Petition to block Charlotte data center gets 3,000+ signatures
News Clip1:45Queen City News·Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC·4/2/2026
A proposed data center in East Charlotte by American Tower is facing strong opposition from residents and city council members, fueled by a petition with over 3,000 signatures. Opponents cite environmental concerns and a lack of oversight, while American Tower insists the facility will be small-scale and beneficial for connectivity. The project's rezoning process will proceed with a public comment before the City Council.
zoningoppositionenvironmentalgovernment
Gov: Charlotte City Council
A proposed data center in East Charlotte, put forward by Boston-based developer American Tower, is encountering significant opposition from local residents and some members of the Charlotte City Council. Jeffrey Shannon, an East Charlotte resident and member of the political organization PSL Charlotte, highlighted the community's unanimous disapproval, emphasizing the project's location next to Reedy Creek Nature Preserve and potential environmental risks from "toxic chemicals and pollution."
American Tower is seeking to rezone a current tower site to build what they describe as a small-scale facility, approximately 40,000 square feet, requiring only 2% of the power consumed by larger data centers. A company spokesperson stated the facility would "improve connectivity for the Charlotte area," supporting local businesses, schools, healthcare, and public safety organizations, while enhancing emergency communications and network resilience.
However, skeptics like Shannon remain unconvinced, expressing concerns about the lack of oversight regarding how tech companies operate and build data centers. They are seeking answers before allowing such facilities in their community. The next stage in the rezoning process involves a public comment period before the Charlotte City Council.