Carter County Planning Commission approves data center zoning regulations

ELIZABETHTON — The Carter County Regional Planning Commission approved a proposed amendment to its zoning resolution to provide regulations on the establishment of data centers in the county. The proposed amendment will now be presented to the Carter County Commission on Aug. 17 for approval. If it is approved, the new rules will govern any future development of such data centers in the county outside of the city of Elizabethton. The amendment would limit the development of data centers to the M-2 high impact use district. The restrictions would require minimum front-yard setbacks of 50 feet. Minimum side and rear setbacks would also be 50 feet. No data center would be located within 750 feet of any residential use or district at the time of development. A buffer area would be required along all side and rear property lines adjoining residential uses or district. Earthen berms, acoustical barriers, enhanced landscaping, or equivalent mitigation measures may be required by the Carter County Planning Commission where necessary to reduce operational impacts to adjoining properties. The proposed amendment was drafted prior to Tuesday's meeting by Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby, Carter County Planning Director Chris Schuettler and Carter County Attorney Josh Hardin. Woodby said the three met to develop a set of regulations for the planning commission if that body desired to regulate data centers as well as to discuss the public's concerns about the data centers and possible regulations they could offer to the planning commission, if they wanted to include those in the county zoning regulations. Woodby said while there is public concern, there were only a few places where data centers could be established in Carter County. She said most of the geography of the county made an unlikely place for data centers due to rugged terrain and lack of infrastructure. Woodby said there are only eight parcels in the county which would be favorable places to locate data centers. She added those parcels were also the best places in the county for other types of industry as well. Those calculations cited by Woodby did not include the city of Elizabethton and its neighboring areas. She said those more urban locations are better sites for establishing a data center, but the county commission's approval of the regulations would have no impact on the city. Those areas are not under the control of the Carter County Planning Commission. Those areas are under the rules and regulations of the Elizabethton Regional Planning Commission, which includes Watauga Industrial Park. Assistant City Manager Logan Engle said the city does not have any regulations specifically directed at data centers. She said such development is covered in the city's industrial zoning requirements and regulations.