McCormick County residents raise concerns over proposed data center regulations
McCormick County residents raised concerns at a public hearing about proposed regulations for future data centers, including 500-foot setbacks, noise limits, water-use rules and environmental protections. County Council is expected to vote on the ordinances Tuesday, Oct. 20, after residents requested clearer language, independent monitoring and greater transparency.
McCormick County residents attended a public hearing on three proposed ordinances, with most of the discussion focused on regulations for future data center developments. Ordinance 26-06 would require data centers to be at least 500 feet from existing homes and certain other properties and would establish requirements related to noise, water usage and environmental protections.
Residents questioned how the rules would be enforced and called for independent monitoring and clearer language before approval. One resident, Robertson, said a proposed data center could be built across from land her family owns, connecting the development concerns to her family’s history of losing land through eminent domain. No vote was taken at the hearing, but the McCormick County Council was expected to vote on the ordinances the following Tuesday.