Lee County residents renew call for data center moratorium, zoning changes
Residents in Lee County, North Carolina, are renewing their call for a 180-day moratorium on large-scale data center developments and proposing stricter zoning regulations. They submitted a petition to county commissioners outlining concerns about noise, water use, setbacks, and the adequacy of current Light Industrial zoning for a proposed 430-acre data center campus on Lower Moncure Road. The petitioners also seek requirements for special-use permits, closed-loop cooling, and developer bonds for decommissioning.
Residents of Lee County, North Carolina, are intensifying their opposition to a proposed 430-acre data center campus on Lower Moncure Road, urging county commissioners to enact a 180-day moratorium on large-scale data center developments and implement stricter zoning regulations.
Jonathan Boyce, Eric Evenson, and Jeffrey Kidd submitted a comprehensive document package on August 31st to the Lee County Board of Commissioners, requesting the issue be placed on the September 21st agenda. The submission includes a citizen petition proposing amendments to the county’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), a draft resolution for the moratorium, and a memorandum detailing the legal rationale for these changes. Kristen Evenson Herrmann, an active community member, rallied residents via social media to attend the upcoming commissioners meeting, emphasizing the county's "crossroads" regarding development and quality of life.
The proposed UDO changes would mandate special-use permits and full master plan reviews for future data centers. Petitioners also recommend a 1,500-foot setback from sensitive areas like homes and schools, the use of acoustic berms, and specific noise limits for both broadband and low-frequency sounds. Additionally, they advocate for closed-loop cooling systems, prohibitions on industrial cooling wastewater discharges, and requirements for developers to post bonds for eventual decommissioning costs.
The 180-day moratorium, if approved, would halt the processing, permitting, expansion, or approval of utility-scale data centers within Lee County's unincorporated planning jurisdiction. This period would allow officials to research regulations from other areas, draft amendments, and conduct technical reviews before public hearings and a final vote. While not seeking to rezone the existing Light Industrial property on Lower Moncure Road, petitioners propose applying new regulations prospectively and encouraging CyrusOne, the developer of the proposed data center, to voluntarily adhere to these new standards through a "Good Neighbor Covenant."