IFN Staff
The Statesville Planning Department has recommended approval of the rezoning request for a large data center proposed for 255 Stamey Farm Road in western Iredell County.
Compass Data Centers, a company that develops and operates data center facilities across the U.S., wants to construct five buildings on 350 acres between Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 70. A data center houses computer systems, servers, storage devices, and network equipment used for storing, processing, and distributing data.
The proposed site, which is owned by the Stamey family, is located in Iredell County and is zoned for residential-agricultural and highway business uses. Compass is requesting that the City of Statesville rezone the property for light Industrial-conditional zoning and annex it.
A community meeting held at the Statesville Civic Center earlier this month attracted about 70 residents. The attendees raised myriad concerns, including demands on local utilities, sound and light pollution, and environmental and traffic impacts.
The rezoning request is scheduled to be considered by the Statesville Planning Board during its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 26. The meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., will be held in City Hall. The Planning Board will review the request and make a non-binding recommendation to the Statesville City Council.
The City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the Compass Data Centers project and vote on the rezoning and annexation requests on Monday, September 15.
The Plan
According to plans filed with the City of Statesville, Compass Data Centers wants to construct up to five buildings of approximately 270,000 square feet each with 40 backup generators per building. A substation will be constructed on the site for electrical service, which will be provided by Duke Energy. In addition, a temporary concrete batch plant may be located on the property during construction. Once construction is completed, each building would house 20 to 40 employees.
In addition to meeting other city requirements, the applicant has agreed to:
♦ Limit property uses to data centers, warehouse, mini warehouses, public utility uses, temporary batch plant, outdoor storage as an accessory use, general office, parking, and parks and playgrounds;
♦ Require Traffic Impact Analysis to be performed for City of Statesville review and permitting; and
♦ Increase property line buffer from 30 to 50 feet with additional proportional landscaping at adjacent parcels with existing residential structures.
This project is not associated with a recently withdrawn request to build a large data center near Mooresville.
Staff Review & Recommendation
The city’s professional planning staff, in a report provided to the Planning Board, has recommended approval of the rezoning request.
In the 2045 Land Development Plan, the area was projected as Activity Center or Employment Center/Industrial Flex, which includes business parks, corporate campuses, flex space, manufacturing, distribution, and other industrial uses, staff noted in the report.
The 2045 Iredell County Horizons Plan also projects this area as Employment Center Industrial/Flex Space/Office, which allows manufacturing, warehouses, office, and assembly with retail as secondary uses, staff added.
The Stamey Farm property is not located within a Farmland Preservation District.
In support of its recommendation, staff also noted that “the concept plan and conditions offered by the applicant provide large buffers and an expanse of undeveloped land between the proposed structures and adjoining properties, the primary entrance is in close proximity to I-40 and the interchange and a data center is a less intensive use regarding traffic than a distribution center or retail development.”
How can they recommend it when it hasn’t even been in front of a public hearing yet?
Editor: The Planning Department staff is recommending approval.
In the 4th paragraph down, it says that there was a community meting about it earlier in the month. I heard about this at a family gathering a few days ago.
If its a 6:00 meeting, I wonder if that means it will be closed to the public by 6:00. Or will it be open to the public again for discussion beforehand?
Because the developer’s millions of dollars overrule any concerns normal people may have. It’s not even going to be a large job creator to benefit the area in any way. Just an enormous batch of eyesores.
It is all about the Stamey family and builders making money. They don’t worry about what problems this type of land use might bring. It is all about money for those involved in this, not what effects on the community or the environment might be. You can bet that taxes will be raised eventually on those in the surrounding area because of the rezoning. Most of the folks living near Stamey farms are there because the area was in the country and not crowded – this will change if this project succeeds. The people who make the money off this will not be living any where near it!
I would like to know will it drain our wells. It looks like the City of Statesville is encroaching on the county, and I’m not sure why our county commissioners are not saying anything about it.
The city is treating the west Iredell community like an unwanted relative. First, they approve a 500+ high density housing development on Gilbert Rd, which is just around the corner of the proposed data center. Now, they will probably approve the data center. What else can they pack in that small community?
Data Center = tax revenue, follow the money. 💰
As a neighbor and builder several of data centers, I’m pleased this is the direction we are going. A production facility or housing would bring noise, traffic or pollution. A data center is none of those things, they are quiet and barely anyone works there.
Most people want country living. With your experience don’t you think this takes away from the quiet appreciation of being away from a city? Plus a data center has huge generators which contribute to noise and potential electromagnetic waves.
Nothing you said was true, when you research these facilities they are a drain on resources, water, electricity, etc. Duke Power is notorious for power outages and this will make it worse. I am sure by Patrick comments he is just a paid shill
Environmental impact I worry about and this is just one area of many. Forest, what is left, is being destroyed 😭
There’s your communist leaders for you. More money they bring in more raises they get. They don’t care about the people or the land.
Remember these data centers when your power bill goes up. Utilities across the country are building new power plants just to service these massive energy hogs. Guess who pays?
Our county is full up & I don’t want one more company or resident in it.
I’m sure palms are getting greased just to get this passed. Just like with the housing development on Gilbert Road. Both the Stameys and the builder are making big bucks.