Mayor Joe Cobb discusses potential data center at Wood Haven Technology Park

ROANOKE, Va. – Ever since the announcement of a possible data center coming to Wood Haven Technology Park in Roanoke County, residents have been sharing their concerns about it coming to their neighbors.

Mayor Joe Cobb sat down with 10 News Thursday to speak about the City Council’s role in the sale while attempting to address concerns some citizens may have.

Concerning Council’s role, Cobb said that the purchase was done in participation with multiple other committees.

“The Woodhaven Technology Park is a site that was mutually purchased through the Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority, but there are three participating committees,” Cobb said. “Roanoke City, Roanoke County and the City of Salem have different levels of ownership in that. {Around} 44% for the City of Roanoke, 44% for the County and 10-11% for the City of Salem.”

Cobb said that - for as long as he had been on council - the WVRIFA has been looking for the right company to come in and use the land at Wood Haven Technology Park to strengthen future infrastructure.

Cobb also confirmed that City Council had gotten “preliminary information” with the WVRIFA for the past couple of months about the company that would purchase the land - which a 10 News investigation revealed to be Clearview Dynamics LLC.

While the conversations between City Council and the WVRIFA were confidential, Cobb told 10 News that City Council didn’t sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding those conversations.

When asked about the potential positives of a data center, Cobb said they were attractive to companies that wish to bring their business to the area, saying that data centers are “the type of infrastructure we need here that companies are already relying on and that might help us attract additional companies.”

Cobb pointed out that this land deal could provide the city with much-needed financial flexibility and also spoke on the potential job impact it could bring.

“I’ve heard a range of things about how many employees are involved or actually hired after a center opens, and I think there’s a range of that,” Cobb said. “I’ve heard anywhere from 100 to over 500.”

However, he is also well aware of the negatives that come with data centers.

“It’s a local investment, but within that local investment, we have to be cognizant of not adding any cost burden to citizens who live in the area, address any noise issues,” Cobb said. {We need to} make sure that there are no environmental impacts and that the company is willing to take on the full cost of the energy that they’re using and water replacement.“

Cobb is hopeful that city and county officials can have constructive conversations in the future with those people.

“Much of what I have heard is very anti-data centers. I’ve not heard a lot of conversations that are constructive in terms of what you just asked me,” Cobb said. “What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks? And I think for us to make a comprehensive decision about that, we need all of that information.”

Finally, Cobb addressed rumors that another swath of land in Roanoke County could be used for a data center.

“There’s no interest in putting a data center at Old Monterey Golf Course,” Cobb said. “That’s a rumor that’s been flying around out there. There’s no truth to that whatsoever. We have other exciting opportunities for that land.”