Fayetteville and Cumberland County to consider data center UDOs and moratorium
Fayetteville and Cumberland County are addressing data center development with an upcoming public hearing on proposed Unified Development Ordinances (UDOs) that include noise limits, setbacks, and buffers. A local advocacy group, Fayetteville Freedom For All, has already held a workshop to analyze these UDOs, indicating community engagement and potential opposition. Additionally, Cumberland County plans a data center input session as part of a moratorium process.
Fayetteville and Cumberland County in North Carolina are actively considering new regulations impacting data center development. The Fayetteville City Council is preparing for a public hearing on August 10 regarding proposed Unified Development Ordinances (UDOs) for data centers. These UDOs aim to establish formal definitions for such facilities and introduce specific requirements, including noise limits, setbacks, and buffers.
In response to these proposed changes, a local advocacy group, Fayetteville Freedom For All, conducted a workshop on July 16. During this session, attendees collaboratively analyzed various sections of the draft UDOs, identifying their potential strengths, weaknesses, and any linguistic gaps, indicating a proactive community engagement to influence the regulatory framework.
Separately, Cumberland County is initiating a process that may lead to a moratorium on data center construction. The county has scheduled its first data center input session for August 6 at Stedman Baptist Church, signaling that a moratorium is under consideration and public feedback is being sought. These concurrent efforts by local government and community groups highlight a concerted push to manage and potentially restrict data center expansion in the region.