Surry County commissioners move to pursue short moratorium on data‑center development

The Surry County Board of Commissioners voted May 18 to move toward a short moratorium on new data‑center development while staff and the planning board finish a zoning text amendment.

Adrian Garden, development services, told the board the draft language is preliminary and asked for planning‑board review before bringing a final ordinance back to the commissioners in July. County legal counsel outlined options for a short‑form moratorium that requires at least seven days' public notice and can last roughly 60 days, or a longer moratorium that requires full notice procedures. Counsel said legal staff could “do everything it could to try to hit the pause button” if commissioners wanted to limit applications while rules are created.

Commissioners debated timing and risk. Some expressed concern that issuing a moratorium would expose the county to a short window in which an applicant could file before rules took effect; others argued a moratorium would send a clear signal and protect residents while the county develops regulations. One commissioner said experience in neighboring jurisdictions suggested caution in rushing the ordinance.

On a motion made and seconded, the board voted in favor of moving toward a moratorium and directed staff and legal counsel to coordinate with development services and the planning board on next steps, including public‑notice scheduling and potential special meetings if needed. The board was advised that any moratorium would not affect projects that had submitted applications that were substantially complete before new regulations were adopted.