Fayetteville, Cumberland County Edge Closer to Data Center Regulations
Fayetteville has approved new data center regulations, but they will not take effect until the City Council holds a hearing on a possible 180-day construction moratorium. Cumberland County is reviewing its own ordinance, which would impose setbacks, noise controls, water-recycling requirements and utility-impact reporting on data centers outside the city.
The Fayetteville City Council approved data center regulations in a 6-4 vote on Oct. 26, including 500-foot setbacks from residential districts, schools and child care centers; noise studies and mitigation; lighting controls; and reports on potential water and electricity impacts. The rules would require City Council approval for data centers in eligible business parks, industrial zones and planned economic development districts, but their effective date remains pending a hearing on a possible 180-day moratorium. Mayor Mitch Colvin and council members Malik Davis, D.J. Haire, Deno Hondros, Brenda McNair and Derrick Thompson supported the regulations, while four council members opposed them.
The council is expected to discuss the moratorium and a possible Nov. 23 hearing. In the county, commissioners are reviewing a proposed ordinance forwarded by the Cumberland County Joint Planning Board. The county proposal would apply outside Fayetteville and include neighbor setbacks, noise requirements and systems to recycle cooling water; commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing Nov. 16 and vote at a later meeting. The county’s existing six-month moratorium is set to expire Dec. 15.