At a public hearing Wednesday night, the Chesapeake Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval for changes to the city’s zoning ordinance and proposed policy for data centers.
The Chesapeake City Council directed the planning commission to suggest the amendments and create a policy after a data center proposal last year faced pushback from residents and was rejected.
The ordinance suggests amendments to the city code that would designate data centers as a conditional use in industrial zoning districts and the Fentress Airfield Overlay District, if they meet certain requirements.
Data centers are currently permitted by-right in areas zoned for business, industrial, office and institutional uses. Within the city, there are more than 27,000 residentially zoned parcels within 500 feet of property that could be used for a data center without requiring approval from the city council.
The council would review data centers on a case-by-case basis under the new proposed zoning ordinance. The draft also sets noise limits and outlines setbacks from residential property lines.
For many public commenters, those rules weren’t enough.
“If Chesapeake wants to welcome the industry, then let’s do it responsibly by placing these facilities where they belong, requiring setbacks that truly protect the families who already live here,” one resident said during the meeting. “We shouldn’t be asking families to adapt to industrial development.”
Some commenters requested the commission delay the vote to allow for more public input, saying the ordinance was too important to get “almost right.”
During discussion, commissioners voiced concerns about the proposed setbacks and noise limits.
“A ‘no’ vote tonight is a ‘yes’ vote to a data center wild wild west,” Vice Chair Barbara Sgueglia said. “Because if we don’t vote to at least put parameters on these things, they’re going to be built.”
Commissioners increased the setback from 500 feet to half a mile from an existing residential structure. They also capped the maximum daytime noise level generated by the data center to 60 decibels and the nighttime limit to 55.
Under the ordinance, data centers could not exceed 95 feet in height and would require agricultural buffers to separate them from adjacent uses.
The recommended policy would require data centers orient noise-generating features away from residential areas, schools and parks; and use warm-colored lighting where possible. Data centers should also employ water conservation methods and are encouraged to incorporate renewable energy.
Data center applicants would have to conduct at least two “neighborhood engagement meetings” before being scheduled for a public hearing and limit the use of non-disclosure agreements to increase transparency.
The amended policy and ordinance will be sent to the city council for final consideration.
