From noise to water, Surry's draft data center rules leave little to chance
Surry County is preparing for a June 1 public hearing on a proposed 60-day moratorium on data center development, while also finalizing a comprehensive draft ordinance to regulate the industry. The proposed rules address concerns like noise, water and electricity consumption, and distance requirements, creating a new zoning district and requiring Special Use Permits for all facilities.
Surry County is moving forward with plans to regulate data center development, with a public hearing scheduled for June 1 on a proposed 60-day moratorium. Simultaneously, the county's Development Services Director Adrienne Gardner submitted a preliminary draft ordinance to the Board of Commissioners, outlining the county's approach to governing the industry amidst growing public concerns over electricity, water, noise, and infrastructure strain.
The draft ordinance, still in its early stages, proposes creating a new zoning district specifically for data centers and power generation facilities, broadly defining data centers to include cryptocurrency mining. All data centers would require a Special Use Permit, necessitating a public hearing and a mandatory pre-application meeting. Key regulations include strict distance requirements, with facilities needing to be at least 400 feet from homes, 1,000 feet from schools, and 100 feet from public roads.
Environmental protections are central to the proposal, particularly concerning the county's four rivers. Data centers would be prohibited from drawing surface water from rivers, lakes, or ponds, instead relying on well water or municipal sources. Applicants would need written confirmation of adequate water and electrical capacity from local utilities, and generators would be restricted to emergency use. Noise standards require pre-construction sound studies and prohibit operational sound levels from exceeding pre-existing ambient levels, with violations incurring a $10,000 fine. The ordinance also addresses facility abandonment, requiring property owners to remove hazardous materials if a data center is inactive for 12 months. The planning board is expected to review the draft in June, with commissioners aiming to adopt the final text amendment in July, after which the proposed moratorium would remain in effect until the amendment's adoption.