‘No rezoning, no data center’: McCormick County planners side with residents opposing development
The McCormick County Planning Commission recommended a nine-month moratorium on data centers, aligning with residents who oppose a proposed data center development by Pollard Land Company. The company sought to rezone 1000 acres off White Town Road for the project. Residents raised concerns about property values and the impact of the development during a packed public meeting.
The McCormick County Planning Commission convened a crowded public meeting to deliberate on a proposed data center development and a potential moratorium on such facilities. Residents of McCormick County expressed overwhelming opposition to the project, which would necessitate the rezoning of 1000 acres of land, situated approximately two miles from downtown, for a data center. A primary concern articulated by the community was the potential depreciation of property values in the vicinity of the proposed data center.
McCormick Planning Commission Chair Tom Green confirmed that the Pollard Land Company's proposal involved a data center and required the rezoning of the aforementioned 1000 acres, clarifying that the data center itself would not occupy the entire parcel. Green also noted that the plan included the development of a natural gas pipeline into the county, an essential infrastructure component for the facility.
Ultimately, the Planning Commission voted to side with the residents, recommending a nine-month pause on data center development within the county. This decision effectively stalls or blocks the immediate rezoning efforts for the proposed project, indicating the commission's view that data centers, as proposed, are not suitable for the neighborhood.