Amazon is turning to the courts after a major data center development in Virginia hit political turbulence. The company has filed an 878-page petition asking the King George County Circuit Court to overturn a decision that may unravel its $175 million investment in land and early development.
At the center of contention is an 869-acre tract of land near Sealston, where Amazon considered a huge data center campus—potentially up to 19 buildings across more than 7 million square feet. The project originally was given the go-ahead in 2023, including zoning approvals, proffer amendments, and changes to the county’s comprehensive plan.
But that momentum came to a halt sharply after a change in local leadership. The new Board of Supervisors complained about the value Amazon’s payments would bring to the county, suggesting the return wasn’t worth sacrificing the land. By April 2024, the Board was seriously considering rolling the zoning back to agricultural, essentially shelving the project.
Amazon, in response, sought to protect its rights. It requested a vested rights determination, arguing that its approvals and financial commitments—including nearly $169 million on the land alone—should secure its ability to proceed. That effort stalled when the newly appointed county administrator declined to issue a decision, saying it would require a legal interpretation beyond his role.
Now, Amazon claims the county’s failure to act within the 90-day window mandated by Virginia law invalidates the decision. The tech giant argues that it had a clear path forward under local rules and is asking the court to affirm its vested development rights.
As legal battles play out, the case may foreshadow deeper tensions between rapidly expanding technology companies and changing local politics, particularly in areas where land use and economic ambitions intersect. For King George County, the verdict may challenge not just zoning regulations but also the long-term integrity of public-private development deals.
