City Council directs staff to move full speed ahead in possibly bringing data centers to the city.

Fredericksburg's City Council on Tuesday strongly reaffirmed its support in bringing data centers, along with their potential revenue stream, to the city.

The council unanimously passed a resolution expressing support for the development of data centers in the city, most likely in the area known as Celebrate Virginia South.

The city staff was directed to continue pursuing "advanced due diligence studies" regarding the development of such centers and to draft zoning ordinance provisions which may provide for by-right development in certain areas.

The council in July had already directed the staff to accelerate looking into the potential for data center development in the city. It has been estimated that such development could eventually add as much as $100 million annually to the city's tax base, along with providing enhanced employment opportunities for area electricians and others.

City spokeswoman Sonja Cantu said the region has been looking into data centers for more than a decade, and the City Council had public meetings on the issue in October of 2018.

City Manager Tim Baroody called the potential development a "generational economic development opportunity" for the city, perhaps even more impactful than the development of Central Park in the 1990s. Once approved, it is estimated that it would take several years for such a center to become operational.

A number of residents spoke in favor of the centers at Tuesday's meeting, including lifelong city resident Charles McDaniel. "I urge the council to adopt this program and to do everything you can to see these data centers come to this community," McDaniel said. "It is the only way that we can ensure the financial stability of this community in the future."

Regarding concerns about any negative impacts, including the appearance of such centers, McDaniel said, "I'd rather have a big ugly data center than a broke city."

Councilman Jason Graham said he believes any environmental concerns can be adequately addressed. He said the centers could provide economic relief to city taxpayers while providing the quality goods and services that city residents want.

"They say there's no such thing as a free lunch," Graham said. "But data centers feel as close to one as we can possibly get."

Some study results are expected to be delivered to the council by the end of the year," Cantu said.

Keith Epps:

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