Freeze on data centers: Town to examine zoning code modifications

The Town of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has implemented a 120-day moratorium on new large-scale data center developments. This pause was established by the town's planning committee, which has also recommended a comprehensive review of the town's zoning code concerning these facilities. The committee's actions follow widespread resident opposition to data center growth, citing concerns over massive water and energy consumption, as well as potential noise and air pollution.

Town Planning Director Michele Reed outlined various options for lawmakers, including evaluating the definition of data centers in zoning, modifying current zoning designations (Area-wide Business 2, Economic Development, and Light Industrial), and considering special exceptions that would require a public vote. Councilmember Daniel Brownstein, who initially pushed for this review, advocates for new data centers to undergo a public process, potentially requiring approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals or a council vote based on environmental and utility impact studies.

While some, like AIL Sound Walls sales rep Breton Williams, suggest noise mitigation solutions as an inevitability of industry growth, others, including real estate agent Penny Altman and GREEN Commission Chair David Quick, are calling for an outright ban on data centers in Mount Pleasant. Attorney David G. Pagliarini advised caution against overly broad language that could inadvertently harm smaller data processing businesses. Council members like Laura Hyatt and Kathryn Whitaker are actively involved in guiding the planning committee's recommendations for further review by the planning commission, focusing on appropriate zoning districts and specific exceptions, aiming to avoid operations that would dramatically increase utility bills due to water and electricity demands.