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Smith County hearing on data-center zoning draws broad public opposition
Summary
At a June 25 joint hearing in Marion, residents pressed the Smith County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to restrict or ban data centers; staff said the draft would require special-use permits and no decisions were made.
The Smith County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission held a joint public hearing on June 25 at Marion Senior High School to consider amendments that would move modern data centers out of by-right status and require special-use permitting. County staff described the draft ordinance as a tool to require applicants to submit detailed information on site design, utility demands, buffering, noise mitigation, emergency planning and decommissioning before construction could occur.
The hearing drew dozens of residents who warned of potential impacts on water, noise, wildlife and property values and urged the county either to ban data centers or to impose a moratorium while more study is done. Presenting staff reiterated that “There is currently no data center proposal pending before Smith County. No site is being considered tonight,” and emphasized the draft’s goal was establishing a process for future proposals, not approving any project. The planning commission will review comments over the coming weeks and return with a recommendation to the board.
