by Sean Jones
The Hanover County Board of Supervisors announced its opposition to the purchase of a warehouse in the county to be used as a Department of Homeland Security processing facility.
Hundreds of people from across the region attended Hanover’s Wednesday Board meeting to protest DHS. People spilled out of the boardroom meeting into the atrium and onto the sidewalk outside.
While Hanover lacks the authority to reject the sale outright, supervisors said they would use available local regulatory tools and urge state legislators to push the facility out of the county.
DHS, which oversees ICE, first notified Hanover of the possible sale last week, when it sent a letter of intent to purchase a building in the Lewistown Commerce Center off Lakeridge Parkway.
The letter stated only that it would be used as a “processing facility.”
Board Chair Sean Davis said the Hanover government would not support the sale of the building during Wednesday’s meeting.
The county classified the area as a well-planned district to encourage commercial and industrial investment. The commercial center itself is anchored by a 150,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops, totaling around 125 acres.
“A facility of that nature will change the character of the area, place unplanned demands on county services, including public safety, as well as reduce county tax revenues by no less than one million dollars annually,” Davis said. “However, future revenue losses are likely to be significantly higher. These lost revenues would normally go to support vital and essential services that the county delivers to our citizens.”
The board asked county staff to send a detailed summary of land-use policies and other land-use concerns to DHS. The board will also ask state senators and representatives to find a “more suitable” location, and have the county attorney “further evaluate” legal options related to the facility.
“The board hopes DHS will not proceed with this acquisition, and sincerely hope they will look for a more suitable location for this type of operation,” Davis said.
Hanover’s response to DHS’ letter is required by mid-February.
The scrutinised facility is owned by the property arm of Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Group. The company released a statement on its website saying that it didn’t become aware that the buyer was DHS until “some time later.”
“This transaction is still subject to certain approvals and closing conditions,” the company said on its website. “We remain committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations as we work to divest this asset.”