Charlotte City Council revives discussion on data center restrictions and I-77 toll lanes
The Charlotte City Council is revisiting proposed limits and new regulations for data centers. The city is currently 56 days into a 150-day moratorium, with staff preparing to propose new regulations and community meetings, despite state legislative limitations on control over energy usage, noise, and zoning.
The Charlotte City Council reconvened after its summer break, drawing dozens of residents to discuss two contentious issues, including proposed limits on data centers. Mayor Robert Harrington presided over a meeting that addressed updates on a data center moratorium and potential new regulations.
The city is currently 56 days into a 150-day moratorium on data center development. In response, city staff are preparing to propose a framework for new regulations, with plans for community meetings in September and the immediate formation of a task force to address the issue.
However, officials acknowledged significant limitations imposed by state legislation, specifically Senate Bill 382. These restrictions prevent the city from mandating specific energy usage, completely eliminating noise, or removing existing zoning districts where data centers are currently permitted. The council noted that the state legislature itself is also grappling with similar questions.
The council concluded that a separate discussion would be necessary to determine the appropriate path forward for data center regulation, as several members ran out of time during the initial meeting in Uptown Charlotte.