We have been caught up in a minor struggle here in a lovely place that has experienced greater ones. Much greater. It caused the Chairman to actually draft a note to the local paper, marking his opposition to some of the industrial change being proposed on agricultural land in this part of the Virginia Piedmont.

There was a fight about that just a few years ago, one that caused a popular zoning plan for Culpeper County that provided “light industrial” zoning for properties adjacent to existing population centers and transportation. It took many meetings and expenditure of time and resources by local folks. It seemed to be a decision that would preserve some- not all- of the historic terrain that would encourage historic tourism and leverage the establishment of a new State Park to incorporate some of the hallowed ground on which nearly two hundred thousand soldiers marched and camped over the winters of 1863 and 1864. They were components of the two armies that fought in a great struggle that ended the abomination of slavery.

What might be the largest company on earth (at this moment) is looking for additional space for facilities to support data storage and enable efficient operations. Why they chose an existing equestrian property in rural zoning is their business, not the Chairman’s. It is cheap, of course, at least compared with that required for the sprawling data farms and associated development that have transformed Fairfax and Loudoun Counties to our north.

The Chairman did not provide pictures, and limited his commentary to the “200 word” limit preferred by the local paper. So, we thought that rather than more discussion of the war in Europe, we would show you the transformation of the Chairman’s words to a commercial product including click-bait links, an image of ancient artillery that once arrayed our pastures, and the subtle editorial work of local word technicians.

Naturally, we support the Chairman’s views, since opposition could endanger the places provided for us to sleep. But it also may portend the prospect of being dragged into another conflict. One in which the old cannons will be replaced by electric-powered vehicles filled with lawyers. We will keep you posted.

Here is the Chairman’s note, digitally transformed into local news:

Data Centers Undermine History Tours Potential
Vic Socotra CStarExponent 3/24/2022

The proposed data centers on agricultural-zoned land is another in the line of development seen elsewhere in Northern Virginia that may transform and destroy something precious.

In regard to the spot-zoning exception for Amazon, there is a direct conflict with the soon-to-be historic Culpeper Battlefields State Park mission, a place that will provide long-term benefits that the outline of the data centers’ complex—and the likely solar panel farm that will accompany them once the zoning is changed—is repellent.
I speak as a survivor of the painful Fairfax and Loudoun County transformations.

A word on the “renewable” aspect of history. I have only been a property owner for 13 years of Culpeper’s history. But my family is part of it, like many others. My family’s Irish ancestors were among the laborers who swung hammers building the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.
People are also reading…

Students argue for and against Black History Month
MISSING: 59-year-old Culpeper man last seen Dec. 1
Bomb-making materials, partial IED, smoke bombs and firework mortars seized last week from home in Richmond suburbs
Treasure hunters flock to Ollie’s grand opening in Culpeper

It is an amazing and frankly inspirational thing to pause here in the Stevensburg area, and actually see the contours of the countryside those workers and families saw. Not “unchanged,” but managed to let others have a glimpse of what they saw in those times.

Thanks!

Vic Socotra
Culpeper
Copyright 2022 Times-Exponent and Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com