Resident warns board that data centers pose privacy and land-use risks; supervisors schedule informational outreach

During citizens' time, Charles Lisonbee urged the Smyth County Board to hold public informational meetings on a draft data-center zoning ordinance and said data centers raise privacy, land-use and long-term community-impact concerns.

"Data centers is a threat to every single right that the people have, especially the privacy right," Lisonbee said and asked the board to schedule 10 minutes for discussion at the next meeting. He referenced litigation in other localities and nondisclosure agreements used by companies and said residents want clarity about local impacts on agriculture, utilities and long-term land use.

Board members and staff agreed on the need for public education: County staff said an informational session could precede the June 25 joint public hearing and suggested moving that hearing to a school auditorium to accommodate a larger crowd. The county administrator said staff will develop outreach materials and pursue panelists who work with data centers so the public can ask technical questions in advance of the hearing.