Proposed Rural Hall data center up for public hearing Thursday
Forsyth County commissioners are holding a public hearing on a proposed hyperscale data center in Rural Hall, North Carolina. Developers seek to rezone 129 acres for the "Project Iron Spur" campus. Despite the developer offering tax revenue to Rural Hall, the Forsyth County Planning Board recommends denial due to concerns about scale and offsite impacts, while residents continue to oppose the project.
Forsyth County commissioners are slated to hold a public hearing on Thursday regarding a proposed hyperscale data center in Rural Hall, North Carolina. The developers behind "Project Iron Spur" aim to rezone approximately 129 acres of land adjacent to the town hall for the new campus. The project has faced significant opposition from local residents for several months.
Initially, Rural Hall town officials also expressed concerns, but their stance shifted last month after the developer provided a written commitment. This agreement stipulates that if the project proceeds, Rural Hall could annex the site, bringing it into town limits and allowing it to collect substantial tax revenue from the data center.
Despite this offer, the Forsyth County Planning Board continues to recommend denying the rezoning request. Planning Director Chris Murphy highlighted staff concerns about the project's "scale and intensity," warning it "could result in significant offsite impacts to nearby residents." The final decision on whether to approve the rezoning rests with the Forsyth County commissioners, who will vote after the public hearing on July 30.