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Board adopts conditional‑zoning framework for data centers after extended public hearing
Summary
Granville County adopted a text amendment establishing an I‑2 + conditional‑zoning two‑step framework for data centers in the county's Land Development Ordinance after hours of public comment focused on noise, water, generators and setbacks; commissioners asked planning staff to return with tightened standards and clarifications.
After extensive public comment and deliberation, the Granville County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 3 to adopt a planning‑staff‑recommended text amendment that creates a two‑step legislative framework for future data‑center proposals: a site must be zoned I‑2 (general industrial) and then be rezoned into a project‑specific conditional zoning district for data centers.
Planning Director Barry Baker explained the staff recommendation: the amendment provides "a clear framework for considering data center uses," preserves the board's legislative discretion, and avoids a broad moratorium or categorical ban. Baker said the proposal directs data centers only to properties appropriate for industrial development, requires documentation of adequate utilities, disallows well water for process cooling, sets a 65 dB property‑line noise standard in the ordinance, and establishes minimum building setbacks tied to building size. Baker told the board the Granville County Planning Board had unanimously recommended approval with a minor wording change (removing the word "currently" from a section).
More than a dozen residents spoke at the legislative hearing, urging stricter baseline standards, expanded setbacks and specific controls on water use, noise (including low‑frequency/infrasound metrics), generator testing and emergency backup emissions. For example, resident Greg Bates said of a prior event near US‑15, "The sound was so loud that I could hear it above the sound of my television," and multiple commenters asked for independent environmental and economic impact studies. Commissioners debated whether a permissive conditional‑zoning framework gives too much negotiating leverage to applicants or whether prescriptive technical standards would risk inflexibility as technology changes. The board ultimately voted to adopt the amendment and directed staff and the planning board to revisit specific standards (setbacks, noise metrics, water and generator rules) for possible future amendments.
