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance] UM, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO REPEAL THE CURRENT SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 48 IN ITS ENTIRETY AND ADOPT AND ENACT A NEW SUBDIVISION IN LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE. MS. ONG, I'M GONNA READ THE SUMMARY JUST TO SAVE YOU THE TROUBLE FOR NOW. IN JULY, 2021, THE TOWN ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH SUMMIT ENGINEERING TO PREPARE A NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ZONING ORDINANCE AND UPDATED SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE. THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE UPDATES THE TOWN'S EXISTING REGULATIONS AND BRINGS THE CHAPTER INTO COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT VIRGINIA STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS. MAJOR REVISIONS INCLUDE AMENDMENTS TO AND IN SOME CASES REMOVAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE WAIVER PROCESSES FOR SMALL SUBDIVISIONS, UPDATES TO REGULATIONS REGARDING STEEP SLOPES AND THE EXTENSION OF PARKING EXEMPTIONS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON MAIN STREET TO ALL PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 20TH, 2026 AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TOWN COUNCIL. REVIEWED THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE DURING ITS JUNE 1ST, 2026 WORK SESSION AND DIRECTED STAFF TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 22ND, 2026. SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. MS. ONG, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? I BELIEVE I SEE A HAND. MM-HMM . COME FORWARD PLEASE, LEWIS. OKAY. THIS ITEM IS IN REGARDS TO THE CURRENT SUBDIVISION IN LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE. TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 48. YES. YEP. THERE'S A SUBDIVISION. OKAY. I'VE SIGNED UP. I I'M READY FOR EVERYTHING BY THE WAY. UM, I BET YOU ARE LEWIS . BET YOU ARE. YEAH, YOU KNOW ME. YEAH. UM, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LOUIS EDWARD MOTON III. LIVE AT 1132 SSA ROAD. UM, MAINLY I I I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT LOOKED LIKE EVERYBODY'S COVERED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT WITH THE PARKING EXEMPTION. I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM IN THE PAST. UM, I KNOW OF ONE RE ONE BUSINESS OWNER THAT THERE'S, THERE'S SOME KIND OF ISSUE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS, THIS RESOLVES THAT, THAT SPECIFIC THING. UM, SO MY, MY CONCERN IS, I, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE CLARITY AFFECTED REAR YARD ACCESS, OPEN AIR ACTIVITY AND LOADING AND UNLOADING OR IF THEY, THEY WOULD BE PROTECTED REGARDLESS, BECAUSE SOME OF THE LANGUAGE WAS A LITTLE BIT BROAD AND, UM, PRETTY, PRETTY MUCH, UM, I JUST NEED SOME CLARITY ON, UH, IF ALL I THINK YOU ALL KNOW WHAT PROPERTY I'M TALKING ABOUT, IS THERE STILL AN ISSUE OR NOT IN REGARDS TO HAVING THEM REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PARKING OR NOT. UH, BECAUSE IT IS A REAR YARD OUTDOOR AREA AND THERE IS ACTIVITY THAT, UH, PROMOTES TOURISM AND NEEDS ACCESS TO THAT BACK GATE. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT ONE. THANK YOU MR. MOTON. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING IN THE HALLWAY? IS THERE ANYONE IN THE HALLWAY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS PUBLIC HEARING? WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE SECOND REPEALING AND ADOPTING CHAPTER 1 48 OF THE TOWN CODE AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SECTION 1 48 DASH 1100 C. OKAY. MOTION AND A SECOND, COUNCILMAN WOULD SECOND IT. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ROLL CALL. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DEAN DOMINIC PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. COUNCILMAN LOC? YES. VICE MAYOR VIAL? YES. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. SO OUR [7.C. Zoning Text Amendments to Town Code §175-3-Definitions to define Data Centers, and Town Code §175-64 – Statement of Intent, Industrial Employment District (I-2), to add Data Centers with performance standards by special use permit] NEXT ITEM TONIGHT IS ITEM SEVEN C AND THIS AGENDA ITEM IS ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS TO TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH THREE DEFINITIONS TO DEFINE DATA CENTERS AND TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH 64 INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT DISTRICT I TWO [00:30:01] TO ADD DATA CENTERS WITH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT. SO THAT IS THE TITLE, MS UM, ANG I WILL LET YOU READ THE SUMMARY. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD TWO WEEK SESSIONS, TWO WORK SESSIONS TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED TEXT, AMEN, WHICH ADDS THE DEFINITIONS OF DATA CENTER WITH THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPACT ANALYSIS SUBMISSIONS TO THE TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025 AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL AT THE OCTOBER 6TH TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION. IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO INQUIRE ABOUT CONTRACTING LEGAL SERVICES TO REVIEW THE DRAFT AMENDMENTS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH VIRGINIA CODE INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS AND ZONING PRACTICES FOR THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY AT THE MAY 11TH, 2026 TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION. THE ITEM WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE ADVERTISED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD AT THE REGULAR MEETING ON JUNE 22ND, 2026. OKAY, THANK YOU. SO, UM, I AM GOING TO READ SOME, UM, OF OUR GUIDELINES FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE FOLKS IN THE HALLWAY WILL GET TO HEAR THIS AS WELL. UM, 'CAUSE I'M SURE IT WILL AFFECT EVERYONE. SO WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THE AGENDA. PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNSEL TO LEARN OF INFORMATION OF WHICH THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY AWARE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE RECOGNIZED, THEN COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. UM, IF THE COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, YOU MAY SIMPLY STATE THAT YOU AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR SPEAKERS. AFTER THREE MINUTES, THE MICROPHONE WILL CUT OFF. I WANNA NOTE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE A TIMER UPFRONT SO THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT. UM, AND, UH, LET'S SEE. PLEASE REMEMBER YOU TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU TURN AROUND AND TALK TO THE GROUP, THE AUDIENCE YOU'RE ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO. THE COUNCIL, UM, REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT INCLUDING OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING. THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT ONCE ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. AND THE MAYOR, UM, WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE, UM, POLICE CHIEF REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE ROOM SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN. SO I'M GONNA STOP FOR A MINUTE AND JUST TALK OFF, TALK OFFLINE HERE, RIGHT? OR NOT OFFLINE, BUT OUTTA MY NOTES. SO OUR PLAN TONIGHT, THIS IS OUR PLAN. WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH THE LIST OF TOWN CITIZENS AND ANYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UM, FOR TOWN CITIZENS ARE GONNA BE CALLED FORWARD. THE PLAN IS TO HAVE THAT THE FIRST PERSON IS GONNA COME TO THE PODIUM AND MS. ONG IS GONNA ANNOUNCE THE NEXT TWO PEOPLE SO THAT AT LEAST TWO, DEPENDING ON HOW THAT GOES, WE MIGHT DO THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE. IT JUST DEPENDS ON, PRETTY SURE A HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP. UM, AND I, UM, I, IT IS MY INTENT TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THEIR THREE MINUTES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT IS, UM, THAT IS THE CHAIR'S, UM, THAT'S THE CHAIR'S DECISION. THAT'S MY PREROGATIVE. INSTEAD OF DOING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME OR TO SAY, UM, YOU'RE ONLY GONNA GET ONE MINUTE 'CAUSE THERE'S 200 PEOPLE HERE, EVERYBODY'S GONNA GET THREE MINUTES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MORE THAN LIKELY THERE'S GOING TO COME A TIME DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE ARE GONNA RECESS TO USE THE RESTROOM TO JUST BE ABLE TO GET UP, MOVE AND COME BACK. UM, BUT AGAIN, MY INTENTION IS TO ALLOW EVERYONE TO SPEAK. BUT IF WE CAN DO THIS PROCESS OF THE FIRST PERSON SPEAKING AND A FEW PEOPLE IN LINE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT'S GONNA BE A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT PROCESS FOR EVERYBODY. SO IS EVERYBODY GOOD WITH THAT? YES. OKAY, GOOD. ALRIGHT. SO MS. ONG, IF YOU'LL CALL THAT FIRST PERSON AND THEN LET'S, LET'S GO WITH THREE PEOPLE WAITING. AND THAT GIVES EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO, AND THERE WILL BE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE COMING FROM THE HALLWAY. SO IF THEY DON'T HEAR THEIR NAME, UM, WE WILL, UH, WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY DO. WE ARE ONLINE NOW, SO IF YOU ARE IN THE HALLWAY AND YOU'RE WATCHING IT LIVE OFF THE WEBSITE, YOU MIGHT HEAR YOUR NAME. I THINK IT'S A LITTLE DELAYED THOUGH, SO, ALL RIGHT, YOU READY? JOHN LUNDBERG, KAREN ERICKSON, LEE, CHERYL FREEMAN, AND MELANIE THORNBERG, MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JOHN LUNDBERG. I LIVE AT 2 0 3 PEACHTREE COURT IN FRONT ROYAL. MY MESSAGE TONIGHT [00:35:01] IS VERY SIMPLE MYSELF, AND I BELIEVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SPEAK THIS EVENING WE'LL DEFEAT AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY. ANY TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER WHO VOTES TONIGHT TO ALLOW THE FIRST DATA CENTER TO BE BUILT IN FRONT ROYAL UNTIL TECHNOLOGY HAS ELIMINATED THREE THINGS. ONE, MASSIVE DATA CENTER BUILDINGS, TWO MASSIVE WATER CONSUMPTION, THREE MASSIVE ELECTRICITY DEMANDS. SOMEDAY IN THE DISTANT FUTURE, A DATA CENTER MAY BE ACCEPTABLE IN 10 SQUARE MILE. FRONT ROYAL, NOT TONIGHT, NOT IN THE NEAR TERM. THE FIRST DATA CENTER IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WAS BUILT IN ASHBURN IN LOUDOUN COUNTY IN 1998. IN THE NEXT 28 YEARS, UP TO TODAY, 437, MORE OF THESE MONSTROSITIES HAVE BEEN BUILT OR ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE VIRGINIA COUNTIES OF LOUDOUN, PRINCE WILLIAM AND FAIRFAX. ACCORDING TO DATA CENTER MAP, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST DATA CENTER DATABASES, THE WORLD TODAY HAS BUILT 11,700 DATA CENTERS IN, IN THE WORLD AMERICA WITH 4% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION HAS BUILT 37% OF THE DATA CENTERS IN THE WORLD. AS OF TODAY, THE 4,300 DATA CENTERS BUILT IN THE US IS EIGHT TIMES. I REPEAT EIGHT TIMES LARGER THAN GERMANY IN SECOND PLACE WITH 550 DATA CENTERS. IN FACT, LISTEN CAREFULLY. THE LARGEST CLUSTER OF DATA CENTERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, I REPEAT. THE LARGEST CLUSTER OF DATA CENTERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD HAVE BEEN BUILT IN LOUDOUN, PRINCE WILLIAM, AND FAIRFAX COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA, IN AMERICA. IT IS A CRIME AGAINST RURAL AMERICA. WAKE UP WARREN COUNTY. STOP THE MADNESS. STOP THE INSANITY. STOP DESTROYING THE LIVABILITY OF RURAL NEIGHBORHOODS, RURAL VILLAGES, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN? I CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO READ THE 1996 OR 1961 BOOK BY JANE JACOBS ENTITLED THE DEATH AND LIFE OF GREAT AMERICAN CITIES. JANE WAS AN ANTI-GROWTH. SHE WAS SIMPLY VERY SKEPTICAL OF GROWTH IMPOSED BY OUTSIDE INTERESTS, DISTANT PLANNERS, AND LARGE BUREAUCRACIES. THE GENIUS OF JANE, JANE JACOB IS THIS, SHE LOOKED AT HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVED, NOT HOW POINTY HEADED INTELLECTUALS SAID THEY SHOULD LIVE LIST. NUMEROUS PEOPLE TONIGHT ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT VIRGINIA STATE CODE 15.2 DASH 2 2 8. LISTEN TO THEM. IT'S AN EXCELLENT CODE. THANK YOU MR. LINBERG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KAREN. JUST HOLD ON ONE SECOND. SO I JUST WANNA APOLOGIZE TO ALL OF YOU ALL. I DID NOT DO THIS. I DIDN'T OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT MR. LUMBER WE'RE STILL INCLUDING ALL YOUR, I APOLOGIZE WITH ALL THE, UH, ALL THE CHANGES HERE TONIGHT AND ALL THE CHALLENGES WITH THE VIDEO. BUT ANYWAY, SORRY. NOW GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. UH, I'M KAREN ERICKSON LEE. UM, I LIVE AT, UH, THREE 19 CUR FOOT RIGHT HERE IN TOWN. UM, MY FAMILY, UH, MOVED TO THE VALLEY IN, UH, 1749, UM, CAME OVER FROM IRELAND AND SCOTLAND AND, UH, I HAVE VERY DEEP ROOTS AND A BAJILLION, UM, COUSINS IN THE AREA. UH, I DIDN'T NECESSARILY GROW UP HERE, BUT I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE COMING HERE. AND WE CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTY. AND, UM, MY, MY ANCESTORS HELPED BUILD THIS PLACE. UM, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT MR. LUNDBERG JUST SAID. UM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO, AS A MOM, AS A GRANDMOM AND AS A TEACHER IN THE COUNTY, UM, AND, AND A BALLET TEACHER TOO, UM, THAT I AM OPPOSED TO THE EFFECTS THAT THESE DATA CENTERS CAN HAVE ON OUR CHILDREN. UM, IT IS, UH, FRIGHTENING TO THINK OF THINGS. UH, THESE DATA CENTERS BEING RIGHT BASICALLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OFF OF HAPPY CREEK AND, UM, THE OLD AAV TECH SITE, UH, FOR MANY REASONS. BUT, UM, JUST THE NOISE POLLUTION, UH, AND THE LIGHT POLLUTION. AND IF THEY CANNOT USE OUR ELECTRICITY BECAUSE WE CAN'T, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH, THEN THEY'RE GONNA GO TO GENERATORS. AND THOSE CAUSE ALL KINDS OF OTHER, UH, PROBLEMS WITH BREATHING AND, UM, LOTS OF ILLNESSES. SO, UH, YEAH, I'M OPPOSED, I'M OPPOSED AS I THINK MOST PEOPLE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO AND I'VE SPOKEN TO, UH, A COUPLE HUNDRED IN THE LAST WEEK, UM, ARE ALL OPPOSED TO THIS BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THE BEAUTY OF OUR COUNTY AND OUR TOWN. AND, [00:40:01] UM, THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO NEXT, FOLKS, I KNOW THAT THIS IS REALLY HARD TO DO, BUT WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO JUST HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE, BUT AS WE'RE BRINGING THE NEXT PERSON UP, IF YOU CAN JUST ANNOUNCE WHO THE NEXT TWO ARE, JUST SO WE CAN KEEP IT FLOWING. THANK YOU. OH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHERYL IAN AND I LIVE AT 1 3 2 6 IN BODEN DRIVE IN FRONT ROYAL. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. FIRST, I WANTED TO START WITH GLORY BE TO THE FATHER, SON HOLY SPIRIT, AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING, IS NOW AND NEVER SHALL BE WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN. NEXT, I I ASK YOU TO HONESTLY AND THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES EACH OF US, ALL OF US VALUE THAT IS WORTH PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILY, OUR HEALTH, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VERY FREEDOM? THESE ARE ALL REASONS THAT WE ARE ALL HERE TONIGHT, IMPLORING YOU TO NOT JUST HEAR US, BUT TO REALLY LISTEN. EACH OF YOU LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT WHO PUTS YOU HERE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS? WE DID. THIS AFFECTS YOUR FAMILIES AS MUCH AS OURS. YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL CALLED TO REPRESENT ALL OF US, YOUR CONSTITUENTS. WE TRUST YOU TO DO THAT. WE WANT TO COUNT ON YOU, TO TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS, TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE, AND TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BOTH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL, IS TREMENDOUS. AND THESE THINGS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AND NOT IGNORED. HOW DOES THE COLLECTIVE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY PLAY INTO THESE DECISIONS? WHAT ABOUT THE TREMENDOUS STRAIN DATA CENTERS PLACE ON OUR, ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE? THE RECENT WATER MAIN BREAK JUST FRIDAY NIGHT, GAVE MANY OF US A FORESHADOWING OF WHAT A TRUE WATER EMERGENCY WOULD BE LIKE, SUCH AS A DRIED WELL, NOT TO MENTION THE IMPACTS IMPACT ON OUR TAXES, PROPERTY VALUES, AND OUR PEACE MONEY TALKS. BUT AT WHAT END IS IT WORTH SELLING THE VERY SOUL OF OUR BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE AND OUR COMMUNITY TO SAY NOTHING OF THE SOUL OF VIRGINIA ALREADY BEING SOLD? WHY IS VIRGINIA AGREEING IN ANY WAY TO SUPPORT THE AI CLOUD STORAGE FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD? SOMETHING IS DRASTICALLY WRONG AND WE, THE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THIS. I IMPLORE YOU TO NOT MAKE LIGHT OF THE SITUATION OR TO HIDE IN THE SHADOWS OF THE DETAILS AND DEALS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO PROTECT YOURSELVES OR ANYONE ELSE. THERE'S AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT AND WRONG FACING US, AND IT'S CALLED ABSOLUTE TRUTH. IT DOESN'T LIE. PLEASE CHOOSE THE CORRECT SIDE. THESE DANGEROUS INFLUENCES AND PRESSURES TO BUILD DATA CENTERS WILL EVENTUALLY BE FOUND TO HOLD EMPTY PROMISES, AND MAYBE EVEN WORSE, DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED. SEE WHAT OTHER COUNTIES AND TOWNS HAVE LEARNED TOO LATE BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISIONS THAT COULD HAVE LONG-TERM AND LIKELY A LIFE ALTERING EFFECTS. WE MUST STAND FIRM AND STAND TOGETHER TO PREVENT THE REGRET ALREADY SEEING IN OUR NEIGHBORS AND PRINCE WILLIAM, WHERE I JUST MOVED FROM, AND LOUDOUN COUNTIES THAT WILL INEVITABLY COME ONCE THE DAM IS BROKEN TO ALLOW THESE DANGEROUS MONSTROSITIES. MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, AND PLEASE SAY NO TO THE DATA CENTERS, PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS THEY'RE DEFINED IN, UH, AS THEY'RE DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. AND, UM, NO, IT'S ENOUGH TIME. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION MY 13-YEAR-OLD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO AS SHE THANK YOU, AS SHE'S COMING FORWARD, IF YOU WANNA READ THE NEXT COUPLE PEOPLE, MS. ONG, MELANIE THORNBERG, MARK EGGER, THERESA SMITH. AND I WOULD, IT ACTUALLY SOUNDS BETTER NOW IN THE HALLWAY, BUT I I DID JUST WANNA SAY THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE SPEAKERS, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR, UM, THE HALLWAY TO REMAIN AT LEAST SOMEWHAT QUIET. SORRY, GO AHEAD, MELANIE. MELANIE. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MELANIE THORNBERG. I'M AT 1205 HAPPY CREEK ROAD. MANY OF YOU UP FRONT KNOW ME FROM THE RECENT URBAN AGRICULTURAL DEBACLE. UH, MOST OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME DON'T. FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, WE HAVE OPERATED UNDER THE TOWN ZONING ORDINANCE UNDER THE URBAN AGRICULTURE. WE RECENTLY, JUST LAST YEAR, WERE CITED FOR BEING A NUISANCE FOR HAVING ANIMALS AND TOWN LIMITS. AND WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR HAY BALES AND OUR TRACTOR DE DETRACTED AND CHANGED THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WERE TOLD THAT TOO MANY ANIMALS IN OUR PROPERTY AND IN TOWN PROPERTY WOULD CAUSE MORE TREATMENT AND CAUSE THE TOWN TO NEED TO TREAT THE WATER MORE AGGRESSIVELY. DATA CENTERS ARE GONNA BE A THOUSAND TIMES WORSE THAN A COUPLE OF GOATS AND A HANDFUL OF CHICKENS. AG LAND, YOU, I WAS TOLD THAT WHO WANTS AG LAND IN BETWEEN A BUNCH OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSES? WELL, NOW YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GONNA PUT DATA CENTERS NEXT TO MARY SHADY LANE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO [00:45:01] BE OVER WHAT? A THOUSAND HOUSES YOU'RE GONNA PUT THERE. HOW IS THAT WORSE? HOW IS THAT BETTER? WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEHIND US BECAUSE WE HAD GOATS AND BECAUSE WE FOLLOWED THE CODE UNDER URBAN AGRICULTURE. THE OTHER THING IS, WE WERE JUST RECENTLY TOLD THAT ROOSTERS WERE TOO NOISY. DOGS BARKING. ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM THAT HAS HAD A CITATION FOR DOGS BARKING, DOGS BARK AVERAGE AT 90 DECIBELS, DRILLING 95 DECIBELS A HELICOPTER, A HUNDRED DECIBELS, A ROCK CONCERT, 110 DECIBELS FOR EVERY DATA CENTER TOWER. WE'RE LOOKING AT 96 DECIBELS OR MORE. SOME OF THEM HAVE EIGHT, NINE TOWERS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 800 DECIBELS OF CONSISTENT NOISE THAT IS GONNA BE ECHOING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VALLEY. AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN ACCOUNT FOR THE LOW LEVEL RUMBLING AND THE WATER POLLUTION. IT'S NOT A CLOSED SYSTEM. THEY STILL HAVE TO PURGE, THEY STILL HAVE TO POLLUTE OUR WATER AND THEY STILL HAVE TO REPLENISH AND TAKE OUR WATER, VOTE NO VOTE, PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS DEFINED IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. IF YOU COULD MAKE AN EXEMPTION FOR ME JUST TO HAVE SOME GOATS AND TO BE ABLE TO BE, YOU KNOW, RUN WHAT WE'VE BEEN RUNNING WITHOUT PROBLEM FOR 13 YEARS, I DON'T SEE WHY THERE NEEDS TO BE A SPECIAL EXEMPTION FOR DATA CENTERS. I WAS TOLD THAT YOUR HANDS WERE TIED. CLEARLY YOUR HANDS AREN'T TIED BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE PROVISIONS FOR MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE PROVISIONS FOR SOMEBODY THAT JUST WANTS TO RAISE SOME GOATS AND SELL SOME CHEESE. THANK YOU, MR. EGGER. JUST GIMME ONE SECOND. SURE. I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA ASK AGAIN, AND I, I'VE WATCHED THESE MEETINGS AND I, I, I'VE WATCHED OTHER MEETINGS, BUT REALLY AND TRULY, IF EVERYBODY STOPS TO CLAP, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH 200 PEOPLE SPEAKING. SO I JUST, JUST WANNA, I'M JUST, I'M TELLING YOU WHAT THE WHAT THE, UM, OH, WELL I CAN I, YEAH, GO AHEAD MR. EGGER. I, I GUESS RULES DON'T MATTER. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, MARK EGGER 1 0 2 EAST FOURTH STREET. IT SEEMS THAT THEY'RE STILL MEMBERS OF LOCAL COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COUNCILS, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO STILL DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS WORK IN VIRGINIA WITH THE, WITH THE DYLAN RULE AND ZONING ORDINANCES. SO I'M GONNA STATE AGAIN WHAT I'VE STATED BEFORE. THE SO-CALLED DYLAN RULE SAYS THAT LOCALITIES HAVE ONLY THE POWERS THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED TO THEM. THE STATE HAS ALREADY EXPLICITLY GRANTED TO LOCALITIES THE POWER TO REGULATE LAND USE THROUGH ZONING REGULATIONS. THIS IS IN STATE CODE 15.2, 2280. IT STATES, QUOTE, ANY LOCALITY MAY BY ORDINANCE CLASSIFY THE TERRITORY UNDER ITS JURISDICTION OR ANY SUBSTANTIAL PORTION THEREOF INTO DISTRICTS OF SUCH NUMBERS, SHAPE AND SIZE, AS IT MAY DEEM BEST SUITED TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE. AND IN EACH DISTRICT, IT MAY REGULATE, RESTRICT, PERMIT, PROHIBIT, AND DETERMINE THE USE OF LAND BUILDING STRUCTURES AND OTHER PREMISES FOR AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL, RESIDENTIAL FLOODPLAIN, AND OTHER SPECIFIC USES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PROHIBIT A USE. THE STATE HAS GIVEN YOU THAT POWER REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR DEPUTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AND YOUR ASSISTANT TOWN ATTORNEY STATED. THE STATEMENT STATEMENTS THEY BOTH MADE ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025 TO YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION WERE ABSOLUTELY WRONG. IT'S AMAZING THAT TOWN STAFF WHOSE JOB IT IS TO KNOW THIS ARE SO CLUELESS. FORTUNATELY, WE NO LONGER HAVE TO SUFFER THE ASSISTANT TOWN ATTORNEY SINCE SHE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF TWO FELONIES, INCLUDING EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM SHENANDOAH COUNTY. BUT BACK TO THE TOPIC AT HAND, YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION RELYING ON FALSE INFORMATION HAS FORWARDED A RECOMMENDATION, RECOMMENDATION TO YOU FOR A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS THIS, A MOTION SHOULD BE PASSED TONIGHT, BUT NOT THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT SO THAT THERE'S NO AMBIGUITY. YOU NEED TO DEFINE WHAT A DATA CENTER IS IN YOUR ZONING ORDINANCE, 1 75 3, AND THEN EXPLICITLY PROHIBITED AS A PERMITTED USE IN ALL APPROPRIATE ZONING DISTRICTS. YOU CAN USE THE DEFINITION THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT USES, WHICH IS A USE WHERE DIGITAL INFORMATION IS PROCESSED, TRANSFERRED, AND OR STORED OCCUPIED IN 10,000 SQUARE FEET OR MORE, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF SPACE IS OCCUPIED BY COMPUTERS, SERVERS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND RELATED EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING SUPPORTING EQUIPMENT. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO PROHIBIT SMALL DATA CENTERS LESS THAN 10,000 SQUARE FEET, THEN ADD THAT DEFINITION ALSO AND PROHIBIT IT ALSO. THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO. [00:50:01] THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE, THIS IS NOT BRAIN SURGERY. THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO DO. THANK YOU. AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. JUST GOTTA WAIT UNTIL SHE SETS THE TIMER. DO YOU WANNA CALL A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE? CELESTE HORTON. STEVEN FILM, SHERILYN ERMAN. OKAY. A LOT OF PEOPLE TONIGHT ARE GONNA TELL YOU GOTTA START OFF WITH YOUR NAME NOW ADDRESS. SORRY. OH, SORRY. MY NAME IS THERESA SMYTHE. I LIVE AT 1 5 2 KER FOOT. I BELIEVE THAT I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT IT WILL BE IN MY DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT. I WANNA START BACK WITH NOT JUST THAT WE DON'T WANT THEM, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A STORY OF WHY AND WHEN YOU'RE VOTING, I HOPE YOU THINK ABOUT ME AND I HOPE YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STORY. AND I MEAN IT WITH MY WHOLE HEART. I'M A PERSON WHO CAME HERE IN 2020 BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. PHOENIX PROJECT HELPED ME AND THEY GOT ME ON MY FEET. CNC GAVE ME A PLACE WHERE MY DAUGHTER AND I TO CALL HOME. WHEN DO WE NEED A PLACE TO GO? I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN MY LIFE AND I FINALLY, FINALLY BOUGHT MY HOUSE AT 1 5 2 CURVE FOOT. AND WHEN I LOOK OUT THERE AND I SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL VIEW, I HAVE THIS MOMENT OF FEELING LIKE I'M HEALING. IT'S GOOD FOR ME, IT'S GOOD FOR MY DAUGHTER. I'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH AND I FOUND THIS PLACE TO BE HOME. MY DAUGHTER DOESN'T KNOW ANYWHERE ELSE TO BE HOME EXCEPT FOR HERE. SO THAT MEANS THIS IS MY HOME TOO. AND IF YOU GUYS LET THIS COME THROUGH, I MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF THE SOUND. I'M AFRAID OF THE HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. AND I'M ALSO A PERSON WHO WANTS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE WE COME TOGETHER AND WE DECIDE WHAT WE WANT FOR THIS COMMUNITY. 'CAUSE I REALLY WANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY DAUGHTER TO GROW AND EXCEL. IT IS NOT ABOUT NOT WANTING GROWTH. I ABSOLUTELY WANT GROWTH, BUT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT GROWTH IF IT'S, IF I WERE IN YOUR POSITION AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT LIKE 20 YEARS FROM NOW, IF YOU'RE WRONG AND WE DON'T HAVE WATER AND OUR ELECTRICITY IS HIGH, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH A BUNCH OF HEALTH CONDITIONS, I WOULDN'T WANNA BE THE PERSON SAYING, OH, I MADE A MISTAKE ON THAT ONE VOTE. I THINK THIS IS OUR TIME TO REALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY NO IN A WAY THAT'S SUBSTANTIAL. AND I ALSO WONDER WHO'S GONNA BE PAYING THE LEGAL BILLS WHEN THEY DON'T DO WHAT THEY AGREE TO. WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM THAT PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY HAD TO PAY $1.7 MILLION TO DEFEND THEIR POSITION? WHO IS GOING TO DEFEND US WHEN THESE THINGS COME IN? RULES MEAN NOTHING. CONTRACTS MEAN NOTHING UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO LITIGATE THEM. AND I KNOW THAT FOR SURE, 'CAUSE I JUST HAD TO DO THAT THROUGH MY LEGAL CASE WITH MY EX-HUSBAND WHO DIED BECAUSE OF ALCOHOL. I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO FIGHT THE LEGAL SYSTEM, AND WE DON'T WANNA DO THAT. WE WOULD RATHER JUST SAY NO FROM THE BEGINNING. PLEASE THINK ABOUT ME WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THIS DECISION BECAUSE I MIGHT HAVE TO MOVE IF YOU MADE A BAD DECISION. THANK YOU, MS. THANK YOU. MS. CELESTE HORTON, 1320 GEORGE BANKS BOULEVARD. I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, AND I HAVE DEDICATED MY ENTIRE CAREER TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND REGULATION. I DO NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANY ORGANIZATION, COMMITTEE, OR AGENCY THAT I'M ASSOCIATED WITH. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, AND I'M A HOMEOWNER IN TOWN, AND I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE OUTSIDE OF COLLEGE RIGHT HERE. MY PARENTS WERE ALSO RAISED HERE AND WENT TO WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, AS DID ALL FOUR OF MY GRANDPARENTS. AND I CAN TRACE MY FAMILY IN THIS AREA BACK TO 1726. THIS YEAR MARKS 300 YEARS THAT MY ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN RIGHT HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, AND I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN MY ROOTS. AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON REBELLION, ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO STOOD UP AND SAID THAT THE DECISIONS MADE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES SHOULD NOT BE MADE BY DISTANT INTERESTS, WHO WOULD NEVER LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. NO TOWN OR COUNTY. AND VIRGINIA STARTED WITH THE INTENTION OF BEING TAKEN OVER BY DATA CENTERS. THEY STARTED WITH THE APPROVAL OF ONE, ONE TEXT AMENDMENT, ONE PERMIT APPROVAL THAT TURNED INTO HUNDREDS, THAT TURNED SOME OF VIRGINIA'S MOST BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES INTO NOTHING BUT ALLEYS OF HUMMING. CONCRETE BOXES ACROSS VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES ARE BEING TOLD THAT DATA CENTERS ARE INEVITABLE. THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO ACCEPT THE NOISE, THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF RURAL LANDSCAPES AND THE LOSS OF LOCAL CONTROL BECAUSE POWERFUL CORPORATIONS WOULD WIN ANYWAYS. BUT AS WE CELEBRATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR GREAT NATION, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS NOT ONE OUT OF FEAR, BUT RATHER BY THOSE WHO STOOD UP AND SAID ENOUGH. WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO ONCE AGAIN SAY ENOUGH, ENOUGH TO THESE CORPORATIONS WHO HAVE OPENLY SPOKEN ABOUT TARGETING RURAL COMMUNITIES ENOUGH TO THE STRAIN ON OUR WELLS AND RIVER, AND ENOUGH TO THOSE WHO PUSH THE NARRATIVE THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT OUR FATE. WE DO NOT INHERIT THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE FROM CORPORATIONS AND WE HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO SURRENDER IT TO THEM. TONIGHT'S VOTE IS NOT JUST ABOUT DATA CENTERS. IT'S ABOUT WHETHER FRONT ROYAL WILL RETAIN THE POWER TO DECIDE WHAT KIND OF TOWN IT WANTS TO BE. WHAT IS THE VISION FOR THIS TOWN 10 YEARS FROM NOW, WILL WE REMAIN THE BEAUTIFUL GATEWAY TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, OR WILL WE SIMPLY BECOME ANOTHER STOP IN THE DATA CENTER CORRIDOR WE'LL FRONT ROYAL CHART, ITS OWN PATH, OR WE WILL, WE ALLOW OUTSIDE AND DISTANT INTERESTS TO ONCE AGAIN, CHART IT FOR US. THE FOUNDERS OF OUR NATION BELIEVE THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE DESERVE A VOICE IN THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES. IF WE VALUE THE CHARACTER OF OUR TOWN IN OUR BEAUTIFUL VALLEY, WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY NO. [00:55:01] WHEN SOMETHING DOES NOT BELONG, THAT IS NOT ANTI-PROGRESS, THAT IS SELF-GOVERNMENT. THIS ROOM IS FULL OF PEOPLE OF ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. PEOPLE WOULD, WHO, WHO WOULD DISAGREE ON MOST THINGS, AND YET HAVE CHOSEN TO COME HERE AND STAND TOGETHER ON THIS MESSAGE THAT WE DO NOT WANT DATA CENTERS IN OUR TOWN. LET US PUSH BACK AGAINST THE NARRATIVE THAT RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCES ARE NECESSARY OR EVEN EFFECTIVE. AND LET'S SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE WILL NOT BE SCARED INTO SUBMISSION. IF FRONT ROYAL DOES NOT WANT TO BECOME ANOTHER DATA CENTER COMMUNITY, THEN WE SHOULD SAY SO LOUD AND CLEAR. DENY THESE TEXT AMENDMENTS AND PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. LET'S BE THE TOWN THAT HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY NO, TO PAVE OUR OWN PATH FORWARD AND TO SET THE PRECEDENT THAT WE ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP OUR TOWN TO GREEDY DISTANT INTERESTS JUST AS OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WEREN'T WILLING TO DO 250 YEARS AGO. THANK YOU. HI, STEVEN PILON, 1138 HAPPY RIDGE DRIVE. UM, I'M GONNA START WITH THE END, UH, GAME HERE IS PLEASE VOTE FOR OR ANYTHING. IT WOULD SAY A DENIAL OF DATA CENTERS AND TILE IN TOWN WITH CLAIRE UNAMBIGUOUS LANGUAGE OF WHAT THOSE WOULD BE. AS MARK EGGER SAID, UM, I SENT YOU EACH AN EMAIL EARLIER TODAY AND, UM, UH, HOPEFULLY YOU'LL HAVE TIME TO READ IT AND, UH, LOOK AT THE POINTS I MADE. I JUST WANNA POINT OUT A FEW HERE. FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE A TOWN THAT REALLY THRIVES ON TOURISM. AND I CAN'T IMAGINE PEOPLE FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD COMING HERE AND SAYING MAYBE THE KING OF ENGLAND COMING HERE, YOU KNOW, AND SAYING, HEY, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL DATA CENTER DOWN THERE, , UM, TAX BREAKS. I DON'T KNOW WHY VIRGINIA'S OFFERING SO MANY DARN TAX BREAKS, BUT, UM, IT, IT, THEY'RE, IT, IT'S NOT WORTH SELLING OUR TOWN FOR TAXES LIKE THIS. UM, IT'S JUST, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS, THAT'S BEEN SAID A LOT. JUST WANNA ADD THAT IN THE NOISE. I LIVE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM THE NEW HOSPITAL, AND EVEN THAT LITTLE HOSPITAL HAS NOISE CONSTANTLY. I MEAN, MULTIPLY THAT BY WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES. I LOVE THE LITTLE NATURE WALK BEHIND THE HOSPITAL, BUT BOY, IT'S ANNOYING TO WALK UP THERE BECAUSE YOU CAN HEAR THE HOSPITAL THE WHOLE TIME. UM, AS PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED, THE WATER, UH, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY CLOSED SYSTEMS YOU HAVE, IT ALWAYS HAS TO BE PURGED. IT ALWAYS HAS TO USE WATER. AND I MEAN, WE HAVE SO MANY TIMES WHEN THE WATER IS JUST NOT AVAILABLE TO US. UM, THE SIZES OF THESE THINGS, I MEAN, THEY'RE SO BIG. AND WHAT'S OUR LIMIT? WE HAVE 75 FEET BY RIGHT? FOR HOW TALL SOMETHING CAN BE THAT, AND IF IT'S THAT HUGE 75 FEET TALL, IT'S GONNA BE SEEN EVERYWHERE. ELECTRICITY, OF COURSE INTERNET ACTUALLY GETS WORSE AROUND DATA CENTERS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. UM, THE SCHOOLS, MY KIDS GO TO CHELSEA ACADEMY AND IF WE'RE GONNA PUT A DATA CENTER NEXT TO CHELSEA ACADEMY AND THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD IDEA OR DOWN AT F TAX RIGHT BEHIND RUNOFF MACON OR WHEREVER ELSE, UM, THESE THINGS PUT OFF SO MUCH NOISE, SO MUCH ELECTRICITY. UM, I'M A TYPE ONE DIABETIC AND I'VE READ OVER THE YEARS THAT TYPE ONE DIABETICS THAT MOVE AWAY FROM PLACES THAT CREATE ALL THESE ELECTRICITY AND THESE SORT OF FIELDS AND STUFF AROUND THERE, ACTUALLY GET A LITTLE BETTER WHEN THEY LEAVE THEM. I DON'T WANNA GET WORSE . SO THINK ABOUT THAT. AND, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE DISEASES BESIDES DIABETES THAT, THAT HAVE THAT. UM, I'VE READ THAT THE LIFE CYCLE OF A DATA CENTER'S ABOUT SEVEN YEARS BEFORE THEY'RE OBSOLETE. SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THESE BUILDINGS ONCE THEY'RE OBSOLETE? I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT GONNA JUST SAY, OH YEAH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE EVERYTHING OUT AND REDO 'EM. THEY'RE GONNA BUILD ANOTHER ONE AND BUILD ANOTHER ONE AND BUILD ANOTHER ONE. AND THEN WE'RE HAVING THESE EMPTY BUILDINGS SITTING AROUND. UM, SO I JUST WANNA SAY AGAIN, PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER, SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SAYING WE WILL NOT HAVE DATA CENTERS. THIS IS WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE A DATA CENTER AND WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE. PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO FRONT ROYAL BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTY THAT WE ALL MIGHT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LEAF PAPERS, BUT WE LOVE WHAT THEY'RE COMING FOR BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE AND WE SEE IT EVERY DAY. AND WE DON'T WANNA DENY OTHER PEOPLE THE BEAUTY THAT WE LIVE IN. THEY'RE COMING HERE. PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING HERE ARE NOT COMING BECAUSE THEY WANNA SEE MORE DATA CENTERS BECAUSE THEY WANNA SEE MORE TECHNOLOGY. THEY'RE COMING HERE BECAUSE THEY WANNA GET AWAY FROM IT. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT AND VOTE ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHAIR ERMAN, WEST 18TH STREET FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA. UM, I JUST CAME TO SPEAK JUST A LITTLE BIT. I DON'T ORDINARILY DO THIS. YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN ME HERE BEFORE. UM, I HAVE MOVED FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA. I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN, UH, WORKING IN LOUDOUN COUNTY AS WELL AS PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, WHICH ARE, HAVE A LOT OF DATA CENTERS IN THEM. AND SO I CAN SPEAK TO, UH, WORKING THERE JUST AS DATA CENTERS WERE COMING ONTO THE SCENE AND JUST THE LEVEL OF NOISE, UM, THE LEVEL OF DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE THERE. UM, ACTUALLY LIVED IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY AND I HEAR MANY COMPLAINTS FROM THOSE THAT STILL LIVE THERE AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WITH THE, UH, ELECTRICITY AND THE WATER AND JUST THE RAISING OF THOSE. UM, JUST HOW MUCH EACH, UM, HOMEOWNER IS NOW PAYING FOR [01:00:01] THOSE THINGS, UM, BECAUSE OF THE DATA CENTERS AND INCREASE IN THE ELECTRIC USE AND JUST THE, UM, THE ABILITY TO HAVE, TO CONTINUE TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, TO HANDLE THE ELECTRIC LOAD, UM, INTO THOSE. I SIMPLY FEEL THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE COMING OUT TO BE ABLE TO, UM, REALIZE WHAT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO PLACE AND WHAT SYSTEMS THAT, UM, WE ARE OPENING OURSELVES UP TO HERE LONG TERM. UM, IN TERMS OF NOISE LEVEL, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WOULD BE, UM, FOR A TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL THAT IS NOT AS BIG AND DOES NOT HAVE AS MANY RESOURCES AS SOME OF THE PLACES THAT I'VE MENTIONED. UM, SO I DO LIVE HERE NOW. I'M VERY CONCERNED, UM, THAT WE DON'T, UM, PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE AND THAT WE REALLY DO UNDERSTAND AND THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING, UM, INTO CONSIDERATION PEOPLE TO BE EXPERTS THAT ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BENEFITING FINANCIALLY FROM, UM, THESE DATA CENTERS AND TAKING WHAT THEY SAY AS GOSPEL AND THAT, UM, THAT THEY WOULD BE, UM, THAT ABSOLUTE EXPERTS I'VE SEEN WHERE THE, UM, LANDSCAPE HAS BEEN TORN UP AND THAT, UM, THE, UM, THAT THE ANIMALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE STARVING IN THE, IN THESE PLACES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. AND SO NOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE CULLING, UM, DIFFERENT, UM, SPECIES OR DIFFERENT ANIMALS THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY JUST, UM, STARVING. THEY HAVE NO HABITAT LEFT. SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ASK YOU TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS DEFINED AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL OF THE ZONING DESIGNATIONS IN FRONT ROYAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DAKOTA, ERMAN, MARGARET, MARGARET KEER, AND SARAH JONES. I'M DAKOTA ERMAN. UM, I, UH, LIVE AT, UH, 37 WEST 18TH STREET. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE CONTINUATION OF PROHIBITING DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. UH, WHAT CAUSES ME CONCERN IS THE AMOUNT OF, UH, WATER THAT IS REQUIRED FOR A DATA CENTER, ESPECIALLY WHEN, UH, CONSISTENTLY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE, THERE'S BEEN, I BELIEVE DROUGHTS, UH, OVER THE SUMMERS, WHICH CAUSES, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR LESS USAGE OF WATER FOR HOUSEHOLDS. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOMEBODY BEFORE MS. JONES, BUT I DON'T, WAS THERE A NAME BEFORE MS. JONES? MARGARET KEELER. MARGARET KEELER. IS MARGARET KEELER HERE? OKAY, THAT'S MARGARET. YEP. PERFECT. GO AHEAD SARAH. GOOD EVENING. I'M SARAH JONES. UH, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL AND RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL NOW 9 62 STEWART DRIVE, UH, LISTENING TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY SPEAK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY DO NOT WANT DATA CENTERS HERE, NOR DO I THINK THEY BELONG HERE. WE ALL KNOW HOW TAXING THEY CAN BE ON OUR RESOURCES, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT AS MANY OTHERS HAVE ALREADY COVERED THAT TOPIC. AND WILL, I AM HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN THAT THESE DEVELOPERS WILL AND HAVE LIED TO THE PUBLIC. THEY WILL LIE ABOUT THE, ABOUT COVERING RATE INCREASES, CREATING THEIR OWN POWER AND NOT TAKING FROM THE GRID, USING LITTLE TO NO WATER, CREATING NO NOISE OR DISRUPTION TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. BUT WE CANNOT TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THESE DEVELOPERS WILL TELL YOU AND THE TAXPAYERS WHATEVER WE WANT TO HEAR IN ORDER TO GET WHAT THEY WANT. THEY KNOW THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ONCE IT'S ALREADY BUILT? THEY KNOW WE HAVE LITTLE TO NO RECOURSE AGAINST THEM AND FINES AND COURT FEES ARE MINIMAL ISSUES FOR THESE BUSINESSES. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST SOMETHING BETTER FOR WARREN COUNTY. I ASK THAT THE TOWN PLANNERS AND EDA BOARD MEET WITH AND WORK WITH PROPERTY DEVELOPERS INCLUDING PROVIDENCE REALTY, TO DISCUSS OPTIONS FOR THEIR PROPERTY WITHIN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL THAT [01:05:01] WOULD BOTH BENEFIT THE DEVELOPER AND THE CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN A DATA CENTER THAT THE DEVELOPER CAN BENEFIT FROM WITHOUT HARMING OUR COMMUNITY. I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY WANTS A DATA CENTER HERE IN WARREN COUNTY. THERE ARE ONLY SOME WHO MAY SEE THE DOLLAR SIGNS AS THE ONLY OPTION FOR A MUCH NEEDED TAX REVENUE AND QUICK FIX FOR OUR BUDGET SHORTFALLS. BUT PLEASE DON'T DESTROY THE BEAUTY OF OUR AMAZING, UH, COMMUNITY THAT WE CALL HOME FOR MONEY THAT CAN'T EVEN BE RELIED ON LONG TERM. WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN DO GREAT THINGS AND HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS WHEN WE STAND TOGETHER, LET'S SAY NO TO DATA CENTERS TOGETHER AND WHATEVER FIGHT THEY BRING TO US, THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY WILL FIGHT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. ONG. WHILE MS. KEER IS WALKING FORWARD, WOULD YOU CALL OUT THE NEXT FIVE PEOPLE SO WE CAN GET A GOOD LINE GOING? , PATIENCE, FRANCIS, DANIELLE, FRANCIS, EILEEN. DEAR RUTH FUR. OH, GOOD EVENING. UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING OF SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. FIRST OF ALL, UM, NAME AND ADDRESS OF MARGARET KEELER. I LIVE OFF OF OLD BROWNTOWN ROAD. AND UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THREE THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, UM, HAVE WE HEARD FROM EACH ONE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY WHY YOU THINK A DATA CENTER'S GOOD FOR FRONT ROYAL? HAS THAT BEEN MADE PUBLIC? WHY EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AS COUNCIL MEMBERS THINK THAT A DATA CENTER IS OF VALUE? I IT, I'D LIKE TO READ IT ANYWAY, IF YOU HAVE, AND THEN SECOND OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UM, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR NINE MONTHS, BUT I CAME HERE EARLIER THAN THAT TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY WAS AND I LOVED IT. AND SINCE LIVING HERE, UM, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO OBSERVE SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS REALLY WONDERFUL. UM, I WAS, UH, SHOPPING IN RURAL KING THE OTHER DAY, STANDING IN LINE AND, UM, WAITING MY TURN. AND I NOTICED THAT SOMETHING THAT'S OF REAL VALUE TO THE PEOPLE HERE IN FRONT ROYAL IS THAT THEY PUT THAT PERSON THAT'S IN FRONT OF THEM ABOVE COMMODITIES, ABOVE COMMERCE. THAT PERSON IS MOST IMPORTANT IN THAT MOMENT. AND THAT'S A GREAT THING TO VALUE AND A GREAT THING TO PRESERVE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH A DATA CENTER. I DON'T KNOW. AND THE OTHER THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT I ASK SOMEBODY TO COME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT TO JOIN ME, AND THAT PERSON SAID, NO, IT WOULDN'T DO ANY GOOD BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MINDS AND IT ISN'T GONNA MATTER WHAT YOU SAY. IS THAT TRUE? IS THAT TRUE ABOUT EACH OF YOU? THAT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE SAY. YOU'VE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR MINDS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CITIZEN? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. KEELER. JUST TO CLARIFY, MS. KEELER, MS. KEER, JUST TO CLARIFY, DID YOU SAY YOU LIVE OFF OF OLD BROWNTOWN ROAD? YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO YOU'RE IN THE COUNTY THEN, RIGHT? YEP. OKAY, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, AND WHO IS NEXT? PATIENCE FRANCIS. HELLO, MY NAME IS PATIENCE FRANCIS, AND I LIVE AT EIGHT 10 WEST 14TH STREET. UM, I LIVE IN WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY I HAVE FOR 15 YEARS. UM, SO SOME OF MY MAIN POINTS ARE THAT I'VE WATCHED EXPERTS SUCH AS TAMMY CLARK ON, UM, COALITION TO PROTECT FREDERICK COUNTY COMMUNITY FORUM. THE REAL COST OF DATA CENTERS, PART ONE. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF POINTS SHE MAKES ABOUT AGRICULTURAL RESIDENTIAL VERSUS INDUSTRIAL SETTINGS. AND WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT NOISE, BUT THERE'S A TONAL NOISE THAT ACTUALLY THE MILITARY USES FOR TORTURE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY PUT OFF. UM, A LOT OF THESE DATA CENTERS AND THEY BEND AROUND FOUNDATION AND THEY GO INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES AND THEY, UM, A LOT OF WOMEN'S ISSUES. UH, THEY SET GROWTH FROM CHILDREN. UM, AND THEN THERE'S EMF VIBRATIONS. UM, ANOTHER POINT, I'M SORRY, I'M REALLY BAD AT PUBLIC SPEAKING. I JUST COME WHEN I HAVE TO. SO I HAD TO, TEX IS IN MY BACKYARD. UM, THE LAW, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES, THAT IS THE LAW. WE NEED SOME, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE DONE YET, INDUSTRIAL SETTING. UM, THE DRAIN WATER, WE NEED SOME STUDIES DONE. WATER, UM, WHAT EFFECT IT WILL HAVE ON OUR WATER. [01:10:01] AND AGAIN, THE NO, THE TONAL NOISE, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN REGULAR NOISE. UM, LET'S SEE, COUPLE S, LET'S SEE. SO IF YOU WOULD NOT HAVE A DATA CENTER IN YOUR BACKYARD, WHY, WHY PUT IT IN MINE? WE ALL LIVE HERE. WE ALL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WORK HERE ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT YOU'RE HERE NOW. UM, I WORK HERE, I WORK WITH, UH, THE ELDERLY. IT WILL DEFINITELY VERY MUCH NEGATIVELY AFFECT THEM. THEY'RE VERY NEAR THE AB TECH CENTER AS WELL. UM, SO IF YOU DON'T WANT IT IN YOUR BACKYARD, DON'T PUT IT IN MINE, PLEASE. UM, AND MY MOTHER WOULD LIKE YOU TO GO HOME AND LISTEN TO THE SONG BY ALAN JACKSON. IT'S ALL RIGHT TO BE ITTY BITTY. AND FINALLY, . LAST THING. WE, THE PEOPLE WANT YOU, OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS OF THE DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. FRANCIS. AND YOU DID AGREE. YOU DID GREAT. ALRIGHT, WHO'S NEXT? DANIELLE FRANCIS. THE ALLEN JACKSON VAN. RIGHT. MY NAME IS DANIELLE FRANCIS. UH, I LIVE WITH MY DAUGHTER IN, IN THE FRONT ROYAL. IT'S BEEN SAID THE ONLY WAY TO BRING DOWN A GREAT NATION AND SUCH AS, AS OURS IS TO DESTROY IT FROM WITHIN. SO NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON AKIN TO THE HUNGER GAMES. I I PRESUME THAT THE ONE WORLD LEADERS AND THE WHATNOTS HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO DESTROY A BEAUTIFUL WORLD, NOT NECESSARILY QUICKLY, BUT RATHER IN AN INTERESTING AND INNOVATIVE WAY IS THE DATA CENTERS, THEY CAN QUICKLY OR SLOWLY STARVE PEOPLE OF WATER AND FOOD, BRING ABOUT DISEASE, FIRES, LOWER PROPERTY VALUES, ADD TO HOMELESSNESS, RAISE THE COST OF EVERYTHING THOUGH. AND THE NOISELESS VIBRATIONS CAN DRIVE ONE CRAZY EVEN IF YOU DON'T NOTICE THE SOUNDS. THESE KIND OF LEADERS DESTROY ALL THAT WE HAD AND STILL HAVE TO SOME DEGREE, A DEGREE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. EVEN IF THIS TOWN BE THE LAST ONE STANDING DEEP DOWN, WE ALL KNOW WHAT IS GOOD AND FREE AND HOLY INTACT FAMILIES. YES, EVEN CHURCHES, GREEN GRASS, PRETTY FLOWERS, FUR TREES, RABBITS, FIREFLIES SWIMMING POLES AND STREAMS WITH EDIBLE FISH. NOW MAYBE THE DRUG PROBLEM IS BROUGHT IN BY THOSE WHO WISH TO DESTROY THE GOOD LIFE. MAYBE IT'S GOTTEN SO BAD THE DRUGS THAT IT'S AFFECTED THE CO COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO WOULD VOTE TO DESTROY THE VERY WHO WOULD, WHO WOULD VOTE TO DESTROY THE VERY TOWN THEY LIVE IN. BUT PLEASE JUST SAY NO TO DATA. DATA CENTERS. SAY NO TO DRUGS TOO. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS AILEEN DERICH AND I RESIDE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT. I AM FROM WARREN COUNTY AND I HAVE LIVED IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SHENANDOAH VALLEY FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. ON THE LANDS OF THE MONACAN, MONA HOUK AND SHAWNEE PEOPLES WHO ARE THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE PEOPLES OF THIS LAND, AND TO WHOM THE STEWARDSHIP OF THIS LAND SHOULD CLEARLY BE RETURNED. I THINK THAT IN THIS MOMENT WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT INDIGENOUS CARE FOR THESE LANDS FAR SURPASSES THE EXPLOITATIVE NATURE OF THE CRYING SHAME THAT HAS CULMINATED INTO WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SEES BEFORE US TONIGHT IN THESE DATA CENTER PROPOSALS. IT'S NO SECRET THAT NOISE AND CHEMICAL POLLUTION FROM DATA CENTERS CAN KILL THROUGH SLEEP DEPRIVATION, INCREASED RISKS OF HYPERTENSION AND CANCER AND OTHER LIFE-THREATENING HEALTH ISSUES. TAKE ONE. LOOK AT ANY ARTICLE WITH THE TESTIMONIES OF COMMUNITIES WHOSE PEOPLE ARE SICK, SUFFERING AND DYING FROM THE EFFECTS OF DATA CENTERS. IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT WE ARE IN A SEVERE DROUGHT HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. DATA CENTERS CONSUME MUCH, MUCH MORE WATER THAN WE HAVE TO SPARE. THE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LOSING THE BATTLE TO HAVE ENOUGH WATER AFTER THE DEMANDS OF CORPORATIONS ARE MET. WE SHOULD BE USING THIS TIME, ENERGY, AND MONEY NOT TO HAVE TO DEFEND OUR LIVES AGAINST THE THREAT OF DATA CENTERS, BUT TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS SOLUTIONS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO EVEN HAVE ENOUGH DRINKING WATER FOR ALL OF US IN THE FUTURE AMIDST THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS. NOT TO MENTION OUR POWER GRID, WHICH ALREADY STRUGGLES WITH THE STRAIN FROM DATA CENTERS [01:15:01] FAR OUTSIDE OUR OWN COMMUNITY. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO REMEMBERS THAT TEXT ABOUT SHUTTING OFF OUR POWER SO THAT DATA CENTERS COULD CONTINUE TO RUN DURING THAT SNOWSTORM, MANY OF US GREW UP HEARING ABOUT THE HORRORS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER THAT UNFOLDED AT AVTEC. AND NOW A CORPORATION PROPOSES BREAKING GROUND ON OUR VERY OWN EPA SUPERFUND SITE FOR ONE OF THOSE DATA CENTERS. GROUND STILL SATURATED WITH MERCURY AND NUMEROUS OTHER POLLUTANTS THAT THEY DON'T CARE HOW IT WILL AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY OR COMMUNITIES DOWN RIVER FROM US. IF THAT SITE IS COMMERCIALLY DEVELOPED. AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN DATA CENTERS WHEN THEY ARE NOTHING SHORT OF A SCAM THAT DO NOT MAKE THE MONEY BACK, THAT GETS INVESTED IN THEM IN THE LONG RUN, ARE WE GOING TO THROW AWAY THIS BEAUTIFUL VALLEY AND OUR LIVES? YOUR NEIGHBOR'S LIVES FOR EMPTY PROMISES, EMPTY PROMISES THAT EVEN IF THEY WERE TRUE ARE STILL NOT WORTH THE DESTRUCTION IT WOULD TAKE. THESE DATA CENTER PROPOSALS ARE A THREAT TO OUR LIVES. WE DO NOT WANT ANY DATA CENTERS ANYWHERE HERE. THEY SHOULDN'T EXIST ANYWHERE. AND WE ARE SAYING NO DATA CENTERS. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANNA CALL UP A FEW PEOPLE AFTER RUTH, KYLE HAYES, MICHAEL DAVIS, ROBERT FUNK. STEVE YOUNG. SO I HAD A PREPARED SPEECH THAT I WAS GOING TO READ AND I DECIDED TO TOTALLY GO OFF SCRIPT, WHICH IS VERY SCARY. BUT I DO HAVE A COPY OF WHAT I WAS ORIGINALLY GONNA SAY FOR EACH OF YOU. UM, THE REASON I'M DECIDING TO GO OFF SCRIPT IS BECAUSE NAME, NAME AND ADDRESS. AH, NO, YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. RUTH FUR. UM, GOOD VIEW DRIVE. SO I'M IN TOWN. UM, THE REASON I'M GOING TO GO OFF SCRIPT IS BECAUSE EVERYONE WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME, I HAD A LOT OF THE SAME POINTS. AND AT ONE SOME POINT REPETITION IS, WELL, IT'S BORING, RIGHT? AND I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK AND I JUST WANTED TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT ALL OF YOU AND JUST REALLY JUST IMPLORE YOU TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION. YOU ALL MEET ALL THE TIME. HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU PACK OUT A ROOM? OKAY, WE CARE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT WANTED TO COME AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS COULD NOT COME. UM, I HAVE SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN MY SUBDIVISION WHO ACTUALLY WORKS IN ASHBURN AT THE DATA CENTER. HE SAID, WE DO NOT WANT THEM HERE. THAT'S WHY HE LIVES OUT HERE. UM, AND HE CITED MANY OF THE SAME REASONS THAT ARE GONNA BE IN THIS PAPER THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO GET, UM, FROM ME. SO I WOULD JUST ASK, UM, THAT YOU PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. I MEAN, COME ON GUYS. THINK OF YOUR FAMILY. THINK OF YOUR SISTERS, BROTHERS. I DON'T KNOW, CHILDREN, I'M NOT SURE, NIECES, NEPHEWS. I'M NOT SURE WHO LIVES HERE. BUT ALSO SOMEONE MENTIONED THE PEOPLE DOWNSTREAM. HEY, IT MATTERS. IT REALLY MATTERS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, RUTH. IF YOU'LL GIVE THEM TO THE CLERK, SHE'LL PASS THOSE DOWN. YOU CAN COME ON UP. KYLE HAYES, 6 29 VILLA AVENUE. YOU HAVE HEARD MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW DATA CENTERS WILL AFFECT HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY, THE NOISE, THE WATER. I WANT TO BRING ATTENTION ALSO TO THE BEAUTY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT WE HAVE BEEN SO PROUD OF IN THIS AREA. THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE. I'VE LIVED IN THIS AREA FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. MY FAMILY CHOSE THIS AREA BECAUSE OF ITS BEAUTY AND IT'S COMMUNITY. DATA CENTERS HAVE NO GOOD TRACK RECORD FOR BUILDING BEAUTY AND COMMUNITY. AND I ASK YOU TO STAND WITH MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE BRINGING TOGETHER ITS CONSTITUENTS, ITS CITIZENRY TO STAND AGAINST THESE THINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. JOIN US, YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN FIGHTING AGAINST THIS. PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS. WE'RE ALREADY STANDING TOGETHER AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAND UP AND VOTE THIS TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DESIGNATED USE IN ALL ZONING AREAS. THANK YOU, KYLE. IF YOU JUST GIVE US, JUST, JUST SO SHE MAKES SURE SHE HAS TIME. OKAY. I'M MICHAEL DAVIS. 2 2 1 CLIMBER AVENUE. UM, I ASK THAT YOU PROHIBIT THAT, UH, THE BUILDING OF DATA CENTERS HERE. PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED OUR INFRASTRUCTURE [01:20:01] AND THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT. IT'S ALSO JUST AGAINST THE CHARACTER AND INTEREST OF A SMALL RURAL TOWN. IT'S NOT GONNA ADD JOBS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ADD MUCH REVENUE ON TOP OF THAT. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE CLOSEST TO 'EM WITH THE NOISE AND EVEN JUST THE CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS TO BUILD THESE THINGS. AND, UH, YEAH, I ASK THAT YOU PROHIBIT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MICHAEL. AYE, ROBERT FUNK, 3 79 WEST 11TH STREET. 113 ACRES OF LAND WERE SOLD FOR LESS THAN $7 MILLION WHILE ASHBURN JUST SOLD 130 ACRES FOR 4.4 MILLION PER ACRE FOR DATA CENTERS. NOW, I DON'T WANT OR TRUST THEM IN WARREN AT ALL, BUT IT'S INSULTING THAT WE'RE FACING A GRIM DECISION ON OUR FUTURE AND OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE FOR COMPARATIVELY PENNIES. 113 ACRES FOR SUPPOSEDLY A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT DATA CENTER. WHAT WILL THEY BE DOING WITH THE REMAINING 112.8 ACRES? SOMETHING'S FISHY. IF THESE COMPANIES MUST PAY FOR THEIR OWN SUBSTATIONS AND WATER, HOW LONG BEFORE THEY START MAKING DEMANDS OF THE TOWN BECAUSE OF THEIR INVESTMENTS? WHO WANTS TO BE BEHOLDEN TO THE WHIMS OF A WILDLY UNPOPULAR AND UNRELIABLE, UH, BUSINESS MODEL? AND TROJAN HORSE, EVEN A SMALL ONE CAN USE VAST AMOUNTS OF ENERGY. WE USE AROUND 40 KILOWATTS A DAY OR 1.3 MEGAWATTS A MONTH. IN THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD, WE JUST HAD A WATER MAIN IN TOWN, BURST FOR MAYBE TWO HOURS. HALF THE TOWN HAD NO WATER, THE REST HAD THEIR WATER PRESSURE DROPPED TO NOTHING. THE ONLY THING MISSING WAS JETS TAKING OFF NONSTOP, AND WE WOULD'VE GOTTEN A DEMO OF THE DEMO. DATA CENTER EXPERIENCE. PROMISES WITH DATA CENTERS ARE NOTORIOUSLY CLOAK AND DAGGER. A WIDELY ACCEPTED AVERAGE AS EACH ACRE CONSUMES 3.5 MEGAWATTS PER DAY, ABOUT 82 HOMES WORTH PER DAY. I'D RATHER SEE 82 FAMILIES ENJOY HEAT COOLING AND WORKING APPLIANCES THAN ONE ACRE OF A LOUD STONE SARCOPHAGUS DESIGNED TO REAP OUR WAY OF LIFE. SUPPOSEDLY, THEY CAN'T USE MORE THAN 3095 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY NECESSITATING CLOSED LOOP COOLING. BUT THESE COMPANIES FIND IT EASIER TO ASK FORGIVENESS THAN PERMISSION. DO WE REALIZE THAT THE INDIRECT COSTS ON WATER FOR A CLOSED LOOP DRAWS WAY MORE THAN THAT AROUND 2000 GALLONS PER MEGAWATT? WHO'S TO SAY THAT CHEMICAL AND RAYON SLURRY AT THE AVTEC SITE WOULDN'T LEAVE THE DATA CENTER IN CONSTANT DISREPAIR THAT THEY WASH THEIR HANDS OF AS A LOSS OR LEAD A WHOLE NEW GENERATION TO TERMINAL AND LIFELONG CONDITIONS LIKE AVTEC DID, OR LEVY AN INCALCULABLE SIN ON OUR BEAUTIFUL SHENANDOAH BECAUSE OF GREED STRINGING ALONG GULLIBLE OPTIMISM IN TECH. I'VE SEEN IT SAID THAT A DATA CENTER CAN'T BE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FEET. 2.3 ACRES, 8.2 MEGAWATTS PER DAY. HOW MANY WILL THEY ATTEMPT TO FIT IN AVTEC OR ROCKLAND IF TEMPERANCE AND COMPASSION FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY ISN'T ENOUGH? THINK WITH GREED AND PRIDE TOURISM BUSINESS, DO YOU THINK KENDRICK LANE APARTMENTS WILL LIKE IT? OR RANDOLPH MACON WILL TAKE KINDLY TO LOSING ITS INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE TO THE BROWNOUTS BLACKOUTS NOISE AND WORSENING OF THE DECADE LONG WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT THAT THIS WILL CAUSE. ROCKLAND IS LOOKING AT A 46 ACRE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, 161 MEGAWATTS PER DAY, 4,000 HOMES WORTH. THE WHOLE TOWN USES 430, AND THIS WOULD STRAIN NEARLY 40% ON TOP. THE GRID WOULD NEED SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES IN ADDITIONS TO ACCOMMODATE AND WOULD INDIRECTLY DRASTICALLY EXCEED THE 3095 GALLON NUMBER. IF WE TRULY CARE ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES, THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST POSSIBLE DOORS TO OPEN. THANK YOU. THIS IS STEVE READER, STEVE READER MADAM, MADAM MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS STEVE YOUNG. I'M AT 3 1 5 SALEM A SALEM AVENUE. I'M A SIX YEAR RESIDENT OF FRONT ROYAL, A REFUGEE FROM ALEXANDRIA . IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WON'T BELABOR MANY OF THE POINTS ALREADY MADE TONIGHT BY, BY MY FELLOW CITIZENS HERE WHO I BELIEVE REPRESENT ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN OPPOSITION TO DATA CENTERS. BUT I WOULD DO WANNA DO, DO A COUPLE THINGS. PROPONENTS SAY THAT DATA CENTERS WILL RECYCLE THEIR WATER. YOU'VE JUST HEARD A SPEAKER, UH, RE REBUT THAT. IF YOU ALL AGREE THAT WHAT IS SAID HERE TONIGHT ABOUT THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL AND, UH, IMPACT AND ON US AS RESIDENTS, HIGHER UTILITY COSTS, UH, DEMAND ON WATER. IF YOU AGREE WITH THIS, THERE ARE VERI VIABLE FACTS. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T AGREE THEN I URGE YOU TO BAN DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING JURISDICTIONS IN THE LI THE LIMITS OF FRONT ROYAL AND ALSO WARREN COUNTY BY EXTENSION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. BUT I ALSO WANNA [01:25:01] URGE YOU TO HAVE THE COURAGE AS A COUNCIL TO EXERT YOUR AUTHORITY TO DO THIS. DON'T BUY INTO THE, OR BE TITILLATED BY THE TAX REVENUE THAT YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED BY. AFTER ALL, IF WHAT WE HEAR ABOUT DATA CENTERS IS ACCURATE, PROPERTY VALUES WILL DECLINE. IT'LL BE NET ZERO. HAVE THE COURAGE AS A COUNCIL TO EXERT YOUR AUTHORITY AND BAN DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN THE LIMITS OF FRONT ROYAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JOE CUP LOCK. MAGDALENE CUP LOCK. FRANCIS WRIGHT, ALBERT GUNN. KEN GRUBA. HEY, DO, MY NAME IS JOEY KE BLACK. I'M A THREE OT SALEM AVENUE AND THANKS FOR REPRESENTING US ALL. UH, MY FAMILY WOULD BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DATA CENTER, ESPECIALLY AT THE AVTEC PROPERTY. IT'S RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM US. I MOVED TO FRONT ROW 13 YEARS AGO. UH, MY WIFE'S THIRD GENERATION FRONT ROW NATIVE. WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN ALL BORN IN THE SAME ROOM. MY WIFE WAS BORN IN, IN THE SAME HOUSE IN SALEM AVENUE. WE LIVE TODAY. WE LOVE OUR TOWN AND ARE PROUD TO CALL IT OUR HOME. I OWN A LOCAL BUSINESS WITH 18 EMPLOYEES THAT SUPPORTS INCLUDING WIVES AND CHILDREN, ALMOST 50 PEOPLE. WE SPEND OUR MONEY IN FRONT ROYAL AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO SO. WE'RE FOCUSED ON GROWING OUR TOWN ECONOMICALLY AND CULTURALLY AND PROVIDING GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND HAVE A GOOD LIFE HERE. THE CONSTRUCTION OF DATA CENTERS IN FRONT, ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY IS DIRECTLY OPPOSED TO THE WAY OF LIFE. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND THE VALLEY ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. OUR BEAUTIFUL TOWN AND COUNTY ARE A HALLMARK OF VIRGINIA. EVERYONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS HEARD OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, THE NATIONAL PARK, OUR FAMOUS RIVER. WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS, BLUE RIDGE SUNSETS, AND SMALL TOWN WAY OF LIFE. BESIDES THE HARMFUL EFFECTS FOR DATA CENTERS, INCLUDING THE CONCENTRATION OF EMF RAYS AND HEARING LOSS, A DATA CENTER WILL CAUSE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF LIGHT POLLUTION AND BE A BLIGHT ON THE LANDSCAPE OF OUR RICH NATURAL BEAUTY OF LONG STANDING HISTORY AND SOUTHERN CHARM. ADDITIONALLY, MY FAMILY AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME LAST WEEK SPEAKING TO AS MANY RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT OUR TOWN REGARDING THE POTENTIAL DATA CENTERS. OF THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WE SPOKE TO, ONLY TWO PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THE INSTALLATION OF A DATA CENTER MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA. PLEASE TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AND PLEASE KEEP OUR TOWN THE WAY WE ALL WANT IT TO BE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS MAGDALENA LAC 3 0 2 SALEM AVENUE. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I AM FIRMLY AGAINST DATA CENTERS ANYWHERE IN FRONT RURAL OR WARREN COUNTY. I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE. ONE OF MY BEST RECOLLECTIONS IS GOING HIKING WITH MY FAMILY ON SKYLINE DRIVE. AND WE LIKE TO LOOK OUT AND POINT OUT AND TRY TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT THINGS ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. I REALLY HOPE THAT I'M NOT LOOKING OUT WITH MY CHILDREN IDENTIFYING VARIOUS DATA CENTERS ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. UM, I ALSO JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT I WAS READING THE FRONT ROYAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND IT'S VERY HEAVILY FOCUSED ON TOURISM AND TRYING TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME TO FRONT ROYAL AS A DESTINATION BECAUSE OF ITS NATURAL BEAUTY AND ALSO BECAUSE OF ITS SMALL TOWN CHARM. I THINK THAT HAVING A DATA CENTER HERE IS GOING TO JUST BLEND US IN WITH THE REST OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AND WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT THE WAY THEY CAN BECAUSE OUR ONLY, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH TO, UM, BENEFIT FROM THEM FROM DATA CENTERS THE WAY THEY DO. THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH TO BENEFIT EITHER, BUT AT LEAST THEY HAVE OTHER ASSETS. WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY ASSETS. OUR NATURAL BEAUTY IS OUR MAIN ASSET. SO I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. PLEASE SAY NO TO DATA CENTERS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, WHAT HER MAIDEN NAME WAS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALBERT GUNN AND I LIVE AT 16 MASSEY STREET. UM, AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TONIGHT. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH, UH, AGAIN, UH, WHAT I FEEL IS A RELEVANT QUALIFICATION TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, WHICH IS THAT I'VE TAUGHT HERE FOR ABOUT HALF MY TEACHING CAREER. I'VE TAUGHT FOR 20 YEARS AND, UH, HERE FOR ABOUT HALF OF THAT HERE IN, UH, WARREN COUNTY. SO, UM, AND, UH, UH, IN ADDITION TO MY, UH, COURSEWORK THAT ENABLED ME TO TEACH, I ALSO HAVE A CERTIFICATE IN, UM, CYBERSECURITY. AND, UH, AND I'M THE SPONSOR OF THE, UM, OF THE ESPORTS, UH, CLUB AT, UH, WARREN MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO I'M BY NO MEANS A LUDDITE OR SOMEONE THAT'S AFRAID OF TECHNOLOGY OR, UH, YOU KNOW, SIMPLY JUST WANTS TO, UH, PUT UP A STONEWALL AGAINST IT. UM, BUT THEN I, I POINT YOU TO MY MOST IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION, WHICH IS THAT I'M THE FATHER OF A FRONT ROYAL, UH, LITTLE LEAGUE ALL-STAR. AND HAVING COACHED ON THOSE TWO FIELDS, BOTH DOWN AT THE SOCCER PLEX AND AT THE BASEBALL FIELDS, I [01:30:01] THINK THAT THOSE TREASURES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SPENT SO MUCH TIME SUPPORTING AND THE INVESTMENT THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE HAVE MADE IN THOSE FACILITIES SHOULD NOT IN ANY WAY BE ADULTERATED BY THE POLLUTION, UH, THE DISTURBANCE OF THE POSSIBLE HEALTH, UH, CONDITIONS THAT WOULD ARISE FROM A DATA CENTER. BOTH THE SCHOOL WHERE I TEACH, THE SCHOOL WHERE MY SON GOES, AND THE PLACE WHERE I LIVE, UH, WOULD ALL BE AFFECTED BY, UH, THE DATA CENTERS, THE VIBRATIONS, THE EMFS, AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS, UH, OF WHICH I THINK MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY POINTED OUT, UH, VERY EFFECTIVELY. WE HAVE NO REAL CLEAR, UH, ACCOUNT OF. SO WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT ALL THOSE THINGS MIGHT ADD UP TO DO IN TERMS OF THE EFFECTS THEY MIGHT HAVE ON THE CHILDREN THAT I SEE EVERY DAY. AND OF COURSE, MY MY OWN LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STAR. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PROHIBIT THE, UH, USE OF THE DATA CENTERS, DEFINE THEM AS, UH, AS IT HAS BEEN INDICATED, AND, AND MAKE ALL, UH, ZONES PROHIBITED USE FOR THOSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME'S KEN GRUBA. I LIVE AT, UH, 1 21 NOTTINGHAM COURT. UM, I WANTED TO TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT WHAT STEVEN CITY JUST DID. UH, THEY GAVE DATA CENTERS BUYRIGHT PERMITTING IN THEIR INDUSTRIAL ZONING. THAT MEANS THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS JUST RUBBER STAMPING CHECKLISTS. A DEVELOPER CAN WALTZ IN SET UP THEIR MASSIVE EVAPORATIVE COOLING RIGS THAT EVAPORATE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF PUBLIC DRINKING WATER. THAT'S HOW THEY COOL DOWN THEIR SERVERS AND THEN DUMP THE CHEMICAL HEAVY RESIDUE RIGHT BACK INTO THE TREATMENT PLANT. THAT'S WHAT THE POLLUTION EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT COMES FROM. AND THEIR TOWN COUNCIL HAS ZERO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO STOP THEM. THE INDUSTRY TERM FOR THIS IS REGULATORY ARBITRAGE, WHERE DEVELOPERS INTENTIONALLY HUNT FOR SMALLER CASH STRAP MUNICIPALITIES WITH OUTDATED ZONING CODES. WINCHESTER JUST APPROVED IT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. THAT'S WHY TONIGHT'S MEETING IS SUCH A CRITICAL TURNING POINT. IF OUR TOWN COUNCIL HOLDS THE LINE AND ESTABLISHES STRICT LEGAL RESTRICTIONS, YOU AREN'T JUST PROTECTING FRONT ROYAL, YOU'RE FORCING A SHIFT IN HOW THE WHOLE REGION IS GOING TO HANDLE THIS DATA CENTER. BOOM. IT'S NO SECRET WHY THEY WANT TO COME HERE, RIGHT? THEY CAN JUST PLUG INTO TOWN POWER USE TOWN WATER. IT'S CHEAP. THE LOCAL POPULACE BE DAMNED. THE OWNERS WON'T LIVE HERE. THEY'LL LIVE IN A YACHT IN THE CARIBBEAN. IF THERE IS ANY CONSIDERATION ON ALLOWING THIS ANYWHERE WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES OF OUR TOWN, I THINK WE NEED TO BRING IN PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND WRITE THESE CODES AND MAKE THE DEVELOPERS PROMISE THINGS. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THIS HAS NOT WORKED IN THE PAST. I ALSO THINK IT MIGHT JUST BE WISE TO WAIT A FEW YEARS. I MEAN, CHAT GPT JUST BECAME USABLE LIKE A YEAR AGO, RIGHT? OTHERWISE IT WAS, IT WAS KIND OF GARBAGE. THIS IS BRAND NEW. THE FIRST GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE SAID THE TECHNOLOGY ISN'T QUITE HERE YET. THEY CAN, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THE KINKS, THE NOISE, THE POLLUTION, BUT THEY'RE, IT'S NOT QUITE THERE AND IT'S GONNA BE OBSOLETE IN, IN, IN A FEW YEARS. SO I THINK WE SHOULD LEAD THE REGION, PROTECT THE SHENANDOAH WATERSHED, AND SAY NO FOR RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BERNADETTE WAGNER, RITA SAR, EVAN MOLLY, CAROL CHRISTIE BARATOS, MANUEL VICENTE. HI, I'M BERNADETTE WAGNER. I'M AT FIVE FOUR ONE ERIC COURT, BORN AND RAISED IN FRONT ROYAL AND TO THE HOMEOWNER. I OPPOSE DANA CENTERS BEING ALLOWED TO BE IN THE TOWN BECAUSE THEY WILL STRIP THIS TOWN OF WHAT IT IS KNOWN AND LOVED FOR ITS VIEWS, ITS RIVER OR EVEN THE CANOE CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA. ITS SMALL TOWN CHARM. AND THE GATEWAY TO THE SKYLINE DRIVE SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, A PLACE KNOWN AND LOVED FOR ITS CONSERVATION OF THE LAND. DATA CENTERS HAVE BEEN POPPING UP RAPIDLY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, EXCEPT IN OKLAHOMA, WHICH BANNED THEM ALTOGETHER. AND WE WONDER WHY, YOU KNOW THEY'RE DOING THAT. UM, MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY STATED LOTS OF REASONS WHY. AND IN MANY OF THESE PLACES THAT THEY ARE POPPING UP NEAR SMALL TOWNS LIKE OURS. THEY HAVE DEVASTATED THE AREA. ONE OF THE MANY REASONS IS BECAUSE OF THE POLLUTION OF THE AIR FROM THEIR DIESEL GENERATORS. AND THE PIEDMONT [01:35:01] ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL COMPLETED AN ANALYSIS OF THE VANTAGE DATA CENTER IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, WHICH USES THESE GENERATORS. AND THEY ESTIMATED BETWEEN 53 TO $99 MILLION IN ANNUAL HEALTH DAMAGES FROM THESE ASSOCIATED AIR POLLUTIONS FROM THE DATA CENTER. SO AS SOMEONE DIAGNOSED WITH ASTHMA, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY BIG PROBLEM FOR OUR AREA IF THEY WERE TO COME HERE. THESE CONCERNS THAT HAVE WREAKED HAVOC ON OTHER COMMUNITIES WILL SOON PRESENT THEMSELVES HERE AND STRIP THE TOWN FOR WHAT IT IS KNOWN AND LOVED FOR. UM, WHO WANTS TO COME HIKING IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IF THEY CAN'T BREATHE WELL IN THE POLLUTED AIR? THIS IS ALSO AN ISSUE THAT GOES BEYOND THE TOWN BECAUSE ALL OF THE COUNTY AND ALL OF THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WILL ALSO SUFFER FROM THIS POLLUTION IF WE ALLOW THEM HERE. AND THE CONSEQUENCES FROM US ALLOWING DATA CENTERS TO STRIP OURSELVES OF OUR RESOURCES, UM, JUST CAUSES SO MANY PROBLEMS FOR EVERYONE DOWN THE RIVER. SO PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW DATA CENTERS TO ENTER EVEN UNDER, YOU KNOW, RESTRICTIONS THAT WE CAN PUT INTO PLACE. BECAUSE AS WE HAVE SEEN FROM OTHER TOWNS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ONCE YOU LET THEM IN, THEY CAN DO PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER THEY WANT UNLESS SOMEONE HAS THE MONEY TO FIGHT THEM, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS THE DATA CENTERS DO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT IS THE CUTEST LITTLE BABY. SHE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. THAT LITTLE BABY WAS SO PERFECT. WE, RITA SARS, UM, 6 0 6 RIVER DRIVE IN FRONT ROYAL. AND I PRETTY MUCH AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE HAS SAID SO FAR. I'M GLAD THAT SOMEONE WITH THE BABY WAS JUST IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE WHEN I HAD A, UM, A SMALL, A YOUNG FAMILY, WE LIVED IN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AND WE HAD UNSTABLE ELECTRICITY AND WE HAD UNSTABLE WATER SUPPLY, IT WAS MISERABLE. IT WAS REALLY ROUGH. UM, JUST THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW, IF THE ELECTRICITY WENT OFF, YOU KNOW WHAT CHAOS THAT WOULD BE. AND WE HAD A TASTE OF IT FRIDAY NIGHT. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT WASN'T HERE, BUT I HEARD IT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE, WERE WITHOUT WATER. SO, UM, I AGREE WITH EVERYONE AND I I JUST URGE YOU TO PLEASE LISTEN TO US. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. PLEASE LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI, I AM CAROL CHRISTOPHER TIS MY ADDRESS IS 6 1 8 WEST 11TH STREET. I'M ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS. DO YOU MIND PUTTING THE MICROPHONE MICRO? I THINK THEY PULLED IT DOWN. WE JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO MY HOUSE IS ON THE FRONT LINES. AFTER HAVING SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS, UH, RESEARCHING DATA CENTERS, I'M COMPLETELY AGAINST ALLOWING THEM IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL DATA CENTERS ARE PARASITES AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ARE LIARS. THEY MOVE IN AFTER PROMISING ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE MOON AND THE STARS, AND THEY SUCK THE RESIDENTS DRY. THEY CONTAMINATE THE AIR, SOIL, AND WATER BEFORE DEPLETING AQUIFERS DRYING UP WELLS AND DESTROYING LIVES. THEY TAKE AWAY THE OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT, PEACE AND QUIET, AND THE HEALTH OF THOSE LIVING NEARBY. A NEVADA UTILITY RECENTLY TOLD 49,000 LAKE TAHOE RESIDENTS THAT IT'S REDIRECTING 75% OF THEIR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO DATA CENTERS. THEY HAVE LESS THAN ONE YEAR TO FIND A NEW POWER SOURCE IN TEXAS ALONE, A STUDY ESTIMATED DATA CENTERS WOULD USE AS MUCH AS 399 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER A YEAR. BY 2030, THE EQUIVALENT OF DRAWING DOWN LAKE MEAD, THE LARGEST RESERVOIR IN THE COUNTRY BY 16 FEET IN A SINGLE YEAR. TEXAS IS IN A WATER CRISIS BECAUSE OF THESE BLOOD SUCKERS. RESERVOIRS AND GROUNDWATER ARE DRYING UP. COMMUNITIES ARE EXPERIENCING NO WATER PRESSURE AND ARE FIGHTING OVER THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE BECAUSE THEIR LEADERS PUT THE DESIRES OF THE WEALTHIEST PRIVATE INDUSTRIES OVER THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE THEY WERE ELECTED TO SERVE. IN THE DOLS, OREGON, GOOGLE'S DATA CENTER CONSUMED 355 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER. IN 2021, A QUARTER OF THE CITY'S TOTAL WATER USED THAT YEAR. GOOGLE FUNDED THE CITY'S LAWSUITS AGAINST A LOCAL NEWSPAPER THAT TRIED TO OBTAIN THOSE FIGURES THROUGH FOIA REQUESTS. ARGUING THE DATA WAS A TRADE SECRET. IN NEWTON COUNTY, GEORGIA MET HIS DATA CENTER, DISRUPTED PRIVATE WELLS, LEAVING FAMILIES HAULING WATER AND REPLACING SEDIMENT FILLED APPLIANCES. IN UTAH, GROUPS ARE FIGHTING OVER WATER RIGHTS THAT WOULD SHIFT IRRIGATION WATER TO INDUSTRIAL USE FOR DATA CENTERS. THESE COMPANIES ARE LEECHES, PARASITIC SCUMBAGS, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED [01:40:01] TO STEP FOOT IN OUR TOWN. THEIR LIES ARE BEING EXPOSED IN STRASSBURG, THE CEO, THE COO OF THE UH, COMPANY, UH, TOLD THE COMMUNITY THAT THE DATA CENTER WOULD USE 180 WAGA, UH, MEGAWATTS TOTAL. BUT THE SITE PLAN SPECIFIES 320 MEGAWATTS 78% MORE THAN THE EXECUTIVE STATED. THE PLAN ALSO STATES THAT TO SUPPLY THE 320 MEGAWATTS, IT WILL TAKE 16 GAS TURBINE GENERATORS. WE'RE TALKING JET ENGINES. EACH TURBINE PRODUCES 145 DECIBELS OF NOISE. THAT'S PAINFUL NOISE. THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO ENDURE THIS NOISE TWENTY FOUR SEVEN, THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE DAYS A YEAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HUMAN HEALTH. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS RICHARD BLANK, 2 0 9 MANASIS AVENUE. WHEN MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO, UH, SETTLE DOWN HERE AND RAISE OUR FAMILY HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO, UH, TWO OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS WERE THE, THE COMMUNITY THAT WE FOUND HERE. AND JUST LIKE THE NATURAL BEAUTY, UM, FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID AND WILL BE SET AGAIN AFTER ME, I THINK IT'S CLEAR DATA CENTERS DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO EITHER OF THOSE. AND, UH, MORE SO DETRACT FROM THEM. WHAT I, ASIDE FROM THAT WANTED TO KIND OF LIKE LAY BEFORE YOU ALL IS THESE, THESE, UH, LABELS UNDER EACH OF YOUR NAMES, UM, THAT WE'VE, WE'VE ASKED YOU TO HOLD. UM, WE ASKED YOU TO REPRESENT US, UM, TO A PERSON. EVERYONE THAT'S COME UP HERE HAS CITED THE SAME WAY ON THIS ISSUE. UM, SO I JUST, I I ASK YOU ALL, PLEASE, UM, LIKE HONOR, HONOR THAT ROLE, HONOR WHAT WE ASKED YOU TO CARRY FOR US AND, UM, SIDE THE WAY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, UM, AGREES TO, UH, TO GO ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MS. WILL FONG. IF YOU'LL READ THE NEXT FIVE AFTER THIS GENTLEMAN, EVAN MOLLOY. 2 2 2 WASHINGTON AVENUE. MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN FRONT ROW FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS OR SO. LAST YEAR. I BECAME A HOMEOWNER FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND AS A FIRST TIME HOMEOWNER, YOU START TO REALIZE YOU TAKE CERTAIN THINGS FOR GRANTED. WATER, POWER, HEAT. SO FRIDAY NIGHT I'M BUSY DOING SOMETHING. I LOSE WATER PRESSURE, I PANIC, I PANIC. I THINK SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH MY HOUSE. I LEARN THE NEXT MORNING I WAS A WATER MAIN BREAK. AND KUDOS TO THE TOWN EMPLOYEES FOR GETTING THAT FIXED IN TIME. KUDOS. BIG KUDOS. UM, SO THERE'S ALWAYS THESE THINGS WHERE WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. UM, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT A DATA CENTER IN THIS TOWN. I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE IT. AND I THINK THERE'S MORE CREATIVE USES FOR THAT SPACE THAN A DATA CENTER. ALL SORTS OF THINGS WE CAN THINK OF TOGETHER AS A TOWN. AND, UM, AS A PERSON WHO ACTUALLY STUDIED COMPUTER SCIENCE, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT WHENEVER THERE'S ANYTHING, THERE'S ALWAYS A TRADE OFF. IF THEY SAY THEY'LL USE LESS WATER, CHANCES ARE THEY'LL USE MORE ELECTRICITY. IF THEY SAY THEY'LL USE LESS ELECTRICITY, ELECTRICITY, THEY'RE GONNA USE MORE WATER OR SOMETHING ELSE. THERE'S ALWAYS A TRADE OFF. THERE'S, THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH. THERE'S ALWAYS A TRADE OFF THERE. SO I HOPE YOU LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN. I WANT YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER WHAT WE'RE SAYING. PLEASE, PLEASE PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AND ALL ZONING RESTRICTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. ONG. CAN YOU JUST ANNOUNCE THE NEXT FIVE PEOPLE? YES. ELIZABETH BUTNER, ISIS GONZALEZ, JULIANA LOPEZ, MARY, STANFORD, JENNIFER RA. ARE YOU FIRST? I THINK IT WAS YOU. IT'S YOU, RIGHT? MM-HMM . ELIZABETH. ELIZABETH BITNER, 5 39 WASHINGTON AVENUE. I HAVE INDIVIDUALLY EMAILED EACH OF YOU MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE DATA CENTER. AND I STAND BEFORE EVERY PERSON THAT SPOKE BEFORE ME IN AGREEMENT THAT PLEASE PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU. COME ON UP. IT'S OKAY. I'M NOT SURE WHO IT WAS, BUT WHEN YOU SAY YOUR NAME WON AFTER YOU LEFT ANYBODY OUT? GOOD NIGHT. I WASN'T [01:45:01] KNOWING. WANT TO COME HERE BECAUSE I DON'T. VERY GOOD SPEAKING UHHUH IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. CAN YOU JUST TALK, COULD YOU TELL US YOUR NAME FIRST? COULD YOU TELL US YOUR NAME, NAME YOUR ADDRESS? MY NAME IS JULIANA LOPEZ AND I LIVE AT A ONE A WEST 11TH STREET. JUST AFFECT ME VERY DIRECTLY. AND I GOT SO SCARED BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER IS THE ONE, UM, SHE'S AND SHE SAID, EXPLAIN ME ALL OF THIS STUFF ABOUT DATA CENTERS. AND SO THAT'S WHY I DECIDE TO COME AND SPEAK OUT AND BE PART OF THIS. AND DON'T BE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. SPEAK OUT FOR ME. I WANNA SPEAK UP. AND, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ELATED PEOPLE. YOU, YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT ALL OF THIS IS ABOUT. AND YOU KNOW, PERFECTLY WHAT ALL OF THESE DATA CENTERS DO AROUND, ESPECIALLY TO NEIGHBORHOODS. YOU DON'T WANT THAT. YOU HAVE KIDS AND WE HAVE KIDS, WE HAVE FAMILY. WE, WE, WE ARE SOMETIMES THE OTHER PEOPLE SAY WE ARE FIRST TIME OWNERS. WE WERE VERY PROUD OF OURSELVES TO MAKE THIS UP. AND NOW SOMETHING COMES TO, TO THIS AND SAY, WHY IS GOING TO GO OUR DREAMS TO, TO THE TRASH? NO, WE'VE BEEN WORK SO HARD. AND PLEASE, PLEASE, YOU ARE THERE TO REPRESENT US, TO SPEAK OUT FOR US. DO NOT LET THESE PEOPLE REACH PEOPLE TO GO OVER ALL THESE, UH, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS AND DESTROY THEM. ESPECIALLY, UH, FROM ROYAL. I LOVE FROM, I'VE BEEN LIVING IN VIRGINIA 35 YEARS. I'VE BEEN MOVING FROM FAIRFAX, CENTERVILLE, MANASAS, F**K HERE. AND I GOT HERE. THIS WAS MY DREAM BECAUSE I, EVERY MONTH OR ONCE IN A WHILE, I VISIT THIS KIND OF DRIVE, HIKING, JUST CAMPING WITH MY KIDS. AND THIS IS BEAUTIFUL PLACE. I FEEL SO PEACEFUL BEING LIVING HERE, AND I NEED TO SPEAK OUT AND BE PART OF THIS. AND WE DON'T WANT THAT. CENTERS HERE DO NOT ALLOW THEM, NOT EVEN WITH THE SPECIAL RULES BECAUSE THEY, THEY CAN BREAK IT WITH MONEY. THEY CAN BREAK IT. ONCE YOU ALLOW THEM, YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM OUT. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, AS THEY SAY, TO SUIT, UH, TO, IF THEY SUE THE, THE TOWN OR THE CITY. WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO, TO FACE THEM. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THAT IN FRONT ROYAL OR EVERYWHERE IN WARREN COUNTRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. MS. ONG. WHO IS NEXT? MANUEL VINCENTE. OKAY, THANK YOU. UH, I LIVE IN, UH, 9 83 OAK POND DRIVE. I, I THINK IT'S IN FRONT ROYAL. ANYWAY, UH, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE PAST 15 OR 20 YEARS, WE HAVE, UM, UH, THE ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. UH, CERTAIN IMPERFECT PEOPLE HAVE BECOME VERY, VERY UP, UP. I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF APPEAL FROM THE VOTERS, UH, BERNIE SANDERS, RON PAUL, THE TEA PARTY, DONALD TRUMP. I'M NOT SAYING ANYBODY'S PERFECT , CERTAINLY THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN, UH, PERSONALITY ISSUES AND VERY, BUT VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE. AND, AND I THINK WHAT'S COMMON ABOUT ALL OF THEM IS THAT THE, UH, VOTING POPULATION WANTS, WANT TO GET A MESSAGE, WANTS TO GET A MESSAGE ACROSS TO THE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT. THE, UH, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO ARE MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF THIS WORLD. UM, AND I THINK YOU WHO REPRESENT US, WHO ARE MAYBE NOT AT THAT LEVEL OF THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS, BUT YOU, YOU HAVE A CERTAIN, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY NEED TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. AND I APPEAL TO YOUR SENSE OF DIGNITY FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, DA DATA CENTERS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO, UH, NOT ONLY POLLUTE, BUT THERE'S ALL OTHER, OTHER ISSUES THAT A MEANS TO EXERT CONTROL. DIGITAL INTERFERENCE AND AS WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT, UH, POLLUTION OF WATER, NOISE, POLLUTION, OTHER TYPES OF POLLUTION GENERATING DISEASE. THESE ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS. YOU KNOW, UH, THEY ARE BY THE POWERS THAT BE [01:50:01] THERE THROWN IN THE WASTE BASKET. BUT THEN, THEN YEARS LATER, YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH COMES OUT. OKAY? THERE'S A, UM, AN ORGANIZATION, UH, YOU CAN LOOK IT UP ON THE INTERNET. I'M GONNA SPELL IT. G-A-E-S-A PRONOUNCED GAA. NOW, GAA HAS A WHOLE REGION OF CITIZENS UNDER ITS CONTROL, AND THEY ARE, THEY, THEY RESPOND TO THE INTEREST OF A CONGLOMERATE, A HUGE CON CONGLOMERATE. THEY ARE A HUGE CONGLOMERATE LINKED TO THE GOVERNMENT. WE DON'T WANT TO, WE DON'T WANT THESE, THESE PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH LIKE ISA. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO DO THIS TO US. SO LOOK, LOOK UP G-A-E-S-A, PUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPER AND, AND, AND PUT IT ON ON THE, THE INTERNET. YOU'LL SEE THAT THE DATA DATA CENTER PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH LIKE THEM. AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU MR. VICENTE. THANK YOU, YOU NEXT. MY NAME IS MARY STANFORD. I LIVE AT THREE 14 SALEM AVENUE. UH, I'VE LIVED, UH, HERE FOR 25 YEARS, UM, RAISED. AND I'M STILL RAISING SEVEN KIDS WHO JUST ADORE AND HAVE BEEN FORMED BY THE BEAUTY OF THIS TOWN, THE PHYSICAL BEAUTY, AND JUST THE, THE BEAUTY OF THE COMMUNITY. UM, SO FIRST OF ALL, MADAME MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A BIG DECISION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. AND SO I DON'T WANNA REPEAT ALL OF THE POINTS. TWO THOUGHTS COME TO MIND. NUMBER ONE, I'M MARRIED TO AN ENGLISH PROFESSOR WHO LOVES TO QUOTE DOSTOEVSKY IN ONE OF HIS NOVELS. YOU HEAR THE LINE, BEAUTY WILL SAVE THE WORLD. AND I HAVE TO SAY IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. BUT WHAT HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER IS OUR APPRECIATION OF THE POWERFUL BEAUTY OF THIS PLACE. TO BRING ALL THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER OVER BEAUTY, I THINK REALLY SHOWS THAT IT HAS THE POWER TO UNITE. SO I HOPE I CAN LEAVE THAT QUOTE WITH YOU. AND THE, THE OTHER THING, THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS COIN IS SOMETHING BIBLICAL IN THE STORY OF JACOB AND ESAU. WE KNOW THAT ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT FOR A MESS OF POTAGE. HE SAW AN INSTANT GRATIFICATION AND SOLD OUT HIS OWN FUTURE. SO REALLY TONIGHT IN YOUR POSITION, YOUR NON-GLAMOROUS, HUMBLE POSITIONS OF SERVICE, YOU DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A CONCRETE DIFFERENCE. YOUR LEGACY RIGHT IS MADE IN, IN THIS DECISION TONIGHT REALLY CAN BE PART OF YOUR LEGACY. AND WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE OTHER TOWNS, YOU KNOW, STRASSBURG AND AND WINCHESTER, IT MADE ME THINK YOU GUYS ARE BEING CALLED UPON. WE ARE CALLING UPON YOU TO ACT WITH COURAGE TONIGHT. AND COURAGE IS A VIRTUE BECAUSE IT INSPIRES OTHERS. WHEN SOMEBODY STANDS UP AND DOES SOMETHING COURAGEOUS, OTHER PEOPLE NOTICE AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE FRONT ROYAL CAN BE AN INSPIRATION TO OTHER TOWNS TO STAND UP AGAINST THIS AS WELL. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AS OTHERS HAVE SAID BEFORE ME, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR TOWN. MY NAME IS JENNIFER RA. I LIVE AT 1704 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE. I CAME TO FRONT ROYAL FROM MUCH LARGER AND MUCH FASTER AND MUCH WEALTHIER PLACES TO RAISE MY FAMILY. MY ANCESTORS FIRST ARRIVED IN THE VALLEY BEFORE THIS COUNTRY WAS ESTABLISHED. AND IT'S SO PROUD TO SAY THE HOUSE I LIVE IN RIGHT NOW IS HALF THE AGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN SO MANY WAYS. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS TO STAND STRONG AGAINST PROMISES OF SO-CALLED PROGRESS PROMISES THAT WE OF APPALACHIANS HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES IN THE PAST. WE KNOW FROM VERY PAINFUL EXPERIENCES, EVEN IF THE MOMENTARY BENEFITS WERE BEING PROMISED DO COME TO PASS, WHEN THE WORLD MOVES ON TO THE NEXT BEST THING, WE KNOW HOW IT'LL END WEREN'T. WE PROMISED BENEFITS FROM INVESTMENTS IN SOLAR. COPPER MINING WAS A DOORWAY TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH AND COAL. COAL WAS FOR AN ETERNITY. AND IT'S ALL GONE. WE AND OUR FAMILIES ARE THE ONES WHO WILL PAY THE PERSONAL ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRICE FOR THESE DECISIONS FOR [01:55:01] A HUNDRED YEARS. YOUR NAMES WILL BE IN HISTORY BOOKS ABOUT THE TWENTIES. AND AS THE GENTLEMAN BEFORE ME SO RIGHTLY SAID, OTHER LOCALITIES ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS IN WAYS THAT THAT VARY. YOU ARE AT A TURNING POINT THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS CHOSEN, RIGHTLY SO FAR. YOU CAN CHOOSE, YOU CAN BE THE SHORTSIGHTED AGENTS OF DISINGENUOUS CORPORATIONS OR YOU CAN VOTE TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JENNIFER WARNOCK. DENNIS WARD? I THINK SO. YEP. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST MEETING. UM, I ALSO AM AN ALEXANDRIA REFUGEE. I MOVED HERE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, UM, JUST FOR A MORE PEACEFUL, BEAUTIFUL WAY OF LIFE. UM, SO I WANNA SPEAK AS A NEIGHBOR AND ALSO AS A REALTOR. UM, I, WE ALL I THINK ARE IN AGREEMENT. HEY JENNIFER? YES? I JUST WANT YOU TO SAY YOUR NAME. JOE. HI, MY NAME'S JEN WARNOCK. SORRY, I KNEW YOUR NAME. I'M I'M THE MAYOR'S NEIGHBOR. EVERYONE OKAY. YES. MY NEIGHBOR RIGHT THERE. HEY GIRL. HEY. OKAY. SHE'S THE DOG WALKER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. HI. RESET MY CLOCK. NO THANK YOU. SORRY. OKAY. MY NAME IS JENNIFER WARNOCK. I LIVE AT 1456 JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY. UM, AND I WANNA SPEAK TO YOU AS A NEIGHBOR AND AS A REALTOR. AND I HEAR SO MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS IMPASSIONATELY SAYING THAT WE WANT A BAN, RESTRICTIVE BAN. AND WHILE WE ALL EMOTIONALLY WANT THAT, THAT IS LEGALLY NOT POSSIBLE. AND, AND I THINK, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE DYLAN RULE, OF COURSE, IF YOU'RE NOT, PLEASE. BUT I THINK WHAT DANIEL WELLS AND WHAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE UP AGAINST IS THAT RULE. AND WHILE WE CANNOT BAN DATA CENTERS, WE CERTAINLY CAN HEAVILY RESTRICT THEM. AND I AM COMPLETE SUPPORT OF THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT CAP AND 75 FOOT HEIGHT. UM, I ALSO WANNA TELL A CAUTIONARY TALE. WHILE THIS IS NOT ABSOLUTELY OFFICIAL, UM, THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, THROUGH OTHER REALTORS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT PROBABLY THE WORD IS JIFFY LUBE WILL CLOSE IN THE NEXT YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE SOUND AND VIBRATION CAUSED BY THE DATA CENTERS AND EXACTLY. YES. AND BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE TREE BUFFERS BEING CUT DOWN, SOUND CHECKS, ACOUSTIC CHECKS, ARTISTS DO NOT WANNA PERFORM. SO I DO NOT SEE DATA CENTERS AS A, OH WOW. THREE MINUTES GOES FAST. I DO NOT SEE DATA CENTERS AS A REVENUE GENERATOR. I SEE THEM AS A FINANCIAL LIABILITY. AND YOU ALL ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. UH, I DEFINITELY KNOW OUR MAYOR. UM, SO I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WHILE WE CAN'T BAN THEM, YOU DO HAVE OTHER AVENUES AND WE WILL SEE LAWSUITS. I KNOW WE WILL. AND I KNOW THAT FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL WATCH GROUPS ARE PAYING VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE VALLEY. I REALLY LOVE, UM, LIVING HERE AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND UM, I WISH I COULD KEEP TALKING, BUT I WON'T SAY, HEY GIRL, SEE YOU IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. , . OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THIS AT ALL. . WHAT'S THAT? I SAID, AND FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THIS AT ALL. SO ANYWAY, I I HAVE NOT SEEN YOU IN A WHILE. I KNOW, I KNOW. THANK YOU. I THINK, I THINK I THINK SHE CALLED YOU NEXT, RIGHT? YES. OKAY, LAST FOR THE TOWN. YEP. AS OF RIGHT NOW, YES. DENNIS WARD 10 46. GOOD VIEW. SO, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY PREPARED REMARKS. I'VE NEVER SPOKEN AT A COUNCIL MEETING BEFORE. LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, BUT I DO HAVE AN OBSERVATION UNLESS I MISS SOMETHING. NOT ONE PERSON HAS COME UP IN SUPPORT A PORT. SO I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO ME [02:00:01] THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS IS THAT, IS THAT IT'S RALLIED EVERYONE IN TOWN AGAINST THEM. THIS IS AMAZING. I MEAN, IT IS AMAZING TO SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE ON THE SAME SIDE ABOUT SOMETHING AND COME OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND COME TOGETHER WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BE HERE TO, TO SPEAK ON THIS. AND WE STILL, I GUESS WE STILL HAVE WHAT, 80, A HUNDRED PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY. UM, SO JUST, I'M VERY SIMPLE, BUT MY OBSERVATION THEN BECOMES, I, I THINK OF IT LIKE THIS. I THINK A VOTE YES ON THIS THEN WOULD BE A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF GOVERNANCE AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO VOTE. NO, THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO RIGHT NOW THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FROM THE TOWN. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE COUNTY, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO THAT AFTER WE RECESS FOR A RESTROOM BREAK. SO WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK. WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN THE HALL THERE, THERE APPEAR TO BE SOME EMPTY SEATS IN HERE. UM, WE COULD DO LIKE CHURCH AND HAVE EVERYBODY SLIDE IN SO WE LEAVE SOMETHING ON THE EDGES. I SEE YOU ALL ENJOY THAT AS MUCH AS THE PEOPLE AT CHURCH DO CHURCH. I WAS GIVEN THIS, SOMEBODY LOST A BACK TO THEIR UM, OKAY. THEIR PHONE. WE HAVE A LITTLE LOST AND FOUND APPARENTLY NOW. SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY LOST, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE BACK OF, I BELIEVE SOMEBODY'S CELL PHONE. IT LOOKS LIKE AN IPHONE TO ME, BUT IS ANYBODY MISSING THE BACK OF THIS? IT SAYS DOLBY VISION. UM, ANYWAY, I'LL SET IT UP HERE IF ANYBODY SET NEEDS ALONG THE WAY OR ACTUALLY I'M GONNA PASS IT DOWN THAT WAY SO THAT THEY CAN COME UP. SO ANYBODY, OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA START ON THE LIST OF PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP FOR THE COUNTY. I DO WANT TO SAY, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE FROM THE TOWN, UM, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS IN THE ORDER OF THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP. SO I'M GONNA DO THE COUNTY, THEN WE'LL DO OUTTA COUNTY AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND, AND HIT ANYBODY THAT, UM, DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET TO PHYSICALLY SIGN UP, BUT STILL WISHES TO SPEAK. SO MS. ONG, UH, THE FIRST FIVE PEOPLE FOR THE COUNTY. JIM COATES, HARRY DAVIS, AMBER MARTIN, NANCY KEEL, JOANNA MORRIS, JIM COATES. MY ADDRESS IS 75 CHESTNUT TRAIL ROAD FRONT ROW. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING AND BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU SOME FEEDBACK AND SOME INFORMATION THAT MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN ALREADY. UM, ONE THING THAT I'VE LEARNED IN MY 76 YEARS ON THIS WONDERFUL EARTH IS IF THERE'S A WAY TO COMPLICATE ANYTHING, US PEOPLE WILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO COMPLICATE IT. WE WILL, UNFORTUNATELY TO OUR DISCRETION SOMETIMES HAVING SAID THAT, I'D LIKE TO OFFER SOME DATA, SEE WHAT I DID THERE. , I'D LIKE TO OFFER SOME DATA TO Y'ALL IN AN EFFORT TO HELP YOU WITH THIS DECISION THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE MAKING WHEN YOU VOTE. AND ACTUALLY TO SIMPLIFY THINGS, YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE TWO CHOICES. YOU'RE EITHER GONNA VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT PUT YOU IN OFFICE OR YOU'RE NOT. IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE. AND HAVING SAID THAT, I'D LIKE TO GET SOME SUPPORT WITH THIS DATA I'M GONNA OFFER YOU AND ASK EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. JIM, TWO QUESTIONS. I WAS GONNA SAY IT'S DIRECTING IT TO US, NOT I'M TALKING TO YOU. OKAY. SORRY. BUT WE AREN'T DOING LIKE THE STANDUP CLAP DOCUMENT THING. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FINE. AND JIM AND I KNOW EACH OTHER TOO. IF , [02:05:02] IF YOU WANT DATA CENTERS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL OR IN THE COUNTY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR STAND. IF YOU DO NOT WANT DATA CENTERS IN FRONT, ROYAL OR WARREN COUNTY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR STAND. WE JUST, WE JUST CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES. WE JUST DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES TONIGHT ARE WE, WE'RE JUST GONNA CAUTION TO THE WIND AND HOPEFULLY GOOD THING I'M, I RETIRED MY INTENT AND OUR INTENT IS TO GIVE YOU SOME SOLID DATA TO HELP WITH YOUR DECISION BEFORE YOU VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. UH, MY NAME IS HARRY DAVIS. I'M, UH, ONE 10 NIX SQUARE IN WARREN COUNTY. AND DO WE REALLY NEED DATA CENTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY? AND IF ANYBODY'S DRIVEN UP AND DOWN THE 28TH CORRIDOR BETWEEN, UH, RESTON AND HAYMARKET, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT TRULY LOOKS LIKE AND THAT I DON'T BELIEVE WE WANT THAT HERE. UM, AFTER SEEING THAT, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS EVEN COMING UP, UM, AS YOUR MISSION STATEMENT IS THAT, UH, YOU WANNA SUSTAIN FRONT ROYAL'S CHARACTER, BEAUTY, AND SMALL TOWN CHARM. AND THAT CERTAINLY ISN'T THAT CORRIDOR IF ANYBODY HAS SEEN IT. UM, AFTER I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCHING ALONG THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN, I FIND VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF A DATA CENTER. UM, AFTER RESEARCHING THE ECONOMIC TO THE HEALTH TO THE LAND ISSUES, THERE'S JUST NO BENEFICIAL OUTCOME FOR US. UM, WE'LL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR EVERYTHING THAT THESE DATA CENTERS REQUIRE BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS FIND A LOOPHOLE AROUND IT. UH, THE COMPANIES, THEY CAN'T BE TRUSTED FROM WHAT THEY SAY 'CAUSE TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THEY ALWAYS WANT TO CHANGE UP, UM, AFTER THEY'VE DONE INSTALLS. AND, UH, WE'RE KNOWN AS THE CON UH, CANOE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. SO WHAT WE WANT IS PEACE TRAN TRANQUILITY AND THAT SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY, NOT IN THE INDUSTRY THAT DOESN'T BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. DAVIS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AMBER MARTIN, UH, TOTTEN LANE AND I'M THE CREATOR OF PROTECT WARREN COUNTY AND A LIFELONG, UH, RESIDENT OF, I WAS RAISED IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND NOW LIVE IN THE COUNTY. UM, I JUST PROVIDED YOU ALL WITH A PETITION THAT NOW CONTAINS MORE THAN 1600 SIGNATURES AND WAS STILL ROLLING IN WHEN I PRINTED IT FROM RESIDENTS OPPOSED TO DATA CENTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. TONIGHT I WANNA PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT ALLOWING DATA CENTERS THROUGH SPECIAL USE PERMIT COULD LOOK LIKE. IN FRONT ROYAL. WE'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO I TWO PARCELS IN TOWN LIMITS. AND RECENTLY THAT DISCUSSION HAS BEEN ROUGHLY CENTERED AROUND ONE OF THE AVTEC PROPERTIES. HOWEVER, THE AVTEC PARCEL CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT IS NOT ACTUALLY ZONED TO I TWO. IT IS DESIGNATED AS MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. THE I TWO ZONING EXISTS ON THE PARCEL ALONG THE RIVER THAT I DON'T BELIEVE CAN ACTUALLY BE DEVELOPED. WHILE THE CURRENT CONTRACTOR PURCHASER COULD CERTAINLY PURSUE A REZONING THAT CHANGES THE NARRATIVE, IT IS NO LONGER SIMPLY THAT ONE AVTEX PARCEL. IF THAT REZONING IS APPROVED, WE NOW HAVE THREE PARCELS POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE, UM, FOR DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT TOTALING 457.4 ACRES. LET'S LOOK AT THE OTHER ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUBLICLY DISCUSSED AS HAVING DATA CENTER INTEREST THE EPA PARCEL ALONG PROGRESS DRIVE NEAR SHANDOR SHORES ROAD. WHILE THERE WOULD CERTAINLY BE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME THEIR NON POSSIBLE, THIS LOCATION CURRENTLY PROVIDES SCENIC VIEWS FOR NEARBY BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, AND SCHOOLS. A DATA CENTER AT THIS SITE WOULD PLACE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TWO SCHOOLS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE HUMANE SOCIETY. NOW LET'S CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE PATTERN WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ADOPTED RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCES RATHER THAN OUTRIGHT PROHIBITIONS. CONSIDER THE LARGE UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE I TWO PARCEL ON PROGRESS DRIVE. THAT'S MARY SHADY LANE, A SITE THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SINCE I WAS A CHILD. FOLLOWING TRENDS FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THESE TYPES OF PROPERTIES CAN BECOME TARGETS FOR DATA CENTER DEVELOPERS. ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS A ZONING APP REZONING APPLICATION. AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN SOME COMMUNITIES WHEN THOSE REZONINGS ARE DENIED AFTER DATA CENTERS HAVE ALREADY GAINED A FOOTHOLD LITIGATION, WHAT BEGINS AS ONE OR TWO PARCELS CAN QUICKLY EXPAND INTO HUNDREDS TO OVER THOUSANDS OF ACRES. DECISIONS MADE TODAY COULD PERMANENTLY ALTER THE CHARACTER OF OUR TOWN IMPACTING OUR VIEW SHEDS, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR SCHOOLS. IN THE FUTURE OF FRONT ROYAL, [02:10:02] IT IS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT WE SET IN THE FUTURE. WE CHOOSE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. DENY THIS AND PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS IS DEFINED A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NANCY KEEL AND I LIVE AT 1 0 0 9 HILLDALE ROAD. UH, BOTH OF MY PARENTS RECENTLY PASSED AND BUT I CAN STILL HEAR THEM AND I KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD SAY ABOUT ALLOWING DATA CENTERS INTO OUR TOWN AND INTO OUR COUNTY. I GREW UP HEARING ABOUT AND WATCHING IN ACTION WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR FAMILY, CHURCH, COMMUNITY, STATE, AND THE NATION. YOU ARE THE STEWARDS OF FRONT ROYAL STEWARD LEADERSHIP. MORAL LEADERSHIP PUTS PEOPLE AND THEIR BEST INTEREST AT THE HEART OF EACH CONSIDERATION. AND AS YOU KNOW, BEING A LEADER MEANS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE BEST INFORMED DECISIONS. SO TONIGHT I WANNA HELP BY DRAWING YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ARE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ANY ZONING DESIGNATION. AT THIS TIME, DATA CENTERS HAVE REALLY BEEN AROUND SINCE 1940. THEY'VE GONE THROUGH DIFFERENT EVOLUTIONS. RIGHT NOW OUR AI BUSINESS CRAZE IS CUTTING CORNERS TO CREATE DATA CENTERS SO THAT CERTAIN COMPANIES CAN BE DOMINANT AT THE VERY BEGINNING AND MAKE THEIR MONEY. THEY WANT TOTO ESTABLISH THEIR DOMINANCE IN THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY QUICKLY AND THEY'RE DOING WHATEVER THEY NEED TO IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. CUTTING CORNERS IS NOT GOOD BUSINESS, AND I KNOW YOU AGREE WITH THAT IN FRONT ROYAL. SO BEING A GOOD STEWARD MEANS CHOOSING THE MOST LOGICAL WAY TO PROTECT PEOPLE UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE. THERE WAS A PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATION IN 2008 TO THE FCC THAT THEY HAD NOT REVEALED THAT MEDICAL RESEARCH HAD MADE THE FINDING THAT IF YOU LIVED WITHIN OR WORKED WITHIN THREE TENS OF A MILE OF 5G CELL TOWER THAT HAD BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER, THE, UH, VERIZON, AT AND T THE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS COULD NOT BE SUED IF YOU GOT CANCER. ONCE THIS INFORMATION WAS REVEALED, THERE'S BEEN NO OFFICIAL NATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF THE HEALTH IMP IMPLICATIONS OF WORKING NEAR 5G TOWERS WITH HIGHER I EMFS. AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY BECAUSE EARLIER IT WAS SMALLER, BUT NOW WE KNOW HOW TO JUICE UP THAT ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD SO YOU HAVE EVEN BETTER COVERAGE, BUT IT COMES WITH COSTS TO HEALTH. AND THE FCC JUST ANNOUNCED THIS PAST SEPTEMBER AND 2025 THAT WE WILL NOW BE MOVING ON TO SIX G CELL TOWERS. SO THEY WILL BE COMING SOON TO UPDATE THE TOWERS THAT ARE AROUND IN FRONT OIL. THERE HAS BEEN NO LONGITUDINAL STUDY PERFORMED ON THE EFFECTS OF LIVING AND WORKING NEAR TODAY'S 5G TOWERS. IF YOU LOOK IT UP, IT'LL SAY THAT IT DOESN'T CAUSE CANCER. THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU START READING A FINE PRINT AND LOOKING AT THE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOANNA MOORES. I LIVE AT 2 4 1 PAWPAW DRIVE IN SHENANDOAH SHORES. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF DATA CENTERS DISREGARDING THEIR COMMUNITIES, UH, THAT THEY'RE A PART OF IN PURSUIT OF PROFITS. AND TODAY I JUST HANDED TWO EXAMPLES, UM, THAT ARE VERY RECENT TO HILLARY. UH, I ONLY HAVE ONE COFFEE OR ONE COPY BECAUSE, UH, I HAD TO PRINT THEM AT THE UPS, BUT, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT BRICK AND MORTARS IN FRONT ROYAL. UH, BUT IT'S YOURS TO KEEP. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S HEADLINES. YOU COULD PROBABLY SEARCH 'EM DIFFERENT CREDIBLE SOURCES AND, UH, I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM. BUT IN SHORT, IF YOU SAY THAT DATA CENTERS CAN'T USE GROUNDWATER, THEY WILL, AND THEN THEY'LL ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AFTER THE WATER IS GONE FOR THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU SAY THEY CAN'T CONNECT TO THE GRID, THEY WILL EMIT POLLUTANTS BY RUNNING GENERATORS 24 7. THE STERLING VIRGINIA DATA CENTER HEALTH CRISIS IS CURRENTLY BEING STUDIED BY THE PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL, AND IT'S IN ONE OF THE ARTICLES THAT I'VE PROVIDED. UH, IF YOU TELL THEM THEY CAN'T MAKE TOO MUCH NOISE, THEY'LL LAWYER UP AND CLAIM THAT THE EXCESS NOISE IS A BYPRODUCT OF OPERATIONS AROUND THEM. PLANES, TRAINS, CARS, AGRICULTURE, THEY'LL DO LITERALLY ANYTHING TO KEEP RUNNING 24 7 AT THE [02:15:01] EXPENSE OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE ELSE AROUND THEM. ADDITIONALLY, FEDERAL REGULATIONS PASSED IN 2014, UH, TO CONTROL DATA CENTERS EXPIRE IN SEPTEMBER. UM, THESE REGULATIONS ATTEMPTED TO REGULATE SUSTAINABILITY AND POWER USAGE OF DATA CENTERS. AND IF WE SEE THIS MAGNITUDE OF DAMAGES NOW, IMAGINE WHAT THEY'LL BECOME ONCE THEY'RE DEREGULATED. UH, OF NOTE, HARTFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND WAS THE FIRST COUNTY IN THE TRI-STATE AREA THAT BANNED DATA CENTERS ACROSS ALL ZONING AREAS, AND WE SHOULD FOLLOW SUIT. GIVEN THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANNA LIVE NEAR DATA CENTERS. WE CAN GROW BY INVITING NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OUR AREA, FREE OF DATA CENTERS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, AND SHARE WITH THEM OUR KINDNESS, HOSPITALITY, BEAUTY, MEMORIES ON A SPOON AND OTHER LOCAL GOODIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. SOPHIA CUTBACK, KATHY KAIN, ALEXANDER WOLF, COREY WOLF, PAUL DERE. MY NAME IS SOPHIA CUTBACK. I LIVE AT 9 4 5 COLD BROOK LANE IN THE ROCKLAND DISTRICT. UH, FIRST OF ALL, MADAM MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE OF OUR COMMUNITY. UM, I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T PLAN TO SAY, BUT I REALIZED IN COMING TO THIS MEETING, MY PATERNAL GRANDFATHER IS AN AUSCHWITZ SURVIVOR, AND AS SUCH, MY PERSONAL TRAUMA FROM THAT EXPERIENCE IS THERE'S NO WAY OUT. AND WHEN MY DAUGHTER INVITED ME TO COME TO THIS MEETING, I SAID TO HER, I CAN'T GO BECAUSE I CAN'T BEAR. TO SEE PEOPLE SPEAK OUT AND HAVE THE ANSWER BE WHAT WAS ALREADY DECIDED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. SO AS THE WOMAN PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, HER NEIGHBOR HAD SAID, BUT I'VE DECIDED TO COME HERE AS A WAY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST MY TRAUMA IN THE HOPES THAT YOU ALL WILL HEAR WHAT WE SAY. AND AS A WAY OF, UM, BEGGING FOR CONFIDENCE IN HUMANITY THAT JUSTICE CAN HAPPEN AND THAT WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. UM, I MOVE TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AS A TEEN AND I MET MY HUSBAND HERE. WE CHOOSE TO BOTH LIVE AND WORK IN FRONT ROYAL. UH, WE HAVE RAISED OUR CHILDREN HERE WHO ARE NOW GETTING MARRIED AND RAISING THEIR OWN CHILDREN HERE. THEY ARE INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY BY STARTING LOCAL BUSINESSES. WE ARE NOT ONLY PROUD TO LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL, WE LOVE FRONT ROYAL. THERE ARE MANY THINGS ABOUT OUR TOWN AND COUNTY THAT HAVE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT IN THE FORMATION OF WHO WE ARE, BUT MOST ESPECIALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE BEAUTY OF THE AREA THAT WE LIVE IN. THE BEAUTY HAS TAUGHT US, ALL OF US, MY HUSBAND, MYSELF, AND OUR CHILDREN, AND NOW OUR GRANDCHILDREN, THAT INDEED IT IS GOOD TO BE ALIVE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A VERY PRECIOUS AND SPECIAL THING FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME. EVEN FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NOT, IT'S EASY TO FORGET AND TAKE FOR GRANTED THE NATURAL BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS US. WHEN PEOPLE COME TO VISIT OUR HOME, THEY INVARIABLY GASP AT THE VIEW THAT I HARDLY LOOK AT ANYMORE CARRYING GROCERIES OR MY MUNDANE WORRIES FROM THE CAR TO THE DOOR. I HAVE DECIDED THAT EVERY TIME I LEAVE MY CAR AND GO TO MY FRONT DOOR, I WILL LOOK AT THE VIEW AND SAY, WOW, THAT'S AMAZING. I HAVE A FRIEND FROM ENGLAND WHO TRIES TO COME TO FRONT ROYAL ONCE A WEEK FOR A YEAR, EVERY YEAR, ONCE A WEEK TO BIKE AND HIKE IN THE MOUNTAINS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RECLAIM HIS LIFE FROM HIS HIGH STRESS JOB. WHEN A MUTUAL FRIEND EXCITEDLY ASKED HIM TO HELP HER PLAN A TRIP TO ENGLAND, HE AGREED, BUT HE SAID, WHY DO YOU WANNA GO TO ENGLAND? IT'S WAY MORE BEAUTIFUL HERE. LAST SUMMER, MY DAUGHTER WORKED AT A LOCAL FOOD ESTABLISHMENT, AND EVERY NIGHT SHE WOULD COME HOME AND SAY, WOW, I MET THIS FAMILY FROM GERMANY. WOW, I MET THIS FAMILY FROM THE NETHERLANDS. WOW. I MET THIS FAMILY. AND SHE FINALLY ASKED ONE OF THESE, I MEAN, THIS IS LITERALLY EVERY NIGHT SERVING AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT. THERE WERE FOREIGNERS THERE. AND SHE SAID TO SOMEONE, WHY ARE YOU ALL COMING TO FRONT ROYAL? AND THEY SAID, IT'S IN THE GUIDEBOOKS SKYLINE DRIVE. YOU HAVE TO COME HERE. WE LIVE IN AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY, AND IT'S OUR TRUST TO PRESERVE IT. 150 YEARS AGO, AND AS THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE WAS BEING PERMANENTLY CHANGED BY THE RACE TO CATCH THE WAVE OF OF NEW INDUSTRY. JOHN RUSKIN, HISTORIAN ARTIST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL. MY NAME IS KATHY KANE. I LIVE AT 47 HICKORY SHAFT COURT IN FRONT ROYAL. MY HUSBAND AND I RECENTLY MOVED TO FRONT ROYAL TO ENJOY OUR RETIREMENT IN A COMMUNITY KNOWN FOR NATURAL BEAUTY, PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOODS AND RURAL CHARACTER. WE WERE SHOCKED AND DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT OUR PROPERTY DIRECTLY BACKS UP TO AN AREA WHERE DATA CENTERS WILL POTENTIALLY BE BUILT BEFORE MOVING HERE. I LIVED IN LOUDOUN COUNTY FOR 25 YEARS. I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED THE DRAMATIC GROWTH OF DATA [02:20:01] CENTERS DURING THE PAST TWO DECADES. LOUDOUN IS NOW HOME TO DATA CENTER ALLEY, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WITH THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF DATA CENTERS IN THE WORLD. 250 DATA CENTERS BUILT WITH A HUNDRED MORE IN PLANNED WHAT WAS ONCE A LANDSCAPE THAT I ENJOYED FULL OF FARMLAND AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES HAS NOW BECOME AN INDUSTRIALIZED, HEAVILY INDUSTRIALIZED AREA. AND LARGE DATA CENTERS NOW SIT NEXT TO NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE FUNDAMENTALLY NOW CHANGED FOREVER. IN 2024, WHILE I WAS ALLOWED IN COUNTY RESIDENT, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM NOVEC, THE ELECTRIC COMPANY THAT SERVICED MY FORMER HOME. THE LETTER INFORMED ME THAT DUE TO MASSIVE DATA CENTER GROWTH IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, MY ELECTRIC BILL WAS GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR RATE INCREASE. THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL NEEDS TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER THEY WANT TO FACE A SIMILAR ISSUE HERE. IN ADDITION, MY NEIGHBORS IN RURAL LOUDOUN COUNTY ARE NOW FACING DERIVED WELLS. LET US LEARN FROM LOUDOUN'S LACK OF PLANNING. I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER SERIOUSLY WHAT THE RESIDENTS HERE ARE EXPRESSING TONIGHT. FRONT ROYAL HAS SERIOUS CONCERNS. FRONT ROYAL RESIDENTS HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT NOISE, VISUAL IMPACTS INCREASED DEMAND ON ELECTRICITY, WATER RESOURCES, POTENTIAL, PROPERTY VALUE, DECREASE, AND A LOT OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE IN FRONT ROYAL BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE CHARACTER AND QUALITY OF LIFE, AND I HOPE THAT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL ALSO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN VIEWS WITHOUT DATA CENTERS THAT I HAVE COME TO CHERISH. I URGE YOU TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, KATHY. MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA WOLF, OTHER AT 48 SOUTH RIVER ROAD FROM ROYAL. AND I SWEAR I WASN'T GONNA CRY. I'M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MY COMMUNITY FOR COMING TOGETHER AND, UM, I HAVE PART PREPARED AND PART NOT. UM, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO FOR AMENDING THE TEXT AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW DATA CENTERS TO COME HERE. IF YOU CHANGE IT, IT WILL OPEN THE FLOODGATES AND THEY WILL COME AND THEY WILL CHANGE THIS AREA IN A NEGATIVE WAY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU CAN VOTE NO. AND, UM, THIS IS WHERE I GET OFF TRACK A LITTLE BIT. UM, SCOTT LLOYD WROTE, UM, AN OPINION PIECE IN THE ROYAL EXAMINER STATE CODE ALLOWS FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY TO BAN DATA CENTERS. I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT IT. HE TALKS ABOUT HOW, UM, YOU CAN SAY NO AND THE DI RULE DOESN'T APPLY. YOU CAN SAY NO, UM, AND THAT IT GOES OFF TRACK ON. WE HAVE, WE HAVE A DROUGHT AND IT ALSO GOES OFF TRACK ON OUR TOURISM. UM, SO I URGE YOU TO READ THAT BECAUSE HE'S A LOT MORE DETAILED AND ELOQUENT THAN I COULD EVER BE. UM, BUT SO SEVERAL LOCAL ATTORNEYS, HIM AND I SPOKE TO THE ONE AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, AND I ASKED IF THEY CAN SAY NO, BECAUSE EVERYBODY KEEPS MENTIONING THE DYLAN RULE AND HE SAID THEY CAN SAY NO. UM, SO I ASKED THAT YOU SAY NO AND NOT ALLOW THEM. EVEN THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IT'S A LOCAL ISSUE. AND TO LET OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT KNOW HOW WE FEEL. I WROTE EMAILS TO EVERY POLITICIAN I COULD THINK OF. BELIEVE ME, I HAVE, UM, SEVERAL, I BUGGED THEM . AND WHEN I FINALLY HEARD BACK, UM, THEY SAID, MAKE SURE YOU LET YOUR LOCAL BOARDS KNOW HOW YOU FEEL BECAUSE IT'S A LOCAL ISSUE. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'LL TELL YOU. PEOPLE MOVE HERE BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE. AND TO GET AWAY FROM THE DATA CENTERS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. THEY DON'T MOVE HERE TO LIVE AMONG DATA CENTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS COY WOLF. I LIVE AT FOY EIGHT SOUTH RIVER ROAD. DITTO WHAT SHE JUST SAID. UM, NO DATA CENTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PAUL DRE. I LIVE AT 75 MARION LANE BENTONVILLE. UM, I DON'T ENVY THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING FOR THE DECISION YOU HAVE TO MAKE. UM, I HOPE YOU WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS. UM, THERE ARE ANYWHERE FROM 631 TO 729 DATA CENTERS IN VIRGINIA ALONE. UM, TO, IN COMPARISON, THERE'S ABOUT 365 [02:25:01] TO 562 DATA CENTERS IN CHINA. UM, THAT'S A, THAT'S A START COMPARISON ABOUT 70% OF INTERNET TRAFFIC THAT FLOWS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, FLOWS THROUGH NOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA. UH, MY CONCERNS, UH, ONE IS WATER CONSUMPTION. UH, FRONT ROYAL HAS HAD MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS, UH, AT LEAST THREE TIMES THAT I I KNOW OF OCTOBER 2ND, 2017 TO DECEMBER 1ST, 2017. AUGUST 23RD, 2023 TO NOVEMBER 20, UH, 23 AND JULY 15TH, 2024 TO AUGUST 12TH, 2024. AND THERE WAS POSSIBLE FINES FOR PEOPLE THAT WOULD WATCH CARS. I, I SAID, WATCH 'CAUSE I'M FROM THE MIDWEST, UM, OR IF THEY, UH, WATER THEIR GRASS AND THAT, THAT WAS FINDING PEOPLE POSSIBLY UP TO $1,000. UM, I WILL SAY, UM, A LOT OF DATA CENTERS USE, UH, EVAPORATED COOLING. SOMEONE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, 70 TO 80%, UH, IS LOST AS VAPOR, UH, THAT VAPOR, UH, IN THOSE, UH, COOLING STACKS. UM, THERE HAS BEEN LINKED, UH, LEGIONELLA BACTERIA, WHICH CAUSES LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE. THE OTHER 20 TO 30% IS WASTEWATER, AND THAT'S NOT REUSABLE. IT'S USUALLY DUMPED INTO THE MUNICIPAL SEWAGE AND TREATMENT FACILITIES, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A BURDEN ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, OF THAT 20 TO 30%, THERE'S A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS, THAT'S CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SILICA THAT LEADS TO, UH, DISTASTE OF, UH, OF DRINKING WATER, UH, LOWER CROP YIELDS AND TOXIC TO AQUATIC LIFE. UM, THE OTHER IS THE ELECTRICAL GRID. UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EVAPORATED, UH, COOLING, IT'S ABOUT 10% LOWER FOR THE ELECTRICAL GRID. IF YOU GO WITH ANY OTHER METHOD, YOU'RE ONLY GONNA CAUSE MORE, UM, USAGE OF ELECTRICITY. UH, THE NOISE POLLUTION, IF THE, YOU, THEY PUT INFRASTRUCTURE ON THEIR OWN OR IF THEY USE BACKUP GENERATORS OR GENERATORS TO, TO POWER, UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM TWO TO 10 MILES OF NOISE. JUST TO GIVE YOU A, A QUICK THING, UH, AFT TECHS TO, TO SKYLINE CAVERNS IS 1.8 MILES AVTEC TO SKYLINE HIGH IS 1.46 MILES TO RURAL KING. IT'S 2.1 MILES TO WALMART. IT'S 2.79. GREAT MAN, ONCE SAID, UH, THAT WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. THAT WAS STAN LEE. UH, YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF POWER RIGHT HERE TONIGHT. I, UH, PLEASE PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS. THANK YOU. KRISTEN HIGGINS, IRMA POWELL, JAY NOEL, MICHAEL GRUEL. STEPHANIE SEALEY. HI, MY NAME IS, UH, TRISTAN HIGGINS. I LIVE AT, UH, 64 LYON MAIN STREET, BENTONVILLE, VIRGINIA. AND, UM, AS A DISCLAIMER, I WILL SAY THAT I'M NOT A REPRESENTATIVE OF A SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION OR WHAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, UH, SORRY, I DON'T PUBLIC SPEAK VERY OFTEN, BUT I, UM, I WORK AT THE CONSERVATION ON REMOUNT, AND IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT DEFINITELY INSPIRES A LOT OF, UH, PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP THERE AND SEE ALL THE ENDANGERED ANIMALS. AND IT'S ABOUT 3,200 ACRES OF JUST CONSERVATION LAND. AND IT BOTHERS ME A LOT TO THINK THAT IF THERE'S ANY WAY AT ALL, THAT THESE DATA CENTERS OR EVEN ANY TECH CEOS THINK THAT THEY CAN USE THE VALLEY AS THEIR DUMPING GROUNDS AND JUST SIPHON UP WHAT'S LEFT OF THE BEAUTY OUT HERE. IT JUST MAKES ME SICK. LIKE IT, IT'S A REALLY GOOD THING THAT I WAS BORN OUT HERE TO SEE THE BEAUTY IN THE VALLEY. AND I DON'T WANNA SEE ANY OF THAT DISAPPEAR IN MY LIFETIME, OR WHEN I DO DECIDE TO HAVE CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE SAME THINGS I DID. AND I GUESS I CAN SAY, UM, PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED, AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. AND PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM COME IN THE VALLEY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JAY NEWELL, 2 5 5 HARRIS DRIVE. Y'ALL REMEMBER WHEN THE, UM, THE, THE SOLDIER AT THE COURTHOUSE WAS, UM, THEY BROUGHT IT UP AND THEY WERE GONNA TEAR THE SOLDIER DOWN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER, AND THEY, THE TOWN VOTED [02:30:01] ON IT. Y'ALL DIDN'T VOTE THE WHOLE TOWN, AND THE, AND THE COUNTY VOTED ON IT. WHY CAN'T THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY PEOPLE VOTE INSTEAD OF Y'ALL? WHY CAN'T WE VOTE FOR IT? AND THAT'LL TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT OR WRONG DECISION. LET US VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IRMA POWELL, 93 PAPA DRIVE IN, UH, MORIN COUNTY. UM, THIS ROOM WAS PACKED AND IT WAS PACKED THIS MONTH. I MEAN, LAST MONTH WHEN I WAS HERE. AND I ASKED THE, UM, THE, UH, GENTLEMAN, THE ASSISTANT, UH, FIRE MARSHAL, WHAT HE ESTIMATED THE PEOPLE WERE HERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SEVEN 30, WHATEVER. AND HE SAID AT LEAST 250. AND HIS FACE LOOKED LIKE PROBABLY MORE. AND IF YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE, UH, PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE HALLWAY AND PROBABLY MAYBE COULDN'T GET IN BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE PARKING PEOPLE THAT WERE WATCHING IT, AND PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT WANTED TO COME, I WOULD SAY WE PROBABLY HAD AT LEAST 300 PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO COME AND SPEAK HERE TONIGHT. AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT LISTENING TO ALL OF US. AND, UM, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT IN THE MARKETING WORLD, IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT IF ONE PERSON WRITES A LETTER, SENDS AN EMAIL, YOU KNOW, LODGES A COMPLAINT OR MAKES A SUGGESTION, THERE ARE ABOUT A HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE THAT FEEL THE SAME, BUT THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO DO THAT, TO SEND THAT LETTER TO DO THAT. SO IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY AT 300 PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO COME HERE, TO STAND UP AND SAY WHAT THEY FELT THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT THE DATA CENTERS, THEN YOU COULD PROBABLY, IF YOU DO THE MATH, THAT'S ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DO NOT WANT THESE DATA CENTERS HERE. AND CONSIDERING WE ONLY HAVE A LITTLE LESS THAN 43,000 PEOPLE IN ALL OF WARREN COUNTY, THAT'S A MAJOR, MAJOR MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WANT THIS, THAT WANT TO CLING TO OUR, TO THE IMAGE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I AM, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY AND THE PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. AND I ASK YOU TO, UM, PLEASE, UH, REPRESENT US. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB AND IT'S HARD TO PLEASE EVERYBODY ALL THE TIME. BUT WITH THIS ONE, YOU WILL BE PLEASING ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY IF YOU VOTE NO FOR THIS. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE SEALEY. I LIVE AT 3 8 3 RIDGEWAY COUNTY. UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPENDING THREE MONTHS IN A RENTAL IN THE CHIMNEY FIELD PARK AREA RIGHT NEXT TO AVTEC OVER CHRISTMAS TIME. AND IT REALLY WAS A PRIVILEGE. I I HAD A CHANCE TO GO BACK AND TALK TO ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT DATA CENTERS. AND I CAN'T RECALL A SINGLE PERSON THAT WAS AGAINST IT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OR TWO PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T, HADN'T MADE UP THEIR MIND AND WANTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH, BUT, UH, EVERY SINGLE HOUSE I KNOCKED ON THEIR DOOR AND THEY, THEY WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF IT AT ALL. UM, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DO SOMETHING REALLY MOMENTOUS RIGHT NOW. UM, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE YOUNG LADY THAT STOOD UP EARLIER AND TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSE THAT SHE HAD PURCHASED BEING A, A IN RECOVERY FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. UM, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MOST HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE YOU'LL EVER MEET. IS, IS WIVES THAT HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR MIND AND COME BACK FROM A REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION. UM, DO YOU WANNA BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE? DON'T YOU WANNA BE DIFFERENT? DO YOU WANNA DO, DO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT? DIFFERENT'S GOOD. IT'S A DRAW FOR OUR AREA. BANNING DATA CENTERS FITS OUR STYLE. THIS IS OUR STYLE. WE CAN BE DIFFERENT. YOU'VE HEARD SO MANY FACTS. ALL OF THE NITTY GRITTY HAS BEEN PRESENTED OVER AND OVER AND OVER. I'M TELLING YOU THAT YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO GIVE HOPE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. WE CAN BE DIFFERENT, WE CAN BE UNIQUE. WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING RIGHT NOW. SO IF WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, TAKE ON THE MIND OF CHRIST. THAT'S, THAT'S HOW WE DO IT. CHRISTIANS, TAKE ON THE MIND OF THE HEAD. YOU, WE ARE THE BODY, YOU'RE THE HEAD TAKE ON THE MIND OF, OF THIS BODY. IT'S NOT THAT HARD. IT JUST TAKES A DECISION. WE, WE WOULD LIKE THE GREEN SPACE THAT YOU PROMISED US THAT YOU'VE BEEN PROMISING FOR SO MANY YEARS. PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. MELANIE SALAN, MICHAEL SALAN, LEAH, JUSTICE, [02:35:01] SARAH ERNST, KAREN FALL. MELANIE SALANS, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT. LET'S BAN SOME DATA CENTERS. DESPITE WHAT WAS SAID, DYLAN RULE DOES NOT APPLY IN 15.2 DASH 2280 ALLOWS FOR A PROHIBITIVE ORDINANCE. I ATTENDED YOUR WORK SESSION AND I HEARD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FEAR OF LAWSUITS. SO I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU TONIGHT. NUMBER ONE, CAN ANY OF YOU PLEASE NAME ONE LAWSUIT IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA IN WHICH A DATA CENTER HAS SUCCESSFULLY SUE A LOCALITY FOR NOT HAVING DATA CENTERS AS A PERMISSIBLE USE? HINT, THERE ISN'T ONE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. QUESTION TWO, CAN YOU LIST LAWSUITS IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA IN WHICH LOCALITIES THAT DO ALLOW DATA CENTERS BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT HAVE BEEN SUED BY EITHER THE DATA CENTER OR THE RESIDENTS? I'VE RESEARCHED THIS AS WELL. THE LIST IS SO LONG, I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO NAME THEM ALL. IF YOUR GOAL IS TO AVOID LAWSUITS, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO NOT ADD DATA CENTERS TO COUNTY CODE AS A PERMISSIBLE USE. LOCALITIES ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED IN VIRGINIA TO DENY ZONING PERMISSIONS FOR ENDANGERING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND FOR INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS. WE DON'T WANT TO ALLOW DATA CENTERS WITH RESTRICTIONS THAT OPENS THE DOOR, THAT LETS THEM IN, THAT BRINGS THE LAWSUITS. WE SIMPLY DON'T WANT DATA CENTERS. THEY ARE NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. AND ONE THING THAT I'VE SEEN TONIGHT IS OUR COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER IN A WAY I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE TO OPPOSE DATA CENTERS. TRUE LEADERSHIP REQUIRES COURAGE. THE CITIZENS IN THIS COMMUNITY EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP TO THESE RICH DATA CENTERS AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, NOT WELCOME THE DATA CENTERS IN THE DOOR TO DESTROY US AS THEY HAVE DESTROYED NORTHERN VIRGINIA. THE FOUR DRAFT MOTION OPTIONS I SEE LISTED ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT CERTAINLY ARE NOT COURAGEOUS AND DEFINITELY ARE NOT WHAT CITIZENS IN THIS ROOM WANT. BUT THOSE DRAFT MOTIONS WERE WRITTEN BY YOUR STAFF, NOT BY YOU GUYS, NOT ANY OF YOU WHO WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT US. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO BETTER TONIGHT. USE YOUR OWN WISDOM, USE YOUR OWN WORDS, AND MAKE A MOTION THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS AND GIVE THE PLANNING COMMISSION A CLEAR TIMELINE FOR GETTING THE PROHIBITIVE ORDINANCE WRITTEN SO THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO VOTE TO DENY DATA CENTERS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS THIS FALL. BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT CLEAR, IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF DATA CENTERS, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE YOUR SEAT AGAIN. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MIKE. SOUNDS NORTH RIVER. UH, THAT WAS MY WIFE . I DON'T REALLY NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE. UM, I WILL BRING A COUPLE POINTS. I DON'T WANT TO GO ON AND ON ABOUT A BUNCH OF NONSENSE, BUT, UH, CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS. I KEEP HEARING THIS BROUGHT UP AS IF THIS IS GONNA BE LIKE THE CURE ALL FOR ALL THE WATER ISSUES. UM, SOME OF YOU GUYS KNOW ME, WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. UM, CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS ARE USED, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE TITLE, UH, VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE. CARS, WE HAVE 'EM ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? YOUR OIL SYSTEM, YOUR COOLANT SYSTEM. I MAKE A LIVING FIXING CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS. ALL RIGHT? IT'S A SCAM. IT'S THE, THE TERMINOLOGY IS JUST A, A, A MEANS TO KIND OF THINK THAT THERE'S A SOLUTION. THERE'S NOT DATA CENTERS. SUP. SUPPOSE THE CLOSED WATER SYSTEM IS THE FIX. WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THE NOISE? WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT HOW THEY LOOK? THEY LOOK LIKE CRAP. THEY TAKE UP ALL OUR LAND. UM, WHAT ABOUT THE POWER GRID THAT CAN'T HANDLE IT? THE ELECTRICITY COSTS THAT WE'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO ABSORB BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO. [02:40:01] UM, BUT MOST OF ALL, NONE OF THESE PEOPLE WANT IT. EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER TONIGHT TO TELL YOU THEY DON'T WANT IT. UM, DATA CENTERS. THE, THE PEOPLE THAT RUN THEM, THEY LIE THROUGH THEIR TEETH. IT'S BEEN PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN. SO DON'T FALL FOR IT. UH, LIKE MY WIFE SAID, THE LEGALITY, LET 'EM, LET 'EM TRY AND SUE YOU. WHO CARES? MAKE THE DECISION THAT YOU GUYS WERE BASICALLY NOMINATED AND ELECTED TO MAKE. UM, AFTER EVERYBODY WHO'S SHOWN UP TONIGHT AND SPOKEN OUT, ANYBODY THAT VOTES FOR A DATA CENTER AFTER THIS, IT WOULD BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE SEEN AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A VOTE FOR SOME TYPE OF SELF-INTEREST. AND THAT'S HOW WE WILL TAKE IT. GOODNIGHT. THANK GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, MY NAME'S KAREN FALL AND I LIVE AT 1 5 4 REMOUNT VIEW ROAD. IN FRONT ROYAL. AMONG THE MOTIONS PREPARED FOR THIS ITEM IS A REFERRAL MOTION TO SEND THIS BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO RECOMMEND DEFINING AND PROHIBITING DATA CENTERS AS A SPECIFIC USE. I ASK THAT YOU MAKE THAT MOTION. DATA CENTERS CURRENTLY HAVE NO DEFINED PATHWAY IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE, AND I ASK YOU NOT TO CREATE ONE TONIGHT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE 113 ACRES AT ABEC UNDER CONTRACT TO PROVIDENCE REALTY DURING AN ACTIVE DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD. THAT COULD CLOSE AT ANY TIME. I'M GONNA GO A LITTLE OFF SCRIPT FROM WHAT I HANDED TO, UH, HILLARY. UM, I'VE LIVED IN, IN VIRGINIA SINCE 1991. UH, I SPENT OVER 35 YEARS IN AN IT CAREER. I, UH, RETIRED FROM IBM AFTER OVER 25 YEARS. UH, I WAS A SYSTEMS ENGINEER, SYSTEMS ANALYST, BUSINESS ANALYST, PROGRAM ENGINEER ON ALL THROUGH THROUGH THAT TIME. AND I KNOW HOW TECH CHANGES JUST LAST MONTH, A COOLING TECHNOLOGY, A NEW COOLING TECHNOLOGY WAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT USES 3D PRINTED COPPER PLATES, WHATEVER THAT IS, THAT COULD SLASH DATA CENTER COOLING ENERGY BY 98%. SO WE'RE REALLY, THIS TECHNOLOGY IS TOO NEW TO MAKE THESE KIND OF CHANGES TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S WORTH NOTING ALSO THAT AI USED IS USED TO ELIMINATE JOBS, NOT CREATE SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF NEW PERMANENT JOBS. AND THE PERMANENT JOBS THAT IT WOULD CREATE WOULD REQUIRE SKILLS LIKELY TO BE FILLED BY CONTRACTORS FROM OUT OF TOWN. AND AI IS NOT REVENUE GENERATING. I HAD A LIST OF, I ALSO WENT THROUGH THE, UM, DRAFT RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCE AND I HAVE A LIST THAT I, THAT GAVE TO HILLARY OF MY, UM, MY COMMENTS AND GAPS THAT I FEEL NEED TO BE CLOSED THERE. BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME , I'M GONNA STICK TO THE ONE THAT I THINK STOOD OUT THE MOST THAT, THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY, UM, WOULD FIND AS NEW. I, I'D LIKE TO SEE IT CLARIFIED WHAT ACTUAL CONTROL THIS ORDINANCE WOULD GIVE ON ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. 'CAUSE THOUGH THE UTILITY IMPACT ANALYSIS COVERS GRID LOAD AND A POWER DELIVERY PLAN, IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT NEW TRANSMISSION LINES OR SUBSTATIONS. UNDER VIRGINIA LAW. TRANSMISSION LINES AT OR ABOVE 138 KILOWATTS CAN BE APPROVED BY THE STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION. OH, ALREADY. SORRY, KAREN. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS LEE, FRANCIS POWELL. BETH THE VINCENT MARCA, JOHN DAON. HELLO, I'M CHRIS LEE. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO WAIT? NO, YOU'RE GOOD. I'M CHRIS LEE. I LIVE AT 25 DENTAL COURT IN LYNDON, VIRGINIA. AND, UH, WE LIVED THERE. I'VE LIVED, I'VE BEEN IN VIRGINIA SINCE I WAS EIGHT. AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT I, I I THINK YOU SHOULD PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS, UH, AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL THE ZONING DESIGNATIONS. UM, AND THE [02:45:01] REASON WHY IS WHEN I WAS A KID, MY FATHER TOOK ME INTO THE WOODS AND WE'RE HIKING AND HE SEES A YELLOW FEATHER AND HE PICKS IT UP AND WE HIKE A LITTLE FURTHER AND WE SIT DOWN AND HE GIVES ME A WORM AND I FISH AND CATCH THE LITTLE THINGS AND HE MAKES A FLY AND CATCHES A TROUT. AND HE TOOK ME TO THE WOODS. AND THEN WHEN WE GREW UP, WE LIVED DOWNTOWN IN DC ON PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AND YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WENT FOR WEEKENDS HERE BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S AMAZING. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE NOISE THAT, THAT ONE OF THOSE THAT DATA CENTERS CAN MAKE, UH, I STUDIED SCIENCE 12 YEARS. I AM NO EXPERT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IS, IS SAYING THAT IF YOU, IF YOU GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF DECIBELS, IT, IT'S GONNA HURT YOUR EARS. AND EVEN IF WE GO TO CHESTER TAVERN TO HEAR SOME WONDERFUL MUSIC, IT, IT CAN BE A LITTLE LOUD AND HURT OUR EARS, BUT WE CAN STEP AWAY. BUT YOU CAN'T STEP AWAY WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION TO MAKE THAT, THAT BUILDING THERE. SO I WOULD JUST URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE REASON THAT PEOPLE COME OUT HERE AND WANT TO COME LIVE HERE IS BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL. AND, UM, THAT IF, UH, YOU CHANGE THAT, UM, THAT IDEA OF FRONT ROYAL BEING THE CANOE CAPITAL CAN, CAN KIND OF CHANGE. AND, UH, I'LL STOP TO RESERVE THE TIME FOR OTHERS. AND, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. FIRST AND FOREMOST, MY NAME IS FRANCIS POWELL. I LIVE IN 93 PAWPAW DRIVE AND I AM A RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY. I'LL START OFF WITH A QUESTION THAT YOU, THAT NONE OF YOU NEED TO ANSWER NOW, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT IS THIS, HOW WOULD YOU PROFIT OFF OF A CORPSE SAYING YES AND OPENING THE DOOR TO THESE DATA CENTERS MAKES YOU ASK THAT QUESTION. SAYING NO DOESN'T. NOW OBVIOUSLY I DON'T NEED TO REPEAT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS SAID. THEY'VE ALL MADE VERY GOOD POINTS. ALL I'LL SAY IS THIS, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY AS BEAUTIFUL AS I REMEMBER IT AND AS EVERYONE ELSE REMEMBERS IT TOO. AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO PLEASE ASK YOU ALL TO PLEASE EXERCISE IT FOR THE SAKE OF THIS COUNTY AND FOR EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT, CONSTITUENTS AND WHATNOT, I LOVE THIS TOWN. I'VE GROWN UP HERE AND I WOULD, AND I WOULD HATE FOR IT TO BECOME ANOTHER EXTENSION OF NORTHERN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, COUNT TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS NAME IS VINCENT MARCA AND I LIVE AT ONE 40 FONTANA ROAD IN THE FORT DISTRICT OF THE COUNTY. SO I'M JUST GOING TO BE BRIEF SINCE I'VE ALREADY PRESENTED A FACT SHEET. AND, UH, I WILL SUMMARIZE BRIEF POINTS OF IT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT THE DEVELOPERS USE, PRETTY DECEPTIVE I MIGHT SAY. AND UH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ANALYZE THREE POINTS. THE NUMBER ONE IS THE DEVELOPERS. THEY MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COST TO POWER. WELL, THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF POWER. I'VE JUST ASKED A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WORKS AT A POWER STATION, HOW MUCH DOES, DOES A DATA CENTER NEED POWER? HE TOLD ME THAT IN GENERAL, A SUPER LARGE 100 BY 100 YARD ZONE, I REPEAT AND UNDERLINE A 100 BY 100 YARD ZONE HAS TO STAY IN AN, AT AN EXTREMELY COOLER TEMPERATURE. IT'S A LOT OF POWER DEMAND. IT'S ONE THING IF THE DATA CENTER ITSELF HAD ITS OWN POWER PLANT AND SUPPLIED ITS OWN POWER, BUT ONE FEEDING OFF THE LOCAL GRID, IF THAT GRID IS NOT ACCUSTOMED TO HIGH DEMAND, IT COULD CAUSE LINE ISSUES AS WELL AS SUBSTATION RELAY PROBLEMS. SO BASED ON THE, THOSE PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS, THE CHANCE OF HIGH COST ELECTRIC BILLS AND REGULAR POWER OUTAGES IS PO PLAUSIBLE. THEN SECONDLY IS THE WATER'S SHORTAGE PROBLEM HERE IN FRONT ROYAL AND THE COUNTY, MANY OF HAVE SPOKEN AND SAID OF MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATIONS AND THE HAVE ADDRESSED THEIR CONCERNS. IT IS QUITE PUZZLING TO ME THAT ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS IN THE COUNTY OFF OF ROCKLAND ROAD, THAT THEY, ONE OF THE PROPOSED SITES SEEMED TO HAVE CIRCUMVENTED THAT PROBLEM AND DECIDED THAT IT WAS LESS OF A DISADVANTAGE TO PUMP 20,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY, THUS DRAINING THE GRO RESERVOIR. IMAGINE WHAT OTHER SITES SUCH AS AFTAC OR MARY SHA LANE [02:50:01] WERE DUE TO THE WATER. THIRDLY, THE ARGUMENT THAT DATA CENTERS GREATLY RELIES ON ECONOMIC INCENTIVES CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN ONE THING, SHORT TERM GAIN AND LONG TERM PAIN AND SORROW. I'VE LOOKED OVER THE FIGURES AND WHILE I CAN UNDERSTAND THE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES, I DON'T THINK THAT BRINGING DATA CENTER WILL BRING, WOULD, UH, GRANT LONG TERM HELP TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY JUST AS THE PEOPLE OF BOYTON. SO TO CONCLUDE AS AMERICA CELEBRATES 250 YEARS OF OUR REPUBLIC PEOPLE'S VOICES AND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY MATTER. THEREFORE, I HOPE THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL MAKES A PRUDENTIAL JUDGMENT AND PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GERALD BERG, JAKE GATES, SYLVIA MARCA, PETER MARCA, ANNA MARCA. WHAT WAS THE FIRST NAME? DARRELL BLUMBERG, SORRY. DATA CENTERS CREATE SEED ISLANDS EVEN ADDRESS. OH, DARLA BLUMBERG ROCKLAND ROAD DATA CENTERS CREATE HEAT ISLANDS TWO TO 16 DEGREES WITHIN SIX MILES. THAT FACT MEANS THAT MORE ELECTRICAL AND WATER USAGE WILL BE NEEDED. NOISE POLLUTION. IT'S NOT A QUICK TEST, IT'S 24 7. ASK THE PEOPLE IN LOUDOUN AND PRINCE WILLIAM THAT ARE RIGHT BY THEM. EMF AND VIBRATIONS CREATE NEUROLOGICAL ILLNESSES NOT ONLY TO PEOPLE BUT AFFECTS WILDLIFE AND FARM ANIMALS. COWS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BANG THEIR HEADS, IT'S LOWERED BIRTH RATES AND STILLBIRTHS. DON'T THINK THAT WON'T AFFECT THE PEOPLE THE SAME WAY. AIR POLLUTION. WELL WE HUMANS KIND OF NEED AIR TO LIVE. DON'T MAKE US SICKER THAN THE POPULATION ALREADY IS FIRES DC UH, DATA CENTERS DO HAVE FIRES. SOME HAVE HAD EVEN 80 CALLS IN A YEAR. WE REALLY DON'T WANT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDING TO THAT VERSUS YOUR OWN CONSTITUENTS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE TYPE OF FIRES THAT OCCUR IN THE TOXICITY THAT THEY CAUSE. ELECTRICITY WILL RAISE OUR BILLS CAUSE OUTAGES AND RESTRICTIONS. ARE WE GOING TO END UP LIKE LAKE TAHOE AND BE TOLD, SORRY, THE DATA CENTER GETS FIRST DIBS ON OUR ELECTRIC. WE HUMANS NEED IT TO LIVE SIMPLY. WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE LIKE OUR ANCESTORS DID WITHOUT POWER. TRANSMISSION LINES MOST POWERFUL AND ALL THE WORLD ARE BEING NOW PROPOSED IN VIRGINIA WITH TOWERS UP TO 175 FEET TO 200 FEET TALL. THERE THERE'RE GONNA BE A BLIGHT JUST LIKE THE BIG DATA CENTERS WITH NO WINDOWS AND HUGE AMOUNTS OF LAND WASTED AND A COMPLETE BLIGHT DANGERS ON OUR HEALTH WILL SURELY BE DEVASTATING TO ALL. SO WHEN WE'RE PREVIOUSLY TOLD NO, NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT DATA CENTERS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE WATER FOR THAT. SO WHEN DID THAT CHANGE? IT DIDN'T. AQUIFERS AND WELLS CAN GO DRY. WE NEED WATER TO SURVIVE, LIVE AND THRIVE. YOUR VOTE NEEDS TO BE FOR THE PEOPLE OVER MACHINES. OUR PROPERTY VALUES WILL PLUMMET. OUR HOMES COULD BECOME UNSELLABLE AND WORTHLESS. AND NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE BY A DATA CENTER, DO YOU? I LOOKED FOR A YEAR AND A HALF TO FIND A HOME OUT HERE. I CAME OUT HERE FOR PEACE, QUIET AND BEAUTY. I CAN SEE MILLIONS OF STARS AT NIGHT JUST LIKE WHEN I GREW UP ON A FARM IN IOWA. WHEN CAN, BECAUSE OF THE QUIET, I CAN HEAR A COW MOO AND I DO NEARLY EVERY NIGHT FOR A FARM GIRL FROM IOWA THAT HAS MUSIC TO MY EARS. I CAN SEE COWS GRAZING IN PASTURES EVERY DIRECTION AND ALL AROUND ME. DON'T LET THAT BE TAKEN AWAY FOR ALL THAT IS TRUE. GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL. I IMPLORE YOU DON'T SELL US OUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND DON'T SELL YOUR SOULS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. YOU ARE TO VOTE AS A PEOPLE WANT AND VOTE. NO THANK YOU. THANK YOU DARLA. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JACOB GATES AND I LIVE AT UH, 2 4 1 PAWPAW DRIVE, UH, WHICH IS RIGHT OFF OF SHENANDOAH SHORES, UH, ROAD NEXT TO THE PROPOSED REZONING IN SALE OF THE EDA PROPERTY BEHIND CHELSEA ACADEMY. I GREW UP IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY SPENDING 20 YEARS OF MY LIFE WATCHING SUBURBAN SPRAWL OVER INDUSTRIALIZATION AND POOR ZONING LAW. [02:55:01] STRIPPED THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF FOREST POLLUTE THE AQUA RIVER AND ITS RESERVOIR AND STRESS LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO WHAT ITS CURRENT FAILURE IS IN THOSE 20 YEARS. I ALSO SPENT MY SUMMERS HERE. I WENT TO THE NORTH FORK RESORT. WE ENJOYED THE RIVER, THE FOREST, THE MOUNTAINS FROM MY WHOLE LIFE. THIS COUNTY AND THIS TOWN HAS BEEN A REFUGE AND A RETREAT FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY FAMILY. THE NATIONAL PARK MAIN STREETS, FOOD AND SHOPS, THE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WE FOUND HERE. AND THE BEAUTIFUL RURAL ROADS WERE A HIGHLIGHT OF MY CHILDHOOD AND MY LIFE BECAUSE OF THOSE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN I BEGAN LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO BUY AND START MY OWN LIFE AND FAMILY. FRAT ROYAL WAS THE ONLY OPTION. WE WERE BLESSED TO PURCHASE A HOME IN SHADO SHORES. BUT NOW I FEEL LIKE THAT BLESSING IS SOMEHOW SLIPPING AWAY. I CHOSE TO COME HERE FOR ITS BEAUTY, NOT ITS INDUSTRIAL ZONING AND DATA CENTERS IN SUBURBIA. UNFORTUNATELY, MY PARENTS STILL LIVE IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY AND I'VE WATCHED IN JUST THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THEIR PROPERTY VALUE HAS COLLAPSED. THE UTILITY BILLS INCREASED FOR A 1200 SQUARE FOOT HOME TO OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH. AND THE FERTILE CRESCENT, WHICH I GREW UP IN IS GONE. IT HAS COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. REPLACED WITH ACREAGES OF CONCRETE BOXES THAT ARE NOW BUTTED UP TO FEDERAL BATTLEFIELDS AND TRAILS. MY PARENTS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY MUST LEAVE MY CHILDHOOD HOME AND MOVE AS A RESULT OF THE STRESS OF THESE DATA CENTERS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THEIR COUNTY. WITH DATA CENTERS CLOSING IN ON WARREN COUNTY, WHAT FEELS LIKE THE DELAYED REACTIONS AND ZONING LAW AND ADMINISTRATION, I TOO FEEL THE PRESSURE TO LEAVE MY HARD EARNED HOME TO ESCAPE THE INCOMING DESTRUCTION. I FEEL THAT MANY OTHERS WILL FEEL THE SAME, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING A DATA CENTER MAY BE MOVING IN TO A COMPLEX THAT'S LESS THAN TWO MILES FROM A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY OF OVER 600 RESIDENTS. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE DATA CENTERS WHICH CLAIM TO BUILD REVENUE, JOB GROWTH, AND WEALTH CAN DO SO WHILE PUSHING THE RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY BUILD OUT. ALL THAT SAID, I'M NOT LEAVING ANYTIME SOON. I AM OPPOSED. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO GROWTH. RATHER, I WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO THRIVE AND FLOURISH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND TO BE THE RETREAT IN THE REFUGE IT WAS FOR ME. FOR OTHERS, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL MOVE TO PROHIBIT THE DATA CENTERS AS DEFINED USE IN ALL DESIGNATIONS. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU. UH, I'VE BEEN TO THREE OTHER MEETINGS, UH, FOR OTHER BOARDS, UH, IN THE LAST LIKE MONTH AND A HALF AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS AMOUNT OF RESPECT AND DECORUM FROM ANYBODY OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES. SO I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY THIS HAS DONE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JACOB. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SYLVIA MARASCA. I LIVE IN ONE 40 FONTANA ROAD. SO I MOVED TO FROM, FROM ROYAL ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. AND UH, ONE OF THE REASONS I MOVED HERE, UH, WELL I WORK HERE AS WELL, BUT, UH, SOME OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT ATTRACTED ME TO THIS AREA ARE THE PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE, THE NATURAL BEAUTY, BEAUTY, AND THE GROWING CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY. AND JUST TO LIVE A MORE, UH, NATURAL AND HEALTHY LIFE. UH, I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA RIGHT NEAR THE AIRPORT, WHICH I HEAR IS A PROPOSED SITE FOR A DATA CENTER. UM, SO AS YOU HAVE HEARD ALL OF THESE THINGS AND MANY MORE ARE REALLY THINGS THAT RESONATE WITH THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY TEAM. AND UM, UNFORTUNATELY THEY'RE AT RISK WITH, UM, THE DATA CENTERS THAT ARE, UM, ALREADY THREATENING A LOT OF VIRGINIA, WHICH ARE ALREADY ACTIVELY, UH, DOING DAMAGE. SO I URGE YOU TO PLEASE, UH, CONSIDER ALL OF THIS FOR US IN THIS ROOM FOR THE CITIZENS WHO OPPOSE IT, WHO AREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE, AND ALSO ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN. 'CAUSE THEY'RE OFTEN FORGOTTEN IN DECISION MAKING, BUT THEIR FUTURES ARE ALSO REALLY AT RISK. UM, THEIR FUTURES TO LIVE IN A PEACEFUL, UH, PLACE, A NATURAL LIFE, UH, AND JUST TO, TO LIVE HERE, UM, PEACEFULLY. SO THIS IS WHY I URGE YOU TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS PETER MORASCA. I LIVE AT ONE 40 FONTANA ROAD FORK DISTRICT. SO AS A RESIDENT OF THIS COUNTY, I ASK STRONGLY THAT YOU STOP DATA CENTERS IN FRONT ROYAL AND PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. [03:00:02] THE STUDIES ARE OUT THERE, DATA CENTERS ARE NOT OUR FRIEND PEOPLE HERE HAVE ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED ALL THE POINTS, SO THERE'S NO NEED TO GO INTO IT, BUT IT'S, THEY AFFECT WATER, ELECTRICITY, NOISE, OTHER POLLUTIONS. THERE'S ALSO THE CONCERN OF SO MANY RESIDENTS HERE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAXES. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY CONCERNS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY LOOKING TO BUY A HOME, SETTLE DOWN AND PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT. WHO WANTS TO LIVE IN A TOWN WITH DATA CENTERS WHO WANTS TO MOVE IN A TOWN WITH DATA CENTERS? I ASK YOU TO TAKE THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE SERIOUSLY AND BAN DATA CENTERS JUST LIKE HERE TODAY. TONIGHT, UNANIMOUSLY THE PEOPLE OF FRONT ROYAL HAVE DECIDED THAT DATA CENTERS SHOULD BE BANNED. YOU TOO CAN TAKE THE DECISION TO UNANIMOUSLY PROHIBIT. LET'S INSTEAD FOCUS OUR TIME, ENERGY, AND RESOURCES THAT THE PEOPLE UP FRONT ROYAL PROVIDE AND HELP STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESSES AND INCENTIVIZE BENEFITS FOR THE POPULATION, NOT FOR CORPORATIONS OR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT LIVE IN THE COUNTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNA MARCA. UH, I LIVE IN ONE 40 FONTANA ROAD. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO GIVING US THIS TIME TO EXPRESS ALL OUR WORRIES, CONCERN, DREAMS, IDEAS, AND TO BRING US TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE, I APPRECIATE ALL THE SERVICE THAT YOU GIVE TO THIS COMMUNITY. REGARDING DATA CENTER, I BASICALLY AG AGREE WITH ALL THAT WAS SAID BEFORE ME, THAT MY OLDEST PEOPLE IN A VERY ELOQUENT MANNER, EMOTIONALLY AND WITH THE HARD FACTS, I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER ALL THESE ASPECTS AND ESPECIALLY, UH, I WAS STRUCK BY HOW PEOPLE HERE REALLY SEE THE BEAUTY OF THIS PLACE. AND FOR ME, THERE IS ANOTHER BEAUTY, NOT JUST NATURE, ALL THESE ANIMALS THAT SURROUND US, ALL THIS BEAUTIFUL FOREST, BUT THE BEAUTY IN THE PEOPLE THEY LIVE HERE SINCE MANY YEARS. AND THE PEOPLE THEY CAME IN, I MOVED IN AROUND FOUR YEARS AGO AND I SAW SO MANY NEW FAMILIES ON A WEEKLY BASIS ARRIVE HERE AND DECIDED TO SETTLE HERE. AND THEY START A BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS, THEY TRY TO MAKE A LIVING. THEY ARE IN AGRICULTURE AND SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY'RE GONNA BE REALLY AFFECTED BY THE DATA CENTERS. AND MOST OF ALL, UH, BECAUSE OF MY JOB, I AM CLOSE TO THE CHILDREN AS AN EDUCATOR. AND I THINK THE CHILDREN ARE THE BEST RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE HERE. WE THE PEOPLE, WE CAME IN MASS HERE TO PROTECT THEM TO THINK ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. AND I ASK YOU TO DO THE SAME. THEY ARE, THEY ARE JUDGING US. THEY'RE GOING TO JUDGE THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT IN HISTORY IN WHICH YOU ARE CALLED TO MAKE MOMENTOUS DECISION. THERE'S GONNA HAVE A LONG TERM EFFECT. SO PLEASE, I REALLY BEG YOU TO CONSIDER THEM TO THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, THE STUDENTS, ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT CANNOT MAKE A DECISION FOR THEMSELF. WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISION FOR THEM AND WE ARE GONNA BE JUDGED BY THOSE DECISION. EASTER IS GONNA BE THE JUDGE. SO PLEASE, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. JANET. JANET WILDMAN, ROBERT BELLER, HILLARY MICHAEL, HILLARY, EILEEN, SUSAN ADAMS. YOU WANNA REPEAT THAT BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEFT. CAN YOU START WITH THE FIRST PERSON? [03:05:01] WHAT WAS THE FIRST NAME? JANET WILDMAN. IS THERE A JANET? JANET WILDMAN? I'M NOT SURE IF I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT. IS THERE A JANET AND CHIEF, IS THERE ANYONE IN THE HALLWAY LEFT NOW? OKAY, SO JANET, ROBERT BELLER. OKAY. I'M ROBERT BELLER. UH, I LIVE IN BENTONVILLE. UM, BUT I HAVE A PROXY VOTE FOR MY FOUR GROWN CHILDREN THAT LIVE IN FRONT ROW AND MY 20 GRANDCHILDREN THAT ARE GROWING UP HERE AND REALLY LOVING THIS PLACE. AND I JUST ASK YOU TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE REASONS AND THE UNANIMITY OF THIS COMMUNITY, SO PLEASE LISTEN TO US. WELCOME. THANK YOU. WHO'S NEXT? . HILLARY. MICHAEL. HILLARY. MICHAEL. HILLARY, EILEEN. SUSAN ADAMS. COREY. CORY. COBEL COBEL. ANGELA KELLER. OKAY, GOOD EVENING. I'M ANGELA KELLER AND I LIVE IN THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT. UM, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINE USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. UH, OUR BEAUTIFUL LOCATION HERE IS NOT JUST ANOTHER LOCATION ON A MAP. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY THE SHENANDOAH RIVER. WE HOLD THE VERY GATEWAY TO VIRGINIA'S ONLY US NATIONAL PARK RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACKYARD. HOW COULD WE EVER EVEN CONSIDER DATA CENTERS WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE? OUR NATURAL BEAUTY, TOURISM, TOURISM, ECONOMY, AGRICULTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DEPEND ON THESE LOCAL RESOURCES TO SURVIVE. PROTECTING THE TRANQUILITY AND NATURAL SOUNDSCAPE OF OUR COMMUNITY IS AN ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR VALLEY. IN PARTICULAR, THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IS ESSENTIALLY A LONG NATURAL BASIN OR A BOWL BOUNDED BY THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS ON THE WEST AND OR ON THE EAST AND THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS ON THE WEST. THE GEOGRAPHY CAN INFLUENCE HOW SOUND TRAVELS PARTICULARLY, PARTICULARLY LOW FREQUENCY NOISE. LOW FREQUENCY SOUNDS LIKE THE CONSTANT HUM FROM COOLING FANS, CHILLERS AND LARGE HVAC SYSTEMS ALL USED BY DATA CENTERS DON'T DISSIPATE AS QUICKLY AS HIGHER PITCH SOUNDS DURING TEMPERATURE. INVERSIONS COMMON ON CALM MORNINGS AND EVENINGS AND VALLEYS SOUND BENDS BACK TOWARD THE, TOWARD THE GROUND. INSTEAD OF ESCAPING UPWARD, THIS CAN MAKE INDUSTRIAL NOISE TRAVEL FURTHER THAN IT WOULD OVER FLAT TERRAIN. RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR DATA CENTERS OFTEN REPORT THE CONSTANT 24 7 LOW FREQUENCY HUM THAT BECOMES DISTURBING AND ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. SO THE LOW FREQUENCY HUM DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THOSE CLOSE TO THE DATA CENTERS, BUT OUR ENTIRE VALLEY COULD BE AFFECTED. THAT NATURAL SOUNDSCAPE DESERVES TO BE PROTECTED WITH THE SAME CARE AS OUR WATER FORESTS AND SCENIC VIEWS. UM, OUR VALLEY'S QUIET. IT'S MORE THAN A CONVENIENCE, IT'S PART OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE AND RIGHT NOW MANY OF US TREASURE HEARING CHURCH BELLS ECHO ACROSS THE VALLEY BIRD SONGS IN THE MORNING AND THE PEACEFUL STILLNESS LONG CHARACTERIZED BY THIS PLACE. SO, UM, I DON'T WANNA EXCHANGE THOSE SOUNDS FOR A PERMANENT INDUSTRIAL BACKDROP THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS CANNOT UNDO. WE HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED A REALITY OF WATER SHORTAGES AS OF JUNE, 2026. 100% OF WARREN COUNTY IS AFFECTED BY DROUGHT CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL DROUGHT MONITORING SYSTEM. I'M LOOKING AT MY TIME HERE. UM, I JUST ASK YOU TO PLEASE REMEMBER WHO YOU REPRESENT. PROTECT US BY INVESTING IN SOMETHING MUCH GREATER HERE. AS MORE AREAS BECOME INCREASING INCREASINGLY INDUSTRIALIZED AND CHOOSE DATA CENTERS, THE OUTLYING COMMUNITIES THAT PRESERVE THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY AND QUALITY OF LIFE WILL BECOME EVEN MORE VALUABLE. WE CAN BE THAT EVEN MORE VALUABLE THAN WE ARE OUR TOURISM. OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WILL THRIVE AND FAMILIES WILL CONTINUE TO CHOOSE WARREN COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAD THE PATIENCE AND COURAGE TO PROTECT WHAT OTHERS WERE WILLING TO TRADE AWAY. LET'S BE REMEMBERED AS THE COMMUNITY THAT LOOKED BEYOND TODAY CHOSE A DIFFERENT PATH AND LEFT SOMETHING WORTH INHERITING FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NANCY GALVIN. MATTHEW GALVIN. PAUL BRAXTON HICKS. [03:10:04] GO AHEAD AND MENTION A COUPLE OTHER NAMES TOO JUST IN CASE. DAN TA GO . OKAY, WAIT, THANKS. DAVID WINHAM LIN SOMETHING. OKAY, THAT'S GOOD. OKAY, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR TIME. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL MY NEIGHBORS FOR BEING SO DILIGENT AND EDUCATED ON THE SITUATION THAT I DON'T HAVE TO SAY ALL THAT . WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THOUGH IS, UH, A TERM I LEARNED IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS KUI BONO. IT'S LATIN FOR WHO BENEFITS. NONE OF THESE PEOPLE BACK HERE DO. NONE OF THEM DO NOT A DAMN ONE. NOBODY BACK HERE IS GOING TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF THIS. SO WHO DOES, WHO GETS SOMETHING OUT OF THIS? IT'S NOT ME. IT'S NOT US EITHER, BUT GO AHEAD. REALLY . WELL WE'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT 'CAUSE WE'LL FIND OUT. FEEL FREE. WE WILL FIND OUT WHEN WE GET THE ANSWER TO THIS WHOLE DEBACLE, RIGHT? 'CAUSE I ASSURE YOU THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS RAISED AND AS MENTIONED BEFORE BY SOMEONE YOU'RE ALL VOTED FOR, RIGHT? I DON'T VOTE IN THIS COUNTY. I DON'T VOTE PERIOD. 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S A WASTE OF TIME. BUT SOMEBODY'S, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL GOT SEATS AND Y'ALL LIVING LARGE UP THERE MAKING DECISIONS FOR EVERYBODY. I SUGGEST THAT Y'ALL THINK ABOUT THIS REALLY, REALLY HARD BECAUSE THOSE SEATS CAN BE REFILLED BY SOMEBODY ELSE. THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN WITH THE, THE TOWN'S IDEOLOGY OF BEING WHAT IT WAS SHOULD REMAIN. ALL THIS BIG TO DO IS TO DO ABOUT NOTHING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DAN TRIBO. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY HANDWRITING. I LIVE AT 5 6 7 SHENANDOAH VALLEY DRIVE. I AM A RETIRED COLLEGE PROFESSOR. I'M ALSO A LAWYER AND A JOURNALIST. MY WIFE IS A RETIRED NURSE PRACTITIONER. UH, MY WIFE IS A COUNTRY GIRL AND WANTED TO RETIRE, UH, IN A RURAL AREA, MID MOUNTAINS AND WATERWAYS. WE LOVE LIVING HERE. UM, OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, LOVE VISITING US HERE. SO PLEASE REJECT THESE UNPOPULAR UNSIGHTLY AND UNHEALTHY CHANGES TO OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A, UH, DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SAY YOU HAVEN'T BEEN WARNED. THIS IS NOT A CLOSE CALL. YOU ALL KNOW THE RIGHT THING, PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS EVELYN BLOT, 7 0 4 SHANNON WOODS DRIVE. AND I GRADUATED IN 25 FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE AND MY SISTER AND I HAVE STARTED A BUSINESS WHERE I AM. I HAVE A GARDEN NURSERY. AND WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, LAND TO BUILD OUR NURSERY ON, WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR PLACES THAT HAVE A WELL OR WE CAN DIG A WELL. AND IF THERE IS A DATA CENTER HERE, THE WATER'S NOT GONNA BE HERE. SO I ALSO WANNA RAISE A FAMILY HERE. AND IF THERE'S A DATA FAM THERE'S A DATA CENTER HERE, WE WILL NOT, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN. SO PLEASE VOTE FOR NO DATA CENTER AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. STEVEN ROSS, EVIE HOUSTON, GRACELY, JE JAMES CAN. HELLO, MY NAME IS STEVEN ROSS AND I LIVE IN, UH, LINDEN ON FREEZELAND ROAD. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TIME. UM, I CAME TO VIRGINIA, UM, TO LOUDOUN COUNTY AND I CAME IN 93 BEFORE THE BIG EXPLOSION OF CONSTRUCTION TOOK PLACE, UH, IN THAT COUNTY. OVER THE YEARS I WORKED IN IT AND I'VE WORKED AT DATA CENTERS. I HAVE, [03:15:01] UM, WORKED AROUND THEM. I HAVE FELT THE EFFECTS FROM THEM, FROM DEPRESSION, FROM ANXIETY, FROM THE NOISE, UH, PLUS THE POLLUTION. MY WIFE AND I MOVED UP HERE IN 2016 BECAUSE WE JUST HAD ENOUGH OF BEING SWELLED OUT OF OUR, OUR COUNTY. THIS WAS A VERY TRANQUIL PLACE. WARREN COUNTY IS VERY TRANQUIL. THIS IS GOD'S COUNTRY. WE ARE STEWARDS OF THIS COUNTRY, OF, OF THIS COUNTY, AND WE'RE HERE TO PROTECT IT AS CITIZENS, AS POLITICIANS, AS PEOPLE WE, WE UNITE ABOVE YOU. IT SAYS, IN GOD, WE TRUST, I ASSUME, I ASSUME ALL OF YOU BELIEVE THAT STATEMENT. AND GOD IS TRUSTING YOU TO PROTECT THIS LAND, TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COUNTY, THAT GIVE THE HEART AND SOUL WHEN THEY BELIEVE IN SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO HURT US OR HELP US PEOPLE SPEAK OUT. SO I IMPLORE YOU, PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND SAY NO TO DATA CENTERS. IT REALLY WILL GO AND DESTROY THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEN WOMEN. MADAM MAYOR. MY NAME IS EVIE HOUSTON. I LIVE IN ON 6 9 7 HARMING MEN DRIVE IN WARREN COUNTY. YOU'VE BROUGHT MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT FROM MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, AGES SOME WITH LONG ROOTED DEEP PATHS HERE. SOME WHO HOPE FOR BRIGHT FUTURES FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THEIR CHILDREN. ALL OF US ARE HERE FOR ONE REASON. WE CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWN. I MOVED TO FRONT ROYAL ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO NOW. IT WAS WHERE MY FAMILY WAS LIVING NOW IT'S WHERE I LIVE, WHERE I'VE GONE TO SCHOOL, WHERE I'VE GRADUATED, WHERE I CONTINUE TO STUDY IN COLLEGE. IT'S WHERE I WORK, IT'S WHERE I HIKE. IT'S WHERE I SPEND TIME WITH MY FRIENDS. WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM EVERYONE HERE IS A RESOUNDING NO, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BUILD DATA CENTERS HERE. WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE COME TOGETHER AND SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THIS. I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO TO DATA CENTERS BEING MADE HERE TO DESTROY OUR COMMUNITY AND DESTROY THE BEAUTY AND NATURE WE LOVE. I URGE YOU TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO SPOKE UP TONIGHT AGAINST THESE DATA CENTERS BEING BUILT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. JUST, JUST HOLD ON ONE SECOND BECAUSE I THINK WE GOT SOME SO IT, IT'S, WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY. SORRY. JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE CAN HEAR, WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO HEAR YOU. OKAY, GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GRACIE BLODGETT AND I LIVE AT 7 0 4 SHANNON, WHICH DRIVE IN WARREN COUNTY. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS MY WHOLE LIFE AND I PLAN ON STAYING HERE, RAISING A FAMILY, RUNNING MY BUSINESS. AS MY SISTER SAID, I'M THE BLACKSMITH AND WELDER PART OF THAT BUSINESS. WHEN I GO OUTSIDE, I GO UP ON SKYLINE DRIVE AND I FIND MY PEACE. I GET AWAY FROM THE TOWN AND EVERYTHING AND I CAN'T DO THAT. IF YOU PUT A DATA CENTER IN, WE ARE A SMALL TOWN THAT THRIVES ON OUR TOURISM. AND OUR TOURISM IS BROUGHT IN HERE BY OUR NATURAL BEAUTY. IF YOU BUILD A SET DATA CENTER, YOU'LL CUT DOWN OUR TREES, TAKE OUR WATER, TAKE OUR ELECTRICITY. THIS WILL PUSH PEOPLE OUT AND LOWER OUR TOURISM AND EARS INTO THE FUTURE. THIS TOWN MAY BE A SHADOW OF WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF A DATA CENTER. ASK YOU TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON WHAT YOUR PEOPLE WANT, WHO VOTED YOU IN HERE, VOTE FOR US AND OUR CHOICES. ASK YOU TO PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS A DEFINED USE AND ON THOSE ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING. YOU. HELLO. I AM, UM, JAMES CONTRERAS. I LIVE AT 2 6 8 THOMPSON MILL ROAD. I MOVED HERE NEARLY A DECADE AGO. UM, BUT THEN IT BECAME MY HOME WHEN I WAS [03:20:01] TWO YEARS LATER, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND MOST OF ALL WHAT MY MOM PRIORITIZED, UM, WAS THE QUIET. UH, AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE COMFORT PLACES IS DRIVING UP SKYLINE DRIVE AND BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ENTIRE TOWN AND INSTALLING A MONSTROUS METAL BLOCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PERFECT SCENERY WITH A LOW OMINOUS HUM IS UNSETTLING TO SAY THE LEAST. UM, AND IT JUST SPEAKS TO CORPORATIONS THAT ARE TRYING TO RUIN THE LIVES OF RURAL AMERICANS. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, WHETHER IT'S THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, WHETHER IT'S THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME, UM, THEY DO NOT CARE. I HAVE SIX SIBLINGS, THREE YOUNGER SISTERS, THREE YOUNGER BROTHERS. FOUR OF THEM PLAY SOCCER AT THE SOCCER PLEX WEEKLY. UM, ONE OF THEM GOT OFFERED A SCHOLARSHIP ACTUALLY, AND TWO OF THEM ARE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN BASKETBALL. UM, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD EXPLAIN TO MY LITTLE SIBLINGS THAT 'CAUSE DATA CENTERS, OBVIOUSLY, AS PEOPLE HAVE PREVIOUSLY STATED, CAUSE HEALTH ISSUES. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT CAN CAUSE IS STUFF LIKE ASTHMA. UM, AND WITH EVERYTHING GOING UP IN PRICE HIGHER AND HIGHER, THAT'S GONNA BECOME MUCH MORE UNAFFORDABLE. UH, CARE FOR IT IS GONNA BECOME MUCH MORE UNAFFORDABLE. UM, AS WELL AS THE INCREASE TO, UH, ELECTRICITY BILLS ON, THEY NEARLY DOUBLE FROM DATA CENTERS. AND THE COM COMBINATION OF THAT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO MY LITTLE SIBLINGS THAT THEY CAN'T DO AS WELL IN SOCCER BECAUSE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE NEVER MET DECIDED THAT THEIR HEALTH WASN'T A PRIORITY. UM, AND EVERYONE HERE IS BEING REPRESENTED BY ALL OF YOU, THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, UH, EVERYONE FROM 70 TO A BABY THAT I SAW IN A STROLLER WHEN I CAME IN HERE. AND I WANT Y'ALL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT NOT ONLY DO YOU REPRESENT US, BUT YOU ALSO REPRESENT THE GENERATION THAT DOESN'T HAVE A VOICE YET. UM, AND YOU MISS COCKRELL. YOU TAUGHT MY SISTER IN, I BELIEVE, SECOND OR THIRD GRADE, EMMA CONTRERAS. AND I KNEW THAT. YEAH. I WAS GETTING READY TO ASK YOU THAT. FINISH YOUR STATEMENT. INTERRUPTED YOU . THANK YOU. UM, I DON'T WANT MY LITTLE SIBLINGS, RAY, RAY AND LOGAN TO JUST BE A STATISTIC JUST LIKE EMMA WOULD'VE BEEN IF THIS HAPPENED 10 YEARS AGO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JANE. DEBORAH SHEETS AND EVAN CASEY. GABRIELLE, GABRIELLE. HELLO. MY NAME IS DEBORAH SHEETS. I'M ON HIGH KNOB ROAD AND I HAVE, UH, BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY SINCE 2020, BUT WAS COMING HERE, UM, FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA WEEKENDS AND THINGS FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THAT. AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THIS COMMUNITY HAS TO OFFER AND ESPECIALLY THE NATURAL BEAUTY, THE QUIETNESS, THE UH, CLEAN AIR. UM, I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOSING WATER, UM, UM, ABILITIES, UH, TO HAVE WATER AVAILABLE WHENEVER WE NEED IT. UM, WE'VE BEEN IN A DROUGHT SITUATIONS HERE AND I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE HOW A DATA CENTER MIGHT MAKE THAT WORSE. UM, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE TO ME. UM, ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, THE ANIMALS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED, THE FISH, UM, IT'S, IT'S ALL HUGELY IMPORTANT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW YOU'RE REALLY LISTENING WITH INTEREST TONIGHT AND IT'S A LONG NIGHT AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY NOD THEIR HEAD . SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND UM, A COUPLE THINGS STOOD OUT TO ME AND AN AGREEMENT WITH, UM, EVERYTHING, EVERYONE BEFORE ME HAS SAID, UM, BUT SOMEBODY USED THE WORD TROJAN HORSE, AND THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME. AND, UM, I THINK THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE MAYBE YOU'VE BEEN MISLED. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF POWERFUL PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO INFLUENCE YOU AND, UM, YOU KNOW, NOW YOU'RE HEARING ANOTHER ASPECT OF IT. AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA TAKE IT ALL INTO CONSIDERATION. [03:25:01] AND I, UM, WOULD HOPE THAT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ELSE MENTIONED ANOTHER, UH, COMMUNITY HAD TO SPEND $1.7 MILLION DEFENDING THEIR INTERESTS AFTER THEY LET DATA CENTERS IN. SO IF YOU NEED TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON A LAWYER WHO SPECIALIZES IN THIS AREA WHO'S MAYBE DEFENDED OTHER COMMUNITIES, PLEASE DO THAT NOW. DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, MAKING A WELL-INFORMED DECISION. I THINK THERE'S SO MANY GOOD POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP HERE TONIGHT. UM, YOU, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY MAYBE YOU HAVE ENOUGH, BUT SOME PEOPLE BROUGHT UP SOME THINGS I HADN'T HEARD BEFORE, AND MAYBE YOU NEED TO, YOU KNOW, DOUBLE CHECK ON THOSE THINGS OR WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE LEFT AFTER TONIGHT IF YOU'RE NOT CERTAIN OF YOUR DECISIONS. YOU KNOW, PUT WHATEVER RESOURCES INTO, INTO IT THAT YOU NEED TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION. BUT FOR ME, THE RIGHT DECISION IS PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY WHO LIVES HERE, THE ECONOMIC, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, BENEFITS OF OUR TOURIST DRAW. AND, UM, UM, JUST THE QUIET, YOU KNOW, UH, CLEAN AIR. UM, IT'S, YOU, YOU CAN'T BUY IT. AND IF, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE UPFRONT, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, BUT LONG TERM IT WON'T BE WORTH IT. AND I THINK WE'RE LEARNING THAT FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES. SO I REALLY THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TONIGHT. AND, UM, PLEASE PROHIBIT DATA CENTERS AS IT'S DEFINED USE IN ALL ZONING DESIGNATIONS. THANK YOU. HI, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. UH, MY NAME'S EVAN CASEY. I LIVE AT 4 1 0 3 REMOUNT ROAD FROM ROYAL. UM, SO EVERYONE'S ALREADY SAID LIKE EVERYTHING THAT THAT CAN POSSIBLY SAID. SO, UM, I'M GOING TO SAY THREE QUICK THINGS. ONE IS, UM, THE DYLAN RULE'S BEEN HIGHLIGHTED, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU, IF YOU BAN DATA CENTERS, YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE, UH, SUED. UM, AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. YOU, YOU CAN BAN DATA CENTERS. UM, VIRGINIA BEACH, ACTUALLY, TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL JUST DIRECTED THEIR PLANNING COMMISSION TO DRAFT A ORDINANCE BANNING DATA CENTERS IN VIRGINIA BEACH. SO THAT'S WITHIN THE STATE. SO YOU ALREADY HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OTHER, OTHER COUNTIES, OTHER STATES HAVE BANNED DATA CENTERS. AND THERE'S ALWAYS THE ARGUMENT OF, WELL, THAT'S NOT VIRGINIA. THERE'S A TOWN OF VIRGINIA THAT'S ACTIVELY DOING THIS NOW. SO I'D REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO LOOK AT THAT. UM, THE, THE SECOND PIECE IS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES. SO PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT. I REMEMBER MY DAD AS A KID HAVING A CELL PHONE THAT WAS THE SIZE OF A CAR BATTERY BECAUSE HE WAS A TRAVELING SALESMAN. AND EIGHT YEARS LATER THEY WERE MUCH SMALLER AND NOW THEIR SMARTPHONES FIT IN OUR POCKET. AND THAT, THAT, THAT TOOK 30 YEARS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. DATA CENTERS HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND THAT LONG, SO THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES THAT CAN COME FROM THAT. SO SIMILAR TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE, A DECISION SHOULD BE MADE ON NOW. THE, THE TECHNOLOGY IS TOO NEW. UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. REALLY, REALLY, UM, APPRECIATE YOU STAYING HERE THIS LATE AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO JUST BAN DATA CENTERS IN, IN FRONT ROYAL OUTRIGHT PROHIBIT THEIR USE IN FRONT. ROYAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVAN. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP FROM THE COUNTY? OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA GO, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD. WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU. YEAH, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU. WE'RE GOING TO, SO THE OTHER LIST WAS THOSE THAT ARE NON COUNTY, AND I KNOW THAT LIST ISN'T QUITE AS SHORT, BUT THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP IF THEY'RE STILL HERE. OKAY. MARIA OWEN, HUGH OWEN, MARK FENDOR, SOME SOMEBODY'S HERE, RIGHT? GO AHEAD. OH, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. I GOTTA GET TO MY NON COUNTY PEOPLE. OKAY. LIST STOP. OKAY, GO AHEAD. YEAH. I'M MARK FENDOR. I'M THE SHENANDOAH RIVERKEEPER. I LIVE DOWN IN PAGE COUNTY AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT. AS YOU CONSIDER, UM, DATA CENTERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VIEW THEM NOT AS SIMPLE BUILDINGS, BUT A LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL FACILITY THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR WATER, FOR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY CHARACTER. UM, AS THE RIVER KEEPER, MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS WATER, BUT, UH, IT'S MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN THAT. AND DEPENDING UPON THE COOLING TECHNOLOGY INVOLVED, EVEN WHEN THEY SAY THAT THEIR CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER IS USED SOMEWHERE IN THE COOLING CYCLE. IN A REGION LIKE THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, WE HAVE DROUGHT, WE HAVE DECLINING GROUNDWATER LEVELS, WE HAVE PEOPLE'S WELLS BEING IMPACTED, COMPETING DEMANDS ON OUR RIVER. UM, AND WE MUST FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS, NOT JUST OF THE DATA CENTER AT AFT TECH AND THE ONE IN ROCKLAND, BUT WHAT'S GOING ON OVER IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY? WHAT'S GOING UPSTREAM IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER ARE, ARE MAKING A, A CUMULATIVE IMPACT UPON THE RIVER SYSTEM. THERE'S [03:30:01] ALSO CONCERNS REGARDING STORMWATER RUNOFF, FUEL STORAGE, DIESEL BACKUP GENERATORS, UM, NOISE CHEMICAL HANDLING AND IMPACTS TO STREAMS AND WETLANDS AND DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THEY ALL OFTEN FOCUS ON THE TAX REVENUES, UM, WHILE LACKING ACCESS TO INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO EVALUATE THESE COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL QUESTIONS. REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS DATA CENTERS THAT THEY'RE PRIVATIZING PROFIT THROUGH OUR PUBLIC NATURAL RESOURCE, OUR RIVER, AND THEY'RE EXTERNALIZING THE TRUE COST TO ITS CITIZENS. IT IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING. UM, NO SINGLE TOWN OR COUNTY OR PLANNING COMMISSION SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US. UM, I'VE BEEN IN SIMILAR MEETINGS UP AND DOWN THE VALLEY, AND I'VE HEARD VERY SIMILAR QUESTIONS AND FEELINGS FROM, UM, CITIZENS AND, AND BOARDS JUST TRYING TO GRASP ALL THE INFORMATION THAT'S THERE. I URGE YOU TO BE BOLD, TO BE COURAGEOUS, TO, TO STAND UP AND DECIDE TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM ANY ACTION, ALLOWING DATA CENTERS AND INSTEAD TAKE A STEP FORWARD AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CREATION OF A REGIONAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY DATA CENTER WATER POLICY COMMISSION. THIS REGIONAL BODY COULD BRING TOGETHER LOCAL CITIZENS, GOVERNMENTS, WATER UTILITIES, PLANNING OFFICIALS, CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS, HYDROLOGISTS, ECONOMISTS, STATE AGENCIES, ALL TO DEVELOP SCIENCE-BASED STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR EVALUATING WATER USE, GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWALS, CUMULATIVE WATERSHED IMPACTS, DROUGHT RESISTANCE, WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT GOES ON AND ON. AND THEN, AND ONLY THEN MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER DATA CENTERS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE VALLEY. THANK YOU, MARK. THANK YOU, MS. WIL. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP THAT'S OUT OUTSIDE OF COUNTY? YES. RENEE GRE. OKAY. DAVID O'NEILL. WYATT PETERS, BROOKLYN ROSENBERGER, KAYLEE TANNER AND PATTY HALEY. HELLO THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR ATTENTION. LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID, UH, TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS RENEE GREBE, AND WHILE I LIVE FULL TIME IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, WE PURCHASED A HOME IN WARREN COUNTY BECAUSE IT'S MY HAPPY PLACE. IT'S WHERE I SPENT THIS WEEKEND WHERE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME FOR YEARS LEADING UP TO BUYING A HOME. THERE NATURE IS HEALING AND LIKE A GENTLEMAN SAID EARLIER, I FEEL LIKE A TEMPORARY REFUGEE. WHEN I COME HERE, I CAN BREATHE AGAIN. I DO INVASIVE PLANT REMOVALS HERE. I PARTAKE IN OUR POA MEETINGS WHEN I'M HERE. I WAS STREET SIDE WHEN THE KING AND QUEEN WAS HERE. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT FOR MY DAY JOB AT WORK IN CONSERVATION ADVOCACY. I HOST DATA CENTER TOURS OF DATA CENTER ALLEY. I EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE UNREGULATED EXPANSION OF DATA CENTERS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES. AND APPARENTLY IN MY FREE TIME, LIKE TONIGHT, I DO THE SAME THING IN YOUR ACTIONS TONIGHT. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW DATA CENTERS TO COME TO THIS TOWN. WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOME IN WARREN COUNTY, WE WORKED WITH WOODWORKERS STRONG OAKS IN TOWN TO TURN MY FATHER-IN-LAW'S OLD OAK TREE INTO A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF FURNITURE FOR OUR HOUSE. THEY ARE THE KIND OF COMPANY WE WANT TO SEE IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS. IF DATA CENTERS ARE ALLOWED HERE, THEY WILL PUSH OUT LOCAL COMPANIES LIKE THIS. THEY WILL MAKE INDUSTRIAL LAND VALUES UNTENABLE FOR LOCAL COMPANIES WHILE TANKING LAND VALUES FOR RESIDENTS NEIGHBORHOODS GET DESTROYED. DATA CENTERS WOULD BE A VISUAL SCAR ON THE AREA, POLLUTE OUR AIR. WHO KNOWS WHAT THE IMPACTS TO OUR WATER WILL BE. I URGE YOU TO MAKE DATA CENTERS NOT AN ALLOWABLE USE IN TOWN CODE INDUSTRIAL AREAS OR ANYWHERE. WARRINGTON'S TOWN COUNCIL REJECTED DATA CENTERS IN THEIR ZONING ORDINANCE IN 2025. BUCKING COUNT BUCKETING, UH, TOWN OF BUNKIN ALSO REMOVED THEM FROM ALLOWABLE USE EARLIER THIS MONTH. BE THE NEXT TOWN TO REJECT DATA CENTERS AS A LAND USE. THIS IS UNDER YOUR PURVIEW TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU CAN ALLOW DATA CENTERS AND CREATE GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT PEOPLE. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T. ONCE THE CAMEL'S NOSE IS UNDER THE TENT, THE GAME IS OVER. FOR EXAMPLE, LOCALES CAN'T REGULATE POLLUTING BACKUP GENERATORS. AND THIS MAY, THE FEDERAL, UH, EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWED PJM TO ALLOW EMERGENCY GENERATORS TO RUN AS NORMAL POWER DURING THE HEAT WAVE TO RELIEVE THE GRID STRESS FROM A LOT OF DATA CENTERS, LOCALES STATES THEY HAD NO CONTROL OVER THAT INCREDIBLY POLLUTING EVENT. WE PAY RESIDENTS PAY. PLEASE DO NOT TRADE THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH FOR TOWN REVENUE. IT'S NOT A TRADE. ANYONE IN THIS ROOM ONCE FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS [03:35:01] OF THE TOWNS OF WARRINGTON AND BUCKMAN. AIR QUALITY WATER POLLUTION, WATER SUPPLY GRID STABILITY, IMPACTS FROM NEW SUBSTATIONS, IMPACTS FROM HIGH VOLTAGE LINES. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. ALL FOR THE PROFIT OF THE WORLD'S RICHEST COMPANIES WHO WOULD ALLOWING DATA CENTERS BENEFIT? WHO WOULD THIS HARM? MAKE SURE THIS INCREDIBLY EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY IS NOT ALLOWED TO FOREVER DAMAGE SHENANDOAH'S TREASURE IN THIS WONDERFUL TOWN. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DAVID O'NEILL. I, UH, RESIDE IN FREDERICK COUNTY JUST A FEW MILES TO THE NORTH. I'M AN EAGLE SCOUT, EAGLE SCOUT NAVAL ACADEMY GRADUATE, RETIRED MARINE OFFICER. I'M A DEGREED AND CERTIFIED ARCHITECT AND SYSTEM ENGINEER. AND, UH, I CURRENTLY WORK AS A CHIEF ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT IN THIS BUSINESS IN A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL THAN JUST A SINGLE DATA CENTER. BUT I WANNA POINT OUT SOMETHING TO YOU. I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP TONIGHT. UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO I'LL, I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. AND THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE GIVE YOU SOME GOOD ADVICE ON, UM, CONVENING LIKE A REGIONAL BODY. SO WHEN MY COLLEAGUES MODELED THE 2021 TEXAS GRID COLLAPSE, WE FOUND THAT THE ROOT CAUSE WAS JUST, WAS WASN'T JUST WEATHER, IT WAS A FAILURE OF REGULATORY GOVERNANCE BY LOCAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. THE SYSTEM EXPORTED POWER WHILE DROPPING A MILLION CUSTOMERS KILLING NEARLY 300 PEOPLE. THIS INSTITUTIONAL BLIND SPOT IS IDENTICAL TO THE 1986 CHALLENGER O-RING FAILURE, WHERE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS OVERRODE CRITICAL ENGINEERING WARNINGS. WE FACE THE SAME RISK RIGHT NOW THIS PAST JANUARY, WINTER STORM FERN JANUARY 26, YOU PROBABLY ALL REMEMBER IT. UH, THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND OUR POWER GRID PROVIDER, PGM INTERCONNECTION BARELY STOPPED A MASSIVE BLACKOUT DURING WINTER STORM FERN. BY TREATING AI DATA CENTERS AS AN EMERGENCY LIABILITY, PGM INTERCONNECTION HAD TO ORDER STATIONS TO MAXIMUM POWER THROUGH EMERGENCY ORDERS, UH, BYPASSING CLEAN AIR LIMITS. 'CAUSE YOU'RE RUNNING ALL THESE PLANTS AT MAX POWER. ALL THE SOLAR AND WIND WIND TURBINE, ABOUT 21 MEGAWATTS WORTH WENT OFF THE GRID AND DEMAND SPIKED AT THE SAME TIME. AND THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES HAD TO STEP IN. THE DOE HAD TO INVOKE SECTION 2 0 2 C OF THE FEDERAL POWER ACT, ORDERING PJM TO STRIP DATA CENTERS FROM THE GRID AND FORCED THEM ONTO THE BACKUP GENERATOR SYSTEMS WHERE THEY RAN ON THAT FOR ABOUT FIVE DAYS. SO, FURTHERMORE, RELYING, UH, ON DATA CENTER GAS TURBINES IS NOT A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE. THESE LOCAL GENERATION UNITS CREATE MASSIVE REGIONAL EMISSIONS, DRIVE UP LOCAL AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION AND VIOLATE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. SO YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. YOU GOT A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN JUST THE COUPLE OF LOTS YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE. THAT'S, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS FOR YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. THANKS FOR STAYING SO LATE. UM, SO FIRST, JUST TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, I WANT TO PROHIBIT SADERS. I JUST, CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YEAH, SORRY. OF COURSE. I'M BROOKLYN ROSENBERGER. I RESIDE IN STRASSBURG LEGALLY, AND I'M IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A FRONT ROYAL RESIDENT. OKAY, KEEP GOING. YOU'RE GOOD. I WANT TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF DATA CENTERS IN ALL ZONING, UM, DESIGNATIONS HERE. UM, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE TO NOT EMAILING GEORGE, JOSEPH AND HILLARY, BUT I DID EMAIL THE REST OF YOU OVER THE WEEKEND. UM, I FOUND THE EMAILS TO BE THE HYPERLINKS ARE BROKEN ON THE WEBSITE AND THEY WEREN'T LISTED. SO IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIND ALL YOUR EMAILS, BUT I'M HAPPY THAT TWO REVIEW TOOK THE TIME TO RESPOND. UM, I ALSO EMAILED STRASBURG OVER THE WEEKEND AND ONE OF THEM LET ME KNOW THAT IT WAS TOO LATE FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING AS THEY SIGNED OFF IN JULY OF 2025. AND TWO OTHERS AGREED TO MEET WITH ME IN PERSON TO DISCUSS MY FEELINGS ON IT IN PERSON. UM, SORRY. I'M SO TIRED. UM, I'M TIPTOEING INTO MY SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY. THIS IS THE LATEST I'VE STAYED UP IN A WHILE. MY FIANCE IS HERE IN THE ROOM. UM, SO I'VE BEEN UP SINCE THREE, UH, BLOOD WORK AND WORK AND EVERYTHING ELSE. [03:40:01] UM, SO I'M FLUSTERED, BUT, UM, MY MOTHER AND HER MOTHER AND HER SISTERS AND THEIR KIDS ALL GREW UP HERE IN FRONT ROYAL. AND MY DAD, HIS PARENTS AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS, HIS SIBLINGS AND THEIR CHILDREN ALL GREW UP IN STRASBURG. AND WE KIND OF REFUSE TO LEAVE BECAUSE IT'S TOO BEAUTIFUL TO LEAVE. UM, YEAH, I THINK, UM, AS EXCITED AS I AM TO HAVE A BABY AND I STARTED A FAMILY HERE, I'M ALSO TERRIFIED. UM, I'M TERRIFIED WHAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE WILL LOOK LIKE FOR US, WHAT ELECTRICITY AND WATER WILL LOOK LIKE FOR US HERE. AND I URGE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER, UM, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE AND THE FAMILIES THAT WE HOPE TO CONTINUE HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HEY, BROOKLYN, DO YOU NEED A SNACK? DO YOU NEED SNACK OR WATER? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK I'M OKAY. I HAVE WATER AND WE'RE GONNA GET FOOD AFTER. OKAY. I WAS GONNA SAY, WE HAVE SOME SNACKS OVER THERE. I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE, IT'S A LONG DAY FOR, FOR SOMEONE NOT CARRYING A JOB. WHO'S NEXT? OKAY. HELLO, MY NAME IS CATHERINE SCHMIDT AND I HOPE WE'RE CIRCLING BACK TO PEOPLE IN THE TOWN NOW 'CAUSE I LIVE ON MEADOW COURT. UM, I JUST REALLY QUICK WANNA REVIEW SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE GONE OVER TONIGHT FOR THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS THAT DATA CENTERS HAVE. IT HAS CHEMICAL WATER POLLUTION, WATER SHORTAGES, INCREASING WATER BILLS, ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES, INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL BILLS, UNBEARABLE NOISE, LIGHT POLLUTION, AIR POLLUTION, NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM, LOWER PROPERTY VALUE FOR RESIDENTS AND FOR RESIDENTS AND INCREASES FOR BUSINESSES. AND FOR ALL THESE FLAWS, DATA CENTERS HAVE A SHORT LIFE EXPECTANCY. THE COMMUNITY OF FRONT ROYAL HAS COME TOGETHER BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR FOUR HOURS IN THIS PAST 11 BECAUSE WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR OUR TOWN AND COUNTY. PLEASE DO NOT BE SWAYED BY THE FALSE BENEFITS, BY THE LIES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED, THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR FRONT ROYAL. IT'LL BE GOOD FOR A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE AND BAD FOR THE MAJORITY. YOUR VOTE COULD SEND US INTO THE LIST OF NEGATIVE EFFECTS THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED FOR HOURS, OR YOU COULD SAVE US FROM THOSE EFFECTS. PLEASE MAKE THE DECISION THAT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF FRONT ROYAL, NOT FOR THE HANDFUL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU MS. ONG. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT SIGNED UP THAT'S A NON COUNTY THAT NO, NOT I'VE READ EVERYONE'S NAME. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE GONNA CIRCLE BACK AROUND. IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE TOWN WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? WHAT MUST I WE CAN'T SPEAK TWICE. YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO SPEAK ONE TIME, SO, SO ANYBODY THAT'S TOWN, IF YOU WANNA JUST LINE UP OVER THERE AND WE'LL JUST DO THE THREE MINUTES AND JUST MAKE SURE YOU SAY YOUR NAME AND REAL CLEARLY, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE YOUR NAME ON A LIST NOW. SOUNDS AN ADDRESS. OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD. MY NAME IS LUKE BARRAO. I LIVE AT 5 1 4 ROSS AVENUE. AND, UH, YEAH, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE HEARD EVERYONE'S, UH, TALKS ON EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK FOR ME IT'S BEEN BETTER TO SEE YOUR GUYS' FACES AND YOU KNOW, THE LISTENING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. UM, I NOTICE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOU AND TALKING AT YOU PRIMARILY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I WENT THROUGH, I READ YOUR BIOS. IT SEEMS LIKE ALL OF YOU GUYS DON'T REALLY WANT IT. UH, SOME OF YOU ARE RAISING FAMILIES, OTHER, OTHER ONES OF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, DRIVEN BACK TO YOUR ALMA MATER AND HAVE TO SEEN THESE DATA CENTERS. OTHER ONES HAVE SPOKEN OUT THOROUGHLY AGAINST THE WATER USAGE. SO I KNOW THAT A LOT OF YOU GUYS HAVE THE INTEGRITY THAT, UH, THIS, YOU KNOW, COUNTRY HAS FOUNDED ITS ROOTS UPON. AS WE APPROACH THIS 250TH ANNIVERSARY. I, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPING IN YOU GUYS TO HOPING IN THE DECISION THAT YOU'VE MADE OR THAT YOU WILL MAKE TONIGHT AFTER HAVING HEARD EVERYONE FROM OUR TOWN. BUT I LOOK AT YOU GUYS WITH A LOT OF HOPE AND A LOT OF SMILES AND A LOT OF GRATITUDE. AND, UH, I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO ALL OF US AND, UH, LOOKED AT US WITH, WITH SOME PRIDE OF, OF THE TOWN THAT WE CARRY. SO THANKS FOR YOUR GUYS' TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M CATHERINE ANTUNES. I LIVE ON LEE STREET AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. SO VERY LATE. UM, I, MY FAMILY MOVED HERE WHEN I WAS 12 AND I'VE BEEN A NURSE FOR 11 YEARS. I DO NOT REPRESENT ANY LOCAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, HAVING WORKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND BACK AGAIN, THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM CANNOT AFFORD ALL THESE DATA CENTERS AND DEFINITELY NOT LOCAL ONES. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING. I WANTED TO ECHO WHAT [03:45:01] HE SAID. HAVE SOME HOPE. THERE ARE AVENUES FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU'VE HEARD PLENTY OF REASONS WHY, AND ALSO MAKE SOME HISTORY. AS ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WAS A POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR BEFORE I BECAME A NURSE AND I DIDN'T HAVE THAT HOPE, SO I DID NOT PURSUE, AND I FELT CALLED TO BE A NURSE. BUT YOU ALL HAVE ANSWERED THE CALLING TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY. AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD TO BE THE RIGHT THING. SAY NO TO DATA CENTERS. THANK YOU ALL KINDLY. THANK YOU, CAPTAIN. I'M TREVOR WOODS. I LIVE AT 3 28 VIRGINIA AVENUE HERE IN TOWN. UM, IT'S 11, WHATEVER, MY PHONE'S DEAD, SO I DON'T HAVE, I'M GONNA BE OFF THE CUFF HERE. UM, I ALSO DON'T HAVE ONE OF THE LITTLE SLIPS, BUT THE OFFICIAL LINE, DITTO RIGHT AGAINST THAT . UM, I, UH, WAS, ONCE I, YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE REASONS, SO I'M GONNA GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A MORE, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC TO ME. UM, I HEARD ONCE FROM A DOMINICAN MONK THAT THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO ALWAYS ASSUME THE BEST ABOUT EVERYBODY'S INTENT. SO I'M GONNA ASSUME THAT HOLDING A MEETING, EVERYBODY HERE IS ON, ON THE FENCE IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. UM, SO LET'S SAY YOU'RE ON THE FENCE AND YOU'RE KIND OF LEANING TOWARDS IT BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN MAYBE SOME OF THE GOOD POINTS MADE THAT ARE FOR THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PEOPLE, ONE GENTLEMAN IN PARTICULAR EARLIER THAT I'M GLAD HE CAME FORWARD, THAT, UM, BROUGHT UP SOME OF THE IMPACTS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO LIKE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH AND ANXIETY AND AUTONOMIC SYSTEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT THESE DATA CENTERS TAKE A, A BIG TOLL ON THESE, UH, MORE, UM, SENSITIVE AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND I HAVE, I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THAT. SO JUST KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE ON THE FENCE THAT WAY, PART OF THAT DECISION IS THAT YOU ARE TELLING THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THAT MORE SENSITIVE POPULATION THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO MOVE RIGHT, NECESSARILY FOR THEIR HEALTH. LIKE THAT IS THE DECISION THAT YOU ARE MAKING FOR THEM. IT'S NOT GREAT. UM, OF COURSE, ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, LET'S SAY YOU'RE MAYBE ON THE FENCE LEANING TOWARDS SAYING NO. HOWEVER, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POINTS MADE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL ISSUES OF THAT. I THINK I SEE SCOTT LLOYD COMING UP TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN PARTICULAR. UM, I, MY DAD MOVED OUT OF A BIG CITY 300 MILES AWAY TO A SMALL TOWN TO ESCAPE HIS CRAPPY CHILDHOOD. AND HE BECAME A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. AND, UM, HE SAW A VALLEY THAT HAD BEEN SUCKED DRY OF WATER BY THE CITY OF LA AND HE SAID, THAT'S ILLEGAL. AND THEY SAID, YEAH, BUT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND HE SAID, HE SAID, WATCH ME. AND HE INITIATED A LAWSUIT AND HE WON AGAINST THE CITY OF LA AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. NOW THERE'S WATER FLOWING THROUGH THAT VALLEY THAT I WAS ABLE TO FISH. YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES WITH MY DAD WERE THERE. UM, AFTER IT BEING DRY FOR 80 OR A HUNDRED YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UM, WATERS THAT FLOAT, FLOAT FLOAT INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT FLOAT INTO LOCAL FARMS. UM, SO TAKE HEART, YOU CAN SAY NO AND THE WORST THING TO DO IS PROBABLY JUST NOT TO TRY. SO I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY. WE CAN SAY NO, WE CAN GIVE IT A SHOT. UM, IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST OPTION HERE. THANK YOU, TREVOR. HI, MY NAME IS DECLAN HAMILTON. I LIVE ON WEST JACKSON STREET. AND, UH, JUST WANNA ADD, MY WIFE AND I OWN THAT HOUSE. WE LIVE THERE, WE'RE PREGNANT WITH OUR FIRST CHILD, AND, UM, WE DON'T WANNA DATA CENTER HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS THOMAS LER. I LIVE AT ONE 20 EAST 19TH STREET. UM, I'VE NEVER SEEN THE TOWN. SO YOU NETTED ON A TOPIC LIKE THIS AND, UM, THE, YEAH, THE MORE I GET, UM, AS TIME GOES ON, I, UM, REALLY HAVE COME TO BELIEVE WHAT CAN YOU ACTUALLY AFFECT? WHAT CAN, WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY AFFECT IN AS FAR, UM, IT'S OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT DATA CENTERS. GIVE US A CHANCE TO HAVE AN INFLUENCE WHERE WE LIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [03:50:04] MY NAME IS ERIC BEAN. I LIVE AT SEVEN MORA STREET. UM, FROM A PR PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, THE TOWN HAS BEEN ON WATER RESTRICTIONS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS. A DATA CENTER RUNS 24 HOURS A DAY. YOU CAN'T PUT 'EM ON WATER RESTRICTION. YOU CAN'T TURN 'EM OFF ONCE THEY'RE ON, UH, THEY'LL MELT DOWN IF YOU, IF YOU STOP THE WATER FLOW TO THE, UM, THE NOISE. I CAN'T BELIEVE RANDOLPH MACON ACADEMY ISN'T STANDING HERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE NOISE. UM, I LIVE OVER HERE BY KAISER LESLIE, KAISER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND WHEN THERE'S A, A BAND AT THE GAZEBO, I CAN HEAR 'EM AT MY HOUSE. WHEN THE TRAIN GOES BY THE, THE, UH, UH, THE BASEBALL FIELD, I CAN HEAR THE TRAIN AT, AT MY HOUSE WHEN IT'S ALL THE WAY DOWN AT DISMAL HOLLOW ROAD WHERE THIS OTHER CENTER'S GONNA BE. I CAN HEAR THE TRAINS AT MY HOUSE. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PRACTICAL POINT OF THE NOISE. THIS IS THE LOW SPOT IN TOWN OVER THERE IS A HIGH SPOT, AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR IT ACROSS THE WHOLE TOWN. SO THERE'S THE NOISE POLLUTION THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT IS REAL, AND IT'S PRACTICAL. THE WATER PROBLEMS IS REAL AND IT'S PRACTICAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LOUIS. YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN ABOUT THIS ONE, RIGHT? NO. AND I THINK YOU SKIPPED OVER ANOTHER HEARING FOR CALLING TO THE PUBLIC EARLIER. YOU, BUT YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN ABOUT THE, THIS, NOT THE DATA CENTER THAT'S, I THOUGHT I'M, YEAH, HE SPOKE ABOUT THE OTHERS. ALL RIGHT. GO. MM-HMM. UH, SO MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON. I LIVE IN, UH, AT 1132 KESSLER ROAD. AND, UM, MY CONCERNS IS, I I I THINK EVERYBODY'S PRETTY MUCH IN ONE POSITION HERE. UM, IF YOU GO THROUGH WITH A COP, IT NEEDS TO BE A HARD GATE, NOT A SOFT PATHWAY TO GET ONLINE. AND BASICALLY THE DEFINITION MATTERS. IT SHOULD COVER, UM, AO COMPUTE, CRYPTO MINING, MODULAR CONTAINER UNITS, TELECOM, UH, TELECOM SWITCHING, MULTIPLE SERVER BUILDINGS, INDUSTRIAL SCALE SERVER OPERATIONS WITHOUT LEAVING THE LOOPHOLES. UM, I DON'T LIKE PHRASES IN THIS THAT SAY, WHERE POSSIBLE GOOD FAITH, E EFFORT OR TEMPORARY WATER USE BY AGREEMENT. UM, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY COULD BE AN ESCAPE HATCH. 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S NOT DEFINITE YOU'RE LEAVING THE WIN THE WINDOW OPEN. UM, DON'T MAKE IT BY, RIGHT? BUT DON'T MAKE IT A RUBBER RUBBER STAMP EITHER. I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE DATA CENTERS CAN'T COME THROUGH WHILE PROTECTING LEGAL LIABILITY. SO DO WHAT YOU CAN NOT TO HAVE THEM COME HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU LOUIS. SCOTT LLOYD. UM, HAPPY RIDGE DRIVE IN FRONT ROYAL, UH, I JUST, UH, UH, I'M AN ATTORNEY AS, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AND EVEN THE LEGAL POINTS HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY COVERED TODAY. UH, SO I, I WANNA MAKE MY COMMENTS BRIEF. UM, AND I ALSO SPOKE PUBLICLY IN THE ROYAL EXAMINER ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BANNING DATA CENTERS OUTRIGHT. UH, EVEN, EVEN GIVEN THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DYLAN RULE. I THINK THAT THE ARGUMENT THAT YOU CAN'T BAN DA DATA CENTERS IS, IS A VERY WEAK ARGUMENT. UM, US ATTORNEYS, WE GET, WE GET AND STAY EMPLOYED BY MAKING ARGUMENTS ON ONE SIDE, ARGUMENTS ON THE OTHER, OTHER, YOU APPEAL IT, YOU GO ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT, YOU HAVE FIVE ATTORNEYS AGREEING ON ONE SIDE AND FOUR ON THE OTHER. SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET LEGAL OPINIONS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. UM, ONE THING I CAN SAY IS THAT WHEN, WHEN I DECIDED TO SPEAK UP, I SPOKE UP AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS DEFENDANT HELPED DEFEND, UH, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE PAST. BUT, UM, MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT MOST OF WHAT I DO NOW IS LITIGATE AGAINST, UM, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. AND SO I, I, I KNOW HOW TO, UM, ARGUE AND WIN AGAINST, AGAINST GOVERNMENTS. AND WHEN I PROVIDE THE ANALYSIS THAT I DID, I DID IT IN GOOD FAITH BY SAYING, BY DOING THE SAME THING THAT I DO. EVERY TIME [03:55:01] SOMEBODY COMES TO MY DOOR AND SAYS, I WANNA SEE SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY DID, DID WRONG, OR SOME INSTITUTION, SOME GIANT COM CORPORATION, SOME GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS, HAS DONE WRONG AGAINST ME. UH, WHAT I DO, I TAKE A LOOK FIRST AT THE STATUTES. YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. AND, UH, I PROVIDED THAT ANALYSIS. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK INTO THE, UH, UM, CASE LAW THAT'S INTERPRETED, THOSE STATUTES. AND WHAT I WASN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE IN PUBLIC WAS THE EXTENT TO WHICH I, I WENT INTO THE, THE CASE LAW. IT'S EXTENSIVE. UM, BUT REALLY IT, IT BOILS DOWN TO, UM, A QUESTION OF REASONABLENESS. HAS THE LOCALITY DONE ITS, UM, DUE DILIGENCE AND HAS IT, UH, PRESENTED ITS CASE IN A REASONABLE FASHION? IF YOU CAN PASS THAT, THAT MUSTER, THEN THE, THE, UM, YOU HAVE THE POWER UNDER THE D RULE FROM THE STATUTES TO BAN DATA CENTERS. UM, AND I THINK IF YOU JUST RE RERUN WHAT EVERYBODY HAS BROUGHT, UH, FORTH TO YOU AND WHAT PEOPLE HAVE PROVIDED, UH, THROUGH THEIR WRITTEN COMMENTARY, YOU WOULD HAVE, YOU WOULD HAVE, UM, A CLEAR, UH, PUBLIC RECORD. CAN YOU ZERO OUT LITIGATION RISK? YOU CAN NEVER ZERO OUT LITIGATION RISK. WE RUN A LITIGATION RISK JUST BY SEEDING YOU GUYS ON THE DA. UH, AND WE KNOW WITHIN THE PAST 10 YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE MADE INAPPROPRIATE COMMENTS THAT THAT ENDED UP IN, IN LITIGATION. I MEAN, IT'S JUST A FACT OF A GOVERNMENT'S LIFE. YOU CAN'T ESCAPE IT. BUT, UH, TAKE A RISK ON BEHALF OF ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN UP AGAINST THE DATA CENTERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SCOTT. THANKS JOSH. GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS DREW BURQUETTE. I LIVE AT EIGHT 12 WEST 13TH STREET HERE IN FRONT ROYAL. UM, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO SAY IN TERMS OF STATS, ARGUMENTS, OBJECTIONS. UM, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK UP FRONT ROYAL, IT'S LISTED AS A HISTORIC TOWN, UM, A GATEWAY TO THE, UM, SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK. AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY IF THAT WERE TAKEN AWAY, UM, THAT, THAT HIS HISTORICITY OF FRONT ROYAL WERE TO BE TAKEN AWAY BY CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTING DATA CENTERS HERE IN TOWN. SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU ALL PLEASE VOTE TO BAN DATA CENTERS HERE IN FRONT ROYAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY NAME'S SAMUEL CONRAD. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I'VE LIVED IN WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA MOST OF MY LIFE, AND WHILE I COMPLETELY BELIEVE THAT THE WATER IS AT A CATASTROPHIC CRISIS LEVEL EVENT, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE OTHER INTENTIONS OF THESE AI DATA CENTERS. UM, IN MY OPINION, THEY'RE PUTTING LFS AND, AND EMFS, UM, AT CRISIS LEVELS. UM, EFFECTS TO PEOPLE'S BODIES IS GONNA BE UNBELIEVABLE. THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE'S PETS THAT'S ALL OF A SUDDEN DYING. I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT'S CATS ALL OF A SUDDEN ARE GETTING SICK OUT OF NOWHERE AT VERY, UM, YOUNG AGES. UM, AND ALSO AI IS PROJECTED TO TAKE UP TO 90% OF JOBS IN THE NEXT, UM, TWO TO THREE YEARS. AND THESE DATA CENTERS ARE THE BEAST THAT'S POWERING IT. SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY WERE, THAT THEY'RE POWERING IS THESE QUANTUM PHYSICS COMPUTERS, WHICH NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT, BUT THEY'RE UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS. THE CEO OF D WAVES, GEORGIE ROSE WAS ON TV ABOUT IN 2016. AND WHILE THIS SOUNDS UNBELIEVABLE TO PEOPLE, HE'S TALKING ABOUT USING THESE QUANTUM COMPUTERS TO HARNESS POWER, UM, FROM THE GREAT OLD ONES, WHICH ARE THESE DEMONIC BEINGS THAT HP LOVECRAFT WROTE ABOUT. AND THIS TRICKLES BACK DOWN TO A MAN NAMED KENNETH GRANT AND A CULTIST WHO TOOK ON THE WORK OF ALISTAIR CROWLEY AFTER HE DIED. IF YOU STUDY THIS TYPE OF STUFF, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT ALL THIS STUFF IN HISTORY FROM THE PAST A HUNDRED TO 250 YEARS, UM, IS A LUCIFERIAN CONSPIRACY. AND ALSO SOMETHING I WANNA BRING UP. THESE AI DATA CENTERS, THEY'RE WORKING ON A PROGRAM CALLED DIGITAL PRISONS. UM, AND THEY WANT TO PUNISH PEOPLE INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM, SAY, ONE YEAR IN PRISON, THEY WANNA GIVE PEOPLE 10 YEARS IN PRISON BY PUTTING THEM BASICALLY, UM, IN A VIRTUAL REALITY AT SLUMBER BY PUNISHING PEOPLE. THERE'S AN UNASKABLE AMOUNT OF WHAT I CALL BLACK SCIENCE BEING WORKED ON BY THESE DATA CENTERS, ABOUT A BILLION HUMANOID SYNTHETIC ROPE. UM, ROBOTS ARE IN DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW. UM, IT'S A CRISIS LEVEL EVENT AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS UNIVERSAL HIGH INCOME. UM, BUT I JUST WANNA PUT OUT THERE WHAT IS GONNA BE THE PRICE FOR THAT. AND THIS IS THIS CHRONIC, UM, BRAIN INTERFACE. THEY'RE GONNA WANT PEOPLE TO [04:00:01] GET A LITTLE SHIP PUT INTO THEIR BRAIN SO THEY CAN JUST TURN ON A LITTLE BUTTON, PUT PEOPLE IN A WHOLE NOTHER WORLD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RACHEL. I LIVE AT 8 35 HA CREEK ROAD. MAY I ASK ALL OF YOU VOTE NO ON DATA. SONO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME'S COLBY COSTELLO. I LIVE AT 1 6 8 THOMAS DRIVE, UH, OVER IN MIDDLETOWN. UH, MADAM MAYOR, UH, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR US THIS EVENING. I'M A FIFTH GENERATION OKLAHOMAN AND I'M ACTUALLY, UH, NOT A NATIVE TO VIRGINIA, UH, BUT I'M JUST MAKING THE PLUNGE TO BE A LOCAL RESIDENT NOW. I'M BUYING A HOUSE OVER ON LEE STREET. I CLOSED IT OUT ON THE SEVENTH. I FALL IN LOVE WITH, UH, VIRGINIA, WITH FRONT ROYAL. IT'S A LOVELY PLACE. THE LANDSCAPE AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN ARE INTOXICATING AND I WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. UM, PLEASE VOTE NO, UH, ON THE DATA CENTERS. WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WANT, UH, YOU FEEL FREE TO WALK UP HERE. GO AHEAD. I JUST WANTED TO JUST GO AHEAD 'CAUSE WE KINDA GOT MIXED UP HERE. SO JUST IF YOU WANTED TO STILL SPEAK, WHETHER YOU'RE A TOWN, WHETHER YOU'RE A COUNTY, WHETHER YOU'RE OUTTA COUNTY, JUST COME GET IN LINE. JUST MAKE SURE YOU INDICATE THAT TO US WHEN YOU BEGIN TO SPEAK. OKAY? OKAY, GO AHEAD. I'M IN THE TOWN, UM, I'M AT, UH, 4 0 9 EAST MAIN STREET. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH GATES. UM, I MOVED HERE TWO YEARS AGO, UM, BECAUSE MY BROTHER CONVINCED ME. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY GONNA BE FOR A LITTLE SHORT WHILE, BUT I DECIDED TO MAKE THIS PLACE MY HOME AND DATA CENTERS WILL RUIN THAT. UM, NATURE AND THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT MADE ME STAY. SO PLEASE VOTE NO THAT THAT CENTERS PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. STEVE COLORS, BENTONVILLE, VIRGINIA, SOUTH RIVER. I KNOW EVERY ONE OF YOU PERSONALLY AND I KNOW ALL YOUR HEARTS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO THE RIGHT THING. BUT A COUPLE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T SEE COME UP TONIGHT THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. SO, UM, NUMBER ONE IS THIS DRIVE YOU'RE GONNA SET AND LOOK AT THIS DATA CENTER AT OUR INTEREST TO THE DRIVE AND THE FIRST OVERLOOK. AND AT NIGHT, I'M SURE EVERYONE I'VE SEEN IS LIT UP LIKE A CITY AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A TERRORIST, TERRORIST TARGET. LET'S ADMIT IT. AND IT IS GONNA BE LIT UP. SO WHO WANTS TO GO UP ON THE DRIVE AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL UP AT NIGHT AND LOOK AT OUR DATA CENTER. SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA SAY? COME TO FRONT ROW AND LOOK AT OUR DATA CENTER. NOW YOU CAN CROSS TWO 11 AND YOU CAN GO TO LURES A BEAUTIFUL TRIBE. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO COME THIS WAY. UH, THEY GOT A CAVERNS. SO WE NEED TO NOT HAVE THIS SITTING RIGHT UNDERNEATH OUR NOSES. UH, THE OTHER POINT IS WE'RE WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO CONSERVING WATER. I KNOW WE ARE. 'CAUSE I CAN SEE THE RIVER AT THE HOUSE AND WE'RE THE CANOE CAPITAL. SO COME TO THE FRONT ROW AND CARRY YOUR CANOE DOWN THE RIVER. . I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE. IT'S, IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO THAT. ANYWAY, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE TWO POINTS I WANTED TO MAKE. AND A THIRD POINT I WANNA MAKE IS DEFINITELY I'M AGAINST DATA CENTERS. I I AGREE WITH THESE PEOPLE EVER HEART, I, I, I FEEL FOR 'EM. BUT WE'RE GONNA PAY FOR THESE DATA CENTERS WHETHER IT COMES OR NOT. ELECTRIC, BIG DEMAND FOR GASOLINE. IT GOES UP, IT'S A BIG DEMAND FOR THE ELECTRIC. WE'RE GONNA PAY MORE REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY PUT 'EM. THEY'RE SUCKING ALL THE POWER AND WE ARE GONNA, EVEN IF YOU VOTE NO AND THE COUNTY VOTES, NO, WE STILL GONNA PAY FOR IT. SO I ASK YOU GUYS JUST TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI, I'M BEN ANDREWS. I JUST WANNA SAY MY WIFE IS IN THE BACK WITH OUR 2-YEAR-OLD SON AND HAS BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME. SO THANK GOD FOR HER SUPPORT. ANYWAYS, I LIVE IN SALSBURG, VIRGINIA AND I'VE LIVED THERE FOR SIX YEARS. HOWEVER, I'VE LIVED IN FRONT ROW MY ENTIRE LIFE. I SEARCHED FOR A HOUSE TO BUY FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS AND I COULDN'T MAKE MY MIND UP ON WHAT I WANTED. DO YOU KNOW THE MAN HOURS IT TAKES TO LOOK AT ALL THAT PROPERTY? IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU, STU, FROM THE HANGOVER. NEVER DID. I THINK I'D BE UP HERE STANDING HERE SAYING ANY OF THIS. LOOKING BACK FIVE YEARS AGO, THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT A DATA CENTER NEAR MY HOUSE IN STRASBURG, WHICH I WILL BE ATTENDING THAT MEETING FOR TOMORROW NIGHT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO SELL MY HOUSE BECAUSE THEY PUT THIS CRAP IN THE VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS NEAR MY HOUSE AND THE NOISY GENERATORS DROWNING OUT THE ECHO OF MY AR. I NEVER REALLY APPRECIATED [04:05:01] THE BEAUTY OF THIS AREA UNTIL I LEFT IT. IT'S TRULY A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. I'M A CO-OWNER OF A LOCAL EXCAVATING COMPANY. THE COMPANY IS ANDREWS GRADING AND EXCAVATING. AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN OUR WORK OR OUR BLACK AND WHITE JOB SITE SIGNS. I'VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE THROUGH MY JOB AND IT TAKES ME TO SOME REALLY REMOTE AREAS THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER SEE. AND SOME DAYS I QUESTION IT, BUT TODAY I'M GRATEFUL. I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS THAT WORK IN DATA CENTERS AND THEY'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT ARE SOMEWHAT FOR THEM. PERHAPS THE COPPER HA BECAUSE IT BRINGS THEM WORK. BUT GUESS WHAT? THEY DRIVE HOME TO THIS AREA EVERY DAY. THEY DON'T LIVE NEAR THEM. DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? I GET INTO SMALL TALK CONVERSATIONS WITH MY CLIENTS ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE FROM AND THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT THEY HAVE MOVED FROM OUT OF STATE OR FROM DC I'VE ALWAYS ASKED MYSELF WHY NOW I KNOW WHY. SEEING ALL THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WITH THE SAME VIEWS, TO NOT ALLOW THESE CONCRETE SKYSCRAPERS SHOULD BE ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE YOUR DECISION. AND TO CONCLUDE, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN OR HEARD THAT TERM OR VIDEO WHEN I GO TO THE MOUNTAINS, I FEEL BETTER. LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY. VOTE NO TODAY CENTERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY GOODNESS. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. IT HAS. HEY Y'ALL. UM, I'M JOSH PHILLIPS. I LIVE AT TWO 40 HIGH RIDGE IN LAKEFRONT ROYAL AND I KNOW A GOOD PORTION OF Y'ALL. AND FOR STARTERS, I JUST WANNA SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME TONIGHT AND THE WORK ALL YOU GUYS DO. UM, I KNOW IT'S NOT ALWAYS FUN. I'VE BEEN HERE MANY TIMES IN MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS. UM, TONIGHT IS REALLY COOL 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE HERE WHO WE'VE ARGUED, WE'VE DISAGREED. AND THERE WAS ONE GAL WHO CAME UP TO ME EARLIER AND WE DEFINITELY HAD SOME WORDS AND SHE WAS JUST LIKE, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE. AND IT'S PRETTY COOL THAT WE'RE ALL COMING OUT HERE TO HANG OUT. CHAT, STAY UP LATE. ANNOY Y'ALL. SORRY, . UM, MY EXTENDED FAMILY LIVES IN LOUDOUN COUNTY AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR 35 YEARS AND THEY EXPERIENCED ALL THE STUFF WITH THE DATA CENTERS IN NOVA. UM, I HAD EXTENDED FAMILY WHO BUILD DATA CENTERS AND ARE AGAINST DATA CENTERS WHILE BUILDING THEM. UM, AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE'RE FINE DOING IT OUT IN THE MIDWEST, BUT DON'T BRING IT HERE. UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD ARGUMENTS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I'M SURE THERE MAY BE SOME GOOD REASONS THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD FOR WHY WE WANT DATA CENTERS. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY GOOD REASONS FOR THAT, TO BE HONEST. BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING OUT THERE I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH. UM, I THINK IT'S OKAY FOR A COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY WE JUST DON'T LIKE SOMETHING IF IT'S REASONABLE AND WE THINK IT AFFECTS THE BEAUTY OF OUR AREA. UM, UNLESS THERE'S A REALLY INCREDIBLE ARGUMENT, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING OUTWEIGHING THAT RIGHT NOW AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER. THERE MIGHT BE SOME VARI VARIATIONS ON THE PROPOSALS AND ARGUMENTS. UM, BUT I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE Y'ALL AND RESPECTFULLY ASK TO VOTE NO ON DATA CENTERS IN ANY FORM IN ANY WAY. I JUST DON'T WANT THEM HERE. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANKS JUDGE. THERE'S NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP. THERE'S NO ONE OVER THERE IN LINE, BUT I CERTAINLY WANNA GIVE EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY. IS THERE ANYBODY SITTING OUT THERE THAT IS KIND OF HANKERING TO TALK FOR THE FIRST TIME? YEAH. ANY SERIOUSLY? IS ANY ANYBODY ELSE WISHES SPEAK, COME ON DOWN. I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE BOB BARKER. COME ON DOWN. PUBLIC SPEAKING. OKAY, SO I WORKED AT A OL AND NAME, NAME ADDRESS. THEN, THEN GIVE IT TO US. OH, LES LESLIE. NICE. N-E-I-S-S AND I'M ON BLUE, UM, BLUE MOUNTAIN ROAD ON BLUE. YEAH. SO I WORKED AT A OL, WE HAD A SMALL DATA CENTER AND 10 PEOPLE MAX WORKED AT THE DATA CENTER, BUT WE HAD 5,000 EMPLOYEES ON THAT CAMPUS. WE EMPLOYED 5,000 PEOPLE. THEY BOUGHT HOMES IN LOUDOUN. WE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY MAKING A LIVING AT, AT THAT CAMPUS, RIGHT? SO AFTER WE LEFT BUILDING WAS THERE, ALL THE BUILDINGS WERE THERE, 5,000 PEOPLE ON THE CAMPUS WE'RE ALL GONE. AND THE CONTRACTORS, GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS COME IN. SO THEY UTILIZED THE CAMPUS, THE EXISTING CAMPUS. IT ALL MADE SENSE. YOU KNOW WHAT'S THERE NOW IT WAS RAISED TO THE GROUND AND IT'S ALL DATA CENTERS. IT'S NOT EMPLOYING 5,000 PEOPLE. IS IT PROBABLY MAYBE 30, MAYBE A HUNDRED MAX. WHERE'S, WHERE'S THE MONEY? WHO'S, WHO'S BENEFITING FROM THE DATA CENTERS? IT'S NOT THE PEOPLE IN LOUDOUN. AND HERE'S ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN [04:10:01] AGREEMENT TO PUT IN VIRGINIA WITH THE FORMER GOVERNOR TO PUT RESTRICTIONS AND OVERSIGHT AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS ON THE DATA CENTERS. SHOULD THEY BE BUILT? HE NIXED IT. HE VETOED IT. IN OTHER WORDS, HE PUNTED IT TO ALL OF THE LOCALITIES TO ALL OF YOU. SO A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF PEOPLE, ALL VERY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE DECIDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE REGULATIONS, THERE SHOULD BE RESTRICTIONS. MY MY POINT IS I DON'T WANT ANY DATA CENTERS I MOVED OUT FROM TO GET AWAY FROM THE DATA CENTERS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA TO LIVE HERE WHERE MY PARTNER HAS BEEN COMING FOR HIS WHOLE LIFE TO FISH AND HUNT AND CAMP. SO THERE'S A REASON WE'RE HERE. AND WE DON'T WANNA SEE DATA CENTERS THERE. THEY DO NOTHING FOR PEOPLE. LOOK TO LOUDON, LOOK TO PRINCE WILLIAM. THE THE ISSUES THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GONNA BE CONFRONTED WITH ARE HERE. PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT. PLEASE DON'T DO IT. AND YEAH, FOR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING, YOU DID A GREAT JOB, LESLIE. ALRIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE? UH OH, THERE YOU GO. I THINK SHE WORKS AT PARTIES. I'M POSITIVE. I KNOW WE THE BATHROOM. HI, I'M ELIZABETH STONEY AND I MOVED HERE AROUND 1997 AND THAT WAS THE TIME WHEN THEY HAD JUST TAKEN DOWN THE AFT PLANT. AND I SAW A CERTAIN ATMOSPHERE WHERE PEOPLE JUST REALLY WERE SUFFERING FROM POLLUTION FROM THE SMELL. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW ABOUT AND THEY DON'T TELL US. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON. AND THESE DATA CENTERS ARE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT. YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE PEACE IN YOUR HEART FROM GOD AND YOU DON'T, AND ALL YOU THINK ABOUT IS THE MONEY THAT YOU KNOW, IN THE BIBLE IT SAYS MONEY, THE LOVE OF YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY TO HAVE MONEY TO MEET YOUR NEEDS IF YOU TRUST GOD FOR IT. BUT THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. AND THESE DATA CENTERS ARE A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT. THEY CARE ABOUT NOTHING BUT MONEY. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW IT'S GONNA AFFECT US, HOW IT'S GONNA AFFECT OUR TOWN. AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. THANK YOU MELISSA. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ? I HEARD THAT. I HEARD THAT. SO NOBODY SHOOT ANY SPITBALLS OR ANYTHING, BUT BEFORE WE START ANY KINDA DISCUSSION TAKING ACTION, WE HAVE TO DO A RESTROOM BREAK REAL QUICK. 'CAUSE WE'VE HUNG IN HERE THIS LONG. SO WE GOTTA CLOSE VERY QUICK. NOPE. AM I, AM I ALRIGHT, SO I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING RESTROOM. WE'RE GONNA DO THE RESTROOM BREAK AND THEN COME BACK FOR, FOR YOUR PATIENCE. ALRIGHT, SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED AND I AM GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL DENY THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS TO TOWN CODE SECTIONS 1 75 DASH THREE AND 1 75 DASH 64. THAT WOULD DEFINE AND PERMIT DATA CENTERS WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT DISTRICT I TWO BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT. FURTHER, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO PREPARE AND RETURN TO COUNCIL WITHIN 60 DAYS. A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT, DEFINING DATA CENTERS VERSUS TECHNOLOGY AND PROHIBITING DATA CENTERS WITHIN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND ALL ZONING DISTRICTS WHILE ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER APPLICATIONS DUE TO INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL, FISCAL, AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS. THIS DIRECTION IS MADE PURSUANT TO THE TOWN'S ZONING AUTHORITY UNDER VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 1 52 DASH 2280. AND BASED UPON COUNCIL'S DETERMINATION, THAT DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, INFRASTRUCTURE, CAPACITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES IN THE CHARACTER OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL. SECOND. SECOND MADAM MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, HOLD ON. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION, WE [04:15:01] HAVE A SECOND. AND, UM, AT THIS TIME IT'S DISCUSSION. SO, AND BECAUSE YOU MADE THE MOTION MOTION VICE MAYOR VIAL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FIRST. THANK YOU. UM, I'M GRATEFUL THAT EVERYBODY CAME HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND SPENT ALL OF YOUR TIME SITTING HERE WITH US. UM, IN SOME CONTEXT, I WISH WE COULD HAVE SPOKEN TO SOME OF YOU BEFORE THE MEETING. I, WE HAVE SOME OF US ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING A BAN SINCE LAST YEAR. THERE WAS A TIMELINE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE ZONING DEPARTMENT UP ON THE TV THAT'S BEEN GONE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. SOME OF THE DATES ON THAT WERE WRONG. BUT AT THE DECEMBER 1ST WORK SESSION, I PROPOSED A BAN TO WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE A MAJORITY CONSENSUS TO DO, WHICH IS WHY THIS CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD TO A PUBLIC HEARING. AND AS A GOVERNMENT BODY WITH LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY, WE HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THESE TYPE OF MATTERS, WHICH IS WHY IT WASN'T JUST A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT. UH, THE MOTION THAT I JUST READ WAS NOT IN THE PACKET TONIGHT. IT WAS NOT ONE OF THE FOUR PROPOSED MOTIONS. UM, I'M NOT ON FACEBOOK. I HEARD SOMEONE SHOUT OUT EARLIER TO REACH OUT TO THEM ON THE UNCENSORED PAGE OR SOMETHING. BUT I JUST DID WANNA NOTE THAT I WROTE MY OWN MOTION BASED OFF OF OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL. UM, AND BASED ON THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TOWN LEGAL COUNSEL AND THE CONTINUOUS WORK SESSIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD, UM, MY FAMILY ALSO IS PREHISTORIC HERE IN FRONT ROYAL. WE WERE DISPLACED FROM THE SKYLINE DRIVE MANY, MANY, MANY MOONS AGO. UM, AND WE'RE NOW JUST OVER THE HILL IN BROWNTOWN. AND, UM, I DID WANNA NOTE FOR THE RECORD, 'CAUSE THERE WERE SOME PRETTY HARSH SPEAKERS TONIGHT, WHICH TO EACH THEIR OWN. BUT, UH, I'M NOT A PEN HEADED INTELLECTUAL OR ON DRUGS . UM, IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY MY DUTY TO HAVE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND LISTEN TO EVERYBODY SAY WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. AND I DID TRY IN THE BEGINNING TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THE EMAILS THAT WE RECEIVED. BUT I REALIZED THAT THE TEMPLATES WERE NOT BEING USED APPROPRIATELY THAT HAD BEEN SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEND TO US WHEN I STARTED RECEIVING. DEAR SIR. UM, AND THEN I RECEIVED A COUPLE THAT SAID, PARENTHESES, SIGN YOUR NAME HERE. AND THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS WAS AN ALIAS. SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO ADDRESS WHEN I RESPONDED TO THOSE. UM, I THINK MY FORMER FELLOW COUNCILMAN SCOTT LLOYD HAS ALREADY LEFT. BUT WHEN HE WAS ON THIS COUNCIL ALONGSIDE OF ME AND MAYOR LORI COCKRELL, AND THEN AFTER HE LEFT THE COUNCIL, I HAVE REMAINED ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO ONE READING OF PUBLIC HEARINGS. ALL OF YOU WITNESSED TONIGHT HOW MANY PEOPLE WALKED UP AND HANDED THE CLERK OF COUNCIL DOCUMENTATION FOR US TO DISPERSE AMONGST THIS DAIS AND TO TRY TO, UM, LOOK AT AND PROCESS WHILE LISTENING AND BEING ATTENTIVE TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND HAVING ONE READING FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS. I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING AND IMMEDIATELY TAKE ACTION, NOT WITHOUT DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. HOWEVER, I WILL ADMIT THIS IS THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING THAT I'VE EVER SHOWED UP TO WITH MY MIND ALREADY MADE UP AS SOMEONE HAD IMPLIED EARLIER TONIGHT. AND THAT WAS BECAUSE I'VE PUBLICLY SAID IN ALL OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING FROM THE WORK SESSIONS LAST MONTH WHEN WE SET UP HERE FOR A REGULAR MEETING, I TALKED ABOUT IT. UM, THE SIX PEOPLE THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME IN FAVOR OF DATA CENTERS DIDN'T SHOW UP TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I GET THAT IT'S INTIMIDATING TO SPEAK OUT FOR THINGS. UM, HOWEVER, I HEARD SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE IMPACTS, THINGS LIKE THAT. I'LL WRAP THIS UP PRETTY QUICK. WE'RE ALL TIRED. MY BROTHER VOTES WITH HIS TAX DOLLARS. AND SO AFTER NOVEMBER'S ELECTION, HE DECIDED TO SELL HIS HOUSE IN VIRGINIA AND MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE THAT'S IN FREDERICK COUNTY. HE LISTED HIS HOUSE IN DECEMBER AND NOW THERE'S A PROPOSED DATA CENTER GOING IN WITH HIM WALKING DISTANCE OF HIS FARM AT FREDERICK COUNTY. AND HE CAN'T SELL HIS HOME ANY LONGER AND MOVE OUT OF THE STATE BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BUY A HOUSE NEXT TO A DATA CENTER. AND I SPOKE VERY CLEARLY ABOUT IT AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING, WHICH YOU CAN FIND IN THE RECORDED VIDEO OR IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. BUT I SPOKE ABOUT THERE WERE SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THIS WAS NOT THE SAME COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR LORI COCKRELL AND I WERE ON THAT COUNCIL. SHE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER AT THAT TIME. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT HER MEETING. BUT, UM, THE FRIDA BOARD AND A DIFFERENT TOWN MANAGER AND A DIFFERENT TOWN ATTORNEY MET WITH US TWO BY TWO BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO TALK TO US ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND IT WAS AWS AMAZON FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW. AND THEY PUT WHAT SEEMED LIKE A 17 PAGE NDA IN FRONT OF ME IN THIS MEETING WITH FOUR PEOPLE. AND I READ THROUGH EVERY SINGLE WORD OF IT TO MAKE THEM SIT THERE. AND I SAID, WHAT HAPPENS IF I SIGN THIS AND BREAK IT? AND THEY SAID, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO. SO WE WENT ON TO HAVE THIS MEETING AND SOMEBODY FROM THE FRIDA BOARD SAID TO ME LIKE, LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY. YOU'RE BEING SO SELFISH. QUIT GIVING THEM A HARD TIME. AND I SAID, THAT'S FINE, BUT TELL ME WHAT THE CONS ARE. AND THEY SAID, THERE ARE NONE. AND I SAID, WELL, ANYTIME YOU SERVE CRAP, WHEN A SILVER PLATTER, IT'S STILL CRAP. THERE'S CONS AND PROS TO EVERYTHING. IT CAN'T BE ALL PROS. NONETHELESS. THAT WAS YEARS AGO. WE NEVER HEARD ANOTHER WORD SINCE. AND I JUST WANNA SAY IN FULL DISCLOSURE, THE [04:20:01] AVTEC PROPERTY HAS BEEN REFERENCED HERE IN SO MANY EMAILS. AND TONIGHT THAT HAS NOT BECOME FOR BEFORE THIS GOVERNING BODY. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE CONTRACT. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE WATER, AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SALE OF THAT CONTRACT. THAT WAS A DIFFERENT ENTITY THAT HAS FACILITATED THAT, AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT REQUEST YET. UH, I LEARNED A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT IT FROM YOU GUYS HERE TONIGHT. UM, THE LAST THING I'LL ADD IS IN THE AGENDA PACKET. ACES UH, WROTE A ADVISORY LETTER TO THIS COUNCIL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, ACES IS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABILITY. AND, UH, WITHIN THE TOWN CODE, THEIR DUTIES ARE TO PROVIDE ADVISORY RECOMMENDATIONS ON MATTERS RELATED TO PRESERVATION, ENHANCEMENT MANAGEMENT, AND PROTECTION OF THE TOWN'S ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS. I WON'T READ THE ENTIRE LETTER BECAUSE IT'S VERY LATE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS LETTER FROM ACES THAT SERVES AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THIS COUNCIL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET. UM, AND THEIR, THEIR LETTER STATES THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT RAISED SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURAL, LAND USE AND QUALITY OF LIFE CONCERNS THAT OUTWEIGH THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS DENIAL OF THIS ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POINT IN HAVING AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE IF WE DON'T LET THEM ADVISE US. UM, I KNOW A LOT OF THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS SITTING ALONGSIDE ME BELIEVE VERY HEAVILY IN WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION PASSES FORWARD. AND I WOULD THINK AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, UH, WOULD BE JUST AS IMPORTANT. AND JUST FOR THE CONTEXT BEFORE I WRAP THIS UP, THIS WAS SUBMITTED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDED JUSTIN PROCTOR, A CONSERVATION BIOLOGIST, CELESTE HORTON, AN ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST, HERS SCH FINCH, A RIVER STEWARD, AND THE SUPPORTING MEMBERS, PAULA HACKMAN, MICHAEL SHOTTEN, MELO SHOTTEN, JIM KINNEY, AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR WHO TAUGHT ME HERE AT HIGH SCHOOL OF WARREN COUNTY, LUIS LAB, BARCA, NANCY KEEL, MELODY EK, ASHBY O'MALLEY, AND LISA SCHWARTZ, AS WELL AS FREDERICK SCHWARTZ. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T PART OF THE AGENDA PACKET. I, MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST CHIME IN FOR QUICK. I KNOW IT'S REAL LATE. UM, SO AS, UH, THE VICE MAYOR WAS JUST SAYING, UH, I WAS ALSO TOO VERY ADAMANT ABOUT HAVING ABAN ON DATA CENTERS AS WELL. IT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE, UH, IN VIRGINIA. UH, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE. WE'VE BEEN ADVISED LEGALLY THAT IT CAN BE. WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHERE IT HAS BEEN DONE. UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND SO LIKE I SAID, IT'S, TO ME IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION. UH, 'CAUSE OF ALL THE EMAILS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, I'VE NOT RECEIVED A SINGLE ONE THAT SAID THEY WERE FOUR DATA CENTERS. I'VE NOT, I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYBODY WITHIN TOWN LIMITS, UH, IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. UH, THAT'S SINCE DATA CENTERS HAVE BEEN, UH, YOU KNOW, BEEN DISCUSSED FOR THIS AREA. AGAIN, NO, I I DON'T RECALL A SINGLE PERSON THAT SAID THEY WERE FOR 'EM. SO SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN LIKE, I'VE BEEN, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH DATA CENTERS. I'VE ALSO, I'VE WORKED IN IT MYSELF. I'VE HELPED BUILD THEM. UH, I TOO CAME OUT HERE FOR THE PEACE AND QUIET. UH, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 11 YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND PEOPLE ASK WHY I WANNA RUN FOR OFFICE. AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, I JUST WANNA KEEP THE REASONS I LIVE HERE INTACT. AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF YOU FOLKS SAY ABOUT THE RESOURCES OF OUR RIVER AND SKYLINE DRIVE AND WHATNOT. WELL, THERE'S ONE LADY HERE THAT, THAT SPOKE, I'M NOT GONNA SAY HER NAME BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA EMBARRASS HER, BUT ONE LADY SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE, UH, THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS. AND IT'S SOMETHING I'VE SAID MULTIPLE TIMES. AND THAT'S THE PEOPLE, UH, YEAH, WE'VE GOT SKYLINE DRIVE, WE'VE GOT NANDO, YOU KNOW, NANDO NATIONAL PARK, WE'VE GOT RIVER, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE MOUNTAINS. BUT WITHOUT THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, NONE OF IT COMES TOGETHER. UH, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE JUST HAD, UH, VERY PROMINENT VISITORS COME IN FROM, UH, FROM ACROSS THE POND. AND ONE OF THE REASONS THEY CHOSE FRONT WHEEL IS PEOPLE OFTEN SAY, WHY DO THEY CHOOSE FRONT WHEEL? WELL, IT'S BECAUSE THE PEOPLE TOO, THEY CAME HERE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY SAID WAS HOW NICE THE FOLKS WERE HERE. AND WHEN I'M AROUND, UH, WHEN I'M AT THE EVENTS HERE THAT WE HAVE IN THE WINE FESTIVAL, FOR INSTANCE, FESTIVAL OF LEAVES, I ALWAYS COME ACROSS A COUPLE, UM, THAT ARE FROM MARYLAND OR NORTHERN VIRGINIA OR SOMEWHERE AROUND DC AND THEY, THEY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS HOW, JUST HOW NICE PEOPLE ARE. AND THEY SAY THEY LOVE IT HERE. THEY SAY, YES, THIS IS REALLY, REALLY NICE. THIS IS A NICE RESPITE FROM, UH, THE RAT RACE THAT WE LIVE AROUND AND WORK IN. IT'S LIKE, YEAH, IT'S, SO AGAIN, EVERYBODY HERE WAS ON A COMMON THREAD FROM WHAT I COULD SEE YOU TONIGHT. AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY GREAT. I MEAN, ALL ACROSS THE, SOME OF YOU FOLKS MAYBE ON A DIFFERENT SIDE OF US POLITICAL SPECTRUM FROM, FROM WHERE I AM OR YOU KNOW, VICE VERSA. BUT WE'RE ALL HERE, [04:25:01] UH, BECAUSE WE WANNA BE HERE. SO I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING HERE. I'VE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED A LOT OF FOLKS TO COME HERE TONIGHT FOR THIS VERY REASON, BECAUSE IT MAKES OUR JOB EASIER. UM, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BEST WAY THAT, THAT MY VOTE ON THIS WILL BE TO REPRESENT YOU FOLKS TO PUT ME HERE. SO, THANK YOU COUNSEL, PLEASE. BORN AND RAISED HERE, UM, FOR A LONG TIME, LIKE 70 YEARS I GUESS. BUT, UH, I STARTED OUT ON THIS COUNCIL ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO, I GUESS. YEAH. UM, AND DATA CENTERS THAT WAS BEING THROWED AROUND THEN. AND I SAID, NO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE, OUR RIVERS WON'T HOLD IT. YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE NOT GONNA HOLD IT. UH, SO I'VE SAID NO THE WHOLE TIME, BUT JUST TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THE TOWN I WAS IN PIGEON FOREST, TENNESSEE LAST WEEK, AND A GENTLEMAN SAW THE TAGS ON MY TRUCK IN ASHEVILLE PARK, VIRGINIA. I WAS FROM, AND I SAID, FRONT ROYAL. HE SAID, WELL, THEY WERE LEAVING GATLINBURG AND THEY WANT TO COME TO FRONT ROW, BUT THEY'RE GONNA COME UP TO PARKWAY. AND I'M LIKE, I THINK THAT'S THE WRONG WAY TO GO, BUT THAT'S LIKE 14 HOURS. BUT I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, THAT FAR AWAY, THAT ONE. AND THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THE TOWN AND WHAT I KNEW ABOUT THE TOWN. UH, AND THEY GAVE ME A CALL WHEN THEY GOT HERE SO THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD OF THE TOWN I LIVE IN. UH, I GUESS MY ANCESTORS GO BACK TO THE EARLY 18 HUNDREDS. SO THAT'S YOUR THEME SONG. WOW. HEY BUDDY. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT, LISTENING TO US, PUTTING UP WITH THEIR, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, KNOW WE DON'T PUT UP WITH A LOT. YOU ARE PUTTING UP WITH US. SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WHO WANTS TO GO NEXT OR NOT? YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT YOU, WHOEVER WANTS TO GO, YOU'RE GOOD. I USUALLY LIKE TO GO LAST. I KNOW. BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE, WE'RE MIXING, WE'RE MIXING UP HERE NOW. 'CAUSE WE'RE NOW ONTO TUESDAY DEAL. WE'RE ON TUESDAY. , YOU'RE GONNA BRING IN A NEW DAY HERE. IT'S CLOCK. IT'S PAST 12. AND I DIDN'T TURN INTO A PUMPKIN. YOU GOT THREE MINUTES. , HILLARY SET THE CLOCK. SO, UH, WHEN, WHEN THE, WHEN THE SO-CALLED TEXT AMENDMENT CAME FORWARD, UH, I, I BELIEVE IT WAS BACK IN OCTOBER. I, IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT, UM, YOU KNOW, I LISTENED AND I REVIEWED IT, AND THERE, IT, IT JUST, IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM QUITE RIGHT TO ME. AND I ASKED, I ASKED THAT THE AMENDMENT BE VETTED. UM, BECAUSE E EVEN WITH THE, WITH THE FOLKS, UH, WITH OUR PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEY WORKED DILIGENTLY ON IT, AND THEY PUT IT TOGETHER, I STILL FELT LIKE WE NEEDED SOME ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE SINCE THEN. UM, I'VE ALSO DONE MY RESEARCH, UM, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS, UH, I LISTENED TONIGHT. WE TALKED ABOUT WATER, WE TALKED ABOUT ELECTRICITY, WE TALKED ABOUT DIESEL GENERATORS, UM, YOU KNOW, CLOSED LOOP, UH, COOLING SYSTEMS THAT, OH YEAH, THEY, THEY DON'T USE, UH, UM, THEY DON'T USE A WHOLE LOT OF WATER, BUT THEN THEY ALSO USE A TON OF ELECTRICITY BECAUSE YOU GOTTA COOL THOSE, THOSE SERVERS DOWN SOME WAY. UH, THE WATER EVAPORATION SYSTEMS, UH, THEY USE TONS OF WATER, UH, AND THEN THEY POLLUTE. SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IN 1993, UH, I GREW UP, I GREW UP HERE. OKAY. I WENT TO THE OLD WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER, UH, WITH, UH, AFTS FIBERS, UM, UH, I LIVED ON WEST MAIN STREET, UM, AND, UH, I STILL HAVE A HOUSE THERE. [04:30:01] UM, UH, WE GO OUT TO MY 1966 FORD FALCON AND I WOULD HAVE TO SCRAPE THE SOOT OFF THE VEHICLE. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE FOLKS THAT GREW UP HERE AND LIVED HERE. WE WERE BREATHING THAT STUFF. AND AT NIGHT, I COULD HEAR THE LOUD HUMMING OF THE FACTORY OVER THERE. AND BY THE WAY, ON FER AVENUE AND ALL THOSE HOUSES THAT ARE THERE TODAY, THERE WEREN'T HOUSES THERE. IT WAS ALL WOODS. AND YOU COULD STILL HEAR IT BECAUSE IT WAS BOUNCING OFF THE RIVER AND THEN COMING BACK, UH, I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME. MAY, UH, I WANT TO SAY SOME IMPORTANT THINGS. THIS PAST WEEKEND, YOU KNOW, I WAS DRIVING AROUND, IT WAS A NICE DAY, AND I WAS DRIVING AROUND IN MY LITTLE MAZDA MIATA WITH THE TOP DOWN. DID YOU GET STOPPED? AND I STOPPED. I STOPPED OFF YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A CHICK MAGNET, PUT THAT. SO ANYWAY, I, I DECIDED, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA PULL INTO THE SKYLINE DRIVE. AND I PARKED, I PARKED MY VEHICLE AND I STARTED WALKING UP THE HILL. AND, UH, NO, THERE'S THE, THERE'S THE OLD TRAIL. SO THAT'S A DICKEY RIDGE TRAIL. SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA WALK, I'M GOING ON A HIKE TODAY. AND I HIKED UP TO THE ROAD, AND THEN I SAID, WELL, I'M AT THE ROAD HERE, BRUCE, YOU THREE MINUTES, WHY DON'T I GET A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE? AND I WENT UP TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY OVERLOOKED. AND THEN I TRIED TO PICTURE IN MY MIND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE HAD DATA CENTERS WITH 75 FOOT BUILDINGS, UH, TRANSMISSION, UH, TOWERS THAT ARE 240 FEET TALL, AND HOW, WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO THE VIEW SHED? AND WHILE I WAS UP THERE, MAYBE IT WAS FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND, AND, AND PEOPLE WERE JUST OUT. BUT YEAH, THAT PLACE WAS, IT WAS ROCKING, UH, FULL OF PEOPLE. I THINK THE DRIVE DID A GOOD BUSINESS THAT DAY. MM-HMM . UM, AND, AND THEN I LOOKED AT THE RAILROAD TRACK AND I SAW THE RAILROAD TRACK GOING THROUGH, AND I WAS SAYING THAT THERE CAN BE ADDITIONAL USAGE. THERE'S PROBABLY ADDITIONAL USAGES THAT, THAT WE COULD USE THAT PROPERTY FOR THERE. UM, AND, UH, THAT WOULD NOT BE. SO I IMPACT IMPACTFUL AND THROUGH ZONING, I HEAR THE WORD ZONING. I'M GOING LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR ZONING. MAYBE WE NEED TO REDUCE BUILDING HEIGHTS TO ABOUT 30, 35 FEET INSTEAD OF 75 FEET. SO, UH, THOSE ARE ALL THE KIND KINDS OF THINGS THAT I SAW UP THERE THAT, UM, I WOULD NEVER WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO RUIN THAT VIEW. SHED. UH, AND THEN I THINK ABOUT FRONT ROYAL, WHAT ARE WE REALLY, WE'RE AN OUTDOOR PARADISE. I MEAN, WE'RE AN AMBASSADOR TO NATURE. UH, WALKING BACK DOWN THE TRAIL, I HEAR IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE, UM, BARRED ALL, UH, OWLS, UH, THEY ALMOST LIKE, THEY SOUND LIKE HYENAS, KIND OF IN A WAY. UH, AND I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT REAL ECOSYSTEMS GOING ON. AND THE SPARROW WAS LIKE LEADING THE WAY DOWN THE TRAIL FOR ME. UH, AND THEN I'LL LOOK IN OUR COMP PLAN. AND OUR COMP PLAN, UH, SAYS A SMALL TOWN CHARM, UH, BEAUTY, UH, NATURE TOURISM. AND ON THE DRIVE, IT WAS, IT WAS THE TOURISM. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. SO, AND THEN I HEAR TONIGHT THE PASSION OF THE LOVE OF THIS COMMUNITY WAS OFF THE CHARTS. UH, [04:35:01] I HEARD SOME GOOD THINGS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT DATA CENTER, REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITIES LOOKING AT, AT THAT, THAT THAT'S, UH, AN OFF THE CUFF IDEA THAT I DIDN'T THINK OF. BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M GOING LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO RUIN THE INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE PUT IN TO GROW THIS COMMUNITY THAT BRINGS, UH, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF MONEY INTO THE COMMUNITY AND DAMAGE THAT AND LOSE THE TOURISM ASPECT OF IT. SO I THINK YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS. OH, LORD. AND, UM, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO, UH, SOMEONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK TONIGHT. DO WE, DO WE WANNA GO LADIES FIRST OVER HERE? LADIES. OKAY. UM, I ALSO WANNA ECHO THAT. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S SHOWING UP TONIGHT. AND IT'S, IT'S ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR THE FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN HERE AS LONG, BECAUSE IT MAKES ME WANNA APPRECIATE, HEY, TAKE A, TAKE A MOMENT. ALL THESE PEOPLE MOVED HERE AND BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT AND LOVE THE ENVIRONMENT. AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'VE LIVED HERE A LONG TIME, I'VE BEEN ACTUALLY TOOK A SEVEN YEAR HIATUS, BUT HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1971. SO I HAVE LIVED THROUGH AVTEX AND I HAVE HAD CANCER AS MANY OF MY LOVED ONES HAVE TOO. AND I HAVE TO WONDER, YOU KNOW, WAS WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND AVTEX WAS GREAT IN TERMS OF BUILDING A COMMUNITY AND BUILDING TOGETHERNESS AND ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, A COMMON PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD EARN A LIVING. UM, BUT THEY APPARENTLY DID NOT KNOW, YOU KNOW, UNTIL THE END WHAT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT WERE. RIGHT? IF YOU LOOK UP IN WINCHESTER, AND IF YOU, ANY OF YOU LONG TIMERS ALONE, REMEMBER THERE WAS A TIRE FIRE THAT WAS JUST LEFT TO BURN FOREVER. AND THERE'S A WHOLE GROUP OF CHILDREN WHO ARE DISABLED AS A RESULT OF THAT. UM, WE'VE HAD OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF HAPPEN IN THIS AREA, BUT WE ARE RESILIENT. UM, I WANNA TELL YOU, I WAS NOT AN EARLY BANNER OF DATA CENTERS JUST BECAUSE OF A FEW THINGS. ONE WAS, I, I WORKED AS A SECRETARY FOR IBM. SO I, YOU KNOW, COMPUTERS CAME OUT WHEN I WAS PRETTY YOUNG. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF TECHNOLOGY. I WAS THINKING, WELL, I DON'T WANNA SHUT DOWN WHAT MIGHT BE AN, AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT I WANTED TO, AS I LEARNED MORE AND MORE, I THOUGHT, WELL, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEIR LANGUAGE TO BE RESTRICTIVE ENOUGH. AND I RESPECTED WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID, WHICH WAS THEY WENT AROUND AND, AND GATHERED INFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT, UH, LESSONS COULD BE LEARNED FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES. BUT AS TIME WENT ON, UM, THE ONE THING I'VE, I'VE ALWAYS SAID, I DIDN'T COME ON THE COUNCIL FOR, UM, WITH A CERTAIN AGENDA OR I, I JUST KNEW THAT I COULD LOOK AT INFORMATION, I COULD DIGEST IT, I COULD THINK ABOUT IT, AND THEN I COULD MAKE A DECISION. AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE. AND I HAVE MAULED OVER THIS STUFF. AND ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION, ALL OF YOUR RESEARCH IS SO APPRECIATE, APPRECIATED. 'CAUSE YOU GOT ME TO THINK OF THINGS THAT I HADN'T THOUGHT OF IN TERMS OF, FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, WELL IF YOU DO, UM, THESE SMALL DATA CENTERS, THEY COULD BUILD A CAMPUS AND GET AROUND IT THAT WAY. YOU KNOW, SO JUST DIFFERENT WAYS THAT, THAT THINGS COULD BE, UM, YOU KNOW, TWISTED TO NOT FOR GOOD PURPOSES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO, YOU KNOW, AS I SAY, I WASN'T, I, I WANTED TO CONSULT AND HEAR THE LEGAL OPINIONS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ASK A DOZEN LAWYERS AND NO OFFENSE TO GEORGE, BUT YOU HEAR A DOZEN DIFFERENT OPINIONS. AND, UM, SO I WANTED TO TAKE TIME BECAUSE I BELIEVE, YES, MORAL DECISIONS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE LEGAL, A LOT OF TIMES THAT CAN COMPROMISE WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO, YOU KNOW, MORALLY. SO, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, I JUST AT THE END OF THE DAY CAME TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE'S JUST NOTHING LEFT TO SAY, BUT NO, BECAUSE, UM, YOU CAN'T BE CONFIDENT ABOUT ANYTHING. UM, SO, UM, I, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN OUR ZONING, SO I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT DEFINITION AS PART OF THIS PROCESS. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UM, RETHINK THE SIZE INFORMATION THAT IS IN THERE. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, ABOVE ALL, HEALTH AND SAFETY HAS TO BE THE PRIORITY. AND I ACTUALLY DID TALK TO ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS I DID, WHO, WHO CALLED ME. AND OF COURSE I'LL TALK TO ANYBODY. UM, AND HE WAS OPEN TO GOING DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND, BUT WHAT CAUGHT ME WAS WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF WE DID A DATA CENTER, MAYBE WE'D BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE BUILD THAT EASTWEST CONNECTOR. AND I THOUGHT, BOY, THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE LITTLE CARROT THAT LITTLE, YOU [04:40:01] KNOW, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, YOU OFFER A PROJECT THAT WE COULD NEVER AFFORD, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY FOR YEARS. AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED, OH MY GOSH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY KNOW HOW TO DO IT. UM, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I TEND TO BE THE, I DON'T LIKE TO FIGHT. UM, I AM, NO, I DON'T LIKE THE LITIGATION. UM, I HAVE A GREAT RESPECT FOR LAW AND ORDER, BUT I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE POLICE OR THE COURTS OR , YOU KNOW, AND I, AND THAT COSTS YOU MONEY TOO. SO I WANNA BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT DECISIONS. BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, AGAIN, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS, WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH. IF IT TURNS OUT THAT WE CAN FIT A DATA CENTER IN OUR POCKET AND THERE'S NO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN FIVE, 10 YEARS, WE CAN BRING IT BACK AND RETHINK IT THEN. BUT FOR NOW, LET'S FIGURE OUT SOME DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL USES THAT CAN BRING JOBS TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT PEOPLE NEED. THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE CONTRIBUTOR TO PEOPLE NOT BEING HOMELESS, TO PEOPLE HAVING THE ABILITY TO GET WHAT THEY NEED IN LIFE. SO ANYWAY, UM, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, NOPE, DIDN'T BAN IT, BUT THAT WASN'T BECAUSE I LOVE 'EM. I'M, UM, I KIND OF AM A WRITER BY PROFESSION, SO I DON'T LIKE AI, UM, OR ANY OF THAT STUFF. BUT I WANTED TO BE FAIR, UM, AND, AND TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN DO. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AGAIN, NO, SO NOT SURE WHICH ONE WORKS UP HERE, BUT I'LL BE BRIEF. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING BECAUSE HEARING FROM YOU AND THE DIFFERENT, UM, ASPECTS OF IT, UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE WATER ISSUES HERE. WE'VE CONTINUED TO HAVE IT. AND THAT'S BEEN A NUMBER ONE THING WITH ME SINCE I'VE COME ON TO COUNCIL. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY WERE TASKED TO COME UP WITH A DIFFICULT, UH, TIGHT ORDINANCE THAT WOULD, UM, JUST ABOUT PREVENT ANYTHING FROM COMING HERE THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE CONTROL OVER. AND AS COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT SAID, WE TOOK IT TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL. WE HAD IT REVIEWED, WE HAD A REVIEW WITH, UH, UH, OUTSIDE COUNSEL CAME IN AND TOLD US THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY GOOD. THIS IS REALLY GOOD. IT'S A REALLY TIGHT THING, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN WHAT YOU WANT RUNS CONTRARY OF THAT. AND YOU ALL PUT US HERE AND I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME? I JUST WANNA LET COUNCIL KNOW I WASN'T CALLING YOU OUT, . IT'S OKAY. I WAS THE ONLY ONE THE FIRST NIGHT WHEN I SAID, LET HIM SUE US, BAN IT. THAT WAS LIKE, AND, AND I GET IT. AND THEN JOSH, A LITTLE WHILE LATER IN THE MEETING, YOU CAN WATCH IT, CAME AROUND AND SAID HE'D BE IN FAVOR OF IT. BUT I JUST WANNA ALSO TELL YOU GUYS THAT THIS COUNTRY IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU CAN SUE ANYBODY FOR ANYTHING. LIKE, YOU OFFENDED ME, I'M GONNA SUE YOU. IT'S, IT'S A LIABILITY WE HAVE AS CITIZENS, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. UM, IT WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST LAWSUIT THAT WAS FRIVOLOUS THAT CAME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL IN MY TIME ON HERE. UH, ESPECIALLY PERTAINING TO ZONING IN WHICH WE WON. AND WE HAVE INSURANCE FOR A REASON WHEN WE ARE THE ONES BEING SUED, THAT IS WHAT WE PAY FOR INSURANCE FOR. UM, AND HONESTLY, THE RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCES ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR ME BECAUSE THAT LEAVES SOME GRAY AREA. AND THEN WHAT I WANNA TELL PEOPLE LIKE AWS IS WE ARE NOT OPEN FOR BUSINESS. WE DON'T WANT YOUR BUSINESS. WE DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY IT MAKES US. IT'S NOT WHO WE ARE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I UNDERSTAND THE RESERVATIONS THAT SOME OF MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE. UH, I TEND TO BE VERY PASSIONATE, LIKE SOME OF THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME UP HERE BEFORE US, BUT I HAD TO SIT SILENTLY THROUGH TONIGHT. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE OTHER THING WE CAN'T MAKE. I SAY WE CAN'T, LEGALLY WE CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON HOW THE CONSTITUENTS FEEL. BUT ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME PERSONALLY OR MY ROLE IN POLITICS OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO TIE IN TO IT, UH, WHAT THE, WHAT THE CONCERNS OF THE CONSTITUENTS ARE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. AND WE, THE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL DID SAY THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS VERY RESTRICTIVE, BUT THE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL ALSO SAT DOWN AND SAID, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? DO YOU WANT WANT TO BAN 'EM? 'CAUSE YOU CAN DO THAT. SO I WILL JUST, I'VE ALREADY BROKE THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE ON THAT MONTHS AGO, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT BECAUSE HE DID TELL US THAT. AND YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS TO FIND OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL [04:45:01] IN, IN VIRGINIA. IT TOOK MONTHS. YOU KNOW WHY? THEY ALL WORK FOR DATA CENTERS. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING THAT I POISED AND QUESTIONED THIS COUNCIL WITH IS HOW MANY TIMES HAS THE GOVERNMENT, WHETHER IT'S THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STARTED TO MAKE MUCH MORE REVENUE THROUGH ANOTHER SOURCE AND LOWERED OUR TAXES. NEVER. SO WERE WE GONNA LOWER EVERYBODY'S TAXES ONCE WE STARTED MAKING ALL THAT MONEY? NO, NOT REALISTICALLY. SO SOMETIMES THE DEVIL, YOU KNOW, IS BETTER THAN THE DEVIL. YOU DON'T, WE DON'T NEED WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING. AND I DID TELL MS. MAYOR LORI ELL, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE DONE IT, I MADE UP MY OWN MOTION. SO I WILL REREAD IT FOR THE CLERK AND AS WELL AS COUNSEL BEFORE WE TAKE A ROLL CALL SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT I READ AND SAID. IT WAS LONG-WINDED. MAYOR, CAN I SAY ONE, JUST ONE MORE THING? ABSOLUTELY. JUST TO GO ON THE RECORD, UM, I HAVE NOT BEEN APPROACHED OF PERSONALLY WITH ANY OFFERS OF MONEY BY, UM, DATA CENTERS OR THE CHINESE OR THE RUSSIANS OR ANYONE ELSE. UM, I'VE BEEN WAITING THAT FOR THAT, THAT THIS WHOLE TIME. NO, UM, . BUT, UM, AND I THINK MOST OF US, I, I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME TERRIBLE TIMES WITH, WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UM, WITH TRUST. BUT I, IT SADDENS ME THAT SO MANY OF YOU CAME THINKING THAT WE WOULDN'T LISTEN, THAT WE DIDN'T CARE, OR THAT WE ALREADY HAD OUR MIND MADE UP AGAINST YOU. UM, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE CASE. UM, MOST OF THE TIME, YOU KNOW, I, I HEAR FROM MY FELLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE, UH, YOU KNOW, GOOD INTENTIONS. UM, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S NO, I, I'M SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT THE NDA WITH, WITH AMAZON, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, HOW IMMEDIATE ? SO, NO, NO, YOU KNOW, NO NDAS AROUND THIS, NO BACKDOOR DEALS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER REGIONS. I'M SURE IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT, UM, IT'S, IT, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO HERE. UM, WE ARE, I THINK, COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND THE BEST FOR IT. UM, AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. AND SO NEXT TIME THAT YOU COME FORWARD TOWARDS US, YOU KNOW, THINK, OKAY, TRY TO THINK ABOUT US WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE, THAT WE LIKE OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOT HERE TO AGAINST, WE'RE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. WE'RE HERE TO HELP. EXACTLY. EXACTLY. YES. YES. ALRIGHT. IS THAT IT? I GOT, WE GOT PLAN TO GO. I GOT ONE, ONE OTHER THING TO SAY, MAYOR, RIGHT? I'M GONNA, AND THEN, AND THEN I'M DONE. ALL RIGHT. I'M DONE. I'M GONNA LIMIT. I'M GONNA LIMIT IT. I LOVE YOU DEARLY, BUT I, BUT WE SWAB THE REST OF THE MEETING AND I CLOSED AND I WANNA GET HOME BEFORE MY DOG NEEDS TO GO OUT PROBABLY LIKE THREE HOURS AGO. AND THE CLOSED ISN'T ABOUT, SO ME TOO. I, I JUST WANT TO WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT. AND I MEAN, THE REAL THING IS YOU EDUCATED YOURSELF TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND COMMUNICATE THAT TO THIS COUNCIL. UH, WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE, UH, REACHED OUT TO THE PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL, UH, PRINCE WILLIAM ALLIANCE, UH, AND, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, THE SHEOR ALLIANCE AS WELL, UH, IT JUST, IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD THAT PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY LIVE IN. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT BEFORE WE VOTE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I, A COUPLE THINGS. ONE IS THANK YOU, MELISSA, FOR COMMENTING ABOUT, UM, PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF THOSE THAT SIT ON THE DA. 'CAUSE THERE WAS, THERE WAS SOME TOUGH PEOPLE THAT I, THAT WE HAD TO LISTEN TO TONIGHT THAT I FELT LIKE WERE, UM, CRITICIZING US AND REALLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT. IT'S REALLY HARD TO HEAR THAT. I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT THAT'S REALLY HARD TO HEAR WHEN SOMEBODY IS SITTING THERE ACCUSING YOU OF, YOU KNOW, A FINANCIAL BENEFIT OR THIS OR THAT AND THE OTHER. I GOT A PHONE CALL TODAY FROM SOMEBODY WHO SAID, SO YOU'RE GONNA BE THE SWING VOTE AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT. AND I WAS LIKE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GETTING THAT FROM. LIKE, COUNCIL IS, NOBODY HAS BEEN SAYING THINGS. SO ANYWAY, REGARDLESS, THANK YOU FOR COMMENTING ABOUT THAT. 95 PEOPLE SPOKE TONIGHT, IN CASE Y'ALL ARE WONDERING 'CAUSE I'VE GOT ALL MY STUFF GOING ON UP HERE. DIVIDED. SO 95 PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT TOPS THE LARGEST PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE'VE EVER HAD. AND AS ANXIOUS, I WAS ABOUT COMING HERE TONIGHT. I THINK EVERYBODY DID A PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD JOB. I KNOW A FEW PEOPLE WERE A LITTLE, LITTLE, UM, MAYBE A LITTLE RUDE IN THE BEGINNING, BUT, UM, BUT WE SETTLED IN. HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THAT. WE REALLY DID WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY AND I REALLY DID WANNA GIVE EVERYBODY THREE MINUTES [04:50:01] NO MATTER WHAT, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR DEALING WITH THAT. AND THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR BEING HERE AND HANGING IN HERE FOR THE WHOLE EVENING. AND ALSO, GAZILLIONS OF EMAILS HAVE FLOWN THROUGH. I KNOW MY INBOX, I'VE TRIED TO COMMENT TO EVERYONE, LIKE, THANK YOU. BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, I HAD A MEETING AT TOWN HALL ONE O'CLOCK TODAY AND BEFORE I COULD GET BACK HOME, I HAD 45 MORE EMAILS. I TRIED MY BEST WHILE I WAS EATING DINNER HER TO RESPOND. BUT I'M NOT GONNA RESPOND TO THEM NOW BECAUSE THE TOPIC IS GONNA BE DONE BY THE END OF TONIGHT. BUT JUST KNOW THAT I READ THEM, I HEAR THEM. EVEN IF YOU DID SIGN IT. UM, WHAT WAS IT? WHAT WAS IT? I I WAS THE ONE WHO SENT IT TO Y'ALL. LET ME SEE, WHAT WAS IT? I GOT SOME TONIGHT WHILE WE WERE SITTING IN THIS MEETING. OH, SIGN YOUR NAME HERE TO SIGN YOUR NAME HERE. I DID RESIST EMAILING BACK. DEAR, SIGN YOUR NAME HERE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANNA BE SNARKY. BUT ANYWAY, GOT LOTS AND LOTS OF EMAILS AND SORRY IF, IF YOU DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE WERE GETTING 'EM WHILE WE WERE SITTING HERE. I'M READY WITH HILLARY TO AND MISS ONG TO DO A ROLL CALL. YOU DON'T WANT ME TO REREAD IT? WE WANT, OH GOD. YEAH. THAT'LL BE ANOTHER. AND THEN SHE DON'T MY OWN MENTION SHE'S GONNA SEND IT TO YOU TOO 'CAUSE IT'S LONG. I DIDN'T DO IT BEFOREHAND THAT WAY. THE MOTION IS I MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL DENY THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS TO TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH THREE AND 1 75 DASH 64. THAT WOULD DEFINE AND PERMIT DATA CENTERS WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT DISTRICT. I TWO BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT. FURTHER, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL DIRECT STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO PREPARE AND RETURN TO COUNCIL WITHIN 60 DAYS. A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT, DEFINING DATA CENTERS VERSUS TECHNOLOGY AND PROHIBITING DATA CENTERS WITHIN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND ALL ZONING DISTRICTS WHILE ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTER APPLICATIONS DUE TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL, FISCAL, AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS. THIS DIRECTION IS MADE PURSUANT TO THE TOWN ZONING AUTHORITY UNDER VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 2280. AND BASED UPON COUNSEL'S DETERMINATION, THAT DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, AND CHARACTER OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL SAYING ALL THAT. GOT THAT. WE'RE GOOD. SOMEBODY ALREADY SECONDED. SHE MADE MOTION. WE ALREADY SECOND OR FIVE PEOPLE. WE ALL SAID SECOND. YEAH, THERE WAS MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT SECONDED IT. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WROTE. UM, I I HEARD YOUR VOICE PROBABLY 'CAUSE YOU'RE CLOSEST TO MY EAR, BUT I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE SAID WE'RE GONNA JUST SAY WAYNE SECONDED IT. BUT YOU GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE MINUTES, RIGHT? NO, I DON'T SAY YOU'RE A BIG MOUTH. I JUST SAID YOUR VOICE, YOUR MOUTH IS CLOSEST TO MY EAR AND THAT'S WHY I . WHAT CAN I SAY? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE READY. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DEDO COPA. YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. COUNCILMAN OCK? YES. VICE MAYOR VIAL? YES. A MOTION PASSES OUR ITEM NUMBER 10. ALEX, AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU CAME TO THE MEETING TONIGHT? NOT JUST WATCH THE VIDEO. RIGHT. YOU GOT TO SEE ALL THAT. ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER 10 ARE [Item 9.A. - 9.C] OUR REPORTS. THE TOWN MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBER'S. MAYOR, I'M JUST GONNA ASK, IS ANYBODY GONNA BE TERRIBLY, DO YOU HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING? WE'RE GONNA LET YOU TALK . WE'RE GONNA LET YOU TALK, BUT I HOPE EVERYBODY ELSE COULD JUST FOREGO AND WE'LL JUST DO IT IN JULY. I I'LL FOR MAYOR. OKAY, GO AHEAD MR. PETTY. UM, I WOULD, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I JUST DIDN'T MENTION THAT, UM, WE RECENTLY LOST A TOWN STAFF MEMBER AND I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, TO PLEASE KEEP HER FAMILY, UH, DEBORAH SEAFORD AND YOUR THOUGHTS AND OUR STAFF AT THE VISITOR CENTER, UM, AND TOWN STAFF. SO I DEFINITELY WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UM, UH, BEFORE WE LEAVE TONIGHT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT, MR. PENNY. I'M ATTENDING THAT FUNERAL TOMORROW. UM, ALL RIGHT. SO IS EVERYBODY OKAY COUNCIL MEMBERS? ARE Y'ALL GOOD WITH GOING TO JULY? ALL RIGHT, SO CAN SOMEBODY READ US INTO CLOSED MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE [11. CLOSED MEETING] THAT TOWN. COUNCIL CON CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS [04:55:01] 2.2 DASH, EXCUSE ME, 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 2 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE. ONE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A, ONE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, OR INTERVIEWS OF PER PROTECT PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, DEMOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINING, OR REC, RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICERS, APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEE OF ANY PUBLIC BODY. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE CLERK, CLERK OF COUNSEL, AND THE TOWN ATTORNEY. SECOND. SECOND. ALL MOTION, A SECOND ROLL CALL. COUNCILMAN REPPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DEPA? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. COUNCILMAN OCK? YES. VICE MAYOR AL? YES. OKAY. WE ARE CURRENTLY ENCLOSED. THANK YOU ALL. DRIVE SAFE. UM, MAKE IT HOME SAFELY AND ENJOY WORK TOMORROW. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.