Data center concerns resurrect issue of countywide zoning
Alamance County commissioners are preparing for an August 17 public hearing on a proposed moratorium for new data center developments. This discussion has brought back the long-debated issue of countywide zoning, which some commissioners and residents argue is essential for regulating data centers and other large projects. The board is divided on whether to adopt comprehensive zoning or strengthen existing ordinances.
The Alamance County Board of Commissioners is confronting a contentious debate over the implementation of a proposed moratorium on new data center developments, with a public hearing scheduled for August 17. This discussion has simultaneously resurrected the long-standing, often-taboo issue of establishing countywide zoning, which officials and residents alike are now considering as a vital tool for regulating large-scale industrial projects.
Commissioner Sam Powell, who also serves on the planning board, underscored the necessity of adopting zoning to address complex regulatory issues that the county currently lacks the authority to manage effectively. Environmental advocate Emily Sutton of the Haw River Assembly and resident Peter Childers reinforced this sentiment, emphasizing data centers' substantial water demands, potential for erosion, and the regulatory void created by the absence of comprehensive zoning. They contended that a moratorium would afford the county crucial time to develop appropriate zoning regulations before new data center applications are submitted.
However, Chairman Kelly Allen and Vice Chairman Steve Carter proposed a more expedient approach, suggesting that strengthening existing development ordinances with more stringent requirements, referred to as adding "teeth," would be faster than establishing an entirely new zoning system. In contrast, Commissioner Ed Priola advocated for a deliberate and thoughtful revision of land use regulations, stressing the importance of choosing the "right path" over merely the quickest one. The commissioners are slated to continue their discussions on data center regulation subsequent to the upcoming public hearing.