Stokes County planning board presses pause on data center amendments
The Stokes County Planning Board has tabled proposed amendments defining data centers and their zoning parameters, including noise levels. This action, influenced by strong community opposition and past litigation over "Project Delta," comes as the board explores a potential one-year moratorium on data center development.
The Stokes County Planning Board has decided to proceed with caution regarding potential data center developments, voting to table two proposed amendments. This decision follows a rapid three-month approval process for "Project Delta," a proposed data center in Walnut Cove, which previously faced litigation over meeting notices and other issues. As a result, county officials required the amendments and rezoning for Project Delta to return to the planning board, and developer Engineered Land Solutions must resubmit its application.
During the recent meeting, residents packed the room, expressing strong opposition to data centers in Stokes County, describing it as a "microcosm of a national issue" given the boom of artificial intelligence. The tabled amendments aim to define data centers and discuss their inclusion under heavy manufacturing, as well as parameters for their use, including noise levels. Furthermore, a board member acknowledged discussions about a potential one-year moratorium on data centers and asked staff to provide information on the mechanism for such a measure, indicating it could be brought up at a future meeting.