York sets rules for data centers
Happy Juneteenth! Also today: Williamsburg water bills coming, $2.1 million in bonuses for WJCC school employees, and local Juneteenth closings.
No one has asked to open a data center in York County yet, but supervisors approved changes to county zoning laws to manage the process, based on the tough lessons learned by Northern Virginia.
Data centers – massive warehouses stacked with computers and network equipment that manage our internet data -- can generate considerable local tax revenue. But as they demand gobs of power and water that can impact local electricity grids and water supply. They generate a constant humming noise that can be problematic for residential neighborhoods.
Northern Virginia is home to 35% of the world’s hyperscale data centers, according to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Several counties there failed to keep zoning laws up to date as centers sprouted next to homes and then expanded, angering nearby homeowners.
“The recommendations from those other counties was: get some ordinances in place. That’s why we’re here,” said District 1 Supervisor Douglas R. Holroyd at the supervisors’ Tuesday night meeting. Holroyd said counties “that entered into data center agreements …got surprised, surprised by the power load…there’s a lot of issues with supplying power to data centers because they’re such power hogs.”
To prevent a similar issue in York County, the supervisors asked county staff to survey other areas and generate best practices in case a data center seeks permission to set up in York.
James City County supervisors recently requested a similar study from their planning officials, who will present preliminary findings to the county planning commission July 2.
York supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve new controls aimed at data centers, with several key provisions:
· Data centers will be limited to three zoning districts that exist for industrial use. Each data center would also require a special use permit.
· To obtain the permit developers would need to submit a letter from their electric utility stating there is enough electric capacity, along with nearby transmission lines and substations, to handle the predicted load at full capacity. Data centers could not expand their use by more than 25% without permission.
· To protect private wells and aquifers, data centers will have to connect to a public water supply, and the water utility must also certify it has the capacity to serve their needs.
· The county must re-verify energy and water needs every five years to ensure compliance.
· To moderate noise, the county will evaluate existing ambient noise prior to development and hold the data center to that noise level, or to 55 decibels, whichever is higher. The county does not permit noise in excess of 55 decibels at night. Noise will be monitored after operation commences to ensure compliance.
· Data centers would be limited to 35 feet in height and have a setback of 500 feet from any residential dwelling, with an evergreen buffer surrounding the site.
Editor’s Note: This edition has been corrected to accurately explain that the HRSD bills are for wastewater treatment services.
Changes coming to Williamsburg water bills
Williamsburg residents will see a change next month in how much they pay for water, and how often they are billed, the city announced.
Water bills will now go out monthly, instead of every three months, and billing for wastewater treatment will be sent directly by the Hampton Roads Sanitation District.
Water rates will increase by 30%, to $6.90 per 1,000 gallons used by city residents and $8.27 for customers outside city limits.
The city will send a transition bill in July, then start monthly billing in August. The due date will be 21 days after the bill date, and customers enrolled in AutoPay will have their accounts drafted each month on the 20th.
HRSD will begin sending a separate bill in August.
Bonuses coming for WJCC school employees
Williamsburg-James City County schools will spend nearly $2.1 million to give employees retention bonuses of up to $1,000, the school board decided Tuesday night.
The retention bonuses come on top of pay raises approved as part of the school’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which begins July 1.
Employees who signed work agreements by June 13 and are still working when payments are made June 30 receive bonuses of $750 for part-timers working less than 30 hours a week, and $1,000 for full-time employees.
More than half of the $2,075,000 cost will come from a state grant allocated for the sole purpose of paying retention bonuses.
Another $740,829 will come from the schools’ operating fund and $62,437 will be transferred from child nutrition services money.
At their regular session Tuesday, the board members also approved starting the next school semester on Aug. 24 and finishing school June 9.
They also approved extending a contract to pay EverDriven Technologies LLC $1.3 million next year to transport students, supplementing the school system’s bus fleet.
Visit Williamsburg launches nationwide quilting event for USA’s 250th birthday
Visit Williamsburg is looking for a few good quilters – from every state.
To prepare for the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026, The regional tourism promotion group launched The Great American Birthday Quilt Project, a nationwide event inviting participants to "stitch their story” into a monumental quilt that will celebrate the country’s past, present, and future.
The effort will be led by Steve Prince, Director of Engagement and Distinguished Artist in Residence at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary, in partnership with Visit Williamsburg, the destination marketing organization for Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg.
The completed quilt will debut in spring 2026 and be on display at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, following a public exhibition at historic sites across the nation.
People nationwide will be able to take part in the project by joining quilt workshops in select cities, submitting quilt squares from home or donating materials that will be incorporated into The Great American Birthday Quilt. No sewing skills are required to participate, as submissions for both sewn and glued quilt squares will be accepted, Visit Williamsburg stated.
“We are inviting people not just to submit a quilt square, but to reflect—to leave a piece of themselves in a quilt that will tell America’s story for generations,” said Prince.
Juneteenth closings today
Banks, post offices and all federal and state offices will be closed today.
Locally:
James City County:
County Administration Offices : Closed
James City County Recreation Center: Open
Abram Frink Jr. Community Center: Closed for maintenance
Parks : Open year-round.
Park Stores and Guest Services Offices: Open
Jolly Pond Road and Tewning Road Convenience Centers: Open
Toano Convenience Center: Closed on Thursdays
Garbage Transfer Station: Open
Curbside Recycling: No change
Libraries: Closed.
City of Williamsburg
City offices: Closed
Courts: Closed
Quarterpath Recreation Center: Closed June 19 until 5 p.m., when it will open for youth basketball practices.
Waller Mill Park: Normal operating hours, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Garbage will be collected on its regular schedule Monday and Tuesday; recycling is not scheduled for collection.
York County
Government Offices: Closed
Courts: Closed
Libraries: Closed
Waste management center administrative office: Closed
Garbage and recycling not affected
State Headlines
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Passings
Adrienne Robin Joynes, 64, June 13.
A correction needs to be made. HRSD does not bill for sewer. They bill for wastewater treatment.