Montgomery County proposes first data center-specific zoning rules

Montgomery County, Tennessee, is on the verge of adopting its first set of zoning regulations specifically for data centers. The initiative follows a recent experience where a major tech company considered building a large data facility in the county but ultimately abandoned the project, prompting local officials to re-evaluate existing zoning rules.

Jeff Tyndall, director of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission, highlighted the need for updated standards to manage the rapidly growing industry, noting that while data centers provide significant tax revenue, they create fewer jobs and demand substantial resources. The proposed amendment would formally define data centers, establish minimum site requirements (10-100 acres), mandate noise plans, and require documented assurances regarding gas, electric, and water availability early in the development process.

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden expressed support for the changes, citing concerns about the immense utility demands of such facilities. The county currently hosts a Google data center, which began operations in 2019 and is situated with significant buffer from the community. Under the new proposal, Google's existing facility would not be retroactively impacted, but any future expansions would be subject to the new regulations.

Tyndall indicated that while he is not against smaller data centers, he believes the county's current water infrastructure might not support another facility on the scale of Google's operation. The Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission has already approved the proposed zoning amendment and has forwarded it to the Montgomery County Commission for consideration at its next formal meeting. Tyndall is also contemplating similar zoning updates for the City of Clarksville.