Southport pushes for data center moratorium as it workshops zoning rules
The Southport Planning Board unanimously recommended a 15-month moratorium on data centers after reviewing a proposed zoning amendment. Residents expressed opposition, questioning why an outright ban was not considered, citing environmental concerns like water pollution and PFAS, and potential impacts on utility prices and grid capacity. The board's recommendation now goes to the aldermen for a vote.
The Southport Planning Board has unanimously recommended a 15-month moratorium on data center development to the city's board of aldermen, following a meeting to discuss regulating such facilities. This decision came amidst public backlash and resident calls for a complete ban on data centers, rather than merely regulating them through a proposed zoning amendment.
The proposed amendment aims to restrict data centers to conditional zoning in highway-commercial districts, requiring them to be 1,000 feet from residential areas, schools, and public spaces. It also mandates plans for mitigating impacts on water utilities, electrical grids, noise, and light pollution. Concerns raised by residents and board members include potential for increased water pollution, including PFAS chemicals from coolants, rising utility bills, and strain on the city's already at-capacity electrical grid.
While board members like Maria Horton raised questions about the thoroughness of the proposed rules, especially regarding electromagnetic fields, Planning Board Chair Larry Ashley defended the proactive approach. The city acknowledged that an outright ban could be legally challenged by property owners, citing a recent North Carolina Supreme Court of Appeals ruling. The proposed moratorium and the finalized zoning amendment both require public hearings and votes by the board of aldermen before implementation, with the board aiming to be prepared for future data center applications.