Metro Council member points to Board of Zoning appeals to stop data center near zoo
Nashville's Metro Council and local residents are actively opposing a proposed DC BLOX data center near the Nashville Zoo. A key upcoming battle involves an appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals regarding the project's permit application, which Metro Council Member Courtney Johnston believes was filed under the wrong classification. Meanwhile, a bill to define data centers in the zoning code and a moratorium bill have advanced, though they may not halt the current DC BLOX project due to its existing permit application.
Hundreds of residents packed the Metro Courthouse in Nashville to voice their opposition to a proposed DC BLOX data center slated for construction near the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere Park. Public comment lasted for hours, extending until 1:30 a.m.
Metro Council Member Courtney Johnston told FOX 17 News that two measures which advanced during the meeting, a bill to define data centers in the Metro's zoning code and her moratorium bill, will likely not be enough to stop the DC BLOX project. This is because DC BLOX has already submitted its permit application, which is currently undergoing a review process, though the overall building permit has not yet been issued.
Johnston, along with leaders from the Nashville Zoo, is now focusing efforts on stopping the project by appealing DC BLOX's application to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) next month. She argues that the company applied under an incorrect classification within Metro's zoning code. If the BZA approves this appeal, the permit could be rejected, forcing DC BLOX to reapply under different conditions that new legislation might address.
Additionally, the mayor's eminent domain legislation, which could allow Metro to seize the property for the data center, also advanced. However, Johnston expressed concerns that such a move would likely be met with lawsuits, making the BZA appeal a more immediate and potentially effective path to halting the development.