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Planning roundup: council hears data‑center assessment, social‑district application and preservation request
Summary
Planning staff told council that Southern Pines has received no inquiries for large data centers and is unlikely to attract hyper-scale facilities due to limited power infrastructure; the council also reviewed a social-district application from Red's Corner and was asked to consider whether the town should be the grantee for a federal preservation agreement for Trinity AME Zion Church (staff recommended other preservation organizations).
Planning staff briefed council on a host of land‑use matters at the June 23 work session, including an assessment of large data‑center likelihood, a social‑district application for Red’s Corner, and a preservation‑agreement request tied to Trinity AME Zion Church.
Data centers: Director BJ Grieve summarized that Southern Pines and Moore County have not received inquiries for hyper‑scale data centers and noted that the primary constraint for very large facilities is access to high‑capacity electrical transmission. Staff recommended preparing ordinance language and public outreach if council wants to proactively regulate or discourage large data center proposals, while noting smaller colocation or enterprise facilities are regulated under the town’s UDO.
Red’s Corner social district: Owner Scott Bertrand supplied a management and maintenance plan under state statute to create a limited social district that would allow patrons to move open containers between two adjacent permitted business areas. Staff reviewed statutory requirements and the proposed management plan; council discussed enforcement roles (business staff and normal police authority), mapping the district boundary to avoid sidewalks and public streets, and whether to treat the ordinance as an action item or hold a hearing. Council asked staff to confirm statutory steps and return when ready.
Preservation agreement inquiry: Central Pines asked the town to serve as grantee/monitor for a 20‑year preservation agreement on Trinity AME Zion Church following a National Park Service‑administered grant. Council and staff expressed concern about the town’s role as enforcement agent for a religious and cultural property; staff advised that Preservation NC or the state historic preservation office would be normal grantees. Council indicated a preference to decline being the grantee and to encourage other preservation organizations to assume monitoring responsibilities.
What happens next: Staff will prepare work products as requested — UDO language options or draft ordinance steps for the social district, and follow up with Preservation NC and Central Pines about alternative grantees for the preservation covenant.
