The PW Digital Gateway is a rezoning that allows the development of a large data center at the edge of the Manassas battlefield. Three lawsuits were filed against it, but the judge dismissed the first one.
PW Digital Gateway Lawsuit
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted to rezone 1,700 acres along Pageland Lane and northwest of the Manassas battlefield to make way for a corridor of 37 data centers. This vote was held in December 2023. However, the lawsuit against the PW digital gateway was filed a year prior in December 2022.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuits included the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and 10 of its residents. Oak Valley consists of 254 homes west of Catharpin Road and is situated right outside the PW digital gateway corridor.
Prince William County Circuit Court Judge James A. Willett ruled in favor of Prince William County. He challenged the plaintiffs’ charge that the board of supervisors failed to listen to the homeowners when they passed a comprehensive plan amendment that paved the way for three PW digital gateway rezonings.
Craig Blakeley, the Oak Valley residents’ attorney, argued that the board violated Virginia law at the hearing on Thursday. Blakeley stated that the board did not listen to or consider the public’s argument at a public hearing. He argued that the board did not have enough opportunity to consider the residents’ comments meaningfully before adopting the amendment due to the extremely long, all-night meeting.
Chief Deputy County Attorney Alan F. Smith represented the board of supervisors. He argued that the board only needs to hold a public hearing when the public can speak, and they did so. Smith said the hearing was not meaningless as 239 people voiced their opinions at the PW digital gateway hearing.
According to trial judge Willet, it was not in his purview to add an obligation to the statute requiring the board of supervisors to consider or listen to the speakers’ concerns. While Smith was pleased with the dismissal, he respectfully disagreed with the court’s standing.
Succeeding Lawsuits to Follow
The Oak Valley Homeowners Association and its residents cannot refile the case in the circuit court. However, they may appeal the judge’s decision to the state court of appeals. Blakeley said he would speak with the plaintiffs before deciding whether they would appeal.
Despite his dismissal, Willet ruled that the plaintiffs had a right to challenge the issue in court. This is important because the plaintiffs have a second and third lawsuit pending. The second challenges the rezoning, while the third attempts to stop the development. A hearing has not yet been set for either lawsuit. In the third case, Chap Petersen, the former state senator, represents 20 residents whose homes will border the PW digital gateway corridor.
