Spartanburg County weighs new rules for data center development
Spartanburg County officials are considering amendments to local zoning rules for future data center projects, including setbacks, buffers, noise controls and limits on where larger facilities can be built. The county’s temporary moratorium remains in place while officials develop permanent regulations, amid resident concerns about the Valara project’s proximity to homes and schools and its potential environmental impacts.
Spartanburg County’s Land Use Committee is studying amendments to the Performance Zoning Ordinance and related rules governing data center development. Potential standards include facility-size limits, setbacks from homes, noise mitigation, environmental reviews, and measures addressing electricity and water use. Officials are also considering an overlay district to concentrate larger facilities in designated areas.
The county’s temporary moratorium on data center development remains in effect as staff work on permanent regulations. The Valara site on South Pine Street, which is governed by a separate county ordinance and has faced legal challenges over its classification, is being addressed through a proposed community development agreement involving environmental studies and monitoring. Resident Lisa Weir urged stronger safeguards and more public opposition, citing the site’s proximity to schools. No final vote was taken, and the proposed amendments must proceed through the formal review process.