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Commission hears concerns about data centers' local impact and legal limits on restrictions
Summary
Commissioners discussed model legislation and regional data center proposals, citing large water and power demands and potential state preemption; members asked whether the town can prohibit data centers and noted litigation risk.
The commission spent time discussing data centers after the chair raised regional examples and resource impacts.
Chair Katie described recent approvals in nearby jurisdictions and cited large power and water figures, saying data centers have "huge... impact" and noting an example where a project consumed large quantities of water and power. "It took 764,000,000 gallons of power, and only 29% of the power was currently free," the chair said while describing regional examples and model legislation for regulating data centers.
Commissioners debated whether South Carolina law allows the town to prohibit certain land uses and acknowledged legal risk and potential state preemption. One commissioner suggested other land uses (for example adult-entertainment venues and tattoo parlors) had been regulated historically and that zoning can be used to limit uses. The planning department recommended further study and legal review before adopting restrictions.
The commission did not adopt regulatory changes at this meeting but directed staff to research model ordinances and the town's authority relative to state law.
