BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
The Statesville City Council on Monday voted to approve a rezoning request for a huge data center proposed for Stamey Farm Road in western Iredell County.
The vote came at the conclusion of a public hearing in which more than two dozen people expressed their opposition to the Compass Data Centers proposal. Company officials said the development, which includes construction of five 270,000-square-foot buildings on a 330-acre parcel, will involve an initial investment of more than $1 billion.
Mayor Pro Tem David Jones made the motion to approve the first reading of the rezoning request. Councilwoman Doris Allison seconded the motion, and council voted unanimously to approve it.
Several people voiced their discontent with the vote as they left the council chambers.
Of those who spoke at the public hearing, there were a few who spoke in favor of the data center.
The city’s planning staff and the Statesville Planning Board both recommended approval of the rezoning request.
Editor’s Note: This article will be updated with additional details from Monday’s meeting.
