Lawyer: ‘Permits in hand’ for data center near Nashville Zoo
DC Blox claims to have permits in hand for a data center near the Nashville Zoo, but city officials dispute this, stating the permit application is not yet issued and the site plan was incomplete. The Metro Planning Commission approved legislation to regulate data centers, which will now go to the Metro Council amidst strong community and mayoral opposition to the DC Blox project.
A contentious data center project proposed by DC Blox near the Nashville Zoo is facing strong opposition and regulatory hurdles, despite claims from the company's counsel that permits are already secured. Doug Sloan, representing DC Blox, stated to the Metro Planning Commission that the data center is "vested" with permits in hand and that the company aims to work with the community. Sloan also sought to dispel "misinformation," asserting the data center would operate below the city's noise limits at 65 decibels.
However, Nashville Metro Planning Commission Chair Rollin Horton disputes DC Blox's claims regarding vested permits, arguing that their application did not include a site plan and is not "substantially complete." This would allow proposed legislation, championed by Horton, to come into effect and potentially block or restrict the project. News 2 verified that while DC Blox submitted a permit application, it has not yet been issued by Metro Codes.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell reiterated the city's opposition, stating that the project is not desired by the zoo, the neighborhood, or the city, and that "all options" are being explored to prevent its finalization. Amidst this debate, the Metro Planning Commission approved broader legislation to regulate data centers on Thursday night, which is now slated for a public hearing before the Metro Council on July 7, indicating ongoing efforts to control data center development in the area.