Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cheatham County adds ‘Data Center’ definition and classifies it an extensive-impact facility
Summary
The Cheatham County Legislative Body approved a zone change and two amendments to its zoning resolution to add a definition of “Data Center” and list data centers as Extensive Impact Facilities, passing each motion by 9–0 with three commissioners absent.
Cheatham County commissioners on Feb. 2 approved three land-use actions that add a formal definition of “Data Center” to the county Zoning Resolution and classify data centers as Extensive Impact Facilities.
The measures passed by roll-call vote were: a zoning approval for Melvin and Kimberly Crosby (Map 8, Parcel 33.01) changing their parcel at 1292 Oaklawn Rd. from Agriculture to E1; an amendment to Section 2.010 adding a Data Center definition; and an amendment to Section 3.060(4) adding “Data Center” to the list of Extensive Impact Facilities. Building Department staff presented the requests and the votes were recorded 9–0 with three commissioners absent.
Why it matters: the new definition—explicitly including backup power, cooling systems, battery storage, substations and security systems—clarifies how data storage and processing facilities will be evaluated under local zoning rules. Classifying data centers as Extensive Impact Facilities subjects future proposals to additional review steps intended to address county-level concerns about infrastructure, traffic, utilities and public safety.
What commissioners said: Building Department representative Franklin Wilkinson introduced the zone change and ordinance amendments. During the public forum earlier in the meeting, Bill Herbert spoke in support of the two Data Center items; no members of the public spoke against the measures during the advertised hearing.
Next steps: The approved amendments are recorded as Resolutions 4, 5 and 6 in the meeting minutes. Property- and project-level approvals for any new data center will be processed under the amended zoning text and any applicable permit requirements.
