Residents press county on data center rules at information session
Greenwood County residents questioned proposed data center zoning rules during an information session, focusing on noise, setbacks, water use, and enforcement. The county plans to hold a third reading on the zoning ordinance and a second reading on a proposed moratorium on July 7.
Greenwood County residents attended an information session hosted by the Planning Department to question proposed data center rules ahead of a July 7 third reading on Ordinance 2026-19. The ordinance would add data centers as a conditional use in I-1 light industrial, I-2 heavy industrial, and RDD rural development districts.
Deputy County Manager Rob Russian and Planning Director Ryan Bland addressed concerns regarding noise, setbacks, water use, enforcement, and generator operations. Residents specifically questioned the adequacy of proposed noise limits (60 dBA at non-industrial boundaries), the 1,000-foot setback from sensitive uses, the reliance on A-weighted decibel limits, and whether studies paid for by applicants could be trusted. Water-related questions focused on closed-loop cooling systems, wastewater pretreatment, and priority during droughts or power outages. Russian explained that the county could require additional studies and mitigate issues before or after construction, and that violations would follow normal code enforcement processes.
Russian noted that the session focused on the text amendment itself, not broader economic development or the timing of a proposed data center moratorium. The proposed text amendment also includes requirements for environmental studies like Phase I assessments, wetland delineation, and threatened species evaluations.
Both Ordinance 2026-19 and a separate proposed data center moratorium (Ordinance 2026-25) are scheduled for further readings and public hearings on July 7.