Nashville Metro Council considers measures to halt data center near zoo

The Nashville Metro Council is actively pursuing new regulations aimed at preventing the construction of a proposed data center adjacent to the Nashville Zoo. The project, spearheaded by Atlanta-based data center company DC Blox, involves two data center buildings within an office park bordering the zoo property.

The project's permits are currently in a state of legal uncertainty due to incomplete information and a zoning appeal initiated by the Nashville Zoo. In response to widespread public opposition, evidenced by an online petition with over 500,000 signatures, Metro Council members are working to enact legislation that could halt the development.

Two key legislative efforts are underway. Council Member Rollin Horton is sponsoring a comprehensive zoning bill for Davidson County that would impose significant restrictions on data center development, including a ban on facilities larger than 500,000 square feet. Smaller proposals would face a rigorous approval process, requiring a special exemption from the Board of Zoning Appeals, public hearings, and strict location criteria such as proximity to schools and residential areas. This bill also addresses environmental concerns by banning on-site power generation from gas turbines and mandating closed-loop water cooling systems.

Simultaneously, Council Member Courtney Johnston is sponsoring a temporary moratorium on all data center construction in Davidson County. While intended to pause development until more permanent regulations like Horton's bill can be passed, the moratorium's impact could be moot if both bills pass concurrently. Both legislative proposals are scheduled for review by the Metro Planning Commission on Thursday night, after which they will proceed to the full Metro Council for a public hearing on July 7.