Developer seeks annexation to build ‘medium’ size data center in Southeast Raleigh
The Raleigh City Council is set to vote on annexing a 14-acre property in Southeast Raleigh for a proposed 100,000-square-foot data center by developers B3-SFRE JSR LLC and Beacon Partners. The project, which requires 12 megawatts of power and access to city water, faces opposition from current and former council members over environmental concerns and the city's lack of specific data center regulations. Opponents are advocating for a moratorium on new facilities.
The Raleigh City Council is scheduled to decide on Tuesday whether to annex 14 acres in Southeast Raleigh, owned by B3-SFRE JSR LLC and Charlotte-based developer Beacon Partners, to allow for the construction of a 100,000-square-foot data center. The property at 3101 Jones Sausage Road abuts Big Branch Creek, and the developers are seeking to have it annexed as industrial land, which would grant the data center access to Raleigh city water.
The proposed data center would require 12 megawatts of power. However, the project is facing significant opposition from council members and former officials. Former Council member Mary Black and current Council member Jane Harrison plan to speak against the annexation, citing concerns about the city's current lack of specific regulations for data centers, environmental impact, and the transparency of the approval process. Harrison has publicly stated that the city should consider a moratorium on "high impact data centers" until sufficient regulations are in place to protect natural resources. Council member Corey Branch, representing Southeast Raleigh, also expressed concerns, although he acknowledged varying opinions on regulating sound levels and air quality.
Should the annexation be approved, developers would still need to obtain a special-use permit from the city's Board of Adjustment. Council member Harrison warned that there are no conditions in the annexation petition limiting the developer to the stated 100,000 square feet, raising concerns about potential expansion later. The council will consider the petition at its 1 p.m. session.