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Hildebran creates new zoning category and standards for data centers
Summary
The Town of Hildebran approved ZTA 26-1 on March 11, 2026, establishing “Critical Digital Infrastructure Facilities” (including data centers) as a defined use subject to Conditional Zoning, performance standards, utility capacity verification, and lifecycle and enforcement provisions.
HILDEBRAN — The Town Council on March 11 adopted Ordinance #03-1126.1 (Zoning Text Amendment 26-1), establishing “Critical Digital Infrastructure Facilities” as a new zoning category to cover data centers and similar operations.
Town Planner Katelyn Smith told the council the change responds to a recent inquiry about siting a data center in town and addresses a gap in the current ordinance, which explicitly regulates cryptocurrency mining but does not name data centers. Smith said staff proposed the amendment to provide ‘‘greater transparency, legal defensibility, and predictability’’ under Chapter 160D of the North Carolina General Statutes.
The amendment requires Conditional Zoning approval so the council can review site-specific impacts and adds measurable performance standards for noise, vibration, generator operation and testing, lighting, buffering and setbacks, and ongoing compliance monitoring. It also requires applicants to provide written verification from electrical, potable water and public sewer providers that system capacity is adequate and to submit a water use and conservation plan to minimize potable water demand. Lifecycle provisions would trigger review for expansions and set rules for discontinuation or abandonment, and the ordinance clarifies that failure to submit required studies or monitoring constitutes a zoning violation.
The Planning Board reviewed the proposal and recommended several edits, including shortening certain mitigation timeframes from 180 days to 90 days, adding certificate of occupancy as a milestone for mitigation, and inserting a financial-assurance clause that ‘‘This value shall be reevaluated by the Town every 4 years, or if there is an expansion of the site,’’ language the council incorporated.
Council Member Mike Smith moved to approve the ordinance as amended; the motion carried with all members present voting in favor. The minutes record the approval and the Planning Board consistency statement signed by Chairwoman Diane Speigle was incorporated by reference.
The ordinance and ZTA language are part of the meeting record and will guide future Conditional Zoning reviews for proposed data centers within the town.
