Concerns grow over potential data center in Rural Hall as town hall event nears

Residents of Rural Hall, North Carolina, are expressing growing concerns over plans for a potential data center proposed by The Drops Group, LLC. The Charlotte-based company has submitted a rezoning request to the Forsyth County Department of Planning and Zoning Services for 129 acres of land off Bethania Rural Hall Road. The land, currently home to Beaver Creek Farm and Nursery, is sought to be rezoned from residential to light industrial special use to accommodate the data center. The rezoning application is tied to a land sale that has not yet been finalized. Chris Murphy, Director of the Forsyth County Department of Planning and Development Services, confirmed the details of the request. Community members living directly across from the proposed site are particularly worried about potential increases in noise and pollution, as well as the impact on their electricity and water bills. One neighbor indicated a willingness to sell their home if the project moves forward. In response to these concerns, Mayor Terry Bennett is set to host a town hall meeting. The event will take place on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Rural Hall Town Hall building, which is conveniently located directly across from the proposed data center site. The specific type of data center planned remains undisclosed, which is crucial for assessing its exact environmental and infrastructural impacts on water and energy resources in Rural Hall.