- Goochland County is proposing a Technology Overlay District (TOD) near West Creek Business Park to attract data centers and diversify its tax base.
- Residents raised concerns over noise, aesthetics, home values, and the possibility of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) near residential areas.
- County officials say no final decisions have been made, and the community input will guide future actions by the Board of Supervisors.
Public Pushback In Goochland
Goochland County officials were met with a packed auditorium at Goochland High School on Monday night, reports 12OnYourSide. Hundreds of residents attended the meeting to express concerns over a proposed Technology Overlay District (TOD). Many were also alarmed by plans for a nearby small nuclear reactor.
County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley and Deputy Administrator Sara Worley led the presentation. Their focus was on diversifying the county’s tax base and boosting economic development around West Creek Business Park.
Economic Development Or Heavy Industry?
Worley explained that the TOD is designed to attract data centers and tech companies. But many in attendance questioned the scale and impact of such developments.
Residents pointed to potential noise, proximity to homes, and the visual disruption of large, windowless buildings.
“It’s going to be a visual aesthetic blight to see 120-foot skyscrapers with no windows,” said Larry Lane of Creekmore Park.
Others worried about home values.
“This was our retirement… it’s just very, very frustrating,” said Cathy Fallin, a resident of Mosaic at West Creek.
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A Nuclear Option Raises Alarm
The most controversial topic of the night was the county’s consideration of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) to power the tech district.
Residents questioned the safety and feasibility of the plan, noting that no SMRs are currently operational in the US.
“Why are we considering such an experiment so close to significant population centers?” one resident asked via a written comment.
The proposed site is 1,500 feet from the Henrico County line, near parts of Short Pump—prompting further concern from nearby communities.
“We Want To Do This Right”
Dr. Raley emphasized that nothing has been finalized, and the purpose of the meeting was to gather public feedback.
“We want to do this right for Goochland, which is not the Henrico County way or the Loudoun County way,” he said.
However, some residents remained skeptical.
“They’ve already made up their minds,” said Cherie Lane of Creekmore Park.
What’s Next
The Goochland Board of Supervisors will ultimately decide whether to move forward with the TOD and nuclear plans. Monday’s meeting was part of a broader effort to involve the public in that decision-making process.
With public interest running high, county officials may face increasing pressure to reevaluate or refine the scope of their vision.
