Stafford County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Stafford agendas: Accokeek industrial rezoning, data center substations, Grizzle Building transfer — but no minutes posted yet

Over the past two weeks, Stafford County's Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and four other bodies scheduled hearings and discussions on a heavy-industrial rezoning, data center and substation requests, a proposed museum transfer and a cable franchise. As of Oct. 19, minutes had not been published for any of the seven meetings, so no votes, outcomes or dollar amounts are confirmed in the record summarized here. What follows is what each agenda listed.

Board of Supervisors, Oct. 7: Accokeek Center rezoning

The board's regular meeting at 1300 Courthouse Road listed public hearings on rezoning parcels 38-96, 38-74A, 38-45, 38-45H, 38-45I, 38-45L, 38-44A and 38-73 — Accokeek Center — from A-1, A-2 and B-3 to M-2 Heavy Industrial, carried on the agenda as O26-16 for approval or R26-127 for denial. A second hearing covered a conditional use permit for a public utility electric substation in the M-2 district on the same parcels (R26-128 approval / R26-129 denial).

The consent agenda listed a task order with Wallace Montgomery for preliminary engineering design of Old Potomac Church Roadway Improvements, with proffer funds budgeted and appropriated (R26-358), and a task order with Rinker Design Associates for engineering design, right-of-way acquisition and construction support for Garrisonville Road intersection improvements at Shelton Shop Road and Wolverine Way (R26-359).

Action items listed adoption of the county's 2027 Virginia General Assembly legislative program (R26-160) and consideration of time-limit extensions for Austin Ridge Logistics Center, Simms Farm Data Center, Greenlaw BESS & Solar and Onville Village (R26-373 approval / R26-374 denial).

A separate special meeting the same day, at 3:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers, listed a closed meeting to discuss personnel and litigation items. That agenda showed no public hearings, contracts, ordinances or dollar amounts.

Planning Commission, Oct. 14: data centers and substations

Public hearings were scheduled on the Forest Lane Data Center (reclassification to M-2 Heavy Industrial and a request for up to 8 electric substations), Simms Farm (M-2 and up to 2 electric substations), Sisson North (conditional use permit for up to 3 electrical substations in the A-1 Agricultural district) and Sisson South (M-2 and an electrical substation). The Onville Village rezoning to R-3 Urban Residential-High Density was listed as deferred to Oct. 28.

Architectural Review Board, Oct. 5: Grizzle Building

New business included an update on a proposed conveyance of the Grizzle Building to the Stafford County Historical Society for adaptive reuse as a museum and education center, and an open seat on the board. Old business included a staff update on a request for funding for a county-wide cultural resource survey, review of a draft letter introducing HROD to property owners, and the status of proposed ARB updates to the county code. Minutes from the Aug. 3, 2026 meeting were listed for approval.

Telecommunications, schools, economic development

The Telecommunications Commission met Oct. 8 to review updates from the Chief Information Officer, with Comcast franchise agreement negotiations, new telecommunications towers and BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) on the agenda.

The Joint Schools Working Committee met Oct. 15 for updates on school enrollment, day school operations and artificial intelligence, plus approval of minutes from Aug. 20, 2026.

The Economic Development Authority met Oct. 16 for a presentation by Commissioner of Revenue Scott Mayausky on Stafford's tax structure, a Loan Committee report regarding the Next Level Mosaic default, AJGA check presentations to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, discussion of a Strategic Plan Committee facilitator, and a closed session citing § 2.2-3711 A 5 of the Code of Virginia.

Coming up

Oct. 19 — Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. The agenda is procedural boilerplate; no specific projects, contracts or policy decisions are listed.

Oct. 20 — Board of Supervisors. Scheduled items include a proposed repeal of Transportation Impact Fees (Ordinance O26-38), authorization to hire 12 career firefighters using SAFER grant funds, quick-take power resolutions for the Northern Reuse Pipeline System affecting 9 entities, a zoning reclassification for Sheetz at Enon Road (Tax Map 45-283, 45-284, 46-17A), and a reclassification for James River Equipment to Heavy Industrial (Tax Map 38-83D, 38-83A).

Agendas for both bodies note they may be amended on the day of the meeting.

Stafford Board agenda sets Accokeek Center industrial rezoning, substation hearings; Grizzle Building museum plan also on county agendas

Stafford County's Board of Supervisors was scheduled to hold public hearings on Oct. 7 on rezoning the Accokeek Center parcels to the M-2 Heavy Industrial district and on a conditional use permit for a public utility electric substation on the same parcels. Both items appear on the meeting agenda. Minutes have not been published, so no vote, approval, or denial is established in the records reviewed here. That limitation applies to every recent meeting in this roundup — all are agenda-only.

Accokeek Center rezoning and substation

The agenda lists a public hearing on rezoning parcels 38-96, 38-74A, 38-45, 38-45H, 38-45I, 38-45L, 38-44A, and 38-73 (Accokeek Center) from A-1, A-2, and B-3 to M-2 Heavy Industrial, with O26-16 listed for approval and R26-127 for denial. A second public hearing covers a conditional use permit for a public utility electric substation in the M-2 district on the same parcels, with R26-128 listed for approval and R26-129 for denial. The agenda states it may be amended on the day of the meeting.

Road work and other consent agenda items

The consent agenda listed a task order with Wallace Montgomery for preliminary engineering design of Old Potomac Church Roadway Improvements, with proffer funds budgeted and appropriated (R26-358). It also listed a task order with Rinker Design Associates for engineering design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction support for Garrisonville Road intersection improvements at Shelton Shop Road and Wolverine Way (R26-359). No dollar amounts appear on the agenda.

Legislative program and zoning time limits

Action items included adopting the county's 2027 Virginia General Assembly legislative program (R26-160) and considering time-limit extensions for Austin Ridge Logistics Center, Simms Farm Data Center, Greenlaw BESS & Solar, and Onville Village, with R26-373 listed for approval and R26-374 for denial.

Special meeting: closed session

The Board also was scheduled to hold a special meeting Oct. 7 at 3:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford VA 22554. The agenda lists a closed meeting to discuss personnel and litigation item(s). No public hearings, contracts, ordinances, or dollar amounts appear on that agenda.

Grizzle Building and preservation items

The Architectural Review Board, meeting Oct. 5, listed an update on a proposed conveyance of the Grizzle Building to the Stafford County Historical Society for adaptive reuse as a museum and education center, plus an open seat on the board. Old business included a staff update on a request for funding for a county-wide cultural resource survey, review of a draft letter introducing HROD to property owners (the agenda does not spell out the acronym), the status of proposed ARB updates to the county code, and approval of minutes from Aug. 3, 2026.

The Historical Commission, meeting Oct. 1 at the George L. Gordon, Jr. Government Center, listed a cemetery matter at 147 Hope Road (TM 30-120A), a review of a Ray C. Grizzle Building MOA with the Stafford County Historical Society, a Potomac Creek data center application update, a Government Island interpretive sign draft, and continued discussion of the cemetery ordinance 10-year review and a preservation ordinance. The agenda does not state what decisions, if any, will be made.

Economic development and telecommunications

The Board and the Economic Development Authority held a joint work session Sept. 29 at 1300 Courthouse Road. The agenda listed introductions, an Economic Development Department update, the EDA's annual accomplishments, and Board initiatives. No public hearings, contracts, ordinances, or votes were listed.

The Telecommunications Commission, meeting Oct. 8, was to review updates from the Chief Information Officer on Comcast franchise agreement negotiations, new telecommunications towers in the county, and BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment).

Coming up

• **Oct. 14 — Planning Commission:** public hearings on the Forest Lane Data Center (M-2 reclassification and up to 8 electric substations), Simms Farm (M-2 and up to 2 substations), Sisson North (conditional use permit for up to 3 substations in A-1), and Sisson South (M-2 and an electrical substation). Onville Village's reclassification to R-3 Urban Residential-High Density is listed as deferred to Oct. 28.
• **Oct. 16 — Economic Development Authority:** a presentation by Commissioner of Revenue Scott Mayausky on Stafford's tax structure, a Loan Committee report on the Next Level Mosaic default, AJGA check presentations to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, discussion of a Strategic Plan Committee facilitator, and a closed session under § 2.2-3711 A 5 of the Code of Virginia.
• **Oct. 19 — Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission:** the agenda consists of procedural boilerplate, with no specific projects, contracts, or policy decisions listed.

Stafford boards review comprehensive plan, data center, and cemetery ordinance

Several Stafford County boards and commissions met over the past two weeks to review ongoing projects and policies, including the county's comprehensive plan update, a data center application, and a 10-year review of the cemetery ordinance. No final decisions were made at these meetings; minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are pending.

Planning Commission subcommittee

The Planning Commission's Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update Sub-Committee met on August 6 to discuss draft revisions to the comprehensive plan. According to the agenda, members reviewed updates made since the July 16 meeting, examined chapters and outstanding comments, and discussed the project timeline. This was a working session focused on the ongoing plan update process.

Architectural Review Board

The Architectural Review Board met on August 3 and received staff updates on HROD (Historic Resources Overlay District) recommendations for Sherwood Forest Farm and Little Falls Farm/Duff Green. The board also discussed proposed updates to the Stafford County Code of Ordinances, a funding request for a County-Wide Cultural Resource Survey, and a staff update on the Potomac Creek Data Center and Cemetery(s).

Historical Commission

The Historical Commission met on August 6 to receive updates on the Potomac Creek Data Center application and the Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update. The agenda also included a discussion of the 10-year review of the Cemetery Ordinance, a work session on the Bloomington Interpretive Plan, an update on the Slave Dwelling Project, and a status update on a new interpretive sign for Government Island.

Agricultural/PDR Commission

The Agricultural and Land Conservation Committee (also referred to as the Agricultural/PDR Commission) held a working group meeting on July 27 to review the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) ranking criteria and a sample deed of conservation easement template. Members also continued discussions regarding the Comprehensive Plan review.

Coming up

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission will hold its regular meeting on August 17. The agenda includes approval of minutes, public comments, unfinished business, new business, liaison reports, the director's report, and commission member comments. No specific contracts, ordinances, or policy changes are listed.

Stafford County boards weigh school tax referendum, data center zoning, and Comcast franchise talks

Stafford County's Board of Supervisors placed a potential 1% retail sales tax referendum for school construction on its July 7 agenda, headlining a busy two-week stretch of county meetings. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent sessions, the items below reflect what was scheduled for consideration, not confirmed outcomes.

Board of Supervisors — July 7

The Board's agenda included a proposed referendum for a local general retail sales tax of up to 1% to fund school construction or renovations. If advanced, the measure would go before voters.

Also on the agenda:

• A zoning reclassification from A-1 Agricultural to M-2 Heavy Industrial for the Potomac Creek Campus (Tax Map Parcel No. 38-126).
• A Comprehensive Plan amendment on the siting of high-voltage electric transmission lines.
• A contract with BKV Group DC, PLLC for design of a new courthouse building.
• A grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for a Safe Streets 4 All grant.

Planning Commission — July 8

The Planning Commission was scheduled to review comprehensive plan compliance and a zoning reclassification from P-TND to B-2 for Fire and Rescue Station #9 on tax map parcel 21-49V.

The agenda also included proposed amendments to Zoning Ordinance Sec. 28-25 and Sec. 28-102 regarding drive-through facilities, and a new TRC submission for a 3.83-acre lumber storage facility south of Sanford Dr.

Several items related to the Accokeek Center — including comprehensive plan amendments and heavy industrial zoning — were listed as deferred.

Telecommunications Commission — July 9

The Telecommunications Commission was set to elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman. Chief Information Officer Andrew Spence was scheduled to lead a discussion on negotiations for the Comcast franchise agreement.

Historical Commission — July 15

The Historical Commission's agenda included a discussion of the Potomac Creek Data Center application, referencing the July 7 Board of Supervisors meeting. The agenda also listed public presentations, a chairman's report, a Cemetery Committee report, and reports by commission members. No specific decisions were indicated.

Planning Commission Sub-Committee — July 16

The Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update Sub-Committee was scheduled to review draft revisions to multiple chapters. Transportation Planning and Funding Manager Matthew Lehane was listed to lead the review of Chapter 4. Other agenda items included future land use recommendations for the Chatham & Berea TDA, a discussion on revitalization in Chapter 3, a review of Chapter 2 policies, and a project timeline discussion.

Economic Development Authority — July 17

The EDA agenda included a bond fee comparison chart and a draft bond application, a PB Mares engagement letter for an audit, and a marketing & events contract. The board was also scheduled to elect officers for Chairman, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. A closed session was listed to consider matters under Virginia Code § 2.2-3711 A5 and A6.

Coming up

• **Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission — July 20:** The agenda consists of procedural boilerplate with no specific projects, contracts, or policy decisions listed.

All recent meeting agendas are available through Stafford County's official meeting portal. Minutes for the sessions listed above had not been published as of this report.