Suffolk Officials to Draft Data Center Zoning Regulations

Suffolk, Virginia, is taking proactive steps to define and regulate data centers within its zoning code, aiming to establish clear guidelines before major development proposals emerge. Kevin Wyne, the city's planning and community development director, informed the City Council that data centers are not currently a distinct land use category in Suffolk's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). This ambiguity could lead to them being classified under broader categories like warehousing, which may not be appropriate. The Planning Commission is now reviewing potential ordinance changes at the City Council's direction. The goal is to define data centers as a standalone use and create specific standards, including zoning districts, setbacks, noise limits, lighting, parking, landscaping, facade requirements, generator testing limits, and utility needs analysis. Officials also plan to establish buffers to protect residential areas, schools, and parks from potential impacts. Council members, including John Rector and Timothy Johnson, expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing the need for clear rules to leverage potential tax revenue while avoiding rapid, ill-informed decisions. Mayor Mike Duman highlighted the importance of learning from past experiences with solar farms and warehouses, which Suffolk was not fully prepared to regulate. He advocated for specific data center-focused ordinances that might require conditional use permits and identify specific zones where they are permitted. Wyne mentioned that staff would visit existing data centers in Virginia and other states to better understand their land use impacts and will also study ordinances from other localities. The city's investment in regional fiber infrastructure, such as the Southside Network Authority's fiber ring, could make it an attractive location for future data center development, underscoring the urgency of establishing these regulations.