Lawsuit targets Spartanburg County data center project, demands public planning review
The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a lawsuit against a $2.8 billion data center project by Valara in Spartanburg County, SC. The suit alleges that the county and Valara bypassed public planning review by misclassifying the project as a minor land development. It seeks to halt the current permitting process and mandate a major land development permit.
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has initiated legal action against a proposed $2.8 billion data center development by Valara in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The lawsuit, filed in state court, demands that Spartanburg County adhere to its own development ordinances, specifically concerning the review process for major land developments.
According to the SELC, Valara and Spartanburg County incorrectly categorized the data center as a minor land development, thereby circumventing the required public review by the county's planning commission. Under county rules, minor developments are typically handled by staff, while major projects necessitate a more extensive public planning process. Attorney Frank Holleman of the Southern Environmental Law Center emphasized the public's right to be fully informed about the project's potential impacts on health and quality of life. The SELC is seeking a court declaration that the county must comply with its ordinance, a requirement for Valara to obtain a major land development permit, and a permanent injunction to immediately cease processing the current minor land development permit application. Spartanburg County has not yet provided a comment on the lawsuit.