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Board approves repeal of 'data processing facility' language; county warns data-center pathway could be narrowed
Summary
The Board approved Planning Commission recommendations to repeal the phrase "data processing facility" from the zoning ordinance. County Attorney warned removing the unclear term without a replacement could eliminate a separate zoning pathway for data centers unless a new definition is adopted.
On July 9 the Smyth County Board of Supervisors approved a Planning Commission recommendation to repeal the term "data processing facility" from sections 3-4(z), 3-5(u), 4-10.6 and Article X of the zoning ordinance. The Planning Commission had voted to repeal that phrasing and table related text amendments that would define "Data Center."
County Attorney Scot Farthing told the Board that repealing the unclear phrase without replacing it would "not provide a pathway for data centers to locate in Smyth County, unless the zoning ordinance is amended to include this language." The Planning Commission had earlier tabled proposed text amendments to define and regulate data centers; the Board's repeal implements the commission recommendation while leaving the broader zoning question open for later consideration.
