CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – An update to zoning regulations in Montgomery County would make sure any future data centers face restrictions on water use, electricity use and noise.
The Montgomery County Building and Codes Department proposed the update to the Regional Planning Commission because data centers are not currently addressed in county or city zoning, RPC Director Jeff Tyndall told Clarksville Now.
“I believe they’ve always been considered industrial in the past, or warehouses,” Tyndall said. “But, as we’ve gotten smarter and technology has changed, I think it’s time to address data centers as their own thing. They use a lot of resources; part of what we’re proposing is that they have a resource plan for electric, water and sewer.
“And it has to be approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals before it goes to the Planning Commission as a use permitted on review.” Tyndall said with the update, data centers would only be allowed in M-1 or M-2 zones, and any infrastructure costs incurred throughout development will be bound to the data center.
“That mirrors a recently passed state law as well – that local utilities cannot pass along costs for data centers to their rate payers,” he said. “It’s fairly simple, but it’s just as uses change and evolve, the rules have to change and evolve, and we’re getting with the times here.”
Google data center predates debate
Montgomery County was an early adopter on data centers, with Google opening one here in 2019, following an announcement back in 2015. This was long before communities began pushing back on data centers because of their heavy use of power and water, along with their noise.
Locally, the Industrial Development Board is working with Clarksville Gas & Water to shift Google and other industrial customers to a separate water system that would not rely on potable (drinking) water for industrial cooling purposes.
No new data centers planned in Clarksville
When asked about any currently proposed data centers in Montgomery County, Tyndall said the short answer is no. “But we believe there was some interest recently,” Tyndall said. “We currently don’t have the electrical (and) water capacity to support another mega center like Google. And that’s only going to keep them at bay for so long.
“The biggest nuisance would be noise and utility usage, so if we can at least address noise and utilities through the Board of Zoning Appeals, and make sure it’s planned out appropriately. They’re actually very good neighbors in industrial areas. They don’t drive a lot of traffic; they pay a good amount of taxes,” he said.
Tyndall said the RPC will also add language such as a definition for data centers, and the permitted-on review conditions, which are still being worked out.
“It’s also going to require a noise plan, which is unique. Data centers have sort of a constant ‘hum’ depending on where you are on the property from the cooling and mechanical,” he said. “We just want to make sure that water, electric and noise are all being addressed prior to.”
Tyndall said if the zoning update passes in the county, he expects to mirror that language for the city.
Zoning updates on smelting, vape shops
Tyndall said the RPC is bringing two other updates forward to the county pertaining to:
- Smelting and similar operations in M-2 districts.
- Smoke shops, vape shops and site plan requirements.
The update on smelting and similar operations relates to the Crucible Metals refinery project in Montgomery County.
“Although we have found the original paperwork from 1972 and 1974 that approved the original plant, due to the nature of their new operations, Korea Zinc and Crucible Metals wanted to go ahead and go back in front of the Board of Zoning Appeals to basically renew that use permitted on review, so that there would be no question that they are a legal use going forward,” Tyndall said.
The next RPC meeting is Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the RPC office, 329 Main St.
Chris Smith contributed to this report.
| GET YOUR LOCAL MORNING NEWS: Sign up for our free daily email newsletter.