Dickson County Preparing Zoning Rules for Data Centers During Six Month Moratorium

Charlotte, TN — Dickson County’s Planning Commission is developing proposed zoning regulations for data centers while a six-month moratorium temporarily pauses new projects.

County Mayor Danny Williams discussed the issue during the Dickson County Commission’s Sept. 8 work session, identifying data center regulations as one of five priorities in his first 100-day plan.

Williams said the county cannot simply prohibit data centers but can regulate where they locate and establish standards governing their development and operation.

“We can’t ban them. We can regulate them,” Williams told commissioners.

The Planning Commission is expected to return a proposed resolution within approximately 100 days. The recommendations could identify the zoning districts in which data centers would be permitted and establish restrictions projects would have to meet before receiving approval.

No draft regulations were presented during the work session, and the County Commission did not vote on permanent data center rules.

Data centers are large facilities containing computer servers and other equipment used to store, manage and process digital information. Their potential effects can vary significantly depending on the project’s size and design.

Among the primary questions facing county officials are how much electricity and water a proposed facility could require, whether existing utility infrastructure could support that demand and how projects might affect neighboring properties.

Data center regulations can also address setbacks, noise, exterior lighting, building size, landscaping, emergency plans and the location of backup generators and other equipment. Williams did not specify which of those provisions the Planning Commission is considering.

The county will also need to determine which zoning districts are appropriate for the facilities. That decision could determine whether data centers are concentrated in industrial areas or allowed in other portions of the county under additional conditions.

The six-month moratorium gives officials time to develop those rules before considering new projects. It does not permanently prohibit data centers or determine whether a particular project will ultimately be approved.

Several details remain unanswered. County officials have not publicly presented proposed setback or noise requirements, projected utility demands, possible development sites or a process for notifying nearby property owners.

It is also unclear whether the county will require applicants to provide independent studies of electricity usage, water consumption, noise, traffic and effects on public infrastructure.

Any permanent zoning changes would have to move through the county’s public approval process. That would give residents and affected property owners an opportunity to examine the proposal and comment before final action by the County Commission.

The Planning Commission’s eventual recommendation will provide the first detailed look at how Dickson County intends to balance potential development with concerns about infrastructure capacity and nearby communities.