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Data center community meeting canceled
Inside the Hilton Garden Inn in Haymarket, datacenter developer QTS planned to host an open house community meeting.
WASHINGTON - Inside the Hilton Garden Inn in Haymarket, datacenter developer QTS planned to host an open house community meeting.
It was canceled due to a civil disorder complaint.
"The event venue unfortunately was distressed to learn of some potential disruption from local advocates and based on their concerns around civil disorder, chose to elect to cancel the event. There were some notifications sent by local activist groups intending to demonstrate outside the event," said Nick Blessing. He’s the director of public policy for QTS Data Centers.
The Coalition to Protect Prince William County had plans to rally outside the meeting.
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Data center community meeting canceled
The subject of data centers continues to cause controversy in Northern Virginia where a community meeting on the issue was canceled Tuesday night.
FOX 5 asked their executive director Elena Schlossberg if her organization played any role in the Hilton canceling the event.
"No. What we understand is that the Hilton did not want this toxic environment in their establishment," said Schlossberg.
We are told the Hilton canceled for the "safety and security of our guests, patrons and team members."
Blessing says this meeting was an opportunity to hear from the community about their plans to develop the Prince William Digital Gateway.
"I’m a little disappointed that it has gotten to this point. This is supposed to be civil discourse. An opportunity for citizens to engage one another constructively debate ideas and provide feedback," he adds.
Schlossberg says data centers will destroy homes, history and natural resources.
QTS plans to build about 16 buildings over almost 900 acres of land not too far away from the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
"This is about an opportunity for access, education and trust building," said Blessing.
Not everyone in this community is against these datacenters that developers say will bring jobs and money to the county.
We asked Schlossberg if there was a middle ground for developers and people against datacenter.
"No. Let me be clear. This area that we are in is not appropriate. You’re in the wrong place and like Disney, you’re going to go away."
QTS tells FOX 5 they will continue to find ways to engage with the community on their plans to build.
They are currently in the process of resubmitting rezoning application.