Decatur City Council latest in Tennessee Valley to address data center concerns
The Decatur City Council has approved new zoning regulations that reclassify data centers as a special exception use, requiring formal approval for development in industrial zones. While an initial draft to cap data center size at 10,000 square feet was removed after discussion, developers must still address health, safety, noise, and environmental impacts. The city plans to revisit the ordinance for potential tighter limits in the future.
The Decatur City Council recently discussed and approved new zoning regulations for data centers, making them a special exception use in industrial zones. This means developers will need formal approval rather than building by right, a move planning director Chad Bowman stated is an effort to get ahead of the growing trend of data center development in Alabama and protect the community's quality of life.
Initially, the draft ordinance included a 10,000 square foot size cap for data centers, aimed at addressing concerns over power and water consumption associated with hyperscale facilities. However, Councilman Barry Bullard argued against this restriction, emphasizing the importance of tech growth and stating that data center cooling requirements are not significantly different from other industries. After extensive discussion, the council voted to remove the size cap, retaining other provisions. Developers will still be required to address potential health, safety, noise, and adverse environmental impacts before receiving approval. City leaders indicated that while the ordinance is less restrictive for now, they are prepared to revisit the text and implement tighter limits if necessary to protect Decatur's resources.