Greenwood County Council enacts one-year data center moratorium, adopts new zoning rules
Greenwood County Council has approved a one-year data center moratorium and new zoning regulations. These regulations will require conditional use permits and set standards for noise, lighting, and buffers for future data center developments. The move aims to give local government more oversight over potential projects.
Greenwood County Council in South Carolina has officially enacted a one-year moratorium on new data center developments, following the approval of the third and final reading of the ordinance on Tuesday night. Council Chairman Theo Lane used his privilege to move the vote to the top of the meeting agenda, a decision that was met with applause from residents attending.
In addition to the moratorium, the council approved a zoning ordinance amendment that integrates data centers into the county's zoning code and establishes new regulations for future projects. These rules will require data centers to obtain a conditional use permit and adhere to specific standards concerning noise, lighting, and buffer zones between facilities and adjacent properties. Lane emphasized the urgency of these measures to protect the county.
Economic Development Director James Bateman confirmed that while data center developers have contacted the county, Greenwood is not actively recruiting them as a target industry.