The Plan That Will Shape
Frederick County for a Generation
Right now, Frederick County is rewriting the legal document that governs all land use decisions through 2050. Every rezoning, every data center application, every farm preserved or paved: all of it will flow from this plan. The window to shape it is open now. It won't be open forever.
The Comprehensive Plan is the rulebook for Frederick County's future
Virginia law (§ 15.2-2223) requires every locality to adopt a comprehensive plan to guide land use decisions. It is not a zoning map. It doesn't directly rezone parcels. But every rezoning decision must be "substantially consistent" with the plan.
That means if the 2050 plan includes language welcoming data centers as a "targeted industry," every future data center application gets a built-in legal argument for approval. Conversely, if the plan includes strong protections for agricultural land, water resources, and rural character, those same protections become the standard every developer must meet.
Frederick County's current plan was last updated in 2021. The 2050 update will govern land use decisions for the next 25 years. Frederick County is currently the 6th fastest-growing jurisdiction in Virginia which means the decisions made in this plan will have real, immediate consequences.
Five phases. One chance to get it right.
The plan is developed in five phases over roughly two years. Phase II, currently underway, is the most important window for community input. Here's where things stand.
Community meetings organized around five topic areas: Transportation, Housing & Community Facilities, Water & Natural Resources, Industry & Commerce, and Rural Areas & Agribusiness. Each topic area generates public input that shapes the draft plan.
Infrastructure gaps the plan must address
The county's own stakeholder summary flags infrastructure as a critical concern: schools, traffic, power, and water have not kept pace with growth. Here's what that means in the context of data center development.
Average family size (3.18) exceeds the state average (3.07), driving sustained demand for school capacity. Infrastructure has not kept pace.
The I-81 corridor is the primary artery for industrial expansion. Data centers require significant heavy truck traffic during construction and ongoing deliveries.
Utilities/power needs are explicitly flagged in the stakeholder summary as requiring "clear address" in the 2050 plan.
Frederick County sits on karst limestone terrain. The county's water infrastructure is directly connected to groundwater systems that are uniquely vulnerable to contamination.
The language already in play
In November 2025, county staff compiled a summary of input from Board of Supervisors members, Planning Commissioners, and key stakeholders. This is the framing that will shape the draft plan. Here's what to watch and why each phrase matters.
Phase II is your window. Use it.
The topic-based community meetings in Phase II are where public input is collected and documented. That record informs the draft plan. Here's how to make your voice count.
Attend the Industry & Commerce session
This is the topic area where data center language will be debated. Show up, bring neighbors, and speak on the record. County staff is required to document all public input.
See upcoming meetings →Submit written comments
Can't attend in person? Written comments submitted to the Planning Department carry the same weight. Email planning@fcva.us with "2050 Comprehensive Plan" in the subject line.
Ask specific questions on the record
At public meetings, ask directly: Will data centers be listed as a targeted industry? What water impact assessments will be required? How will TM zoning be defined in the new plan? Force these questions into the public record now.
Sign the petition
Over 440 signatures from residents across all six districts. The petition demonstrates the scale of community concern to every official involved in the planning process.
Sign the petition →Frequently asked questions
The plan is being written right now.
Every resident who shows up, speaks, and submits a comment makes it harder to bury data center protections in fine print. The 2050 plan will outlast every official currently in office. Make it reflect what Frederick County actually wants.