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Fletcher council adopts ordinance defining and banning data centers
Summary
The Fletcher Town Council adopted a staff-initiated text amendment defining 'data centers' and prohibiting the use in all zoning districts, citing potential impacts on energy, water, and quality of life; the ordinance passed by voice vote after a staff presentation and an empty public hearing.
The Fletcher Town Council voted to adopt an ordinance amending the Town of Fletcher Land Development Code to define data centers as a land use and prohibit them in all zoning districts.
Planning staff presented the measure as a staff-initiated text amendment intended to remove ambiguity for developers and to treat data centers the same way the town currently regulates cryptocurrency mining. The staff presentation said data centers can generate high electricity demand, substantial water use for cooling, continuous mechanical noise and heat requiring constant cooling. "They can have significant impacts including high electricity demand, substantial water use for cooling the computers, and also continuous noise for mechanical systems," the planning presentation stated (speaker 3).
Council opened a public hearing on the amendment but had no speakers signed up. After the hearing was closed, Councilor (speaker 8) moved to adopt the amendment. The motion included findings that the petition was consistent with the town’s land use plan based on staff analysis and was reasonable and in the public interest because it would protect residents’ quality of life and Fletcher’s identity as an outdoor recreational hub. The motion passed by voice vote and the ordinance was adopted.
The town staff noted the planning board had reviewed the amendment and unanimously recommended approval at its April meeting; staff also provided draft consistency and reasonableness statements for the council record.
The ordinance adds a definition of "data centers" to the use table of the Land Development Code and explicitly lists the use as prohibited in all districts so developers have clear notice of its status under Fletcher’s regulations.
The council did not receive any public testimony for or against the amendment during the hearing. Staff said the ordinance provides clarity so the town and prospective developers understand that large-scale data storage and processing facilities are not permitted within Fletcher’s zoning framework.
