Matthews hears plan for 123-acre data center on East John Street; commissioners press for power assurances

Matthews commissioners held a joint public hearing Sept. 8 on zoning petition 2025815, known as “Project Accelerate,” a request to rezone about 123 acres south of I‑485 along East John Street from R‑12 (residential) to I‑2 CD (industrial, conditional) to allow a data center and accessory uses.

The developer and its consultants described a campus of data center buildings set back from East John Street with expanded buffers, an 80‑foot maximum building height near the road, a proposed 10‑foot multi‑use path (a “linear park”) and commitments to preserve tree canopy where possible. Bridget Grant, land‑use consultant for the applicant, said the proponent would limit permitted uses to data centers and typical accessory infrastructure, would fund a new dedicated substation, and would deploy a closed‑loop water cooling system to limit municipal water use.

Why it matters: the site is one of the largest undeveloped tracts inside Matthews, directly abutting existing and planned employment uses. The request would change the character of the corridor and raise questions about electric capacity, noise and long‑term reuse of large, power‑intensive buildings.

What proponents said

Bridget Grant (land‑use consultant)…