Rockingham council approves Old Cheraw Highway rezoning
The Rockingham City Council approved a request to rezone 165.07 acres from high-density residential to conditional light industrial, despite significant public opposition. The rezoning will allow Terra Nexus to develop a proposed $1.2 billion data center facility on Old Cheraw Highway. Concerns raised by residents and environmental groups included noise, air pollution from diesel generators, water usage, and potential decrease in property values.
The Rockingham City Council in North Carolina approved a rezoning request for 165.07 acres on Old Cheraw Highway, changing the classification from high-density residential to conditional light industrial. This decision, approved by a 4-1 vote with Councilwoman Holly Howe dissenting, paves the way for Terra Nexus to develop a proposed $1.2 billion data center campus. The site, which includes properties previously intended for residential development, will host a facility with 192 diesel backup generators and a 16-acre substation.
Assistant City Manager John Massey provided project details, including conditions agreed upon to address community concerns, such as generator testing during business hours, a 200-foot vegetative buffer, minimized driveway visibility, and annual noise studies to ensure compliance with a 55-decibel limit. He also noted that the facility's closed-loop cooling system would result in minimal water usage, primarily domestic, and that Terra Nexus would pay Duke Energy for infrastructure upgrades to support the 460-megawatt facility. Massey highlighted the significant economic impact, projecting the project to double the city's tax base.
During the public hearing, 21 speakers addressed the council, with a majority expressing opposition. Attorney Kasey Moraveck from the Southern Environmental Law Center urged denial, citing potential harm from noise, air pollution, and decreased property values, and questioning the region's infrastructure capacity for this and two other proposed data centers by Amazon and Digital Realty in Richmond County. Resident Russ Fincham presented a petition with 279 names opposing the facility and requested a 60-day pause for public review. Concerns were also raised about the desecration of cemeteries and the lack of an air quality permit for the generators. Conversely, Derek Howell spoke in favor, emphasizing economic growth. Despite the opposition, Councilwoman Denise Sullivan moved to approve the conditional zone, which passed, with officials asserting transparency throughout the process.