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Residents press York County for zoning compliance, stricter rules and moratorium requests over Silfab and QTS data center projects
Summary
At the April 6 meeting, residents told York County Council they lack clear zoning approvals for Silfab and raised noise, light, emissions, transparency and setback concerns about the QTS data center; several asked the council to pursue enforceable standards or a moratorium while planning follows up on traffic and noise studies.
Dozens of residents used the council’s public forum on April 6 to press York County for clearer enforcement of zoning rules and stricter standards for large industrial and data-center projects. Several speakers accused county staff of failing to produce necessary zoning approvals for Silfab and urged the council to require measurable, enforceable protections for nearby neighborhoods facing noise, light, traffic and environmental risks.
"Where is the zoning compliance approval for Silfab?" Kate Hanower asked, arguing that the county’s response to the state attorney general did not show the zoning decision the law requires. Hanower said civil-construction approvals are not the same as a zoning compliance approval with public notice and appeal rights, and she told the council that, without it, the facility continues to operate as "a high-hazard, heavy industrial site handling toxic chemicals" without proper notice to neighbors.
Other residents focused on a large QTS data center project under construction. "This project is being advanced without regard for the residential community it borders," Nesh Patel said, listing concerns about noise, light pollution and nitrogen-oxide emissions and saying homeowners are not being adequately informed. Stacy Armstrong said nearby residents have been "habitually and repeatedly . . . assaulted with noise" and questioned whether the county’s noise study considered all operating noises beyond chillers.
Neighbors asked for setback requirements, decommissioning bonds and enforceable buffers. Steve Penland urged setback distances that apply to entire parcels, not just building lines, proposing larger vegetative buffers and berms. Chris Thompson urged council members to visit an existing QTS campus in Fayetteville, Georgia, to see the scale of development proposed in York County.
Residents also criticized county zoning guidance they called vague. "The proposed guidance is not sufficient," Rebecca Sichi said, urging clearer, measurable standards for noise, water use, generator operations and setbacks so the county can enforce them rather than leave enforcement to flexible interpretation.
Council members repeatedly told speakers that some matters are under legal advice and that staff will share county-maintained public pages and planning documents. Multiple councilors asked planning staff to provide follow-up information — including the traffic-impact analysis (TIA) and detailed buffer and lighting standards — before the next readings of rezoning matters. One council member recommended the planning committee consider a moratorium on data centers while the county and state review appropriate standards.
The public forum comments were not a formal vote but were entered into the record. Councilors urged residents to submit written questions and said staff would provide the documents and follow-up requested during subsequent planning and committee reviews.
