Protect Frederick · Public Analysis

Winchester Gateway LLC:
What Frederick County Residents Need to Know

A 160 MW data center campus proposed for 71.85 acres near the Second Battle of Kernstown battlefield. The Historic Resources Advisory Board voted 7 to 1 to recommend denial. The Board of Supervisors makes the final call.

ApplicantWinchester Gateway LLC (Darius Saeidi)

EngineerGreenway Engineering (Christopher Mohn)

LocationSW intersection of Apple Valley Rd and Middle Rd, east of Rt. 37, Kernstown (Back Creek District)

Parcel63-A-801

Current ZoningM1 (Light Industrial, rezoned 2023)

RequestConditional Use Permit (CUP) for data center campus

HRAB Vote7-1 recommendation for denial (April 17, 2026)

Unlike the Virginia Technology Park application, this is not a rezoning. The parcel was already rezoned to M1 Light Industrial in 2023. Winchester Gateway LLC is asking for a Conditional Use Permit to build a data center campus on that land. The CUP process gives the county more targeted review authority, but the Board of Supervisors still makes the final binding decision.

Frederick County's Historic Resources Advisory Board voted 7 to 1 to recommend denial on April 17, 2026, citing unresolved battlefield visibility, unanswered water disposal questions, and incomplete archaeological work. The application was set for a Planning Commission public hearing on July 1, 2026, but the applicant withdrew from that hearing after concerns were raised at a commission work session. The applicant cited the need for more time to address power infrastructure, building height, screening, and low-frequency noise. No new hearing date has been set.

71.85

Acres

160MW

Max Electrical Draw

Data Center Buildings (60 ft)

7-1

HRAB Denial Recommendation

Phase II Archaeology Completed

Independent Economic Reviews

01What They Want to BuildPhase 1: three buildings, one substation, 805,000 sq ft campus

02Power160 MW connecting to existing 138kV lines, new substation at applicant cost

03Water35,000 GPD claimed average, disposal method unresolved, shared source with Winchester

04Noise and TrafficModeled at 55-56 dB(A) on Apple Valley Road; traffic compared to hypothetical

05Applicant's Economic ClaimsMuniCap analysis paid for by the applicant, no independent review conducted

06Historic and Archaeological ConcernsKernstown Battlefield, visible from Pritchard's Hill, incomplete Phase II archaeology

07Regulatory History2023 rezoning through 2026 HRAB denial recommendation

08Key VoicesWhat was said at the HRAB hearing and by whom

09Applicant's Claims vs. the RecordSix claims made in the application and what the record actually shows

10What You Can DoHow to get on the record before the Board of Supervisors votes

Winchester Gateway LLC:What Frederick County Residents Need to Know

Winchester Gateway LLC:
What Frederick County Residents Need to Know