Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging Valara data center in Spartanburg County
A Spartanburg County judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the classification of the Valara data center as a Minor Land Development. The Southern Environmental Law Center said it plans to appeal, while construction remains underway.
Spartanburg County Judge J. Derham Cole Jr. dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of Concerned Citizens of Spartanburg County. The group argued that the Valara data center should have been processed as a Major Land Development, which would have required additional review and public input through the county Planning Commission.
Cole ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing for some claims and had not first pursued the administrative appeal process through the Spartanburg County Board of Zoning Appeals. The decision did not resolve whether the project was properly classified as major or minor. Opponents, including SELC Senior Attorney Catherine Wannamaker and resident Eric Allison, raised concerns about transparency, traffic, noise, dust and health impacts, and SELC said it intends to appeal. Construction remains underway at the former Kohler site.