City Council plans to vote on whether to extend data center pause
Charlotte City Council is scheduled to vote on extending the city’s pause on new data center applications until Oct. 18 of next year. The proposed Hood Road data center in east Charlotte has drawn concerns from nearby residents about noise and utility demands, while construction workers and union representatives support the jobs but seek stronger protections.
Charlotte City Council is expected to decide whether to extend the pause on new data center applications until Oct. 18 of next year. The additional time would allow the city to study potential impacts and develop regulations, while the rezoning request for a proposed data center on Hood Road remains pending. The project could include up to 40,000 square feet of office, data storage and telecommunications space.
Residents near the Hood Road site, including Ulysses Agard, have raised concerns about noise, utility demands and the project’s proximity to homes. American Tower has said the facility would use closed-loop cooling and generate heating and cooling noise comparable to office systems. Electrician Jessica Wilson and union organizer Melissa Reyes said data center construction provides valuable employment, but supported stronger protections and a compromise addressing community concerns.