Rockingham council sets public hearing for proposed data center rezoning

The Rockingham City Council has approved setting a public hearing for September 8 to consider a conditional rezoning request for a proposed $1.2 billion data center. Terra Nexus Land Fund I LLC, which acquired the 165-acre property at 316 Old Cheraw Highway, seeks to rezone it from high-density residential to conditional light industrial. Assistant City Manager John Massey explained that the company initially planned a residential subdivision but faced hesitation from homebuilders due to the proximity of a wastewater treatment plant, leading them to consider a data center.

Massey presented the significant economic benefits of the data center, projecting an estimated $6.6 million annually in tax revenue, which could substantially lower the tax burden on citizens and fund capital improvements. He addressed community concerns regarding noise, water usage, and traffic. An operational noise study estimated a maximum of 48.4 decibels at the residential property line, well below federal guidelines, and future noise-reduction measures are possible. The data center design incorporates a closed-loop cooling system, drastically reducing daily water consumption to primarily employee use.

While traffic during construction is anticipated, the project is expected to have minimal ongoing traffic impact. Resident Russ Fincham raised concerns about the property potentially reverting to residential zoning, but Massey clarified that the conditional rezoning ties development specifically to the data center proposal. Mayor John Hutchinson and Councilman Bennett Deane emphasized the transparency of the review process and encouraged residents to voice their concerns during the upcoming public hearing.