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Edgecombe County to hold public hearing on UDO amendment adding data centers and crypto-mining uses
Summary
County staff recommended adding 'data center' and 'crypto mining operation' uses to the Unified Development Ordinance with new setbacks, lighting and noise standards; the board voted to call a public hearing after debating when neighborhood meetings should occur in the review process.
Durbin Veil, the county—s planning director, told commissioners the draft Unified Development Ordinance amendment would add "crypto mining operation and data center use" and attach related definitions and standards. He said operators would need an annual zoning compliance permit, a noise study and attestations of water and electrical capacity.
The proposed draft sets a minimum setback of 100 feet for projects and increases that setback to 500 feet where the project borders a lot in a residential zone that contains an existing or approved dwelling. "Sound shall not exceed 60 dBA during daylight hours (about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and 50 dBA at night," Veil said. Lighting limits for building-mounted and parking-lot fixtures, buffer requirements and standards for fully enclosed on-site generators also are in the draft.
Why it matters: commissioners noted data centers and crypto-mining operations can have local impacts on noise, lighting and utility capacity. The draft also adds a neighborhood-meeting requirement for conditional rezoning and planned-development applications; staff proposed the meeting be held early so communities are informed before significant time and expense has been invested.
Board members split over timing. One commissioner said requiring a neighborhood meeting before any application is filed could discourage applicants and deprive commissioners of seeing a complete proposal. Another said earlier outreach prevents projects from advancing far before community opposition emerges. "What we're trying to do is get the community informed earlier in the process," the county manager told the board, noting prior disputes over other large projects.
After discussion, the chairman clarified the matter before the board was to "call for a public hearing" on the draft text amendment; commissioners moved and seconded the action and voted in favor. The planning board had previously forwarded a favorable recommendation to add the use to the UDO.
Next steps: the board called a public hearing to consider the UDO text amendment; staff will publish the hearing notice and return the item for formal consideration after public comment and planning-board review.
