McCormick County council approves data center rezoning while tempers flare
McCormick County Council approved the rezoning for a data center despite significant public opposition. The council also rejected a proposed nine-month moratorium on data center development but passed the first reading of new data center regulations.
McCormick County Council faced a packed and contentious meeting where residents overwhelmingly expressed opposition to data center development. Despite the public outcry, the council voted to approve the rezoning of a thousand-acre parcel of land, known as the "Pollard data center land," to make way for a new data center project.
A key point of contention was a proposed nine-month moratorium on all data center development. Council members struck down this proposal with a 3-2 vote, rejecting a temporary pause on future projects. The Sheriff's Office had to intervene multiple times to manage the agitated crowd, particularly as council members exited the meeting.
In addition to the rezoning approval and moratorium rejection, the council did unanimously pass the first reading of new regulations concerning data centers within the county. This indicates an ongoing effort to establish rules for the industry, even as specific projects move forward and a broader development pause was denied.